Chapter 09 - Down Time
Sometimes, you put the busy work in and you get incremental progress. Or you keep pushing, and you finally poke the problem just right, and there you go. You pop the problem open, and can now deal with it. Never getting much of anywhere, can be one of two things. You're trying to find something that either doesn't exist, or you're looking in the wrong place. As if its a mathematical problem, but one or more given assumption is off. I'm starting to think its possible that we're looking at this all wrong.
Occam's razor is the idea that most often, the correct answer is the one that makes the most easy sense. Take the well known murder investigator's quip. You're investigating the murder of a woman. The husband or boyfriend did it. The sick joke is, that when the husband or boyfriend didn't do it? They did it. Being right more often than not, leads investigators to home in on the husband and boyfriend too long. The real killer can ooze through the cracks.
Occam's gem of wisdom dictates that we state the obvious. Bad winter storm. City guy. Its obvious what happened. I now have to begin to entertain other possibilities. Maybe the guy disappears himself. Wouldn't be the first time a missing person was responsible for it all by themselves. I can't make sense of that here, though. Guy's a whistle blower. Everyone else is going along to get along. This is the one guy that knows its wrong, and shopped around for someone to sell his story to.
He found the receptive ear. Why would he go AWOL now. Just when he finally got what he was searching for. I try to imagine some sort of foul play involved, but its a stretch. White collar crime and their financial peccadilloes, are famous for being non-violent. While it is true that snitches get stitches and even worse, that doesn't track either. Its white collar crime. Not to mention, it would make little sense to kidnap or whack a whistle blower at this stage of the game. You remove him before his whistle goes off. You do it after he blows? All you do is dig your own hole deeper.
Not to mention, he came to meet his contact. A murder witness, for example. They don't fear meeting with the investigator. That's your best friend, at that point. And hell, its a safe house. In the city, meeting with law enforcement might seem dicey. He doesn't want observed doing that. But out here? No such risk.
The meet and greet does seem to have been well crafted. I'm far from some kind of expert on the cloak and dagger routine, but it looks professional. A safe house far away from the city. A country setting if nothing else gives abundant privacy. His contact would have no trouble locating him, once he hits town. Him, his dress, his car? It makes it all easy. His contact or an associate, could easily observe the whistle man wasn't tailed coming in. No big traffic to hide in.
Even the GPS device itself, once again they went with top of the line. They didn't want any hassles locating the guy. To me, this all seems like a classic case of overkill. But over preparation will win out over amateur hour. The overall tight lips JR is reporting Mike's running into, makes sense as well. Its a missing car in a bad winter storm, it doesn't make sense to scrap the whole operation and shout everything from the rooftops. Because even if the poor guy did freeze to death or even get killed in a car accident, why alert the prey that you're onto them.
Something has to give sooner or later, its just whether its the case itself or my patience that breaks first. Before talking to home base and checking in, I had texted Pounder. Pretty simple. Hey, want a hundred bucks a day? He's open to that idea. I'll help defray diesel costs when you're out riding around in this mess anyways, looking for people to pull out. Just document what roads you eliminate, and if you find the car and you don't get a response? Do not touch anything and get a hold of me, as soon as possible. Great. I'm locating my own improvised manpower and motor pool. JR? Thank you for the idea.
This isn't enough. But until I get some new manner of insight to try, it'll have to do. I'm still sitting here brooding and thinking, when Zar made it back in from her talk with Junior. She's quiet. Looking down. Drumming the fingers of one hand idle on the table. This is her thinking and deciding face. Something's up.
"Honey? What's up."
She looked up at me. I'm getting the look.
"We need to talk."
"Okay, w---"
"Outside. Now. I don't want to do this in here."
Christ, what now. I realize its putting her out to stick around for me to handle this. She's been a little trooper about it. Oh. Up until now. Hello, troop morale issue. I figure I'm about to have to arrive at some compromise on my open ended timetable. Which is about to get less open ended. We ended up near the phone signal spot, where we paused. Uh oh. I'm getting the rattlesnake eyes. She's not a mean girl, she's easy to get along with. This is somewhat out of character, but I can see where this would be stressful on her. Talking to her husband, is reminding her of how annoying this situation is for her.
"What the fuck, Panic."
"Honey, I know this sucks for you. But if you could try to appreciate what's going on here, I---"
"Shut up."
Confrontation will not help my timetable out. Deescalate. Compromise. Keep calm and work gentle. So I just clammed up. I'm still getting if looks could kill.
"The hell are you even thinking."
Telling her what I'm thinking, is not going to improve her sudden mood switch. She's not emotional and moody, she's honest to god pissed.
"What? I'm doing everything I can."
I got the index finger. The daggers looks are one thing. Her index finger, is another. But both together? Not, good.
"You. Him. Making fun of my sex life. You think that's funny? Do you see me laughing."
Shit. And no, I don't see any amusement out of her. Christ. JR blew me in, for jokes we always make. What a bitch move, and that's a new trick for him.
"Fuck both of you. He'll get his, when I finally make it home. But you? Uh uh. I've had it, and this ain't gonna fly."
Shit. What would Merry say. Validate the other person's concerns. If its not unreasonable for them to have gotten upset, apologize. Mean it. Respect their new boundary. And so, under crossed arms and a stare that could set me on fire? I capitulated. I went for all apologies and begging forgiveness. I don't have time for this shit, and I have no choice. Under normal circumstances, I could wait for her to calm down. Not an option here. I'll make it up to her later, and I know she'll calm down and apologize for overreacting.
"How do I know, this isn't just another lame ass apology. I mean it, I'm god damn pissed, mister. I want a real apology."
I pinched my nose, and sighed.
"Anything you want, dear. I... didn't know the jokes would bother you, I---"
"Anything?"
I nodded.
"Really. I want, on the knees. Beg my forgiveness. This? Is inexcusable. Asshole..."
Screw it. I gave her the on the knees apology she was wanting. Whatever. I've got bigger fish to fry.
"You. Look up at me."
I did. What now.
"Anything?"
"Anything."
"Hmm. Kiss my boot."
I did.
"Now. Look up here. This? Is very important, I don't want you to forget this."
Here we go. What.
"If you kiss the other one? It plays Jingle Bells."
When her spiteful veneer slipped, the little grin showed through the cracks in the facade. Yeah. I've been had. We both caught the giggles, and I got playfully "kicked" while I was having trouble getting up, laughing. I caught her ankle, and teased her I was yanking her down onto the ground. Then I did, and we were like two little kids play wrestling in the snow. When we finally stood up, brushing the snow off us, she held her index finger straight up in the air. No malice in her finger now. A horizontal finger? Trouble. A vertical finger? All's well. She got on her phone.
"Yeah. It worked."
I heard JR, cackling like a male witch. She gave me the phone.
"You're an asshole, Junior."
"Gotcha."
"Uh huh. I owe you one, now."
"Sorry. Couldn't help it. It was half her idea. She told me you scared her, her feet were going to turn black and fall off."
"Okay. We even now?"
"Sure. But am I, or am I not? The master."
"What you are, Junior... is an annoying sidekick."
"Yeah, right. Who's in a warm office, who's out there doing my errands. Pick my wife up. Taxi her home. Oh yeah, stop off and find the car, some idiot can't drive in a snowstorm. What a rube. You? Are essentially... my bitch."
Guy rules. Gotta love the games.
"JR. Serious question."
He's all business again.
"Go."
"I got the Houdini location. But, there's no car there. Or anything else, for that matter. But? I got sit there to look around, and... I get buried by a big state plow truck. Probably listening to music, bored out of his skull. Are you going to sit there. Trying to tell me, something doesn't connect these two things."
I got a few seconds of silence.
"I'll grant you that one, all day long, senpai. Then, where's the car at."
"If I could tell you that one..."
"Yeah. I know if there were tire tracks, footprints, anything, you would..."
"You know it. Its like the earth just, up and swallowed this car and guy up. Poof. Gone."
"Well, there probably are tracks, Panic. They're just buried under all that snow coming down. No way to find anything."
"What would you do if you were here. This Houdini location? Its getting to be like the Bermuda triangle."
"Don't forget Sasquatch. And the aliens, too. Hmm. You know what I'd do."
"What's that."
"Its an information war, Panic. Its always an information war to me. We just don't have enough information, that's all."
He's right.
"I wish you were here. You'd wire this place up, and we could watch round the clock videos of snow falling."
"Yeah, definitely. Don't you have anything with you?"
"Hell no. I had to leave in a bit of a rush. I packed for getting to Zar, and I prepared for if we had to spend a week in a ditch, waiting for the snow to melt. We only planned on me checking out a car wreck. I got nothing, camera wise."
"Christ. I can't even overnight you anything. Everything's, it waits until the ice storm passes. Until the emergency gets lifted? No packages move."
"JR? I'm going to go and see what I can scrounge up. Thanks."
"Okay. Stay warm. And I'd say call me if you need anything, but that's going to get paused when the ice hits."
"Over and out, Junior."
"Godspeed, anon."
"Thanks."
We rode around a little bit, but that's me doing the same things over and over again, expecting different results. Locating the car, is doing nothing. Might as well try something else. I bought us a bunch of danishes before we left the diner. They were starting to go a little bit stale, and getting new in from a bakery delivery wasn't in the cards until the emergency was lifted. Did I want a deal on a dozen at a time. Zar's face was still grinning from getting me with a good practical joke, and it does a real number on me, I can't lie.
"Honey. Should we stock up on the danishes, they have to get rid of."
I got the nods to go ahead. What the hell, the price was right. I bought a couple dozen. We're going to be hunkering down for the ice storm. Once out in the truck again and moving, I once again did it. I stopped at location Houdini. I made sure that if anything started coming, I was positioned to take off and not get plowed again. Zar will be a bit silly now. Girl fun. She'll get lighthearted and frivolous. Great for overall morale, I'll say.
"You think buying me off, with the goodies. You think that'll help your case out, huh."
"Can't hurt, right."
"Mm. If we're staying in. And, we now have munchies. I wouldn't say you're exactly off the hook, mind you. But? Its a good start."
"Well. Glad to know I have a path back to being in your good graces again."
"We'll see."
"What's that depend on."
"The quality of the bribe, for one thing."
She made a show of nibbling on one, then tapped it against the dash light. They were going stale, though still edible.
"You know. We microwave these? They'll be soft and hot."
"Then why don't they do that."
"Its a diner, honey. All the regulars know these things are supposed to get replaced. You can't microwave stale stuff, for paying customers."
I got the sideways smile I liked to see.
"We'll see how that goes then, won't we."
"I guess we will, at that."
With no progress or other breakthrough, I drove us around a while but it produced nothing. It gets dark early, and the temperature was already low. It would dive soon, and it would be an almost arctic night. When we parked, I grabbed a few things for us out of the truck.
"How about some more shopping."
"Oh, my. Still buttering me up, I see."
I put the stack of things I had on the counter, and started looking around the junk shop in earnest. Like any secondhand purveyor, there were bins and boxes galore, in addition to the things out on the shelves everywhere.
"What are we shopping for."
"Well, this is kid of the tool and outdoor aisle."
"Lot of old fishing and camping shit, really."
"Hey. Some dining room furniture, Zar."
Behind a display rack, I scored a flimsy little card table. The kind with those four little tube legs that folds down. Getting that out, had revealed some folding camp chairs. The fabric ones with built in cup holders and armrests.
"Not sure, it really goes with the decor down there."
"I promise. I'll get an interior decorator in, as soon as the weather breaks."
"Promise?"
"No, it just sounded like the thing to say."
Then, another score. I thought we had gone through all the used clothes already, but there was more in the camping hunting fishing junk aisle. A box of all old hunting socks. I got us each a nice durable looking pair. Some of them still had the little paper wraps around them, with ancient prices from stores now long gone. And under that, a big score. Oversize quilted thermal underwear. Not like regular knitted Long Johns everyone recognizes. These were like low level snow suits all in themselves. If regular long johns under your insulated work suit were insufficient on a winter deer hunt, this went between the long underwear and the insulated outer layer. In general, I like most things in XXL. Perfect for me, a little big on her but nothing outrageous.
That's when I saw it. Solid gold bars, might have excited me less at this stage of the game. Was it, yes it was. In my newfound excitement I handed her the growing pile of goodies, and knelt all reverent as I pawed boxes and items around to prove I wasn't imagining it.
A box of old game cameras. A number of smaller boxes had been going up, and this was the base. I had zero issues cajoling her into packing the other stuff downstairs, before we came up to get the table and folding chairs last. I wouldn't let my little prize out of my hands.
"Well. I can see it. I'm going to be second banana now. To a box of old hunting cameras."
"Well, let me just get the table and chairs up, and I'll give them a quick once over, then... I'll get into these later."
I dumped the trail cams out on the little card table, and sorted them out. The really ancient one, was an old real film style. No way. One though, caught my eye. It was an older model Tessco. They make some higher end stuff, but nothing you would call premium. They cornered the medium to entry level market. What was once top of the line, after several years becomes entry level. This style still sells, and you can get them new for twenty bucks on sale when hunting stuff goes on clearance.
Thing is though, I've fooled around with this model before. If not the exact same model, then very similar. I've even modified them. I caught her looking down at me, sorting out the game cameras. I put them all back in the box, then put it aside on the floor.
"No, Panic. Go ahead. I know you're dying to get to it, and... hell, its probably important. Its early. I can wait. Its fine."
"No, its not fine. I want to spend time with you."
She studied me a short while.
"That's nice, but..."
"But what."
"What you're doing is important. It should come first. Then? We can play cards, or something."
"Its early, Zar. And really, I'd rather put a couple of these up late at night. When I know no one's around. I wouldn't want to risk someone driving by, on accident. My chances late at night? Are better. I'd be waiting anyways. So no, I have time."
"If you're sure."
"I am. And hey, I have something to tell you too."
"Hmm."
"Remember, you told me how you missed me some? Just, being close to me."
"I meant it."
"Well I missed it, too. And I don't mean... that way. Just, being close. So its nice to spend time alone with you, like this. And if you ever want to? You can come spend time with me and Merry. Any time you want, stay as long as you want. Bring Junior with you, or by yourself? Whatever floats your boat. As long as JR is okay with it? Anything is okay with me. But... I wouldn't have some secret time with you, and not be able to talk about it with JR. He's one of my best friends."
"He's my best friend, too."
"And that's great. Your husband? Should be your best friend, as well as your lover. And probably like fourteen other things, Merry the therapist would rattle off. And I'm no expert. But I want you to know this. First and foremost, right up front. If... even a little bit, you didn't like me and JR making jokes, guy jokes? About... what we teased each other about. We all three, made jokes like that before. But, if it bothered you even the tiniest bit? Just mention it, and... never again."
"Panic. I wasn't really mad. I told you, we were just playing a practical joke on you. For fun. Really."
"I know. But what it made me realize? What if I really did make you feel bad, even a little. I... get this knife twisting in my guts feeling. If I thought I hurt you somehow. In any way. Merry really is my wife, in everything but name. She's your big sister, again in every way but name. I know your history, from your lips and Merry's both, and... I'm just plain happy for you, that you have your own husband and kid and everything, and its going fine. And I honestly think of JR as my little brother, as well as a close friend. We're all... family, really. How do I think of you? I guess now, as some kind of sister I'm extra close to, and in some ways, a little like a daughter? No, just... I'd act like a father, maybe."
"I know what you mean. And, thanks."
"Okay. And one more thing."
"Mm."
"I'm pretty sure women, like to know they're... desirable. And, if it was just a matter of desire, how pretty or cute or gorgeous I think you are? Trust me. If I had a choice between being stuck in a snowstorm for a whole week, with you. Or, whatever famous lady is the hottest thing right now? I'd pick you. Every time. If it was just a matter of desire? You beat out any Hollywood starlet or anything like that."
"Panic, that's very sweet of you to say, but... if its just on looks. Desire. The Hollywood starlet wins that one. Pretty sure I'm cute, but... I'm not drop dead gorgeous."
"You? Are simply the cutest girl next door, I think is possible. Before, the girl gets some skewed view of the world. There's something just, kind of flawless about you. Its like I've been telling Merry, since I first met her. When I walk around with her? I feel ten feet tall. When you were with us? Same way. You, Merry. Both of you together, or either one separate. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, when I walk around and people see me with you. Like at the diner? Or the towing guy."
"What about them."
"I felt like a little kid, all excited. When people thought you were my wife. And this is nothing I wouldn't say, right in front of Merry. Or anyone else, for that matter."
"Well, thanks. And no, you and JR can joke all you want. I know from Merry, that's just... guy friend stuff. I don't mind. Merry taught me. You're not supposed to keep your guy, from being one of the guys. As long as everything's okay. And it really is. So, never worry about it."
"If you're sure."
She nodded. That look of the sweet little teenager under all her layers of whatever the world did to her back in the day that she had to get over. Its infections, and it makes you feel there's things that are right in the world. Not just anyone can give you that feeling. Its the same feeling I get, when I spend any time around a really innocent child.
"Well, thanks. Again."
"Think nothing of it."
She tapped her lips, much like a kid would. Thinking.
"So. What do we do now."
"Well? Some Szarabjorna time. Its early yet. The diner? They're staying open a little later than normal, on account of everyone wants something to do, somewhere to go in this mess outside. Do you want dinner there, maybe. I promise. No work, just... down time. Relax."
"Nope. You got steaks left, right? In your freezer."
I got her calling my box of snow in the bed of my truck, my little freezer.
"Yeah. Is that what you want?"
"Mm Hmm."
"I'll be right back."
I was back quick with a couple deer and pig steaks both. I got two MRE packs out, so it was like weird little side dishes to go with the steaks I made. We traded some things back and forth, out of the pack meals. We checked to see if His Majesty wanted to go out again, but the cat just looked at us like were retarded. His face seemed to say it all. Warmth, food, friendly humans... or that unholy mess outside that door? Please.
Before I started on dinner though, I figured warm water would feel good, then we could get into all clean clothes, and into the good stuff. Knitted long john underwear bottoms and tops for both of us. Zar mugged it was a little big, and I felt a little bit like a dad being nice to his own little kid. I rolled up her wrist cuffs neat, then her ankle cuffs just as precise.
Then, the insulated one piece zip up arctic thermal layer. Clean socks all around, then we both got a brand new but vintage pair of real thick hunting socks.
She spun around in her delicate little circle. She was a dancer once, and used to train for it in all seriousness.
"Very fashionable."
"Warm?"
"Oh, like toast. I know I look like a dork, though."
"Well. To tell a family secret. When Merry wears long johns around the cabin, at the camp? I really can't keep my hands off her. Just saying."
"What do we do. No internet. No cable."
"We have a radio. We both have tons of music. I can play all my music files, on my phone. You, like your retro little MP3 player. We could play cards. I have a couple board games, in my toolbox. Whatever you want. You know, you're the reason for the trip. This, find the missing guy and his car? That was just an errand. Since I was going past here. You? Were really the prime objective. Merry made a little case of DVDs for us to watch. We could watch movies on my laptop. I even have a few games on that laptop, too. Merry put paper and colored pencils and stuff like that in the truck. Maybe when I finally fiddle with the cameras? You can do that."
"That all sounds great, but... since you're gonna make the food now?"
"Yeah."
"Any chance we could... maybe, get baked. If we're done working, and all that."
"Sure."
Zar had what she took at the time to be an idyllic and fun childhood. She might have interpreted it in an incorrect fashion being a young child and all, but the phantasmagoria of her youth felt just as good to her as any real one did. The severe sustained and prolonged trauma befell her at fourteen or thereabouts. The permanent scar was a constant resurfacing fourteen year old girl, in a grown up girl's body.
This is not to say that she was child-like, and far from it. Merely a few ticks to her tock that were radiating with some innocent sparkle of vital youth when she was in a good mood. It carried her flawless girl next door image persona over the threshold for me and into that magical zone. I felt as if I was punching above my weight class when I had been with her. Sexually of course, but also by every other conceivable metric. She handed the same back to me displaying equal fervency on her part. We begged in each other's ears, using sweat and touch for an acoustical clinch. The sub-audible shameless begging into the other partner's neck shoulder junction. Hot whispers and moist pulls and pushes of moisture warm breath. Panted wheedling that was positively shameful. We competed at crawling into position to be the next sexual contestant on our own private satyric stage. We made love at certain times, but during others? We fucked.
She's no child, trust me on that count. And the magic itself, was very real. How else but through some kind of magical spell can a woman give you such a bone chilling and vibrating shiver with just her leer. She can follow it up with lascivious licks of her lips. A hungry stare and that was it. I melted like wax. Merry has the same effect on me, it just comes in on a somewhat different yet adjacent wavelength. I begged into her human microphone, my words felt more than heard. When the girl is doing the same back, its how the magic morphs into full blown sorcery.
We already each took a shower, the warm water feels great for a break from the chill. I made us each a deer steak after we took turns rubbing ourselves with the little bar of soap, lathering up the washrag and wiping all over. Shivering to do it, then back under the awesome warm waterfall. So after our deer steaks and the MRE I made for improvised side dishes, after the music and games. She wanted another warm shower.
Hey, I can't say its a bad idea. After this shower, I'm making the pig steaks now, and another MRE for side dishes again. As always, jerky available.
Nudity is no sin in her own little world. She just speaks when showering in front of me, little different in tone and style than under any mundane situation. Her sense of propriety secret, is that she doesn't have one. Zar seems to have to take some mild effort to monitor what's an appropriate level of shame to display. She'll err on the side of caution going about it. Caution to her, being that she gets her inhibition vibe across.
"Don't you dare look away."
"All right."
"How many times did we ever fuck, honey."
"Back when we were supposed to, I can't even count. But after it became a prohibited activity, I can answer that one easy. Zero."
We improvised this time for shampoo and body soap by substituting scented dish detergent. Tonight's shared scent by the way, is citrus orange. I didn't lose my soap bar in the small travel container, this just smelled better to us.
"Well, I have an idea."
Its not a chore to stand near and watch her slither around in those adorable little dance gestures. She can grin and give this hard to define sashay to so little as shifting her weight around while humming. From four to fourteen, she was a dance pupil at her tiny town's dance school for girls. Ten years of it left a residue that adds that indefinable something extra to her overall package. Five eleven in her socks and her defining feature is no doubt those legs. Long even by the standards of most women her height and weight. A compact lithe muscularity all over her. She's deceptive in appearance and estimation. The slender muscle and trim athletic figure still weighs in at over 180, easy.
I'm not sure where this is going. This sounds dicey. Our fidelity to our respective spouses requires both of us to put some effort towards it. If she teased me a little too much, for a little too long... I know I lack the willpower to resist her pass. Not that I have that big an ego, but I might guess I could make her uncomfortable the same way back. I'm a rock, but I know I'm very human. As I stated, dicey at best.
"So. I'll start this out, by saying it up front. I'm not trying to get you to have sex with me, okay? I promise. Can I go on, though."
"Maybe."
"If we both promise to not have sex. No sexual contact. That means, that we can do anything else, that isn't sex."
I almost chuckled.
"Kind of the definition, of not having sex, honey. We do anything but."
"Yeah, Panic. Now. I ask you. There's nothing wrong with us snuggling under the blankets. We need to stay warm. Am I right."
"So far, you haven't tried to get my wife to murder us both. You may continue, on probation."
"What law would be broken. If. While snuggling. One of us told the other, a naughty bedtime story. Now before you answer, think. What's perfectly legal, with nothing added to it? Except... a naughty bedtime story. I mean, a dirty one. Chewing on your neck, licking your ear. Whispering the most profane things into your ear. You know how naughty bedtime stories work. Merry gives them to you. I've given you plenty of them, haven't I."
"You seem to enjoy them at least as much as Merry does, yeah."
"Well. Answer me. What is perfectly legal, is still perfectly legal... with a story. Admit that much."
"Yeah."
"That's all I'm proposing."
I waited, pondering.
"There's something more to this."
"Riddle me this. You miss Merry. And I mean, that way. Am I right?"
"Of course."
"Well. After I decided I was done torturing you with extra naughty bedtime stories. I separate from you. And you finish things. In front of me. Maybe I'll make suggestions, for you to follow. Before you answer, you know you're going to end up jacking off anyways. When you're done? My turn. I want an even hotter bedtime story, and... I promise you my own, show, back."
"This sounds dangerous."
"Okay, maybe it does. But we both get off and get it out of the way. Legally. Then, there's zero chance of us having sex. For a while, too. You think I ain't starting to miss sleeping with my husband? I am. You gonna try to tell me you don't miss Merry. If you really missed her, and wanted to protect that? My plan actually makes more sense. My plan is more fun. My plan is perfectly legal."
"I admit it, but I still think I'd rather consult my lawyer first. Run it past the boss."
I heard her muted giggle.
"What would you say, if I told you Merry was the one who gave me the idea."
"Notice how I can't confirm this story. The cell towers are fading in the ice storm."
"If I swear to you, I'm telling the truth. You wouldn't believe me? Careful, sweetie. You'll make me feel really hurt if you think I'd lie to you. When have I ever lied to you before. You tell me once."
Not once I know of, and what's more I don't suspect her of it.
"Can I ask you something, even though when you put it like you just did... I have to believe you. Why is this suddenly so important. I mean, I'd have tried it when you're asleep, I guess. Sneak out of the covers without waking you up. Go off and get it over with. And, just never mention it. Hint, hint."
Zar wheeled and had the classic dumbfounded expression.
"Why, do you sound... like Merry didn't recently have a nice little talk with you."
"What, kind of... talk, are we talking about, Zar."
That froze her for a moment.
"Oh shit. I, am, so, embarrassed. I don't know whether to shit or go blind."
"Zar."
I got the sheepish little cute sorry face. The dramatic pout. Those adorable puppy dog eyes.
"Mm."
"You think you're embarrassed, you know at least something about what's gong on. I have nothing. What do I need to know."
"Panic? I'm going to kill Merry. She's supposed to have had this little, prep talk with you. Which would then make this sound, never mind. Damn it. She swore she would do her thing, and... well, here I am. Fucked."
"I love how I'm the last one, to know anything important. What the hell."
"I, am so sorry."
I gave her my best ultralight guilt trip. How much could I sneak in before she smelled a rat. I go by more than looks. I scan body and face, tone of voice for extra data. Not just looks and impressions as any normal person would. My opponent is no slouch. She can "read" fourteen, and it comes across as natural. The fourteen going on forty component is perfect natural camouflage.
Maybe I pulled it off.
"Panic. Please. This wasn't a practical joke, I promise. It really is important, but I can't spell it out. Damn it, Merry was s---"
"I know. So. You can't break a promise to Merry. Any more than I can. Can you."
She shook her dripping wet head and hair slow. No. I got the lower lip under gentle pressure between her white teeth. Porcelain food processors little different from the rest of her package. Any more perfect, it would seem like a con job. But it was just one more thing as flawless as it could be without spoiling the owner. Am I crazy or am I pulling this off. I'm winging it, and I had to poke a test. Is she playing along with my obvious and easy to discover plan. I can laugh, I was just kidding. And if she falls for it, take it out for a spin and enjoy the show.
I quit while I was ahead and still had full plausible denial if things took a sour turn. I'm serious as long as I'm working it. At any hint of a flag on the play, I was just kidding. Nothing to lose, everything to maybe gain. Working it, back off but don't lose your position.
I brought my folding camp chair over quite close to her filthy corner of the basement sorry excuse for a shower. Pipes broken on purpose to be "fixed" with early twentieth century washtub sink one piece handles and spigot.
"You did hurt me a little bit, Zar."
"I said I'm sorry, I meant it. Please don't be mad at me, I promise I'm not lying to you."
"We'll see. For starters?"
"Hmm."
"Finish the shower. We'll talk a little more, when you're done."
I crossed my legs and watched her finish. I got to issue calm showering show instructions. It wouldn't be illegal, for you to stand out of the water, and soap up again. Extra soap, I think. Then a nice long lathering show. Head to toe tips, twice and more to develop a thick bodysuit of dense white foam.
"And the face. Can't have the rest of your dirty little body clean as a whistle, and have a dirty face now, can we. Lather up your face, and if you so much as try to take one little peek? You'll burn your eyes out."
Household chemical blindfold.
A little shiver show with the clinging oily foam provided some surprising level of artistic merit to this that I found quite sensual. This wasn't some naughty spank magazine pose. This was the gentleman's photo shoot. Tasteful smut. I got her to stand still, describing the generic 'at attention' pose.
"Can't open your eyes, can you little girl."
I got a grin, and she stayed at a comical attention for me. A dancer comedienne, aping military bearing. While naked? This is better than a strip club performance, for my money's worth.
"No, sir."
"The longer you stand still at attention like that? The more you love me."
"Yes, sir."
When the teeth started chattering, that was too much on top of the little shiver twitches that were running along visible now. I allowed her back under the warm water.
As I watched her enjoying the steaming hot water, I ended my fun.
"You don't have to call me sir anymore. We're done."
I got the fourteen year old's grin.
"Yes, sir."
"Hey. Game's over, but if you like giving me shivers? Fine."
"What's not to like. Sir."
"Be gentle with me, Zar."
"Maybe, sir."
"Anyways, Private Szarabjorna. You had a military objective. To get me to give myself relief about Merry. To prevent mother nature from sparking our fire, keeping warm in the same sleeping bag until we get home. Is that true?"
"Well, yes."
"And you really do swear to god, that Merry was in on this. Even if you can't tell me what its about."
"I swear to god, Panic."
"Okay. You? Are now medically safe from me spontaneously raping you."
"Damn. When you put it like that? Sounds hot."
"I know, right. You're safe. I took matters into my own hands while you had soap on your eyes. The little bubble bath show? I owe you a couple hundred bucks, I guess. Better than any strip club, ever. And, I'm going to take a bath now. Feel free to use the privacy, if I need a soap facial. Of course, I'm not used to doing this. You'll have to tell me when to rinse off."
She reversed the game. She inquired whether or not a soft spoken female drill instructor would get called ma'am. But how realistic was that. Asked for my opinion, I told her a high ranking female officer would get called ma'am just the same. And I'd be nervous of any officer raising their voice or quizzing me even if they went about it quiet.
I have to guess what went through her mind. I'd imagine it did something though. Being able to hear my breathing when I was done issuing soft orders. She'd have to know or guess correct and quick, to hear me gasping for air. My deflated tone once I calmed back done had to confirm any suspicions she had that lingered, and would polish up her certainty.
No guessing on my part necessary. I've heard it said that sex is in reality ninety percent mental and only ten percent physical. I know with the bubble bath show it didn't take long. And if she had been watching? Not sure I'd have lasted the first three tugs. As it was, though I didn't count it wouldn't have been that high of a number.
I got to imagine how many times her finger moved. My ears got a little heavy breathing treat. And no, she didn't take very long, either. We were both sheepish and quiet afterwards, like any afterglow situation. I filled the void that cushioned our return to normal behavior and social interaction. I dressed her like royalty. I adjusted each article of clothing with careful attention. Just to ensure it was fun, I made it into a little role play for her amusement. I was nervous to make eye contact, I was shy about seeing and touching her. She's smart and intuitive, as well as curious and spontaneous. Her and Merry were both big sports stars at their university in the big top ten's tough Mid-West university conference.
One thing about successful athletes at such a level of play, they're street smart and street quick to go with it. They have to be able to read things intuitive and correct, and act or react in an instant. With confidence and success. So Zar just read my game script I was proffering her and went with it. We both just got off, so anything we want now is just for fun. With no racing heart and thoughts, our choices will be more pure, somehow. So as soon as I got started, she adjusted the game to suit.
"Why aren't you kneeling. You're a commoner. As well as a low caste of one, even at that."
"Yes ma'am."
"Ma'am?! That's how a low caste common man, properly addresses a higher caste of common female. Is it not?"
She didn't want ma'am. I couldn't answer her the proper way.
"Yes."
"I'm the king's eldest daughter, you common fool. Which makes me not just Princess, but My Princess. My younger sisters? You would say Princess, to be correct. But as the eldest sister, it requires My Princess. To do it properly."
"Yes, My Princess."
"Don't ever make me tell you to kneel. If you're in my room? Your hands and knees better be on the floor, unless I tell you otherwise. You will not ask me what I want. I will tell you what I want, and you will do it. You will then go back to being seen and not heard. Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes, My Princess."
"Never look me in the eye, unless I give you permission. Until ordered to do something? Hands and knees, on the floor. Eyes down, on the floor. That, is how you wait for orders. Do it now. Face at my feet, to show respect. Move!"
"Now then. I advise you to listen to me. Ask anyone, and I'm not shy about it. I have the help whipped regularly."
Silence.
"Not bad, for a first time."
"I'm done with my shower. I want a foot rub. Then dress me."
"Keep the other foot... here. When you're working on one, keep the other one warm. Its cold in here."
"All right. Now dress me."
"I might decide to keep you around. That's not bad. Now see about dinner. And find a way to amuse us, after we eat. I'm bored. This place is dreadful, and I'm trapped here with one commoner, not even trained to serve my needs properly."
I had a slave girl to dress me when it was my turn. My Lord, shortened into M'lord. Her imagination, not mine. An adult little girl playing first princess, then the opposite.
We cracked jokes and went in and out of our characters throughout dinner. Microwaved danishes and the occasional drag on either jet fuel or the unleaded vape pens made games and music into several hours of childish fun.