Saturday's Child - 2007-02-08
Saturdays Child must work for a living.
This is the city. Las Vegas, Nevada. I work here. My name is Sadie. I carry a badge.
I know what you’re thinking, “’Sadie’. Named after her grandmother.” I wish. In actuality my parents had a twisted sense of humor when it came to names. The family name is Knight and since I was born on a Saturday evening, and that became my name. Saturday Knight. Sadie for short. Cuts down on the jokes.
Maybe it was the constant jokes that made me want to be a cop. Maybe it was all the punks in school. Either way, it’s what I do. After eight years on the force I guess I’ve become more than a little cynical. It’s hard not too. Everybody hates the cops. Face it; you get pissed off when you get pulled over for speeding. You get pissed of at the cop. But it wasn’t the cop who made you tromp on the gas, that was all you. The cop just did what he gets paid to do. Enforce the law. If you break the law and you get caught you deal with the consequences. But if you’re gonna be pissed off, be pissed off at the one responsible.
It was Friday, September 6th. I was working Vice. Going undercover as a hooker isn’t my idea of a good time. I never understood it really. Prostitution is legal in Nevada, as long as you aren’t on the street. Even then, it’s not illegal for the hooker to be there, it’s illegal for someone to solicit her and illegal for her to accept. Government scam? You better believe it. Most of the guys we bust are from out of state and don’t know any better. They figure prostitution is legal here so that means anything goes.
That’s where I come in. Standing on a corner in sweltering heat, sweating my tits off just so some poor, desperate schmuck can get busted for being horny. I felt sorry for them. Honest. Most of these guys were either dorks that couldn’t get laid any other way or they were married and their wives weren’t giving it up. Hey, I can understand that. Men need to get off once in a while. They’re men, they can’t help it.
It’s not any better for the girls either. High school dropouts and runaways for one of a thousand reasons, they don’t have the education to get a normal job or they’re too into the drugs, whatever. They’re too homely to get into one of the brothels, so they wind up on the street. Knocked up, strung out and lost.
Sound like I don’t agree with it? No, I don’t. So why do I do it? It’s the law. I get paid to enforce the law. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.
I think that’s why I did it. I had to know the other side to understand why I did what I did. So when the shift was over I radioed my back up, told him I was not feeling well and was going to head straight home. Yancey offered to cover my paperwork, so I got in my car and left. I drove around for an hour, and then I went back to that same corner, went out to that same streetlight and lit a cig.
I wasn’t there long. I could see him eyeing me from across the street, when the light changed he tossed his butt and all but charged across the street. I kept my cool as he approached, eyeing him indifferently as he approached, but my heart was trying to beat an exit through my sternum. Young, early 20s, with a cocky air about him, Not particularly handsome but better than average I suppose. Clean cut and dressed casual, probably some college kid on is first big trip away from home on his own. He likely had never propositioned a hooker before.
“How much?” he demanded.
“How much for what?” I took another drag from my cig and tilted my head back, exhaling the smoke forcefully skyward, “What is it you’re looking for?”
“I’m not sure. What are you willing to do and what will it cost me?
“Fifty for a blow, hundred for a fuck and suck, one-fifty for ‘round the world and three hundred get you two hours.”
“That’s pretty steep.”
“Yeah? Well, I ain’t your average crack whore and I ain’t lookin’ to make up the difference in quantity. I don’t work on time limits like everyone else. When you blow your load, your done. ‘Cause that’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“Uh, Yeah. That works for me. So where we goin’?”
“Around the corner is a place called Sands Motor Lodge. They charge by the hour. Get a room and I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”
“What? I gotta pay for the room too?”
“You got two other choices. We can go to your hotel or we can do it right here on the sidewalk. The room is gonna cost you ten for an hour.”
He shuffled is feet on the concrete and looked around, “Alright, but you better be worth it.”
“Get the room. I’ll be in the parking lot.”
I let him go on his own, finished my cig, stomped it out on the pavement and turned toward the motel. I forced my mind to empty. No emotions, no inhibitions, no regrets.
It’s not like I’ve never had sex before. I’ve had my share of one-night stands. Even had a few boyfriends. But they never last. Dating a cop ain’t easy. Once they learn what I do, the relationship is on its way out. It’s just a matter of the job coming first. When I made sergeant the job started taking more and more time. Usually about the fifth time a guy calls to ask you out and you tell him you’re working, that’ll be the last you hear from him.
I waited across the parking lot for the kid to check in. He spied me as he left the office and held up four fingers to indicate the room number. I followed him in.
“So what’s it gonna be, Skippy?” I said, lighting another cig.
“Well, I only got $60 left unless you take a check or a card.”
I rolled my eyes and took another deep drag, blowing the smoke at him, “What do I look like, Wal-mart? I guess a blow job is it.”
“No. No, I really like your ass and I’m gonna fuck it.”
“Not on sixty bucks, Skippy.”
“My name’s not Skippy!” He bellowed. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a cheap K-mart special Buck Knife and flicked it open. “You’re gonna take the sixty and take it up the ass and you’re gonna like it or bleed.”
My hand went instinctively into the special pocket on the end of my purse, wrapping around the butt of the Sig 229, and slipping it easily from its concealment. Skippy’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when the barrel stopped, pointed at his face. “I don’t think so, Skippy. I would have guessed you for smarter than this but I guess even a cop is wrong sometimes.” I pulled my badge from my purse with my free hand and waved it in his face.
“A cop? You’re a cop?” He almost gave out at the knees and dropped the knife. “Awww, Fuck me!”
“Not likely, Skippy. You blew your chance with that one.”
“Shit.” His defeat was apparent in his voice, “So, now you’re gonna haul me off to jail?”
“Well, I’d have a pretty good case for attempted rape, wouldn’t I?”
“Rape? Don’t you mean robbery? I mean you’re a hooker, or at least I thought you were. And you already agreed to sex with me.”
“I agreed to a specific sexual service for a specific price. You were about to force me into a sex act that I had not agreed to. That constitutes rape whether I am a hooker or not.”
“Jesus, lady! I didn’t mean nothing by it! I was just… I was… Fuck!”
“You didn’t mean anything by it? You pulled a knife on me, for Christ’s sake!”
“It’s not a very big one and it’s not even very sharp!”
I couldn’t believe I just heard that. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. But I could also see that it was all he could do to keep from pissing his pants. I pulled the radio from my purse, keyed the mike, identified myself and called for Yancey. Immediately the spot appeared on the front of Skippy’s khakis and grew down his leg.
All I could think at that moment was, ‘Poor Bastard.’
The radio crackled and Yancey’s voice filled the room, “What’s up Knight?”
I waited, watching the kid crying in front of me, “Just wanted to say thanks for covering the paperwork.”
“Not a problem, Sadie. If I had your job I’d probably be sick every day. You comin’ in tomorrow?”
“Not sure yet, Yance. I’ll have to play it by ear. I’ll call if I’m a no show.”
“My advice: Have a couple of stiff ones and get some sleep.”
“Thanks, Partner. Knight out.”
“Out.”
The kid looked up at me with red eyes and streaks down his cheeks, not sure of what he was hearing.
A strange feeling was pervading my consciousness. I guess eight years on the force had turned me pretty hard. Hard enough that compassion felt alien to me. “How old are you kid?”
“I’m not a kid.” He said defiantly. “I turned twenty-one last month.”
“Well kill the attitude. I can still call for a cruiser to cart you away. When does your bus for home leave?”
“Sunday night.”
“I think it leaves tonight. And I think there won’t be any more trips to Vegas until you learn some manners. Prob’ly why you don’t have a girlfriend.”
“You… You mean I can go?”
“Not just yet. I want to see your I.D.”
The kid fumbled his wallet out of his back pocket, still shaky and adrenaline pumped he almost threw it at me. “Sorry.”
I opened it and pulled his license, looked it over carefully, put it back in his wallet and tossed it back to him. “Mr. Justin DiAngelis of 359 Post road, Barstow, California, I will be making it a personal quest to keep an eye out for your name and description. If I ever hear anything about you again I’ll be bringing this incident into the light. Understood?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Then get out of here.”
He bent to retrieve his knife; I cleared my throat, stopping him a few inches away. “You can just leave that there. I’ll dispose of it properly.”
“But…”
“No buts. Get out of here, kid. Count yourself lucky.”
He beat a quick path for the door but stopped just short of opening it. “I suppose I should thank you.” He said without turning back.
“Yeah. I suppose you should.”
He opened the door and left without another word. That’s gratitude for ya.
So where did I suddenly get the compassion? I didn’t. I didn’t let him go because I felt sorry for him. I let him go because I was gonna have a hell of a time explaining what I was doing there to start with. But I figure I just scared the piss out of him, literally, and he wasn’t likely to try anything like that again. At least not any time soon.
On the other hand it did sort of screw up my plan. It’s not like I really need to get laid, I have toys that keep me satisfied sexually. I just need to know what the average hooker goes through. If you ask me why, I’m gonna smack you. I don’t really know why, it’s just something I need to do.
So I grabbed my things, tucked my gun back in its place in my purse and dropped the knife into the main compartment. I’d add it to my collection later.
Back out on the street corner, I wondered if it was even a good idea to try again. I didn’t have much time for debate. I didn’t even have time to light another cig before the silver Mercedes swerved over to the curb and screeched to a halt. The passenger window slid down, revealing a handsome, well dressed man in his mid-thirties. He smiled revealing his orthodontist’s daughter’s tuition and simply said, “Get in.”
Now this was a classic example of ‘A rock and a hard place’. On one hand he was clean and good looking, every hookers dream date. Then again, what the hell was a rich, handsome man doing picking up a street hooker? Something smelled fishy and it wasn’t my panties.
The cop in me took over again. I had a badge, a gun and a radio, what could go wrong? I opened the door and plopped my ass in the embrace of a soft leather seat. He was already moving as I pulled the door closed.
We drove several blocks in silence; he stared straight ahead watching the road as if I weren’t there. When we stopped at a traffic light I expected the bargaining to begin. It didn’t. The light turned green and we were moving again, heading for the edge of town. I can’t say I was nervous, perplexed would be a better description. Guys in the big Vegas hotels call the escort services for girls or pick up on of the bevy of girls that hang out in the hotel lounges. Some of the more affluent will drive out to the “ranches” in the desert. The Chicken Ranch, Cottontail Ranch, Shady Lady and Berry Patch are all famous, popular. And expensive.
This guy could obviously afford better than the average street whore and we weren’t going to one of the showboat hotels. “Which hotel are you staying at?” I asked, trying to ease my growing anxiety.
“I’m not.” was his reply.
“Well, you want to tell me where you’re taking me? My husband is gonna wonder where the hell I went.”
He turned his head glaring incredulously at me; I returned it with a raised eyebrow and an expectant scowl. He made a left, heading south on Las Vegas Blvd.
“I have a ranch just outside of town. Don’t worry. You’re safe. Nothing bad is going to happen to you and anytime you want I will drive you back to your corner.”
“So why not use a hotel?”
“The hotels on the strip have too many cameras and the off strip dives make my skin crawl. Trust me. I’m going to make this worth your while. You get a bath and some pampering, some clean clothes, a nice dinner and a good time. Nothing else needs to happen if you don’t want it to.”
“So what is it you want from me? You could obviously do better without paying for it.”
“Ah, but that is where you are wrong. It has been my experience that sex will always cost you more than you can afford.”
I stared backed at him but kept my mouth shut.
“Do you believe some people deserve better than they get?”
I didn’t have to think about it long. I had seen more than a few National Honor Society girls on the street because the father couldn’t keep their hands off them. And even a few High Society debutantes that that were forced out by a gold digging step mother who wanted the old man to themselves. He seemed satisfied with my curt nod.
“And would you agree that some people get better than they deserve?”
Again, I nodded. That was why I became a cop.
“Do you believe in second chances?”
The cynical cop in me answered before I could think about it, “You fuck up, you pay your price and you go on. That’s your second chance.”
It was his turn to give me the raised brow, “You really believe that?”
I turned away, unsure of how to answer. He made a right onto Blue Diamond road and continued out of town. Fifteen minutes later he slowed and put on his left signal. I made a mental note of the mailbox, 13509. L. Zander.
He turned down a long gravel drive flanked by whitewashed pasture fence. A Big Palomino bolted across the pasture and ran along side us. The driver’s side window hummed quietly down and I heard the horse whinny over the rumble of tires on coarse gravel. “Zipper!” He called out, “My buddy! Be good boy. You can meet the Lady later.”
“Pretty horse.” I said, then laughed, “That was stating the obvious wasn’t it?”
“Just don’t tell him that. He already has a big head.” He smiled at me, the most friendly gesture he had made since I laid eyes on him.
“Now who’s stating the obvious?”
The car stopped in front of a large Mexican Villa, “This is it. My little corner of the world.”
“Pretty big corner. Nicer than Industrial and Hacienda.”
He cocked his head in silent question.
“My corner of the world.”
“Ah. Not anymore if I can help it.”
A golden haired girl with a dark tan stood in the archway in of open double doors that that, for their size, gave only a glimpse of the interior. She wrung her hands nervously, waiting for our approach “Your daughter?”
“Hardly. How old do you think I am?”
“Don’t get me lyin’. Employee? Sister? Lover?”
“Not exactly, but logical guesses. She is a student. An assistant, head of the household in my absence. She is also my ward, my adopted sister, my inspiration at times and exasperation at others. But I’ll explain it later. From the look on her face I expect there has been some trouble. Just stay close, I’ll take care of this and we’ll get down to business.”
We walked toward the doors, the girl stepped forward, “Mr. Zander, I’m so glad you’re home. Carrie is in her room crying. Her father tracked her down. He called earlier and demanded to speak to her.”
He rolled his eyes, then his head, “Just what I needed to make a good impression on our new guest.”
I’m sorry, Mr. Zander. I took the liberty of calling Mr. Silvers. He will be arriving within the hour.”
“Thank you, Samantha. And stop calling me ‘Mr. Zander’.”
“Begging your pardon, Sir, we agreed that the formal was appropriate in matters of business and in the company of guests. As we are in the presence of a guest and discussing business matters it fell under the guidelines of that agreement.”
“That agreement was with your sister and she had the manners of a wolverine.”
“That agreement helped her understand that you get what you give and turned her life around. Now she’s an attorney at Mr. Silver’s firm. I could live with that sort of agreement.”
“None the less, your manners are impeccable and you could stand to loosen up. Now take Miss… Miss… “ He turned to me, his dismay evident in his eyes, “I’m terribly sorry. I seem to have forgotten your name.”
“No you haven’t. You never asked my name and I never offered it.”
He dropped his head and shook it slowly, “And now you are going to embarrass me further in my own home by forcing me to drag it out of you? Fair enough.” He turned his back for a moment, when he turned back he was the embodiment of charm. “Pardon me, Miss, I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I am Lucas Zander and this is my home.” He held out his hand and bowed deeply.
That’s the kind of uppity, smarmy shit that makes me want to give guys a knuckle sandwich, but somehow I just couldn’t help but smile. There was something about the way he did it that was funny and genuine at the same time. So, I reached for his hand, he took it, but instead of a friendly shake he kissed it lightly and straightened. “Sadie. Sadie Knight.” I did my best to curtsey, playing along with his game.
“Sadie Knight, welcome to Sanctuary Ranch. The lovely, if stuffy, young lady, is Samantha.”
“Ranch? Please, tell me you’re not running a brothel here.”
Samantha laughed, “No, far from it. That would defeat the whole purpose wouldn’t it?”
Lucas raised a hand to quiet her, “I haven’t told her yet, Samantha.”
“Told me what?” I interrupted.
He ignored me, “We are going to be receiving guests, have Amy find some appropriate attire for Miss Knight and lay them out in the room next to mine. Then check the other girls and ensure they are dressed and ready. Nothing fancy, casual for everyone, jeans and T-shirts will be fine or shorts if they prefer. And have Cinda draw a bath for Miss Knight. We’ll be along shortly.”
“Yes Sir.” There was a flash of disappointment on her face.
“And, please, stop calling me Sir. Makes me nervous and gives the wrong impression. My name is Lucas. Use it.”
“Yes Sir.” Samantha whirled and disappeared inside, wisps of her long, light hair trailing in her wake.
“There are times that I am convinced she does that on purpose.” He bowed again, extending his hand towards the door. “After you, Miss Knight.”
“Only under one condition.”
“Oh?”
“Stop calling me ‘Miss Knight’. It makes me nervous and gives the wrong impression. My name is Sadie. Use it.”
He laughed easily, nodding his head in understanding, then gestured to the door again. “Fair enough. Shall we, Sadie?”
“We shall, Lucas.”
The Great Room was just that, huge. A sunken area in the center contained four leather sofas opposing on four sides around an open fireplace. Stairs on either side of the room lead up to an open walkway that circled the room. A hallway ran off both sides presumably to bedrooms and baths. The back wall was entirely glassed in with two sets of double doors leading to a large patio and a pool. Several girls were seated around the fireplace, ranging in apparent age from late teens to early twenties, engaged in studies, reading and quiet conversation. A few looked up and waved as we passed through.
Lucas led me down a hallway on the left and into a study halfway down the hall. He motioned to a chair by the desk and I took it.
“Confused yet?” He sat in a plush chair behind the desk and relaxed.
“I wouldn’t say confused. Intrigued would be a better word. Just what is it you do here?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I charge by the hour. Take your time.”
“A novel approach, but I could have guessed you would respond accordingly.”
Samantha entered with a tray. “Your tea, Sir. Can I get you anything else?”
“Thanks, Samantha. I think we’ll be fine.”
“A few of the girls are in the pool and wanted to know if they could swim a while longer.”
“No. We have a visitor coming who could compromise our situation. I would prefer that there were no bikini clad nymphs frolicking about that might give the impression I am running a harem here.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Tell them they will have an extra hour tomorrow. And ask Daria what’s for dinner, I’m famished.”
“It’s Friday, Sir. Seafood trays and salads on the patio as always.”
“That will be fine.”
Samantha exited closing the door behind her.
“So you’re not running a brothel and it’s not a harem. You mentioned that Samantha is your student but I see no classrooms.”
“You’ll make a good detective someday.”
I was startled by his observation. I thought I had given myself away too soon. “Funny, I never heard that before. So just what IS going on here?”
“Where should I begin?”
“How about the beginning?”
“Good call. Especially with you on hourly. Ok, here goes.
“My father died of a massive heart attack when I was twelve, I became reclusive afterwards, preferring the company of computers to humans. My mother remarried a few years later and while I don’t fault her for that, I was disappointed in her choice. Don’t get me wrong, my stepfather treated her like royalty and I was happy for her in that respect. But he wanted her to himself and my sister and I were treated as less than pets.
“My sister ran away after only a year. She had told me that he had abused her and threatened her. She called me on occasion to let me know where she was and that she was alive, but refused to come home. Then the calls stopped.
“I knew she had turned to hooking to get by, despite my pleas find another way. She assured me it was just until she could find another way to support herself and made me promise to stay in school. When she stopped calling I knew something bad had happened. Three months later a detective came to the door. He talked to my mother briefly leaving after she collapsed in a sobbing heap. He made a sincere apology at the door and simply walked out.
“My sister had been murdered by a pimp in L.A. because she refused to work for him.
“I finished High School with high marks and went into the Air Force, training as a computer tech.”
“Funny, you don’t look like a geek.”
“I wear contacts.” He smiled wryly, then continued. “After three years I stumbled onto a flaw in the target acquisition software that the services were using in both the surface to air missile systems and in their fighter aircraft. I was coming to the end of my hitch and saw an opportunity to set myself up for life. I made copies of the software and sent them home for safekeeping. Once I was out, I reworked the software and made vast improvements. When I took it to the pentagon they were outraged at first and threatened to have me imprisoned. Then cooler heads prevailed and the hired me as a contractor instead.
“The software, its upgrades and child programs have made me a millionaire to say the least. I should have been happy. I should have been content with my success. But I wasn’t, something was still bothering me.”
“Your sister.”
“Indeed. She had been an honor student, destined to be a doctor, a lawyer, an architect, anything but a dead 17-year-old hooker. And I knew she was not the only one. So, with more money than I knew what to do with I purchased this property, built the house and set about trying to help young ladies like my sister get off the street before they ended up looking at the grass from the beneath it.”
I have to admit I was stunned by his story, there had to be an ulterior motive, no one does work of this magnitude without some expectation of returns. There had to be more to it and I was determined to find out what. “So where do I fit in?”
“Are you saying hooking is your chosen profession?”
“No. I didn’t want to be a hooker.”
“Do you want to go back to the street? Or would you rather have an opportunity to make your life better?”
“So by joining your harem I get to stay in a nice house and live out the rest of my life in luxury and comfort in return for sexual favors for you and your friends?”
“No, certainly not. As I said, this is no harem. Your room and board here is not free, that’s true, but it will not cost you what’s left of your dignity either. I will provide you with a room of your own, for privacy. No one has access to that room but you, unless invited. I will provide food and medical care. You will be taken care of. In return you will learn a job skills that will allow you to make a life for yourself outside Sanctuary Ranch.”
“So, you are giving me a second chance and all I have to do is accept it? I’m not required to perform chores or anything? I just go to class and learn? You think it’s that simple?”
“Nothing is ever that simple. I never said this would be easy. But it will only be as hard as you make it. You are the one who has to accept the responsibility for your life. I don’t know what led you to prostitution; it’s not important to me. What’s important is that you choose to get out of it. There are strict rules here, some that you may find difficult to deal with, but they are for the good of everyone here and for the preservation of the Sanctuary. And everyone pulls their weight.”
“And if I want to leave?”
“I will drive you and your belongings back to the corner of Industrial and Hacienda and we will part company. Understand, though, the doors here will always be open to you. I don’t force anyone into anything, your life is your own and your decision is final in matters of what you do with that life. But I will never turn my back on you.”
“So what are these rules you mentioned?”
Lucas smiled, “Very simple, really. There are five cardinal rules. Number One: There are no drugs in this house and it WILL stay that way. If you have an addiction, I will help you overcome it. But there will not be illegal substances that could get the other members of this house arrested or this property taken away. Do you understand why?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“If there is a drug bust here your program would be shut down and you would go to jail.”
“Very good. I am no help to any of these girls in jail. Rule Number Two: The identities of anyone and everyone living here are not to leave these grounds for any reason. Do you understand why?”
“I think I can see the biggest reason, the protection of the girls from angry pimps or Johns turned stalker. But what about their parents? I’m sure that some of their parents are looking for them and would want to know they are safe.”
“I’ll grant you that. And that is the reason that any of the girls have access to a secure line with which to call home. But since many of the girls left home to escape abusive situations, it must be solely their choice to make contact. No one here is EVER to call another’s parents without the express consent of that girl. Nor will anyone call any runaway hotlines with information on any other girls. Clear?”
“Clear. I understand perfectly.”
“Good. Rule Number Three: There are no guests allowed on this property without my knowledge and consent. Do you understand why?”
“Yes. If someone were to come in not understanding what this place really is they could compromise everything.”
“Exactly.” He smiled slightly then turned very solemn, “And a lot of girls who are working hard to better themselves would be right back out on the street.”
“Rule Number Four: At the moment of your acceptance, all facilities and rooms on this estate outside you bedroom, your assigned bathroom and the great room are off limits. Do you understand why?”
“Ummmm… No, not really.”
“Recreational facilities and other areas of the house and estate are privileges that you will have the opportunity to earn. And those privileges can be revoked at any time by me if I deem necessary. Understand?”
“It’s a bit childish but I think I get it.”
“My house, my rules. Which brings me to Rule Five: In this house I am, like it or not, the supreme authority. Don’t like it? Industrial and Hacienda. Back on the interstate. Happy trails and all that. Do you understand why?”
“You pay the bills. You need to protect your interests. Makes sense to me.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll have Samantha show you your room.”
“Not so fast, Big Boy. I said I understood the rules. I never agreed to anything.”
“So, Industrial and Hacienda it is. As soon as I have my meeting with Mr. Silver, I’ll drive you back to town.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t agree either.”
His head fell back with a loud sigh, his hands fell slack at his sides. “Are you always this exasperating? What is it that you want?”
“I am when I feel like I’m being railroaded.” I calmed my voice, “If I decide to stay, your rules will be acceptable but there are things I need to know first.”
“Such as?”
“How do I know this is for real? What did I do to deserve your second chance? What am I going to be obligated to? When is this ‘training’ over? What is your success rate? How do…”
“Slow down! You have more questions than a cop. Geez! Be patient and I’ll tell you everything. But right now I have a crisis that may be the downfall of everything I have worked to do here and I need to make some preparations. So, what I suggest is that you have a bath and put on some decent clothes. Then talk to some of the other girls. If I know Samantha, she is no doubt arranging a pow-wow for you with all the other girls. She likes to make the new girls comfortable.”
“How long has she been here?”
“Nearly six years. She is currently attending UNLV, studying psychology and business management. I expect she will graduate near the top of her class.”
“Impressive.”
“Indeed. All the more so when you consider that she was a real problem child when she first came here. She and her sister, Morgainne, were orphaned in their early teens. After a few years of abuse in foster homes they ran away together. Her sister started hooking to keep them alive. That’s how I found Morgainne. I brought her here and when she saw what this was about she would only agree to stay if I accepted Samantha as well. Samantha was a well-mannered but very angry girl. And she was terrified that this would become another foster home. It took a couple years to get through to her.”
I considered this for a moment, studying him carefully. It all seemed too good to be true, which put my cop suspicions on full alert. Yet there was a growing feeling that I could trust this guy. If I stayed and I found anything crooked it would be the biggest bust of my career. If he was on the up and up it would be the biggest beacon of hope I had seen in all my years on the force.
“Look.” He stood, strolling casually to the door, “It’s the weekend and you have free room and board in, I’m sure, better conditions than you are used to. Stay until Monday, if you are not convinced by then I’ll take you back to your corner or get you a bus ticket to anywhere you like. I’ll even give you access to all facilities until Monday morning. A better offer you won’t find anywhere.”
“I guess that’s as fair as I can ask for. But how do you know I can be trusted?”
“I don’t. But if you can give me the benefit of the doubt, I can return in kind.”
“Alright. You and your harem have two days to convince me. But believe me, I can smell bullshit a mile away.”
“Something tells me you can. But see for yourself.”
There was a light knock on the door, it opened slowly and Samantha leaned into the room, “Mr. Silver is here, Sir.”
“Very good. Would you be so kind as to show Miss Knight to her room and make her comfortable, then show Mr. Silver in. Oh, and have Daniel close the security gates and monitor it closely.”
“Yes sir. Miss Knight?”
“Sadie, please.”
“Sadie.” She smiled, “Follow me, please.
She led me further down the hall to the last door on the left. She entered a three-digit code into a keypad above the knob and pushed the door open. “I need a three digit number.”
“For?”
“Every bedroom has a coded lock to ensure your privacy and to prevent snooping and theft. Not that any of those are anything to worry about here. Everyone knows where everyone comes from and they respect each other. But only you and I will know the code.”
I looked at the keypad, a standard numeric pad with corresponding letter set like a telephone. A mischievous thought popped into my head. ‘COP’. ”Ummm… 267”
“267 it is. Remember it well.” She punched a few more buttons and the code, tested it and finally pushed the door open and walked in.
The room was spacious yet simple, a double bed, a dresser, a desk and chair and a small vanity. White walls and burgundy carpet, and a dark flower print bedspread for color. Not quite as depressing as a hospital room, but with no personality. I suppose that would be left to the occupant.
“Better than I’m used to, that’s for sure.” I said, nodding.
“The bathroom is across the hall, there are a variety of soaps and shampoos and such in the cabinet. Towels are on the rack next to the sink. Cinda has run water for your bath; it should still be scalding hot so test it first. When you finish there will be clean clothes on your bed. We’ll find more for you in the morning, but once you’re dressed meet me in the great room and I’ll show you around and introduce you to the other girls.”
“I won’t be long. Thanks, Sam.”
“Samantha, please.”
I blushed, “I’m sorry. Habit I guess. Samantha. I’ll remember.”
She smiled quickly and left me alone in the room. I took another quick look around and crossed the hall. A bath was certainly going to feel good, and I admit I was never very comfortable in mini skirts and tube tops.
The bath was still steaming when I closed the door. I checked the cabinet and fond a bar of Camay and a bottle of Pert and climbed into the tub. I took a few minutes to relax, soaking in the warmth of the water, then an odd thought crossed my mind, ‘And I still haven’t gotten laid.’ I laughed aloud, and then remembered where I was and stifled the thought.
I scrubbed myself down and washed my hair. I tripped the drain and stood, adjusted the water and pulled the toggle for the shower, rinsing off under cooler water. I dried off, wrapped the towel around me, and opened the door. Peeking my head out I looked down the hall then dashed across to my room.
The door was locked. Dammit. I punched in 256, still locked. I tried again, no go. Great! I’m gonna have to find Samantha to let me in wearing nothing but a towel. Then it hit me. ‘COP’ 267, not 256. I punched it in, heard a click and turned the knob. I think everyone in the house heard my sigh of relief.
On the bed was a fresh pair of plain cotton panties, a Lycra sports bra, a pair of white shorts, a pink Izod golf shirt. ‘Pink. Just lovely.’ I thought. A note was tucked under the collar of the shirt:
“These should fit you pretty close. If not, pick up the phone on the desk, hit the intercom button and dial 019 and tell me what you need. Amy.”
I was surprised at the fit. I don’t know if Samantha gave her approximated measurements or what, but the clothes fit like I had picked them myself.
Funny, I had never gone for any of these fancy, high-tech bras, I pretty much stick to the 18 Hour variety. I don’t have a hell of a lot to hold up anyway, that’s one of the reason’s I was chosen for Undercover Vice, makes me look younger than I am I guess. But this sports bra thing was great, it was a snug fit, but not constricting and it didn’t cut into my shoulders or rub under my arms. It was a lot more comfortable than I would have thought, like being shrink-wrapped in silk. I definitely have to get some of these.
I slipped the sandals left by the bed on my feet and crept quietly down the hall. Pausing outside Zander’s office door, I listened closely. I could hear three voices, two men and one young woman, but it was too muffled to make out the conversation. I would have to try to get an angle on it later.
“Ready to meet your housemates?” Samantha’s voice nearly scared me out of my shirt.
“Yes. I guess I am.” I smiled trying to conceal my adrenaline-induced jumpiness.
“Those look good on you.” Samantha observed as we entered the great room.
“I was surprised at the fit. How did Amy know my sizes?”
“It’s a knack she has. She has been studying fashion design and I have never seen anyone more suited to it.”
“Let’s just hope New York, Paris, and Milan agree.” Turning to find the source of the mousey voice, I came face to face with a rail thin girl of oriental descent in her mid teens. “I was on the sofa by the fireplace when you came in with Lucas.”
“That’s an amazing gift you have. I couldn’t guess your size looking at you from here. But you managed to hit it on the head from thirty feet away in the few seconds it took me to walk through the room.”
“Well, You were walking next to Lucas, so that gives me a familiar size to base things on. The shoes are harder to guess, but sandals fit a wider size range.”
I nodded my approval, “But why pink?”
“It’s not pink, it’s salmon. And I thought it would look good with your dark hair.”
“Sorry. I’m not up on all the designer colors. And you’re right, it I do like the way it looks on me.” Yeah. It was a lie, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Besides, what the hell did I know about fashion?
Samantha saved me from any more faux pas, “Let’s have a seat and I’ll introduce you to the other girls.”
The girls ranged from 15 to 22 years, came from a variety of backgrounds. Their stories I had heard a hundred times before, runaways that out of desperation sold themselves to survive. The common link was obvious in that respect but didn’t end there. Each of the girls had been picked up off a street corner by Lucas Zander and brought here. They were each given the same second chance and each had jumped on it. Moreover they all loved him. I suppose I could understand that, but there was another question on my mind.
“So how long is the line to get into Lucas’ bed?”
The girls all laughed, some of them even blushed, refreshing considering the life they had left behind when they came here. They honestly seemed to have regained their innocence.
Tammy, the oldest of the group set me straight, “There isn’t one, honey. There never will be. We’ve all been tempted to offer ourselves, trying to repay our debt to him. No one has succeeded yet.”
“No?” I laughed, “I’m surprised. He’s got a hell of a good deal here and I could see it being easy for him to take advantage of your obligations. I find it hard to believe that one man in a house of pretty young girls hasn’t had a few in his bed at one time or another”
“You don’t get it do you?” The girl named Cinda stood up, obviously agitated, “You think he’s just like all those other guys out there who can’t think of anything but fucking you. Well, he’s not like that. Yeah, he plays around and flirts with us sometimes, dunking us in the pool or whistling at us when we dress nice, but it’s not like you think. He’s like a cross between a father and a brother to us. Yes, he loves us and we all love him, but we learn real quick what our relationship is. And when we finish our schooling and find real jobs there is no one in this house that is more proud of us than him.”
“As for the obligation you mentioned,” It was Carly’s turn to chime in, one of two African-Americans in the house, I had expected a chip on her shoulder, but she had shocked me with her nonchalance at being a minority. “Lucas explained it to me very clearly once. He doesn’t want us to feel obligated to him. He feels he is obligated to us. He has made a lot of money writing computer programs for Uncle Sam and a lot of other companies. He said there was no way he could spend that kind of money on his own and he needed to find a way to help others with it. He wanted to help people who didn’t get help from other places, people who got swept under the rug.”
“Like his sister.” My mention of it brought a pall over the room.
“That’s exactly it.” Samantha said. “And we are all his sister. Every one of us has a part of his sister in us. That’s why he pulled us off the street. And that is why he cries when someone leaves without accepting his help.”
“Look, Sister.” Kenda spoke up, “We all have a lot in common. Lucas picked us all off a street corner. We were all hooking. Most of use jacked on drugs too. And none of us ever expected to find a way out. Oh, yeah, every hookers dream is for a rich guy to come along and take us away. But Lucas made it happen in a way we never dreamed. If he had asked I would have jumped in bed with him in a heartbeat. But that was because I thought the only thing of value I had to give him was my body. He showed us all we were worth a lot more. He gave us more than shelter. He gave is self-esteem and dignity. And he gave it to us in a way that no one will ever be able to take it away again.”
I honestly felt ashamed to have questioned his motives. I wanted to crawl back to my room and hide.
It was Tammy who saved me this time, “Alright girls, I think she gets it. Let’s not be too hard on her. We ALL felt the same way when he first brought us here. None of us believed he was the man he is. We all learned the hard way, so give her a break.”
Everyone nodded their agreement. We spent some time talking about the girls’ hopes, dreams and ambitions. I was surprised to learn that many of the girls intended to come back and teach or help out after they left the ranch. Most of the teachers on staff at the ranch were former students. It all began to make perfect sense. I could see that it would be easy for anyone to fall in love with this guy.
“So just one thing baffles me. Lucas seems like the absolute perfect gentleman. He’s good looking, he’s rich, and he’s charming… most of the time…”
“So why isn’t he married?” Michelle interrupted, “Let me ask you something. If you didn’t know what this house was about and you went out with Lucas, and he was hesitant to take you home with him, how many times would it take before you decide not to see him again?”
“Better yet,” Carly said with a wave of her hand, “Say he did bring you here. You walk in and find a ‘Harem’, how long do you stay?”
“That’s been a source of sadness around here for a long time.” Tammy said, “We know he hasn’t been out with a woman for a long time.”
Amy looked up from her fashion magazine, “Worse yet, we know that it’s because of us. We all love him and we hate knowing he’s growing old alone.”
Tammy laughed, “He’s not THAT old, Amy.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Point is,” Samantha continued, “He’s sacrificed a lot for us and he keeps us all at that arms length to protect us all as well as his school. And as much as we appreciate all he’s done there is only one thing we could want for him.”
“The one thing none of us can give him.” All the girls nodded their agreement with Tammy.
“We just want him to be happy.” Amy said, “We just want him to have a woman of his own who can give him what we can’t.”
“We want him to be in love.” Samantha turned away as the tears rolled down her cheek.
“Alright. What’s going on now?” Lucas’ voice startled us all. “Is it time for a family meeting? Better question, is it time for dinner?”
As if on cue, another girl came in from the glass doors that opened to the patio and the pool. “Hey, you guys gonna eat or what? I didn’t cook for hours to see a half a ton of shrimp go down the garbage disposal.”
The man behind Zander stepped to the fore, “Daria, if they won’t eat your cooking, you just load it into the back of my car I’ll find a homeless shelter that will make good use of it. Ok, half of it. I’ll eat the other half myself.”
“Thanks, Bill. But I don’t think that will be necessary.” Zander motioned to the door and the girls stampeded from everywhere. Some I hadn’t seen yet. I followed at a casual pace, stopping at the doors and watching, my ears however were tuned to Lucas and the attorney.
“Just remember, Luke, keep Dan on the monitors and keep the girls close to the house. He doesn’t have any legal grounds to stand on so he may do something desperate.”
‘Will do, Bill. You staying for dinner?”
“Much as I enjoy the company and Daria’s cooking, I’m going to have to pass.”
“Your loss. I’ll give you a buzz in the morning.”
“My loss, indeed. Be safe, Luke. Give the girls my apologies.”
“Done. Good night, Bill.”
“’Night, Luke.”
I felt a strong hand on my shoulder, “Not hungry?”
“Starved.” I kept my back to him, suddenly feeling very nervous.
“Well? What are you waiting for?”
My cynicism was failing me. I found it hard to believe I could feel anything, but there it was. There was a very large part of me that wanted to turn and just kiss him. I reigned in my emotions, trying to stay in control. “Just waiting for the herd to settle down so I could find a place to sit.”
“If you wait that long, you’ll go hungry. Come on, I’ll protect you from the wolves.”
“Special treatment for the new girl?”
“You might say that.”
He led me into the fray, and we both took plates, it was a simple yet surprisingly elegant feast, large trays of cocktail shrimp, scallop scampi and crab salad. Various breads and crackers were laid out and my plate was filled before I could get a sample of everything.
We took seats at an empty table, eating quietly for a few minutes. I was surprised that none of the other girls attempted to join us.
“So you’ve talked to the other girls?”
“Yeah, I have.”
He spread some crab salad on a slice of rye, eying me expectantly, “And?”
“And… I don’t know what to say. When you told me what was going on here I didn’t believe you. I thought you were running a brothel, or an Internet porn ring, or… or anything BUT what you told me. Then I sit down with these girls and they’re studying for real. Studying things that I would have never thought of. And I can’t believe any of them were ever hookers, but I know they were…”
“Just like you.”
“Just like me. Only different.”
“Oh? How so?” He bit off another chunk of crab and rye and followed it with a can of Sprite.
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know.” I picked at my food, unable to look him in the eye and knowing it wasn’t from shame. It was because I was starting to feel something for him. It scared the shit out of me.
“There’s a lot about every girl I bring here that I don’t know. But there is one thing I do know about every single one of them. They don’t deserve to be living on the street. They don’t deserve to be some plaything for the bastards that pick them up. They deserve better.”
“So why not give them all a chance? Why not tell them all to come here and be safe?”
“I wish I could. Do you know how many girls are out there? Do you know how many show up in town every day? I’d need a hotel as big as the MGM Grand. And there are some that I know I can’t help. There are a lot of them. So strung out on drugs that no one can reach them. Some so afraid of being sent back to the shit hole they ran away from they won’t trust anyone. I help the ones I can. That’s all I can do.”
“That’s more than anyone else would have done.”
“Maybe.” He looked down at his plate and nodded, “Ok. Probably.”
Our eyes locked, studying each other closely. There was a different look in his eye. Different from the way he looked at Samantha or the other girls. “So why me?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I have a full house as it is. Not that I can’t afford one more girl, but the girls all sleep upstairs, the room you are in is a guest room I was about to have remodeled.”
“So you saw me and just felt so sorry…”
“No. Not that at all. I was in town for a business meeting; I had no intention of taking in another girl. But as I passed your corner I spotted you and had to do a double take. I wasn’t sure about you. I circled the block to get a second look but when I got back you were talking to some kid.”
I laughed, “Yeah, that went way wrong.”
“Well, I drove off. But you were stuck in my head. I was trying to talk myself out of it for every reason. ‘I don’t have room. She’s too old. She probably has a pimp.’”
“Too old? How old do you think I am?”
“We’ll come back to that. But as I got to the edge of town I found myself coming up with reasons to go back. So I did. You were gone and I was about to put it all out of my head, but as I circled to head home I saw you come out of the motel. I went around the block one more time and picked you up. The rest you know.”
“So, back to this ‘She’s too old.’ thing.”
“Put my foot in my mouth didn’t I? I didn’t mean it as an offense. I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve made my mistakes. I’ve found that once a girl is older than about twenty my odds of changing them are severely lessened.”
“But you took a chance on me. Why?”
“Because you looked too clean.”
“Too what?”
“Clean. As in drug free. You didn’t look anorexic like the crack whores or have the glazed over look that most of the older hookers…”
“Ok, stop right there. Are you trying to piss me off? How old do you think I am?”
“Your right, that came out all wrong. You see? This is why I can’t figure out what I was thinking. I have a house full of beautiful girls and I’m sitting here with you… And I’m digging myself a deep hole aren’t I?”
“More like a stone quarry with no way out.”
“I know. I know. But that’s what I mean. I’m sitting here and I’m nervous as hell and I don’t know why.”
“Well, relax. I don’t bite. At least not for less than a hundred bucks.”
Lucas fell back in his chair, laughing, “That was a good one.” He put his head back and closed his eyes for a moment, “I’d love to relax but I don’t even know why I’m nervous.”
I put my hand on his, “Lucas, how long has it been since you were with a woman?”
Now he looked embarrassed. He covered it fairly well, “Way too long I suppose. But what can I do? Bringing a woman here kills any relationship and worse yet it’s a heartbreaker for the girls. So I gave it up.”
“Lucas, I don’t think the girls would be anywhere near as heartbroken as you think. We talked about that earlier.” I rolled my eyes. I don’t know why I thought it was my place to intervene but couldn’t help it. “Actually I accused them of sleeping with you and they were rather quick to correct me. Lucas, those girls all love you. I can’t blame them, as cynical as my profession has made me, I can’t help but thinking I could fall for you too.”
“Oh, please. I…”
“Don’t give me that shit. Just shut up and listen. You’re a great guy, with the biggest heart in the world and they know it. I do too. But do you want to know what is really breaking their hearts? You being alone because of them. All they want for you is the same thing you want for them. To be happy and loved.”
I could see the tears welling up in his eyes, “But, I DO feel loved. I am loved. They all love me. You said so yourself.”
“But, Lucas, that’s a different kind of love. You are the big brother and father they always wanted and never had. It’s a kind of love that is unconditional but unfulfilling. You need a woman. A woman to share your life with.”
“But how am I going to find someone who doesn’t think I’m an old letch as soon as they see all these girls?”
“I don’t know. But there must be a way. I’m one of the most suspicious people in the world and I got past it. So if I can, anyone can.”
“I just don’t know…” He wiped his mouth and stood. “Sadie, I have a suspicion that you just helped me more than I could ever help you. But my offer still stands. You are welcome to anything I have to offer here if it will get you out of that life. But take the time to think it over. You can give me an answer tomorrow.”
He was gone before I could respond. Suddenly I felt the eyes of the world on me. As I looked at the other girls on the patio, I could see the verbal daggers being drawn.
Samantha was the first to throw hers. “What the fuck did you say to him?”
“Easy, Samantha, don’t kill her yet. We all want a shot.”
“Shut up, Tammy. Whatever she said, it wasn’t good. You saw the look on his face.”
“Back up a second.” I put up a hand to quiet them before it turned into a riot. “I don’t think anything I said really hurt him, just made him understand some things. All I said was what you told me earlier about the way you all felt about him being lonely.”
“Oh, that’s just great! Now he feels guilty for letting us all down! Who do you think you are?”
“Not who you think I am, Samantha. And I think Lucas brought me here for a different reason. Maybe. I don’t know. But just trust me a little bit here. I think things will work out for everyone. But I caused the problem, let me try to fix it.”
Carly was tapping her foot, her arms crossed and her face twisted in outrage. “I think it might be better for you to get the fuck out.”
“Carly! Don’t you dare ever say that to one of the girls again. I doubt seriously that she did anything to be mean or hateful. But even if she did it couldn’t be worse than the things you did when you first came here.”
“Tammy’s right. Lucas might not have looked too happy when he left but I didn’t see that he was angry or even really sad either. Just thoughtful.”
“That’s true, Amy. Let’s not jump to conclusions, here. Lucas is under a lot of stress right now as it is. And that’s mostly my fault…”
“Carrie, it’s not your fault your father found you. And you don’t need to feel guilty because Lucas took you off the street and is keeping you away from that bastard that lent you his genes.”
“I know, Samantha, but I hate forcing him into this position.”
“Sadie, you said you are not who we think you are. What did you mean by that.”
“I can’t explain it all right now. But I’m not really a hooker and I’m not as young as you think. And you are probably going to like me even less before I get a chance to explain it all, but believe this: I am not here to do anything that will jeopardize any of you, or Lucas, or this school, ranch, sanctuary, whatever it is. In fact that is the last thing I want.”
“What DO you want?”
“Right now? To go set things right with Lucas. Girls, I know how important he is to all of you. How much he means to you. And I don’t want to change that in any way, shape or form. But there are things I can do that I think will help everyone concerned here. You just have to trust me. Ok?”
“When Mr. Zander comes back out here and tells us everything is fine, then I’ll trust you. But I’ll give you the chance to prove it.”
“I’ll do my best not to disappoint any of you. But for now, try to relax and finish your dinner. I’ll be back soon and I’ll have Lucas with me and we’ll straighten the whole thing out. I promise.”
I hurried inside, ignoring the other girls’ protests. In the great room I found an older and grizzled man in dirty jeans and a western shirt fiddling with a security keypad by the front door. “Are you Daniel?”
“Yes Ma’am. And you must be the new girl. What can I help you with?”
“Did you see where Mr. Zander went?”
“Yes Ma’am. He was headed for the barn. When something is bothering him he goes and talks to Zipper. From the looks of him, I’d say tonight they’re going to be talking for a while.”
“I hope I can help keep the conversation short. Thanks, Daniel.”
“You’re welcome, Ma’am.” He called out as I rushed out the door. “He’ll be in the smaller barn on the right.”
I all but ran to the barn. I suddenly had a feeling of urgency. I know that as a cop when I get that feeling it’s because something bad was going to happen. Something that might require my gun. This was different somehow. I knew that Lucas was not in any danger but I needed to get to him quickly.
The sun was just above the horizon as I entered the barn, the change in lighting made me slow, walking carefully in t
This story is copyright © to Visas Marr
Author:Visas Marr
Visit Authors Website
Category:Romance Sex Stories
Free Sex Stories
First time Sex Stories(6)
Milf Sex Stories(4)
School Girl Sex Stories(4)
Group Sex Stories(3)
Blow Job Sex Stories(3)
Ourdoors Sex Stories(3)
Romance Sex Stories(3)
Lesbian Sex Stories(2)
Anal Sex Stories(2)
Fetish Sex Stories(2)
Wife Sex Stories(2)
Voyeur Sex Stories(2)
Role Paying Sex Stories(2)
Interracial Sex Stories(1)
Masturbation Sex Stories(1)
Taboo Sex Stories(1)
Drug Sex Stories(1)
Teen Sex Stories(0)
Indian Sex Stories(0)
Gay Sex Stories(0)
Celebrity Sex Stories(0)
Mature Sex Stories(0)
Swinger Sex Stories(0)
Bondage Sex Stories(0)
Shemale Sex Stories(0)
Amateur Sex Stories(0)
Asian Sex Stories(0)
Our Friends
Broken Princess Sex Stories
Web Cam Nudes
YouHO! Sex Search
demsum.com - Adult Web Directory
Sex Story Links
Free Sex Stories
Debauchery: Stories
Teen Sex
All content is copyright of sexstorytales.com 2006.
Rss Feed
Rss Feed