“I need to go and bring my colleague up to speed. May we continue to use your office?” Masterson asked Jim.
“Of course. Sargent, I need them both back safely, both of them,” said Jim, sounding frail and helpless suddenly, unable to imagine surviving the pain of losing either Tasha or Lizzie and he knew if he did he would never forgive himself, not ever.
“We'll do everything we can, sir.”
“Jimbo, do you want a drink?” asked Bobby.
“No. I'm just going to wait here a while. I'm not much in the party mood anymore.”
“I'll wait with you. I wasn’t suggesting re-joining the party,” sighed Bobby, dropping down next to him once more.
“Juan, are you sure you're okay?” Jim watched the other man with paternal concern.
“I guess. Can we talk? I didn't want to say anything to the police about it,” replied Juan.
“Come on.” Jim leapt to his feet. “Let's go upstairs. Bobby?” He led the two others upstairs and into the bedroom he shared with Tasha.
“Tasha was weird, Jim. I mean I get the shock and fear, but she was kind of resigned to her fate over there. She didn't care about anything beyond keeping me and Lizzie alive and securing our release. I think she might do something if the police don't end it soon.” Juan sat on the edge of the bed as Jim leapt up.
“She is far too fucking careless with her own wellbeing and that is entirely my fault. I have absolved her of all worry; all the things that motivated her to remain safe and well are no longer motivators because I have made them safe, namely Pippa and Dan so if she keeps you and Lizzie safe now then she has nothing to lose. She won’t have let anyone down,” Jim said, confusing Juan but somehow Bobby seemed to understand.
“Jimbo, she has you to live for and just because her siblings are safe from the dumb fuck daddy, she wouldn't want to leave them and never forget that for some reason she is desperate to be shackled to you til death...” Bobby immediately regretted his final comment.
“She will be shackled to me, twenty-four-fucking-seven if she gets out of this in one piece,” shouted Jim.
“There's a video camera over there. I don't know if it's relevant but Mickie is filming it all to torture you with, after the event...” Juan allowed his voice to trail off.
“Come on. Bobby, go and find out what the fuck this negotiator has planned before I go over myself.”
Bobby nodded and although he knew some people would think his brother’s words about going over himself weren’t serious or genuine, he knew they were. Part of him did wonder if that might be a better solution to this fiasco. Maybe Mickie would follow Jim’s orders and directions when faced with him rather than being left to her own devices as she currently was, although she had clearly lost the plot big style, so maybe not.
****
“Now what are we going to do as it's just us three girls together?” slurred Mickie.
“Please, let Lizzie go home,” Tasha pleaded.
“Soon,” replied Mickie. “Now where we? Yes, you fucked Jim on the first night, have prostituted yourself and lost your virginity at fifteen. I never loved Bobby but fucked him often and well in order to get to Jim and orchestrated the abortion of Jim's baby with that stupid fucking woman he married after Sara instead of me,” snapped Mickie angrily. “Tasha, tell me and Lizzie, what's it like for you in the sack with Jim? Does the earth move when he fucks you?” She laughed at Tasha's and Lizzie's expressions. “Oh, come on, we're all women of the world, or maybe I should ask Lizzie some more questions about her boyfriend,” she threatened.
“No. Leave Lizzie, please. Yes, the earth moves as you put it. I have never known sex with anyone like it is with Jim.” Tasha really hoped this would placate Mickie.
“See that wasn't so hard, was it? Unlike Jim. Your father really is an amazingly gifted lover.”
Lizzie looked close to tears as her glance flitted between Mickie and Tasha.
“Mickie, please, will you let Lizzie go?” Tasha was fraught, desperate to get Lizzie out of this situation, so much so that she unashamedly begged the other woman to show some kind of compassion.
Mickie laughed, loudly and cruelly. “Later. A couple more questions and then you can stop worrying about Lizzie. Tasha, why don't you tell Lizzie and I how Jim keeps you in line in the bedroom.”
“Let her go and I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” said Tasha feeling determined.
“Not the way it works, now tell us, or maybe you could explain to Lizzie just how talented Daddy is in the sack; what he can do with his fingers, his lips, his tongue, his dick, maybe you could even show her, although you are minus a dick, but I do like that idea.” She cackled, jumped down from the island and leaned over, precariously wobbling as she did so to retrieve a courgette from the fridge and held in front of herself suggestively. “I toyed with the idea of having a couple of friends get to you first, Tasha. Big, strong, male friends who would have been only too willing to teach you a few new tricks, by force.”
Tasha winced at the inference of her words and the images those words conjured. She stared at Mickie, unable to fathom why any woman, regardless of their anger, hurt, whatever their feelings, would even consider the option of arranging for another woman to be attacked, assaulted, raped. The sound of a wooden spoon being rapped against the counter top of the island regained Tasha’s attention while Mickie continued to explain the reasons behind her previous plans.
“I thought that would be fair, to see Jim unable to look at you or touch you, knowing exactly what they’d done to you, but there was always a risk he would try to fix you again…so, here we are, me and you and little Lizzie.”
Tasha held Mickie’s gaze and knew exactly what she was suggesting with heryou and little Lizzie. This really had gone far enough and Lizzie was going to leave, one way or another. Turning to face Lizzie, Tasha reached out towards the young woman and pulled her close, using the position to allow her to whisper to her. “You have to do exactly as I say, okay?”
