Melody’s reaction.
“She was a sweet kid, you know? In the game to write a damn book. Can you believe it?” She scrubbed the tissue over her tearing eyes, smearing the leftover makeup. After sipping the hot coffee as if it were the answer to her shakes, she leaned back in her chair. “Benny, my parents can’t find out what I’m doing. It’d kill them. Is there any way to keep my part in this quiet?”
After gazing to the heavens, Benny breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time in the last few weeks, the black cloud didn’t hover over his head. Thank you, God. He had planned to bribe Melody to keep quiet about last night, and here she was begging him to cover it up.
“I’ll do the best I can, honey.”
“Thanks.” She sniffed and drank more coffee. “Martell went berserk. He got this weird glint in his eyes when he saw Cindi’s getup. At first, I didn’t pay any mind, but he strayed way out of character, and I went for the panic buzzer you placed in the rooms. I never got there. He backhanded me, and I smacked into the dresser like I’d been hit with a wrecking ball.”
Good description of Martell . “Did he say anything to indicate what set him off?” He knew the answer, but he didn’t want Melody to know the session had been taped.
“He insisted we call Cindi Baby Sissy and that Mommy―me―should spank Sissy like I spanked him. I think Mommy might have been abusive, and Cindi brought back bad memories. Maybe Mommy spanked Rick but not Sissy.”
The robe belt loosened. Melody didn’t notice . Benny did.
“You know I was a psychology major, but I bet if you delve into Rick Martell’s history, you’d find something to explain last night’s behavior.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” He got up, closed her robe, and looped the ties tight, then he pecked her on the forehead. “I want you to go home and take it easy, and when you feel better book a vacation. Anywhere you want to go. I’ll pay for everything. Meanwhile, try to put this ugly mess out of your mind. Colin will reschedule anyone requesting you, and wh en this blows over you can come back, if you feel up to it. If not, I’ll understand.” He pinched her chin in a fatherly manner. “Okay?”
She nodded. “Thanks, Benny. What happened to―oh, my God, I can’t say it.”
“We took…care of her. If we called the police, everything would be out in the open. I doubt we could have kept you out of it. Do you know anything about her parents?”
“They’re both dead. If she had siblings, she never mentioned them.”
Benny breathed another sigh of relief. Of course, that didn’t mean Cindi didn’t have other family to come looking for her. There could be siblings somewhere. Still, it sounded positive. Maybe his luck was changing after all. Listen to me. I’m happy to hear Cindi’s parents are both dead . What have I turned into?
Melody sniffled, wiped her tears, and blew her nose.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll make sure you’re paid until you decide what you want to do.”
“I really hadn’t thought about money, but thanks. You’re the best, Benny.” She finished her coffee and poured half a cup more. “It’s awful. First Serena, now Cindi.”
Awful doesn’t come close. “If Cindi’s found, the police might think there’s a serial killer out there. It happens, you know.”
“At least we know what happened to Cindi. We’ll never know about Serena.”
“Probably not. Now go take a shower and get yourself pretty. I’ll order you some breakfast.”
“Okay, thanks. Oh, one other thing I forgot to tell you.”
“What’s that?”
“Cindi had a boyfriend. He knew what she did on the side. I’m not sure he knows about this place, though. She just told me about him.”
Benny’s eyes looked up at the heavens to see his lucky star explode like a firecracker. Damn. This was why he stipulated his women should be free of ties. Boyfriends were problems waiting to happen. A nagging pain erupted in
“She was a sweet kid, you know? In the game to write a damn book. Can you believe it?” She scrubbed the tissue over her tearing eyes, smearing the leftover makeup. After sipping the hot coffee as if it were the answer to her shakes, she leaned back in her chair. “Benny, my parents can’t find out what I’m doing. It’d kill them. Is there any way to keep my part in this quiet?”
After gazing to the heavens, Benny breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time in the last few weeks, the black cloud didn’t hover over his head. Thank you, God. He had planned to bribe Melody to keep quiet about last night, and here she was begging him to cover it up.
“I’ll do the best I can, honey.”
“Thanks.” She sniffed and drank more coffee. “Martell went berserk. He got this weird glint in his eyes when he saw Cindi’s getup. At first, I didn’t pay any mind, but he strayed way out of character, and I went for the panic buzzer you placed in the rooms. I never got there. He backhanded me, and I smacked into the dresser like I’d been hit with a wrecking ball.”
Good description of Martell . “Did he say anything to indicate what set him off?” He knew the answer, but he didn’t want Melody to know the session had been taped.
“He insisted we call Cindi Baby Sissy and that Mommy―me―should spank Sissy like I spanked him. I think Mommy might have been abusive, and Cindi brought back bad memories. Maybe Mommy spanked Rick but not Sissy.”
The robe belt loosened. Melody didn’t notice . Benny did.
“You know I was a psychology major, but I bet if you delve into Rick Martell’s history, you’d find something to explain last night’s behavior.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” He got up, closed her robe, and looped the ties tight, then he pecked her on the forehead. “I want you to go home and take it easy, and when you feel better book a vacation. Anywhere you want to go. I’ll pay for everything. Meanwhile, try to put this ugly mess out of your mind. Colin will reschedule anyone requesting you, and wh en this blows over you can come back, if you feel up to it. If not, I’ll understand.” He pinched her chin in a fatherly manner. “Okay?”
She nodded. “Thanks, Benny. What happened to―oh, my God, I can’t say it.”
“We took…care of her. If we called the police, everything would be out in the open. I doubt we could have kept you out of it. Do you know anything about her parents?”
“They’re both dead. If she had siblings, she never mentioned them.”
Benny breathed another sigh of relief. Of course, that didn’t mean Cindi didn’t have other family to come looking for her. There could be siblings somewhere. Still, it sounded positive. Maybe his luck was changing after all. Listen to me. I’m happy to hear Cindi’s parents are both dead . What have I turned into?
Melody sniffled, wiped her tears, and blew her nose.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll make sure you’re paid until you decide what you want to do.”
“I really hadn’t thought about money, but thanks. You’re the best, Benny.” She finished her coffee and poured half a cup more. “It’s awful. First Serena, now Cindi.”
Awful doesn’t come close. “If Cindi’s found, the police might think there’s a serial killer out there. It happens, you know.”
“At least we know what happened to Cindi. We’ll never know about Serena.”
“Probably not. Now go take a shower and get yourself pretty. I’ll order you some breakfast.”
“Okay, thanks. Oh, one other thing I forgot to tell you.”
“What’s that?”
“Cindi had a boyfriend. He knew what she did on the side. I’m not sure he knows about this place, though. She just told me about him.”
Benny’s eyes looked up at the heavens to see his lucky star explode like a firecracker. Damn. This was why he stipulated his women should be free of ties. Boyfriends were problems waiting to happen. A nagging pain erupted in
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