Jeff
I just sat staring at the TV for a while, dumbfounded by what I had seen. Surely this was a bad dream. Everyone I knew and certainly tons of other people had seen or would soon see my wife totally naked, dancing drunkenly with another naked woman. I couldn't believe it- how had this happened? Of course Kari didn't edit her own segments but she was obsessive about viewing them and giving suggestions and critiques. She'd never have missed this.
If I was honest with myself, the video clips had both been pretty hot, the chief lady was a smokeshow and she and Kari both looked like they were having a blast dancing together. I think that was what bothered me the most- I don't think I'd seen Kari that happy in years. Everyone in that video looked like they were having fun. My normally conservative wife was having this crazy, naked adventure and she was doing it without me.
My cell rang, and it was my friend Tommy. For some reason I picked up. "Dude, what the hell?" he said. "That shit was hot. I'm so glad I got it on DVR."
"Fuck off, Tommy. That's my wife. Delete that shit."
"Ah hell, Jeff, I'm not talking about Kari. I'm talking about those hot chicks fucking on the pool table. Cheer up man, it could be worse."
"Really, Tommy? My wife is partying naked without me in a strange town and now the world is going to see it. How could it be worse?"
"Well, you could be the guy whose sister and fiance were getting impaled by those dudes with horse dicks on that pool table. That guy's having a worse day than you. Probably the little skinny one's boyfriend, too."
I couldn't argue with that so I changed the subject and made small talk for a few minutes. After I hung up, I tried calling Kari a few times. No answer. Despite my anger with her, I was worried about her too. Was she in legal trouble? How would this impact her career?
All I could do was try to get some sleep. Tomorrow was Monday, and I had to work.
Kari
I tried to organize my thoughts as I sat in the back of the police cruiser, terrified. The back seat was small and one of the window seats had a pile of paperwork on it, so I had to sit in the middle, the side of my leg pressed against Ray's. Absentmindedly, as I thought about my predicament, I found myself looking at his penis. It always seemed to be at least half hard and I don't know why I found it so appealing and intriguing.
Goodness, what was wrong with me? I closed my eyes in disgust at myself. I was having the worst day of my life and had been humiliated in front of everyone I knew, and I was staring at my boss' dick. I needed to get a grip.
"What's going to happen to us?" I asked Ray.
"I don't know, to be honest. Kari, I'm sorry we're in this situation. I feel responsible."
"Well good, because you are," I fumed. "You all but made me take this assignment and I did against my better judgment. Now I'm in trouble with the law and my marriage and my career might be in equal jeopardy. I trusted you and you let me down."
Ray just hung his head and said nothing. I could tell he felt guilty. The truth was, deep down I knew it wasn't his fault. It had to be Craig's fault, but why and how? It didn't make sense that he could have done that by mistake, but what incentive would he have to do that on purpose? He'd never work in TV again.
The car came to a stop outside the courthouse. We were led to a holding room, with no explanation about what we had coming. "I get a phone call, right?" Ray said. "This is still America."
The cop grunted and motioned for him to follow. I was left alone, in the room, and took a seat on a cold metal chair next to a cold metal table. I couldn't think of a use for my phone call. I certainly didn't want to talk to Jeff yet, and I couldn't think of another person that I wasn't ashamed to talk to.
Ray returned a few minutes later, shaking his head. "The network's in scramble mode. Fielding calls from everywhere. Angry viewers, horny viewers, people wanting to just be close to the train wreck. If there's a silver lining ratings are through the roof. I-,"
"Ratings?! Fucking ratings, Ray? You get a phone call and you didn't use it to get out of this mess, you called to check on our ratings?" I was angry.
"Well, no, of course I called to see what options we had legally, the network is sending a lawyer but... with this town's strange bureaucracy, it could be a day or two before we see him."
Just then the door opened. A skinny, nerdy guy walked in. He was naked, like us, and I managed to refrain from looking at his dick. He carried a briefcase.
"Hi," he said, warily, sitting down across from me.
Ray had elected not to sit and was pacing. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"I'm your lawyer, Gary Bright. The public defender."
"Oh hell no you're not. Our network is sending one," Ray said.
"Yes, but you have a hearing today, and you'll be offered a plea deal. Justice moves fast here."
"Can't we delay it?" I asked. "We don't have our official lawyer yet."
"We can try, but I know this judge and the prosecutor. They hate delays, and they invariably punish those who delay. The plea deal will only get worse," said Gary.
"Jesus, what kind of kangaroo court is this?" Ray remarked. "What's the plea deal offer?"
"Glad you asked. You're accused of serious crimes here. Several felonies. You distributed pornographic material without the consent of those filmed. If you went to trial and got the book thrown at you, it could be a decade in jail. Or more. This is still the United States, you have the right to a trial by jury, but that could take months, years with appeals. And let me assure you, this judge does not grant bail for crimes of this nature. So fighting it is option one, but it's a bad option. The plea offer is option two. It's one year in prison, to be served here in Brazen Bend. You might get six months if you give any information on where your colleague is. He's a fugitive currently."