That bitch. She had filed charges against me and leaked them to the press.
It didn't matter that the charges were groundless.
It didn't matter that I was able to prove my innocence.
It didn't even matter that the newspaper had to apologise and print a retraction.
The mud stuck. I lost his job. The taint would be forever associated with my name. Some people would always wonder, did I just get away with it?
The damnable thing about it was that the woman didn't even know me. I was just an easy target due to my position, and she wanted to make a name for herself. Show her power by getting a conviction. I could have easily gone to jail while the real criminal walked free, thanks to her ambition.
Some day, I would find a way to make it right. I would have justice.
-- -
"Susan, how did you manage to quit smoking? You used to go through a packet a day, and then one day you just stopped. What was your secret?"
Georgina had decided that she had to quit. Smoking was not as acceptable now as it used to be, and as a rising politician she had to shake the habit. It would count against her in the polls, especially with the health nazies.
"I saw Dr. Vinders. He's a curative hypnotist. He implanted post hypnotic suggestions that made me find cigarettes repulsive, with a suggestion I find some other way to relax. I'm good with words so he had me switch to doing a cryptic crossword whenever I felt like smoking. It enabled me to kick the habit and it also exercises my mind."
"I see. Do you need a referral to see him, or can you just drop by?"
"You can just drop by, but he prefers a referral from your doctor. That way he knows if there are any potential health problems that he has to be wary of."
"Thanks, Susan. I'll see my doctor later this week, and see what he says." Georgina went on her way.
-- -
"Come in. I'm Dr. Vinders. You're Georgina. It's alright to call you Georgina is it? I find that the informality helps, but some patients don't like the familiarity."
"No, that's fine, Doctor. I suppose you know why I've come?"
"Indeed. You want to quit smoking. I get quite a few patients with that problem, and you'll be pleased to know I have a good success rate. I don't guarantee that you will stop smoking, but if you have good will-power I can help you focus it on beating your problem. At the end of the day it is not I who will beat your habit, but you, and you should take the credit for it."
I looked at Georgina. I recognised her, but it was obvious she didn't have the faintest idea who I was. She had bartered by reputation on a cheap stunt that gave her a foothold on the political ladder. The fact that I was innocent meant nothing to her. Power did, and now she was a rising star. I would really have to see what I could do to help her.
Georgina was looking at the life size mannequin sitting on a chair next to my desk. Turning to the doctor she queried its presence.
"That's Charlie," I said. "I'm also a ventriloquist. For some sessions I need a third party and, to maintain patient privacy, Charlie becomes that third party. When he's operating patients think he's real and tend to open up to him."
"Now, Georgina," I continued, taking out my pocket watch and checking the time. "I just want you to talk to me for a while, telling me about yourself and your aspirations. This will help me get to know you and to determine where I might best direct your attentions when you get a nicotine craving."
So Georgina talked, while I listened and chatted quietly with her, playing with my watch. Then I told her to sleep, and she slid under like an angel. It's quite astonishing how the brightest are the easiest to hypnotise.
At first Georgina was in a light trance, but she went steadily deeper as I talked to her. When she was sufficiently under and in a receptive state I started to give her the commands that would take effect after she awoke. They were quite simple at first.