Gotta Pay the Piper

As soon as I identified myself at the front desk of the police station, I was escorted quickly to the investigators' bullpen. I'd last been there when Marianne and Beth had tried to frame Lenore on a narcotics charge. "Have a seat, Sir," the officer said. "The detective will be right with you."

"Do you call her detective or Lieutenant?" I asked him. " Or is it 'Lieutenant Detective'? What is the proper form of address?"

He paused for a beat or two and grinned. "Call her whatever you want, Mr Landry. It's your ass. I remember you. I was here when your two slaves got picked up for narcotics and trying to frame a free woman."

He was still grinning when Kathy Bishop came out from a back room. "Okay, Bas, what have you got for me?"

"What?" I asked, feigning shock. "If you came to my house, I'd ask how you were doing, give you a hug, and maybe offer you a drink like a beer or at least a cup of coffee."

Kathy looked at me and then to the officer standing next to me. She shook her head. In rapidfire succession she said, "You look fine, but how are you doing? I can offer you water or a cup of coffee that was brewed six hours ago. And if I give you a hug, I might choke you to death because I have the feeling you are involved in all this." She paused then said, "Let me rephrase that. Not just involved. You are in this up to your eyeballs." She turned to the officer. "Dan would you please make a fresh pot of coffee for Mr Landry? I'd like to hear the whole story without any more of his bullshit."

Then Kathy turned to me and chuckled. "Okay. Bas. I know this has got to be a good story. You and Lana Perkins. As soon as she heard your name earlier, I could not tell if she was going to fly off the handle or pee her pants. She was certainly shocked. She said Charlotte Applegate sold her daughter to a man. I assume that was you?"

I nodded and began to tell her what happened since Charlotte transferred Geri Perkins to me Friday morning. I skipped over the details of the story where I was not personally involved. I left it to Charlotte to reveal her personal information.

"Let me get this straight, you not only witnessed, but recorded everything that happened at Charlotte's Boutique today via her new security system which you installed." Kathy said. I nodded and handed her a pair of flashdrives. I'd included copies of the texts between Geri and Lana just to give the story a little context. After she read or listened to the phone calls, as well as this morning's video, she said. "Interesting but like you said, nothing there is a crime. The activity they talked about might have been cruel but it was consensual."

She sat up and listened closely to the video made after lunch when Lana came back to confront Charlotte at her store. "Ahh, now this is a much different accounting than what Lana and the two others have claimed. They have been depicting Ms Applegate as half unhinged after her time on the krewe's auxiliary and how she was taking advantage of the situation with Lana's daughter to get revenge. Lana is portraying herself as the victim claiming Charlotte is a money-grubbing bitch trying to profit on her anguish."

I asked her if she was aware of the activities involving the auxiliary. She leaned close. "Bas, you know full well I am a member of the krewe. I know how things work. But I did not know of anything illegal. Nor was I aware of this type of coercion which, at face value, appears consensual activity. Charlotte never complained from what I understand. All of that appears to me as mere background information."

"You may not like how the Krewe of Aphrodite conducts its affairs, but it is none of your business. There are things I might not like myself, but I cannot act in any official capacity until somebody files a legal complaint. You can bet that once Lana's activities are exposed, women in the Krewe will take heed. I doubt any of it will come out in court as it is irrelevant but the rumor mill will go wild, " Kathy said.

"Do you have time to wait around?" she asked. I nodded and told her as long as the coffee was good and I was not late for supper. She laughed and walked back towards one of the interview rooms. Ten minutes later, Charlotte came out accompanied by an older policeman who asked her to sit and make a written statement. She waved at me. She was offered a cup of coffee.

"Cynthia Dupree has changed her story a bit." Kathy offered when she emerged a half hour later. "It seems that when I quoted a few things she said on the video, she decided lying to protect Lana Perkins was no longer in her best interests." I asked her if she would tell me what Cindy as I knew her, said, Kathy shook her head. "Fuck no, Bas! You know better than even ask that. The only reason you were kept in the loop last time was because the women were your slaves. Go home. I'll be in contact if I need any more information or if you think of anything I might need to know, call me. You can bet somebody from the DA's office will be in touch very soon."

"If Charlotte needs an attorney, I will pay for either Lou Player or Lisa Townsend to represent her." I said, getting to my feet.

"Once Charlotte Applegate finishes her statements, she will be released." Kathy said shaking her head and smiling. "I see no reason to detain her. Now I have to go have a little talk with Rebecca Fruge. I'll bet her she will revise her story as well."

When I entered the house, I was immediately bombarded with questions. When asked where I was, Geri had simply said I'd rushed out the door without saying a word to her. She could not tell if I was upset or scared, but I certainly did not look happy. I'd turned my cell phone off at the police station and forgotten to turn it back on. Everybody seemed to panic when I could not be reached.

"Everything is fine." I said. "I just had to help a friend and I was in a hurry. But everything looks like it will be alright." I really hoped it would. I would hate to see this backfire on Charlotte and Lenore. Lori and Kat simply stood by without saying a word but I could tell they were barely able to contain their curiosity.

Kat slipped into the kitchen and returned with a beer. As she handed it to me, she whispered. "Did it go well? Did it work?" She grinned widely at my subtle nod.

Since they had helped me so much and knew what was happening, I allowed them to watch the two scenes unfold. "Oh, man!" Kat breathed. "That Lana is a real bitch! She had Charlotte worked into a corner."

"I'm glad of a couple things," Lori said. "First is the system we installed worked like a charm. Without it Charlotte would be in serious trouble. And the second thing is you did not agree with Kat's suggestion this morning and let us stake out the store. If we'd swooped in and got in the middle of that fight, we'd have been roasted alive, slaves for life." I agreed.

"Most certainly you'd have had multiple counts of assault on a free person. You'd have probably got life at least. You met Sherrie. She got three years added to her sentence for accidentally striking a free woman while fighting another slave. She didn't even see the free woman. The only reason she got off so lightly was there were multiple witnesses. I even testified and plead her cause with the judge." Both Kat and Lori were shaken by my story.

I said nothing about the event at supper. As we went around the table, I avoided mentioning which friend I'd gone to help. The girls talked a bit about school and upcoming exams. Lori and Kat talked a bit about how the undergraduate students they taught reacted to their enslavements. "We told them what we did, and added that nothing would change in the classroom and if anybody dared to insult us we'd report them to Dr. Swanson. Not a single one offered a comment," Kat said.

Lori said, "That was because they are all computer nerds. They were all more interested in the story of how we broke the encryption than the trouble it caused us." The other girls laughed.

I asked Geri how her day went. She had not offered to share. "I came in here to stay out of sight of those workers out front. Some woman walked right in the back door with two men. She asked if I was new, saying all the naked girls she'd seen were bald. It was so embarrassing. The men just stared." I could tell the girls were a little sympathetic with Geri now. At least they refrained from snickering or telling her she deserved it.

"I wonder how long it will take for the rumor mill to get word of our involvement with Lana's arrest." Lenore said later. I told her I just installed a security system. "Bullshit, Bas. Nobody is going to believe that. You are not in that business. Lana is going to claim we helped set her up. Some might even believe her. I want to see the recordings. I'm sure to be asked about the situation tomorrow. And I don't need any problems."

"Holy crap! If it were any other person than Lana, I'd say she was toast." Lenore exclaimed. "I just hope her lawyer can't get the video suppressed. She's going to hire the best her husband's money can buy."

I told her about my visit to see Lou this morning and suggested she inform Lou and her mother what had happened this afternoon. "I'll talk to Mom tonight. She needs to know as soon as possible. Giving up Geri to get me into the Krewe is a dead issue now, Bas. I think it best if I forget about joining. I just hope Mom does not catch Hell from Lana's friends."

Lenore took her phone into the bedroom to make her calls. While she was there, my own phone rang. Helen Leblanc, the assistant district attorney, was calling me directly. I answered formally. "Ahh, Ms Leblanc. I am surprised you are working late and also that you did not have your secretary call me. I was expecting your call in the morning."

"Mr. Landry, I'd like for you to come to my office in the morning if you would," she answered equally formally. Then she said, "No real need to bring a lawyer. It will be a friendly little talk, Bas. I want to hear the story from you. I saw the quick statement you wrote about your part setting up a second security system in Applegate's store and I just got finished watching the video recordings you made."

I asked her what time she wanted me there. "I have an arraignment first for a few people you know. I'd like to see you afterwards. Come directly to my office." I asked her if Lana was out on bail as I figured her money would talk. "No way! Not with the charges she is facing. She tried, of course. The judge might allow it in the morning, but I doubt it."

I called Lou to see if I might face any legal ramifications. "I doubt it, but I'll go along, just in case. I want to hear what they have to say in case Lana's husband tries to tie you up in some sort of civil litigation. That won't go anywhere, but it could waste some time and be a pain in the ass. I need to see the second video." I had not thought of a civil suit and now I was worried.

"Mom has not heard a thing," Lenore said when I told her about my two calls. "It's way too early for reactions yet. We'll just have to ride it out. At least we are on the sidelines this time. Please keep it that way and keep your mouth shut about the auxiliary. Oh, and Mom told me I will still be submitting my application to join the Krewe as planned. She said she was not going to let fear of some bitch like Lana Perkins nor her friends force her to back down. But she also said I could do like Wanda and make it clear from the start that it is full membership without the hazing or nothing."

"You could make an issue of how some women were abused while serving." I suggested.

Lenore shook her head. "That is one thing I can't do. I like Charlotte and would never release her personal story without her permission. You don't really understand those women. Charlotte never complained nor reported any abuse. She did not even make an issue about her not getting full and accurate accounting for the tokens she earned and turned in. In other words, she let her abuse happen. It was fully consensual or at least that is how it will be considered.

"I'll have a talk with Charlotte directly about how I think best to answer questions." Lenore said. I asked what she'd say. "I'd tell her to simply say while she felt cornered she thought it best to go along than challenge Lana outright. I think Lana has many women in the palm of her hands and not all of them because of her charm. Especially when we saw what Lana did to Cindy and Becky. They went against Lana and were punished. There are probably others in the same boat, not willing to refuse Lana. And I'd bet few if any come forward in the future either. They would be embarrassed to have it known they buckled down. These women have their pride and their reputations to protect."

I arrived at Lou's office an hour before our meeting with Helen. She wanted to see all the evidence. "I can see why Helen was working late last night. She has a lot of charges to work through with these women." Lou Player said after she watched the video. "The good news for you is you can not be held liable for anything you did. If Lionel Perkins decides to try we can easily counter-sue." I breathed a little easier hearing that.

Helen was happy when we got to her office. I told her I assumed her case went well. "Oh, yeah. Lana Perkins' attorney got shot down in flames when he tried to suppress the video. He barely had time to watch it, but he got a copy. He tried to claim his client's civil rights were violated by her not knowing she was being recorded. I pointed out Lana was fully aware of the store's security system and its surveillance because not only was it clearly posted in the store, her own daughter had been caught by it twice. Lana herself made an effort to neutralize the system to hide her actions. The fact she was unsuccessful was not an issue. The judge agreed with me."

"So, Lana is going down." I said. Both Helen and Lou cracked up, laughing. I was confused.

"Sorry, Bas." Helen said dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. "It was just the way you said it. In light of how she treated other women, especially Charlotte Appegate, Lana Perkins will probably find herself 'going down' quite a bit in the future. But to your other meaning, yes, she is facing a lengthy enslavement with all these charges."

"What about the other two women?" I asked.

"They are willing to testify against Perkins. Both claim Lana ordered them to assist her to intimidate Ms. Applegate. They also admitted part of the enticement Lana offered was full use of her new submissive toy. The only part they did not anticipate was when Perkins struck Applegate. But even though they protested verbally, they physically held the woman down so Perkins could punch her repeatedly. So they are facing assault charges as well as extortion. If they'd tried to subdue and hide Applegate like Perkins ordered, I'd be adding kidnapping charges."

"What about the threat to take her out to her husband's fish camp to be taught a lesson? You aren't going to let that go are you?" I asked.

Helen smiled, "You remember every detail don't you? And you just saw it live? I had to go through the recording slowly pausing it and taking notes for all my charges." I shrugged and told her it was part of my syndrome plus I'd watched the whole scene again with Lenore. "Well the threat adds credence to the charge of attempt to enslave. She was actively trying to intimidate Applegate into signing the notes and the indenture contract. I'll get to that in a minute.

"The other women said Lana told them a story how several years ago she'd taken a woman who pissed her off out to the camp and kept her chained naked in a shed for several days. Lana reportedly whipped the woman repeatedly and assaulted her sexually. The woman was reportedly released after having learned her lesson and would literally kiss Perkins' butt upon command afterwards. Neither of the two women knew the victim's identity or if the story was even true. It might have been Lana spouting off but I tend to think there is an element of truth there."

I asked if she was going to try to find the woman. "No, what would be the point? If she does not want to come forward, there is no reason to embarrass her. And do you want another woman laying claim to Lana as restitution instead of Ms Applegate?" I shook my head. "Then leave it alone.

"Both Cynthia Dupree and Rebecca Fruge also claim Lana Perkins had them under her thumb. She loaned them money and used them sexually on a few occasions as interest on the loans. They say they were powerless to resist her and admitted they really didn't try. It was easier and more beneficial to just go along with Lana and whatever she wanted."

"You can't let them off even if they testify!" I exclaimed. "They were as cruel as Lana!"

"Don't tell me how to run my cases, Bas." Helen said quickly. "But no, I'm not letting them off. I may allow them a fair plea deal, but both women will find themselves collared for years. I can assure you of that."

"Now I need you to write a statement of how you agreed to help Applegate enhance her security system as a favor for a friend because she was afraid of being intimidated. You had access to and were watching all the feeds for the same reason. You might skip the part about 'chumming the water'." Helen grinned. "It doesn't matter. Perkins also used others to try to intimidate Applegate to help get the daughter returned. I say intimidate and extort, her lawyer will say convince. In the end Perkins' actions will convict her."

Helen proved her assurances to be valid. Despite the formidable video evidence against her, Lana fought the charges tooth and nail, refusing to plea the charges down and insisting on a trial despite her attorney's advice. To no surprise to anyone but her, she was found guilty of attempting to enslave, extortion, attempting to defraud, and assault. She stood trembling as the judge announced the verdict the following Friday, just four days after the fateful incident.

She collapsed in tears when she was enslaved for twenty five years which was effectively a life sentence. She would be released upon her sixty fifth birthday when all enslavements ended. Then to her absolute horror she was awarded to Charlotte who sat, trembling herself, next to me.

Cindy and Becky accepted plea deals for conspiracy to enslave and assault and were sentenced to fifteen years as judicial slaves. Their testimony was probably not needed but it was damning to hear them speak in court. Lana shot proverbial daggers at both women as they related Lana's intentions for Charlotte even if she helped return her daughter, Geri.

Planning to manipulate Charlotte into signing her life away had begun two days previous to the events in the store. They started with a visit Saturday to convince Charlotte to 'fix the situation'. Both women were upset they'd been stupid enough to follow Lana to their doom. They testified Lana had many powerful friends who she used as weapons to get her way and they were afraid to put themselves at risk.

Cindy and Becky were also awarded to Charlotte since she was the wronged party. "Fuck me running, Bas." Charlotte exclaimed as we walked out of the courtroom. "This time last week, I was selling Geri to you and listening to Lana tear me a new one verbally. Now I own all three of those women. I'm not sure I can handle them."

I assured her that would not be a problem. "I'll buy you a paddle to use on their bare butts as a present." I laughed. "And of course. if you need to use them, those collars are the most effective disciplinary tools on the planet. I know you passed your slave license exam before you got Geri, but I'll go over everything with you this weekend. I'll also go along when you collect the women from jail. They need to get processed into the system and according to the clerk, they won't be ready until tomorrow."