"Sweetheart," John glanced up at the beckoning of his wife. She stood in the doorway wearing her coat and with her purse slung over her shoulder. "Catherine is waiting to talk to you on the computer. I'm heading out for groceries." John smiled at his wife over the top of his newspaper. "Okay…have you got enough money?"
She chuckled as she ran a hand through her long dark hair. "Do we ever? I'll stick in on the card." John smirked and watched her leave. Remembering his daughter he drifted over to the computer and smiled when he saw her waving at him via the web cam connection. It still amazed him that he could even see his daughter's smiling face…he just wasn't used to this web cam deal but now he was glad he had gotten for her for her twenty-first birthday three weeks ago.
He had missed seeing her since she had gone away to college last fall nearly eight hundred miles away. They had only seen her once since then, for Christmas, and she was gone long before they were ready to see her go. Catherine looked as beautiful as ever. Her short, wavy black hair was framing her face, locks falling into her sparkling green eyes and John felt a tug as his heartstrings as he sat down and put on the microphone. "Hi baby." He said with a smile and she smirked adjusting her microphone, looking so much like his wife that is startled him.
"Hi Daddy." Her voice carried over the distance and he reached out the monitor to touch her face. The cold, flat screen met his fingertips and he wished he could hold her. Seeing her and hearing her just wasn't enough. He missed his baby girl…his only child. "How are you?"
His voice was husky and he saw the homesick look in her eyes. "I'm okay. Busy, busy…I miss you guys." He smiled wistfully. "We miss you too." Catherine sat back in her chair and he saw that she was wearing a black tank top, very clingy and low cut with a glittering gemstone star across the front. He knew she was probably wearing it with her low-slung hip hugging black jeans.
They were her favorite, and with the tiny rhinestone star on the back pocket, they would be a perfect match for the provocative top. He was once again reminded of the fact that Catherine wasn't his little girl anymore. She was all grown up now. The impressive swell of her bosom against the thin fabric was also a pertinent reminder of her coming of age and John shifted somewhat uncomfortably in his office chair. She had to be dating…was she still a virgin? How many men had placed their hands on those perfect breasts? Feeling a swell of protective anger swell through him he frowned slightly. "Any boyfriends yet?" Catherine laughed.
"Not exactly. Just concentrating on school for now. I never realized how challenging becoming a lawyer would be." John chuckled. "Well, once you're rich just don't forget who paid for your education. I never realized how expensive you becoming a lawyer would be." Catherine rolled her eyes. "Dad." He laughed. "Yeah all right, you're worth every penny." Catherine grinned. "Damn straight!" Just then he heard a faint knock in the background and Catherine glanced towards her front door. "Just a second Daddy, there's someone at the door."
He gave her the thumbs up sign and watched her lithe figure as she stood and walked away from him. He was right; she was wearing the black jeans. It seemed to take forever for her to return, and when she did she was just a blur on the screen. He frowned peering closer and his heart stopped in his chest. The camera was aimed at her office chair normally but she had pushed it aside to answer the door and it was aimed directly at the bed now. Catherine had apparently just bounced onto the bed. Was she going to talk to him from there? Something was wrong…there was someone else in the room! He tried to make out who it was and what was happening. Catherine's voice carried across the room to the microphone. "Please don't hurt me!" He felt his heart hammer against his chest. What was happening? The dark figure loomed over her menacingly and John wasn't sure what to do. Catherine's face was a mask of terror as she lay sprawled across the bed, and slowly, the figure lowered himself on top of her. Her whimper of fear was barely heard above the static and John struggled to make everything make sense.
"Don't worry buttercup, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm going to make you feel real good." The deep masculine voice made John's stomach turn. What was the bastard intending to do to his little girl? Apparently, the intruder was unaware he was being filmed. It was no wonder, the web cam was tiny and looked almost exactly like a regular camera and undoubtedly, Catherine's screensaver had come on by now. The man tried to kiss her and Catherine struggled beneath him. His large black hands roamed up to her breasts, squeezing them through the thin fabric. She screamed. "Help!"
The man laughed. "Go ahead and scream baby, no one can hear you. It's Friday night and everyone is partying." John's heart clutched in his chest. He could hear her. She must know that as she cast a despondent glance towards the computer. The man continued to assault her breasts and Catherine began to cry, her tears pouring down her cheeks at her own helplessness. John hurriedly grabbed up the phone. The deafening static startled him and he remembered, he was online, he couldn't make a phone call and be online at the same time. But he just couldn't force himself to disconnect. He couldn't bear not to know what was happening. Helpless, he tried to think of something to do, but nothing would come to mind. He was just going to have to watch…
