"I'm telling you, there's something wrong with this. First Linda, then Sabrina, now Julie. They all go for a visit to where we couldn't wait to escape and now all are suddenly moving there to live, happy to do so, I might add."
Karen Barnes sipped her drink as she listened to Margot Seine. They had been friends since grade school, had been part of the Sadistic Six in middle and high school, creating terror and bullying others all the time. It had been a good time, some of the teachers so scared of them, they barely had to attend classes.
All six graduated and left for better futures. One was murdered, the crime still not solved. Three of the five left were now either living back there or moving back there for no apparent reason. It made no sense to return to where they spent every day wanting to leave so Karen had a point. As to the conspiracy, that was normal for Karen's thinking. Time to toss water on it.
"First, Linda didn't move back for a visit, Ronnie was promoted and transferred there so it just happened to be where she used to live. You can't blame him for taking a step upward in a good company. As to Sabrina and what's his name, I have no idea. They went back because her father was extremely ill and recovered enough during her stay for her to go home. Perhaps she simply wants to move closer to take care of them."
Snort
"She argued with her family all the time. They were as happy to see her leaving as she was to leave. Why would she suddenly want to give up a good job for her and Johan to just take care of the parents. Makes no sense."
"What I agree on, is that it makes no sense for Julie to live there. I mean, we all know she left that job rather than be fired for some stupid political move only to move in with Brin and what's his name, but to visit Linda and Ronnie only to suddenly not want to leave? It's been almost a month since she visited and she's not even on social media anymore. The only reason we know she's alive is that she's been seen in the background of when Linda did a Facebook posting. She even laughed and waved at the camera."
"Precisely my point, Margot. The only time I've ever seen Julie laugh was when she dragged someone through the mud at school. Now, well, she seems almost happy and there wasn't any muddy ground or victim in sight."
Margot shifted in her chair, her feet still resting on the naked man kneeling under the table. Both women were using him for a footrest as they sat on the patio, a lawnmower heard in the distance to break the silence. She tapped her glass, another naked man rushing over, to remove it, leaving a filled glass in its place. The man had to be aware of when either woman tapped the glass to have it replaced or there was pain to pay.
The one on his knees belonged to Karen, the one fetching was Margot's. Both were bullied shortly after they moved her and now they served their Goddess, going to their own part time work while Goddess was at her work. It had been months since either woman had seen the inside of a grocery store or had to find where the mop or vacuum cleaner was stored. The men were called slugs, and it was their job to do all that for their respective Goddess.
"So, your version of this is that we make an unannounced visit, see if it's the water or air that makes them happy, find a vaccine and put them back to normal." Margot, shrugged, "I admit it sounds more fun than some of your conspiracy theories."
Karen didn't respond, aware she saw these conspiracies everywhere, not the least concerned if anyone proved them to be false. It was a conspiracy, thus by definition there would be few clues.
"I know I'm right on this. Linda kept in shape by dieting. Now look at her postings, she's got a gut that looks like she's happy doing sit-ups. I mean, look, I can concede it's possible Julie stayed because they had a three some with Ronnie who looks like he can handle two women. It doesn't sound like Linda to share but we've all talked about how Ronnie looks like more than a man match for her. So I get that. But it doesn't count for why Brin and him would want to go there."
"Fine, we can go in two weeks."
"Why then?"
"That way slug can paint the front room and have the decking finished before I get back. No reason for me to put up with the noise and fuss."
Her friend nodded full agreement. She'd have things for her slug to do as well.
Charlie Davies served her third customer of the morning and her shift only started ten minutes before. It looked like a busy day, which meant a busy tip day if the three baristas were lucky, and they usually were. The coffee shop was known for fast, efficient, and friendly service as well as good coffee. The customers were mainly nice and most left decent tips, so it could be worse to Charlie as she took the next order.
She was busy until she looked at the lobby to see Master enter the door. He simply walked over to sit an empty table, taking out his phone. Charlie sighed, not loudly, but inwardly. It had been almost two weeks since Master visited, and she doubted he was here to just check on how his favorite dominatrix fared. A most reluctant dominatrix who was still juggling work, life, and a bunch of slaves she didn't want around. She had no idea who Master was other than someone she simply could not refuse, the only reason she was even close to being a dominatrix.
At break time ten minutes later, she walked over to set a drink in front of him before sitting with her own drink so she could look out the lobby windows. Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β After a few sips, he looked her.
"Still trying to keep busy?"
"Trying? Master, only thing I have trying in my life is you." Charlie looked at him to sigh loudly. "Since you haven't been driving me nuts in a while, I'm guess I'm about to get a migraine."