Unexpected Connection

There were days in which agent Sarah Morrissey hated her job. The long, grueling hours as one of the FBI's top undercover operatives did not leave room for a social life much less time to be herself. But there were days like today where the intrigue and danger more than made up for it. Days where although undercover she was able to be who she was in real life while catching the bad guys. So when her boss handed her this assignment which would not only help a case she was working on in Florida to help a friend but to crack another case linked to two of the richest gay men in the world, she jumped at the chance.

The case in Florida involved a nasty piece of work by the name of Fred Pierce who was one of the partners in a Microsoft-esque company. A prominent figure within the political and corporate sectors, he seemed like the answer to everyone's prayers. Handsome, married with 2.5 children and obscenly wealthy, Fred gave to the community- erecting 24-hour daycare centers and helping the poor citizens of Miami in ways that made him seem like a hero. In reality, Fred was a sexual predator who preyed on the women who worked for him within the halls of his multi-million dollar business. Unfortunately for him, two of the women he'd forced into having an affair with him against their wills was Sarah's sister, Lisette and one of her best friends, Julienne McKay. His constant blackmail and rape of Lisette was at the behest of Fred's depraved and jealous sister, Tamara St. Giles, who had a vendetta against the unsuspecting woman. When she found out she was pregnant, Lisette took her own life knowing that having the abortion would never be enough to stop Fred Pierce from doing that to her again. Sarah still cried herself to sleep some nights in guilt and pain for not being able to save the one person she should have been able to. No Lisette didn't confide in her at the time- only in the suicide note- but it still didn't assuage the feeling that she should have known something was wrong with the sibling she had taken care of since their parents had died. Her only consolation was that she had managed to save Julienne from a much worse fate involving drug and human trafficking; revenge and ultimately the prize of redemption for a woman who'd gone through horrors untold in order to help Sarah seek her own brand of justice. It was that favor along with her skill both as a Field Operative in her job and as a Domme in life outside the badge which brought her to Pittsburgh working in the classiest gentleman's' club for the sleaziest bastard she'll eventually have the pleasure of carting off to Federal prison...again.

"You look like the cat who got a mouth full of cream, Mistress Phoenix," her companion said.

Sarah couldn't help but smile at Shelia's use of her dominatrix name. Anthony and Gareth told Shelia of it on a wild night where they all visited a club catering to her particular taste. "Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for the stage show. By the way, your husband will kill me for letting you do this. Your brother already wants to kill me for allowing you to come along in the first place so do me a big favor, Shelia, and leave the dangerous stuff to me."

"You know good and hell well I can take care of myself, Phoenix," Shelia responded hotly. Sarah couldn't deny her claim. Mrs. Shelia Matthews was one smart, tough and courageous cookie. No doubt she would've made one hell of an agent but as one of the partners in a New York advertising agency, she was just as tenacious. If Sarah's partner, Evangeline, couldn't be by her side in an assignment like this one, she was more than happy to have Shelia regardless of Gareth and Anthony's continued protests. "Besides, my mocha complexion in this den of sin seems to be a commodity."

Sarah laughed at her statement. It was true. Shelia was being requested for lap dances ever since they walked in the door of Struts- a gentleman's' club owned by Gary Sapperstein. Her friend, Nicole Baird, had given her additional information about the man and his nephew. As a psychologist, there was a limited amount of what Nicole could actually say to protect her client's identity but Sarah had been able to fill in the blanks pretty well and it explained why the idiot was running a hetero sex club instead of a gay one. Upon digging into the man's background, she'd found his connection to not only Justin Taylor but also his lover, Brian Kinney which provided Sarah even more reason to put the bastard and the others she was there for away for a very long time. This business was getting uglier by the second and although she loved her job, she was tired of being undercover. Her boss had promised her a much needed respite after this case was over.

As she and Sheila stood behind the wooden wall by a nearby table, the other men she was looking for began to arrive, including her client for the evening. She spoke into the small pin holding her cleavage together. "It's almost show time, boys. Are you able to here the greetings going on at the table?"

"All set, Boss Lady," Frankie replied, the smile in his voice evident. An agent for five years, he refused to go on any assignments that didn't include Sarah. She was dangerous, deadly, fast, efficient and sometimes reckless but he respected her more than most of the men on the force. She had also saved their lives more than once.

"Any word on Evangeline yet?"

"None," Frankie answered sharply. Where Sarah was always straight with her team, Evangeline- her partner- was secretive and didn't inspire a trusting relationship among him and the others. The only one who could have a civil conversation with the woman was Sarah because she was the boss and her authority would never be questioned on a mission. Frankie had his suspicions about Evangeline's sudden business which took the place of being on this assignment but he kept those to himself. Instead they had to protect Shelia, a civilian who really should have been an agent. The boys didn't mind though. After the work they all did with Shelia's help on the Fred Pierce case, they were more than happy to extend the same type of protection and respect offered to Sarah, to Shelia. "Do you know why she took off so suddenly, Sarah?"

"No the chief didn't say but it must have been important."

"I doubt it," Sheila mumbled and Frankie laughed when he heard. She also didn't trust Evangeline but what could she say that would be taken seriously? She wasn't officially part of this team.

"Ha! Chocolate Thunder isn't a fan of Evangeline either. Sarah, have you talked to Henry about changing her team yet?"

"You know no one else will work with her because of her attitude, Frankie. She's a good agent but a little tough to take at times. We as women have had to be in this business, you know that."

"Okay, Sarah but I think she's fucking jealous of you."

Sarah knew it was true. Evangeline had been the one to train her but when it came to the promotion, Sarah's education had made it possible to even though she was the junior between the two women. Sarah could empathize with Evangeline but the bottom line was that Sarah had made the most of every opportunity given her and although Evangeline and her butted heads sometimes, they made a helluva team and the cases got resolved. It was time to change back to the matter at hand.

"Tyson, are you there?"

"Yeah, Sarah. I got a clear view of the meeting and have secretly been taking the pics. It seems that one of they're still waiting for someone and Sapperstein's nephew has been to the table twice already."

"Just be careful, Ty. The kid isn't as clueless as he seems. In the month I've been working this assignment, Sean has gotten four people fired plus the bouncer who rebuffed his advances is still recovering from his injuries due to Gary's own bully boys. They also found copious amounts of a date rape drug in his system- the same one used on Justin Taylor some years ago- so don't drink anything he brings to you."

She saw Ty nod slightly. He was definitely an attractive man with his muscular five-foot-eleven muscular frame and his ageless face. Tyson looked more like a college student instead of an FBI agent which worked well in his favor for the past nine years. "Don't worry, Sugar. I've arranged for my Pittsburgh lover who just happens to be the bartender to serve me personally all night. I told Todd I would be especially grateful if he did that for me. We've put out that we're old high school buddies, which isn't exactly a lie since we went to college together, so Gary allows it and has told Sean to back off. But it hasn't stopped the kid from trying to attract my attention and get into my pants."

"Hey you, Pretty Boy haven't I told you to limit the dick talk?" Frankie cut in laughing. "I don't care what you do with it as long as I don't have to witness where you're sticking it or in whom."

Shelia, Sarah and Ty laughed but Ty responded. "Don't worry, Hot Dog. If ever I have the urge to point my dick in your direction, I'll admit myself into a psychiatric hospital first. You're attractive but I'm not into bears, babe." Then, "Fuck me, I can't believe...no it can't fucking be!"

"What, Ty?"

"I know the last member of their group, the guy who they've all been waiting for."

They all looked- Frankie through the surveillance camera behind the bar he tapped into, Sheila and Sarah behind the wall which kept them hidden and Ty directly at the tall figure sauntering through the door and up to the table.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Unexpected Encounters

Jennifer sat outside the house on Maple Street waiting a sufficient amount of time after her ex-husband left his home. After all she'd learned during the meeting in Brian and Justin's home office, she knew she what she needed to do. Although she resented Madison Taylor, Jennifer knew that beneath that dark hair and behind those seemingly innocent dark brown eyes was a shrewd woman. She had to be in order to have trapped Craig Taylor into marriage again after Jennifer had taken everything which wasn't nailed down in court. Madison and Craig had been involved in an affair for the last six years of their marriage and conveniently came up pregnant which had been the last straw for Jennifer- the catalyst for her to leave him even after his treatment of Justin. Within four months after his divorce was final, Madison rushed Craig to the altar, had her father who was Craig's attorney at the time force Craig to sign a post-nuptial agreement and admitted there wasn't a child citing how desperate she was to be with him. Jennifer couldn't begrudge Madison her tactics- in fact she applauded them and wished she'd been smarter at the beginning of their marriage- she only hoped that the younger woman was just as smart now.

"Are we ready, Ladies?" She asked her companions.

Melanie looked at Jennifer and nodded along with Myrna and Lindsey. Myrna and Melanie were there as attorneys; Lindz as a peer since Madison and Lindsey graduated high school together. It also helped that Lindsey represented Justin's business interests. "How do you want to play this, Jennifer?" Melanie asked.

"I think the best way to deal with Madison is to give her all of the facts we have at first. If she proves difficult, then both you and Myrna can lay out why she should legally dissuade Craig from doing this thing to Brian and Justin."

"In the meantime, I have Justin's authorization to offer her a settlement if she wants to relocate while he deals with Craig."

Jennifer nodded. "Let's make that the last option, Lindsey. I'm still holding out hope that she'll see reason and look at this from all sides; that her penchant for self-preservation will kick in as soon as she hears the facts."

"And if none of this works?" Myrna asked. She had stayed mostly silent running through all the scenarios in her head of how this could go.

"Then I'll warn her that if she continues to sit idly by while her husband tries his best to destroy my sons- and yes I mean Brian, too- that I will make her suffer in ways only a senior member of the vaunted WASP nest can. The reason she had Craig sign that post-nuptial agreement in the first place was so she could maintain her status as one of us and that her children would have the protection of the Taylor name beyond Craig's death. That includes all money, property, club memberships and no divorce."

"Shit that was smart," Myrna said. Through Justin's account, she was aware of all the previous proceedings between Jennifer and her ex-husband. She knew it was the way Craig got away with disowning Justin and not paying for his education, leaving it to the young man to find his own way. Madison Taylor's actions made clear that he would not be able to treat her and her children the same way he treated his former family.

"Yes she is," Jennifer agreed. "Now I can only hope that intelligence extends far beyond the fact that I'm his ex-wife and Justin a disenfranchised son."

She turned to ring the doorbell, taking a deep breath as she did so. It was only 8:30 in the evening but she was banking on the fact the kids should be asleep by now. They were still relatively young. When Madison opened the door, her face registered surprise which quickly turned accusatory.

"What are you doing here, Jennifer?"

"Well I'm certainly not going to talk about it on your doorstep, Madison. There are things we need to discuss so may we come in?" Jennifer's tone was just as haughty as the woman before her. There was nothing which would stop her purpose and she didn't have the patience to play the power game with Madison just then.

Madison backed out of the doorway allowing entry to the four women. In spite of her unease, her upbringing mandated she offer refreshment as the women settled into the living room area. All declined for which she was secretly grateful since she wasn't inclined to have them stay long. "Craig will be back shortly so I guess we better get down to the reason for your visit."

"That's fine by me, Madison but I should tell you that Craig won't be home until late. He should be walking into Struts by now."

"You lie! There is no way he would be walking into that filthy club."

"No dear, I don't lie at all." Jennifer shook her head. How could she have been married to Craig Taylor all these years and think he would never find a way to cheat on her, too? "That's neither here nor there but if you remember, I did try to warn you about him. In any event, this is about him but also about what he is up to which could bring harm to your house."

"What are you talking about, Jennifer? He is paying for the rest of Molly's education."

"This isn't about that. I'm talking about what he's up to in reference to Justin and his lover. How much has Craig told you over the years, Madison?"

"Only that Brian Kinney is a pervert who turned Justin gay and against his family. When Craig gave Justin an ultimatum to forget about being gay, Kinney brainwashed him into going with him."

The four women shook their heads but it was Lindsey who spoke then. "And you believed him, Madison?"

Madison exclaimed. "Oh my God, Lindsey. I wasn't sure that was you and didn't wish to make a wrong identification."

"I'm sorry. In my focus, I forgot to make the introductions, Madison. Of course you know Lindsey. My two attorneys are also with me, Melanie Marcus who is Kinnetik's attorney and Myrna Singleton who is not only Justin's attorney but his agent as well."

"It's good to meet you all and to see you again, Lindsey but why are attorneys here in my house, Jennifer?"

"We're getting to that but you still haven't answered Lindsey's question. It's important that you answer any and all questions and listen to what we have to say, Madison. I really need you to concentrate and keep all of what we're about to tell you confidential. Can you do that?"

"It depends on what it is but to answer your question, Lindsey, yes I believed him. I saw no reason not to."

"Sit down, Madison, and we'll tell you the whole story not just the part which makes Craig Taylor look like the upstanding man you would like to believe he is. Each of us has lived this tale in various degrees so you have no need to doubt the validity of the tale but after hearing all the facts if you have any questions, you may ask them and expect straight answers," Lindsey assured her.

When Madison sat down, Jennifer said, "Well I guess I should begin then. I won't tell you about the problems in our marriage before Justin came out since those are the facts you already know and have been warned about. Justin and Brian Kinney met the night Lindsey and Melanie's son with Brian was born. Justin was just beginning his senior year at St. James and had known he was gay from the time he was fifteen. It wasn't until he and I reestablished our own relationship that he told me about an experience he'd had with another boy when he was fifteen at summer camp which confirmed it for him. Anyway, Brian and Justin had what was supposed to be a one-night stand that night but over the years it's turned into something much more than you or I have ever had with Craig Taylor. At first, Brian tried his best to get away from Justin. He had a one fuck only policy that didn't work for my tenacious teenager." She smiled at the memory of hearing Brian and Justin tell it at their commitment ceremony. Melanie and Lindsey were also smiling. "So Justin wore him down until Brian couldn't help himself. On the evening I told Craig which was after I attended the Gay and Lesbian art show which was Justin's first of many, his first step was to call Brian. I don't know what he heard during that phone call-we never discussed it- but I know it was in a sense traumatizing for him. Justin was very angry with me for telling his father and they had an argument about it. Justin told us that he loved Brian and that all he wanted was to be with him and that he was going to whether Craig liked it or not."

Madison was beginning to get a clearer picture of what really happened during that time. "So when did the ultimatum come into play?"

"It turns out that Craig was stalking Brian to a degree. The week before the ultimatum was issued, Craig had sought Brian out and rammed his car into Brian's jeep twice while he was stopped at a traffic light. When Justin and I asked him what happened to the car, he said some idiot ran the light and hit him. Justin was on his way out and Craig had decided without talking to any of us that Justin was going away to military school. You see, the day before, the football player who later almost killed my son with a baseball bat assaulted Justin in the locker room after gym class as he was changing back into the school uniform. Justin fought back but when asked what happened because Chris Hobbs was their star football player at the time, it was decided that it was all Justin's fault for not being modest about himself. Justin, in an act of independence and rebellion had gotten a nipple ring and the boys decided to make derogatory comments to Justin because of it. Anyway, Craig and Justin had words in which Craig told him it was time he became a man. Justin promptly told him that it didn't matter what Craig did; that more butt-fucking goes on in boarding school than the backroom at Babylon and that he would still be Craig's queer son."

"Melanie and I were at Brian's house when Justin showed up. He told us that he thought it was Craig's vehicle who hit Brian. He had a concussion and some minor injuries but it wasn't the last time Craig had assaulted Brian," Lindsey said.

"Forgive me but it's hard for me to picture this side of Craig," Madison protested.

"It probably would be, dear, but it happened. The following week, Craig punched and kicked Brian outside of the club they all frequent- which Brian now owns- and it happened in front of Justin who in turn attacked his father to pull him off his lover. Craig told Justin that he was to give up his lifestyle or never come home again. From the recounts I've heard from Justin and others like Lindz and Mel, Justin told Craig never again."

"Is that when he went to live with Debbie Novotny? I heard about Justin living there while Craig and I..."

Jennifer nodded. "You can say it. While you and Craig were planning the demise of my marriage to him. To answer your question, Justin went to live with Debbie some time later but prior to that, he was living with Brian.in all honesty, Justin probably would have moved back in with us had Craig not issued a second threat which would have Justin denying who he is, what he thought or what he felt- those were Brian's words, not mine but no less accurate or true. It was no wonder why Justin chose Brian. Craig disowned him that day. He didn't even bother to see him later when Justin was bashed at the prom sometime later."

"I remember hearing about that as well which is why I had that clause put into the agreement," Madison said.

"I know and I think that was a very smart thing you did especially since we don't know until our children's teen years if they'll be gay or not."

"I was here the night Justin came to ask his father to help him pay for school. Brian and Justin had broken up then, I think."

Lindsey picked up the tale then. "They did but prior to that Brian was paying for Justin's education out of his own money. It was a written agreement between Brian and Justin that upon graduation, Justin would begin making payments on the loan."

"And he still chose to honor the agreement after they broke up? He's either stupid or-"

"Extremely generous," Lindsey said. "Brian has always made it a point to tell Justin that he wanted him to be the best homosexual he could be and that included getting his education. At least it did until the Stockwell election when Justin was kicked out of school and Brian had lost his job for a time."

"I thought the Stockwell campaign was dismantled by a group called Concerned Citizens for the Truth."

"Brian and Justin were the ‘Citizens,' Madison," Jennifer confirmed.

The younger woman couldn't stop the gasp which left her. It was the first time she'd ever seen Craig really angry. He had ranted and raved for quite a few hours about gay people interfering with politics and how it wasn't right that they should be allowed to in a God-fearing nation. She'd had no idea he'd been talking about his own son. "Did Craig know?"

"Yeah, he did since he was a major contributor to Stockwell's campaign. He also contributed to Chris Hobbs getting off with community service after the bashing. He was called to testify on Chris' behalf about his character while Justin laid in the coma fighting for his life. I sat there- Mel, Lindsey and I sat there- literally in shock listening to him basically say his son deserved the fate which befell him." Jennifer fought back tears as she remembered all of Craig's comments ending with ‘I don't have a son. My son died the day he declared he was a butt fucker.' She had never felt as murderous as she did that day. "To let you know, Stockwell is out and he, Craig and the Hobbs family are once again attacking Justin and Brian."

"Jennifer, I wish I can help you but I can't. I don't want to get involved." All assembled could tell that she was deeply disturbed by what she'd heard thus far.

Myrna spoke up then. "Frankly, you are already involved whether you want to be or not because under the law you are his wife. It will be said that there is no way all of this was going on without your knowledge especially considering how long you two have been together; that you were even instrumental in luring Craig Taylor from his first family. There are only a couple of options available to you, Madison. You have a real opportunity to get Craig out of this by pleading with him to abandon this plot against the Taylor-Kinney estate and all their holdings thus saving you and your children from certain litigation and humiliation. The other option is to basically collect all information the information you can find and pass it along to us or the authorities. If you do the second option you will be called into court to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Make no mistake, Madison, with or without your cooperation, Craig will face all types of federal conspiracy and hate crime charges unless he abandons this senseless plan for revenge."

Melanie nodded. "Each of the charges against him so far has a maximum sentence of fifteen years. Also we suspect he and his cohorts are responsible for the Babylon bombing back in 2005. Since there isn't a statute of limitations on murder, Craig could be charged with planning the demise of those who died in the bombing. The prosecutor will not ask for the sentences to be run concurrent, instead every single count against Craig that he's found guilty of will be treated as a separate crime. Your children will most certainly be fatherless and based on the contract you had Craig sign, you will not have a way out of it either. No divorce but then that won't much matter either because you will be facing your own charges including Obstruction of Justice, Aiding and Abetting a Known Criminal and Witnessing but Not Reporting a Hate Crime." Melanie watched as all her carefully spoken words took root and formed a picture in Madison's mind. They didn't have the luxury of sugarcoating any of the consequences Madison Taylor faced if she didn't find a way to stop this.

"Is there a third option? I really can't let Craig know that I know what he is up to but I can't be witness to all of this either. I can't risk my children in order to become some throwback country song of standing by my man. I love Craig but I love myself and my children more. Does that make me a bad person...a bad wife?"

Jennifer smiled. It was as she suspected; Madison Montgomery Taylor was all about self-preservation. "Lindsey, as my son's personal assistant I'm sure there is some other alternative which would help Madison protect herself and her children."

Lindsey's smile turned slightly feral as she heard the underlying smugness in Jennifer's voice. It was time for a little bit of revenge of their own. "Justin and Brian advised me to give you ten grand if you skip town tonight. Also, they require you to do one more thing. Since there is a joint account with the bulk of your funds in it, you are to withdraw every red cent and close the account immediately. Based on the amount in that account and the money I'm giving you in cash, that should be enough to give you a nice new start somewhere far away from Pittsburgh, perhaps in Georgia at your deceased grandmother's estate. Once the money is gone though, you do not get to come back seeking more so invest it wisely and live comfortably but not extravagantly enough to draw unwanted and unneeded attention to yourself. Since you cannot divorce your husband, you will tell him only that you wanted a vacation away from Pittsburgh for awhile. Since the kids are home schooled, they will continue to be for the remainder of the school year by my employer. Providing them room and board will be your choice and or responsibility but he will pay their salary until such time as you can get them registered for a school down there and you will take on their expenses from that point on."

"You mean I can never come back to Pittsburgh?"

"Since we do not know how long this all will take, I would say not soon. That is why it is so important that you establish your future where you live while this unpleasantness is taken care of. When it is all resolved, perhaps then but then again you may be happy enough with your life by then so returning would seem more of a hardship than not." Lindsey patted her knee in a soothing gesture.

"Fine, I'll do it but it will have to wait until morning since the banks are closed at this hour."

"Not exactly," Jennifer assured her while pulling out her cell phone. She held it up to her ear and winked at Madison in an assuring gesture. "Hello Aurora, it's Jennifer. Yes, it seems that Madison has decided to accept Justin's offer. I'll call Brian and tell him to arrange for travel within the next hour and a half. In the meantime, could you start proceedings on closing out the joint account and Madison's personal account as well? Fabulous, we'll see you there in about forty-five minutes. It should take about that long to pack what Madison wants to take with her although she will have to leave the bulk of everything behind to make it look like she'll be returning as soon as Pittsburgh thaws out. Yes I'll tell her and thank you. Talk soon." Jennifer hung up the phone before speaking to Madison again. "Okay, everything is being closed out as we speak. All that's left for you to do is to pack up yourself and the children. The joint account and your personal account gives you about three-quarters of a million dollars for a new start plus the ten thousand from my son will help you out even further. If you play your cards right, you may not have to work."

"It's nice to know that considering I've never really had a job since summer camp back when I was a junior in high school and my brief stint working in the financial aid office during college. My dad made me quit both saying it was unseemly for a woman of my stature and upbringing to work."

"Well pardon me but your father was a damn fool," Melanie spat out. She was well acquainted with Saul Montgomery who just happened to be the uncle of Ben and Michael's adopted son Hunter. His bigoted ass wouldn't take in the kid because he was beneath him and his family yet he was willing to pull out all the stops to justify why Rita Montgomery should be able to reclaim her wayward son. She shook her head. It was no wonder why Madison was so fucking screwed up and ended up with an asshole like Craig fucking Taylor. Like attracts like it seems.

"I'm beginning to see your point Melanie but thank you for apologizing anyway. I actually liked having a job so who knows...maybe there will be something I can do or maybe I'll start my own business since I certainly have enough for the start-up costs now."

"I think I have a better idea. My guess is since you were raised to be a good housewife, you know how to cook? And since you were raised to basically be a country club socialite, I'd wager you could throw elegant parties?" Melanie asked.

"Sure can, Melanie. I was raised to do both but why?"

Lindsey picked up on the idea then and said, "A friend of ours is looking to expand his catering business. He receives invitations constantly, some of which he had to turn down because of the scheduling. I'll run it by Emmett and have him contact you when you get settled in the new place. In the meantime, it's about time we get you and the kids out of here before your husband returns."

For the first time that evening Madison genuinely smiled. She wasn't exactly happy that she would be leaving Craig and their home but it sure beat going to jail which would leave her children motherless and her without hope. If she had to pick out a way to design her life, she never would have been able to envision the one now waiting for her to claim and it was all due to the last person she ever expected an offer from...the former Mrs. Jennifer Taylor.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Indecent Exposure

Joshua Markham made himself comfortable at the table with men almost twice his age. His father, Samuel Junior, had requested his presence after almost ten-years of not seeing each other. He preferred to get right down to business but was forced to wait as a mocha skinned beauty took the stage. Dancing around to Candy Shop by 50 Cent, the woman made some of the most sensuous dance moves he'd ever seen vertically outside of a bedroom and silk sheets. Her perky and ample tits bounced slightly with each movement while her body glistened in the spotlight from the combination of oil and sweat. She was definitely a morsel any man present would want to lick like a lollipop until getting to the cream-filled center- or at the very least filling her up with the cream. He couldn't help but understand the older mens' fixation with the vision on stage. Just as she flipped her lithe body to hang upside down to twirl on the pole using only her ankles, Joshua thought that with luck he would be the first in line to fuck her senseless before the night was through. He usually wasn't into black pussy but for her he would make a definite exception.

He stopped the waiter passing him just then. "How much for the bitch on stage?"

"My uncle said she isn't for sale. She's only filling in for one of our regular girls who called in sick at the last minute," Sean informed the strange man.

"The way I see it, if she's willing to expose what she's got to a room full of men, she's fair game to be fucked. You tell your uncle that I want her or else..."

Sean swallowed hard but said bravely, "I'll deliver your message but I should warn you, he doesn't take kindly to idle threats."

Joshua was about to respond when his father intervened. "Kindly stop thinking with your dick and let's get down to business. Sean here said the woman is NOT available; leave it at that."

"But-"

"No buts, Joshua. This is not the fucking Baskin Robbin. She's not a flavor you can pick. Get the fuck over it. Now gentlemen, what have we learned today?" Samuel had had enough of the conversation regarding the enticing woman on stage. He would have liked a piece of her pie, too but he wasn't about to harass and or rape her to get it. Hopefully Joshua took the hint would would decide to leave well enough alone. They didn't need the added attention assaulting the woman would likely cause.

*~*~*

Sarah breathed a sigh of relief from her place behind the wall where she remained hidden. She kept one eye on the stage where Shelia was performing but heard every single word uttered at the table containing all of her quarry except Gary Saperstein. His nephew, Sean, had told the man Ty had identified as Joshua Markham that she was not available. Sarah was relieved when at that moment both Gareth and Anthony had arrived at the club. They, especially Anthony, was decidedly not happy at all the attention Shelia was getting but they didn't make a scene for which Sarah was grateful.

Frankie was still running all of the information on Joshua Markham through the system and would take awhile so Sarah decided it was best to tune into the conversation for the time being. She also noted her client at the table watching the mocha beauty perform there. Just one more reason to punish him. She smiled to herself at that thought.

"So what have we learned today?" Samuel Hobbs asked.

"I was at the Taylor-Kinney residence earlier today although I didn't know that beforehand. I was there with my ex-fiancee, her ex-husband and her daughter to meet with the parents of a friend of hers from school. Imagine my surprise when not only did I run into Justin Taylor, my former student, but I discovered that the boy's father is none other than Brian fucking Kinney."

"What? How is that even possible since he doesn't like pussy?" Craig Taylor asked.

"That's the mystery but his mother is Lindsey Petersen so perhaps it's not much of one after all."

"Wasn't she disowned by her family for some indiscretion done back in college?" Samuel asked.

"She's a fucking dyke," Joshua said vehemently. "That's not just any indiscretion. It's an amoral way of life."

"So what do we do now that we've found out that fucking faggot has a damn kid? I take it his son is straight so maybe we can recruit him?" Stockwell added but Kevin shook his head.

"No we can't. The boy clearly loves his parents along with Taylor who he treats with just as much respect. Besides, using the kid to get to his father is just plain fucking stupid especially since he's an intelligent lad."

"There has to be some way to end them." Craig could feel the desperation welling inside him. For some reason he felt that as long as Brian and Justin was able to still have the world at their fingertips, he would never be safe to enjoy his own life with Madison and the kids. It didn't help that he'd just learned that TK Properties had just bought the land which his store sat on. When he went digging into who owned it, he was appalled to learn that both Brian and Justin owned the land and surrounding buildings outright. He was virtually a sitting duck without the finances to move his store to another location. Basically, he was fucked.

"Have any of you heard from the Boss recently?" Stockwell asked.

Kevin answered. "I heard from her this afternoon directly. She was not happy with the new turn of events but she definitely said bombing Babylon or any of their businesses were completely out of the question. From her sources, they have narrowed it down to a short list of who is responsible."

"Wait- what? A short list? What the fuck does that mean?" Joshua said, the nervousness evident in his voice.

"She said that her sources didn't tell her who was on the list but that they were closing in on the culprits."

"You don't think..."

"We don't know what to think but it's best that we don't do anything to overtly harm Taylor and Kinney's business holdings either here or in New York. With all the dirt we've been trying to do to their finances to no avail, I think it's best we lay low in that direction for awhile." Kevin said.

"What about their houses? Where is this place you were today, Dixon?" Stockwell asked.

"The house is named Britin and it is on the Pennsylvania and West Virginia border but it wouldn't do you any fucking good. The house is guarded better than the fucking White House."

"Wasn't there a loft? I remember it... I believe it was on the corners of Fuller and Tremont. Does he still own that property?"

"I don't know but either way, blow up anything which belongs to them and you're the first suspect, Jim. People have long memories and the fact that you're back in town has not escaped anyone's notice, especially not the Taylor-Kinneys."

"Why do you keep referring to them that way, Kevin?"

"Because although they are not legally married even though they are able to thanks to the fucking law, they did have a commitment ceremony and per what I've heard are in the process of officially changing their last name to Taylor-Kinney."

"Fuck! The two riches fags possibly in North America are literally joining their names as well as their assets? There's gotta be some way to stop this abomination," Craig said.

"Not that I can see," Samuel said. "But it can work to our advantage providing I can get a hold of that useless Mark Townsend. I've been calling him all fucking day and haven't been able to reach him at all."

"Strange you should mention that, Sam, because he wasn't at his office when I went by just prior to the bank closing earlier. In fact his office was completely cleaned out. I didn't ask any questions so I wouldn't raise suspicions but I don't believe in coincidences. Unfortunately, we can't check on or confirm anything until tomorrow or Monday morning."

"I think we have a lot to reevaluate tonight and based on what we find out on Monday morning, we'll know how to proceed. I've also been running into subtle roadblocks at the police station. It seems my successor is as straight-laced as they come regardless of the fact I knew his father. Larry Smith isn't willing to play ball and doesn't give a horse's ass about loyalty to his father's old acquaintances."

"Can he be eliminated?" Samuel asked.

"Not a chance," Stockwell answered. "As Kevin pointed out, I would be the prime suspect in any illegal action taken against him. Deekins made sure to appoint an implacable, rigid, strictly by-the-book cop in my place. In turn, he has actually gained the trust and loyalty of all the citizens of Pittsburgh including the goddamn gay community and so has the entire fucking police department. Those who sided with me behind those vaunted walls are either retired or deeply in hiding. They dare not cover anything in reference to my return to this fucking city. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know I was here right now."

Each of the members of the table looked around the room to see who may have been spying on them and Sarah couldn't help but chuckle at the paranoid group of assholes. It serves them right that the last person they would think to look for in terms of spying on them was a woman.

Just as she was about to resume listening in on the conversation, she heard the most dreaded voice behind her.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Phoenix? Shouldn't you be preparing to go on stage?" Sean asked her.

"No you fucking little twerp. I'm actually scoping out my client and getting a feel for what he will need tonight. Why don't you run along and find a nice boy to play with or better yet find a nice playpen to sit and chill in. This game isn't for you." She turned her back dismissing the unwanted intrusion. Thank goodness she wasn't the only one listening in and Frankie was recording the conversation as well.

"You know, you should watch yourself. I could have you fired for insults like that."

"I doubt your uncle will have the balls to fire his top money maker for this dive. In fact, I would love to chain you to the St. Andrews cross and whip your smart-mouthed ass, little boy but it would be a waste of my valuable time and talent. I think the only way you could get your little insignificant prick up is if you render some unsuspecting soul helpless so that you could feel powerful, isn't that right, brat?" she said enjoying the color draining from the asshole's face. She vowed that one day very soon she would bust both Gary and Sean for illegal drug use as well as other crimes. She really couldn't wait for that day.

"You really are a bitch, Phoenix," the young man spewed.

"And don't you fucking forget it, Sean. You would do well to always remember just how much I can burn your little ass. They don't call me Phoenix for nothing. Now go play; it's time for me to take my client to the playroom. Unless you want to join?" she laughed aloud as he scurried away from her in the opposite direction. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

She fluffed her dark hair with its red and gold highlights, adjusted her ample tits bound in leather, grabbed her riding crop and moved toward the table with the heated discussion taking place. Let the games begin!

*~*~*

His eyes widened as she approached the table. She always looked delectable but there was something different about her tonight. Something forbidding; something standoffish- her welcoming smile didn't reach her green eyes. For the first time in a long while, he actually felt fear in reference to a woman but this is what he often paid her to do, isn't it? To make him fear her, to make him forget everything, to punish him for everything that he couldn't forget. She was his mistress and he her slave for the next hour. He both relished and dreaded the thought.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Phoenix said cordially while the men looked at her with lust in their eyes. She read each one, recognizing instantly the submissive in all of them except the newcomer. He was a challenge but she would make him bow before her too. She was that good.

"Good evening, Mistress," they chorused.

"I would love to stay and chat but it's time for my boy to go, isn't that right, Slave?"

Her target dropped his eyes before he answered. "Yes, Mistress Phoenix."

She waited a few moments before responding, her sense of awareness heightening at his fear covertly on display in front of the table but she knew it was there. Smirking slightly she said, "I'm glad we understand each other. Now tell your playmates good night and let's go." She moved off not giving him a chance to do anything but follow instructions. She was gratified to hear the hastily given farewells before she felt his presence at her elbow on the way to the club's playroom.

Entering the space, she advised him to strip while she went to the cabinet and prepare for the long hour ahead. He would leave there both sore and throughly fucked. She smiled wide to herself at that thought. Based on all she'd learned listening to her client with his disgusting, intolerant friends she decided that she would not be merciful no matter how much he begged. There was a fine line between pleasurable pain and abuse- she would walk that tightrope tonight.

She heard a repetitive sound behind her and instantly knew what he was doing. The sardonic smile widened again as she recognized the change in his breathing. She grabbed the long whip and flicked her wrist outward. The whistling sound as it sailed through the air was the only warning he would receive before WHACK! The blow landed hard enough to sting but not enough to break his skin...yet.

"Who told you to touch your puny little dick, Slave? I told you to get undressed; that was all."

"I'm sorry, Mistress but I've had a painful erection all night."

"Perhaps I should take care of that little problem first, huh? Would you like that?"

"Yes, Mistress please."

"You forget yourself, slave. I am in charge in here. It's about my wants and needs, NOT yours. You have too much power outside of these walls which is why you come to me so that you do not have to think; you don't have to be in control. This means you do not get to tell me what the fuck you need since I know it already. It's up to me to either reward you or deny you. At this moment, I am feeling benevolent so don't think of this as a punishment per se but as a re-enforced lesson in manners." Placing the leather bound cock ring on his erect penis, she fastened it as tight as she could without causing permanent damage and gave it a firm squeeze. "You may thank me now."

He kissed her leather-clad, high-heeled boot, thanking her while she pet his head gently. To date she had not been so harsh with him but hearing him and his cohorts talk about Justin Taylor and Brian Kinney the way they had angered her. Even more so, the mention of Gus Petersen-Kinney and possibly involving and using him pissed her off even more and shaped her night with him more than ever. With that thought in mind, she directed him to stand up and position himself on the bondage bed in the center of the blue-hued room. She threw a wink at the double glassed mirror, knowing Tyson was on the other side of the mirror recording the entire exchange. She fastened the clamps at his feet first, moving up to secure his waist. When she finally bound his hands she noticed his wedding band glistening in the light.

"You've never worn that in here before," she said simply.

"I'm sorry, Mistress. I forgot to take it off."

"Perhaps you subconsciously felt guilty about betraying your wedding vows?"

"No Mistress since I don't fuck you, it doesn't count."

She laughed. "Now this I have to hear. Exactly how doesn't it count that you are lying butt-assed naked in the presence of a woman NOT your wife?"

"My wife...she could never do things like this to me. I could never- would never ask it of her. I respect her too much."

"So you're saying you don't respect me?" she moved the flogger up and down his back, relishing the slight tremble of his body as she did so.

"Not at all Mistress Phoenix. I respect you both in different ways, that's all. She is the mother of my children, the caretaker of my home and a good woman but she isn't adventurous in bed. You are a woman who can fulfill all of my other needs."

"Oh you mean like the need to have your ass played with or a dildo inside of it to stimulate your prostate? Sounds kind of hypocritical to me." She stepped into the strap-on harness, selecting the dick she wanted to use on him. It would stretch him well but more importantly, he would feel it while sitting, standing and lying down the next day. There would be no mentally escaping the fact that he was fucked hard and fast and loved a dick up his ass.

She felt his body go rigid and saw his head snap up. "Why do you say that, Mistress?"

"Well let me think. When you book appointments with me, you don't bother to hide your name, Mr. Taylor. Seeming how though I know several of the men that were at your table tonight by reputation and one with close ties to your son, Justin, it's reasonable to assume that while you support their need- and your own need- to destroy him for being gay, here you are being lubed up to take a nine inch cock up your ass. The only difference is that you prefer a woman to be doing the wielding of it, isn't that right?" Sarah put her words to action, preparing Craig to receive and applying the correct amount of pressure for the head of the rubber cock to slip through the first ring of muscle.

"You won't tell anyone will you, Mistress?" Craig asked as he moaned his pleasure at being stretched and filled.

"Your secret's safe with me, Craig. Now shut the fuck up and enjoy this," she said as she proceeded to whip him, scratch him and fuck him by turns, loving the red welts she was leaving on his back. 'Ricky' would have a lot of explaining to do to his happy home-making 'Lucy' when he reached home. 

She fucked him hard for nearly a half hour, driving into him ruthlessly and alternately applying the flogger to him as well as squeezing the cock ring for added pressure. He was begging for more which she gave and the release which she continued to deny him- a fact that eventually had him crying tears of frustration. She flipped him over onto his back, looking into his glistening blue eyes as she continued to fuck him. She enjoyed edging him to the brink of orgasm only to watch him discover that he couldn't come until she released him. Yes some would say she was a sadistic fuck but Sarah didn't give a shit. This man was a hypocrite and if there was anything Sarah Morrissey hated more than criminals, it was sanctimonious assholes like the one she was fucking who denounced something publicly while indulging in that very thing behind closed doors. What was even worse about him being a hypocrite to his heart was the way he treated and continues to treat his first born son. She slapped him with all her might and got satisfaction out of the stunned look on his face. It took all of her willpower not to do a whole lot more but it was enough for now.

She knew it was time wrap the session up so she brought him to the brink again. As she did so, she released his member from the cock ring. No sooner than she did that, she heard the change in his breathing and knew it was time to finish him off. Redoubling her efforts, Sarah rammed Craig's ass mercilessly, gripping his shoulders and pulling them into his knees for leverage. Later, Ty would tell her that she fucked Craig like one helluva gay man and she would chuckle at the memory of it but for now, she just wanted to teach him a few lessons. She took his dick in her hand and aimed it upward between their bodies as if it were a fire hose. Sarah pumped harder, concentrating on making the man beneath her blow his load. She had his knees locked on her shoulders with one of her perfectly toned arms pinning them into place. Finally as Craig began to shoot she took the hand which was holding his knees in place and wrapped it around his neck, pushing his head down so that his open mouth would taste his own cum. He tried to spit it out but Sarah was quicker and stronger than he could've thought as she pinned him in the position and held his nose closed so he had no choice but to swallow. She didn't let him up until she was satisfied.

She laughed as he sputtered trying to get his own taste out of his mouth.

"Are you fucking crazy? I could have you fired for this, Mistress!"

"On what grounds, pray tell?" Sarah affected her most bored tone.

"Abuse that's what," Craig yelled.

Sarah shrugged. "There was no abuse here, Craig. The only really questionable act was making you drink your own cum. Damn who knew you were so flexible for an older man. You were almost able to perform auto-fellatio or in simpler terms for you- to suck your own dick. Might I suggest a few yoga classes for you to make that possible. Your wife may enjoy the sight of that. I know I would have."

"Fuck you!"

"Not exactly, Craig. But we'll remember who played pussy and got fucked tomorrow now won't we?" she laughed while watching him get dressed and kept laughing loud and long as he stormed out.

Shaking out her hair and making her way toward the private bathroom, she winked at the mirror again knowing Ty was both horrified and deeply amused by Mistress Phoenix and her antics tonight. Sarah happily stepped into the shower to wash the stench of Craig Taylor off her skin once and for all. She doubted he would be back.