Consequences Pt. 13C

"Yes I do, are there any time factors involved?"

"None that we know of, it's just about how long it takes you to feel sure. We'll provide backup of course and we'll bring you here for a few days to meet Arthur our in-house background researcher/investigator and Aleesha our PI contractor. You'll be able to refer any questions to them that can't be answered on site."

"Sounds reasonable, where did you say the Retreat is?"

"Florida."

"It's a deal, arrange a flight for me in a couple of days, and we'll see how it goes."

"Great," said Jane. " I look forward to meeting you, incidentally you will be going as a refugee from your husband and we have brought you over to protect you from him, is that ok? Because you will need to pack your possessions ready to be moved if all goes to plan."

"Ohhh."

"Is that a deal breaker?"

There was silence for a moment, "Do you know what, it's time I left the bastard and this is as good a reason as any, I'll need to move my stuff to storage at short notice pending transfer, would that be acceptable? And I might need a hotel until you're ready to get me out."

"Yes and Yes," replied Jane. "We'll make it a dry run for our proposed new retrieval program."

"Sorry?" Questioned Dawn.

"We'll tell you more later but we are trying to work up a system to extract women who are under serious threat."

"Interesting, well I might need to volunteer for that but wouldn't it be a touch expensive all the way over here?"

David came in, thinking fast "I think you would be transferred temporarily to the Los Angeles Retreat, they are pioneering the idea so may be keen to do it."

"Cool," added Dawn.

"OK I'll call them now and if they are keen I will pass on your contact details, is that ok?"

"Of course, it all sounds exciting," she said, throwing caution to the wind.

Los Angeles Retreat got really excited by the idea and couldn't wait to get started, so he passed over the information and they took time out to catch up with all the latest news, Jane finally promised to visit as soon as she could, she was finding the excitement catching.

A call came in from Phillip whom David thought was probably looking for an excuse to visit the retreat or more accurately Monica. "I've spoken to the chief," he said, to prove David at least partly wrong, "The only thing he has heard of to help you is a bodyguard permit, it's not something the police handle, we think it was brought in to regulate people who were acting as bodyguards to foreign nationals. Because it was for foreigners we think it might have been a CIA initiative. I don't know if that helps. The only other idea we had is an approach to Jane Tooley. She's a senator that is strong on women's rights. If you have someone with a bit of clout you might get some help from her."

"So when will you be visiting the office?"

"How do you know that I've arranged a security check?"

"Ohh just call it a hunch" David was virtually bursting as he tried not to laugh, that was for later but the minute he disconnected he fell about laughing and Jane found it infectious.

Jane and David sat against the headboard, their heads resting sideways on each other, thinking, then Jane said, "Doesn't a Judge have any influence?"

David mulled over the idea for a moment, he asked a lot of Sophia and didn't want to push his luck. "Do you think she would mind? I already ask a lot from her."

"She is infatuated with you and your team, if there is something she can do, she will," emphasised Jane. "Tell you what," said Jane, seeing a possible opening, "Why don't I ask her, she can come over here and brainstorm with us, or something." She grinned, very suspiciously, David thought, but he left her to it while he made some more calls.

He hadn't disconnected seconds after a call to Bree to check how Vanessa had got on before his phone rang, the caller ID said it was John Horsey which surprised him and he answered quickly. "What's up John?"

"Hi David, I have finally got some useful information on Dawn's husband, I tried to ring her but she's not answering so I thought you'd want to know."

"You really should ring me first, I am your client John."

"I know but it made me worried for her."

"Has she got under your skin John?"

"Well I shouldn't admit it, it's totally unprofessional but yes, I find myself missing her all the time."

"Sounds bad my friend but if you want to keep her you are going to have to change your life somewhat."

"How do you mean?"

"She's coming this side of the country to go undercover for us."

"I see what you mean, and you're saying I have to be part of your organisation to keep in touch with her?"

"That's about the size of it, yes."

"What would you have me do?"

"Get a bodyguard permit, we need an investigator but right now we need someone to go in and extract women who are in danger from violent and abusive husbands. Then we plan to relocate them with a new identity if possible."

"Just like Dawn then?"

"Pardon?"

"I have found out that he has a history of violence although not yet against women as far as I can tell. The word is that he wasn't Dawn's first choice but her boyfriend disappeared after he popped the question. Friends of friends say he persuaded the boy to leave via a hospital. Same old story, Daddies got influence locally and nobody asked the questions except Dawn, and they discounted her as a jilted lover."

"So what are you saying?" asked David.

"I don't know, what was the plan?"

She was going to pack up her things to enter a Retreat under cover and then decided she had had enough of her husband so we were getting Los Angeles to do a dry run, lifting her to their Retreat then sending her on to Florida, all good for her credibility. She had to box up her stuff and we would send in a company to collect it, if there were any delays we were going to put her in a hotel."

"Knowing what I know, it worries me."

"Where are you now?"

"San Francisco at our offices."

"OK, drop everything and get to her house now as fast as you can. Regardless of whether there is a problem, I want you to act as her bodyguard until she is safely delivered to Los Angeles. If the matter escalates I will have a plane sent for you. If not just see that she gets to Florida and hand her over business-like to the people there, they will be expecting you."

"OK I am on it."

"Let me know if you hear from her and report regularly to either Jane or myself, I'll send you her number and I'll let Los Angeles know you are involved. And don't forget to find out how you get that permit."

"I will, and thanks a lot."

They disconnected and David found that Jane was already on the phone to Los Angeles updating them on the position and giving John's contact details. She definitely deserves lots of kisses for being so good, he thought and started to slowly rain butterfly kisses down her body whilst she tried her best to stop him distracting her.

Eventually she pushed him away enough that his brain went back into action, the one that wasn't between his legs, and he rang Dawn himself.

"Hi, came a bright reply, what's up?"

"John was trying to get hold of you and rang me to report what he was going to tell you."

"Ohhh, that's a pity," she let slip.

"He is on his way to you from Los Angeles to be your bodyguard."

"Well I am more than happy for him to take care of my body but what's the rush?"

"He's just got nervous, found out that your husband has a nasty streak about him when it comes to men who might be interested in you long term, your former fiancé for example, evidently he left the area via the hospital."

"I'll kill the bastard!" she exclaimed, and David wondered whether he should have told her.

"We are more worried about you, if he finds out that you're leaving there could be trouble of the violent kind. Please let John come get you out and then you can stew on what you're going to do to him when your mission is completed."

"Hmmmph," she exclaimed.

"Tell you what, let Jane tell you what I do to people who hurt one of my ladies."

"Ohh, so I am one of your ladies now am I? Didn't think you were interested in the likes of me."

"I think you already have John charmed, but every woman who is part of the Retreat organisation is one of my ladies." David passed the phone to Jane slightly exasperated.

End of Consequences 13 C

©2023 Bacchant2

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Main Characters

David: A successful Architect who wants to start a family, they start to play teasing games to spice up their life but it gets out of hand. Parents: James (Jim) and Ann

Olivia: David's wife and business partner, a successful designer working in tandem with her husband. Highly sexual woman who begins to find her inner desires taking control of her normal good sense. Inadvertently gathers 'lost' women around her that David calls her 'harem'.

Jane : David's first girlfriend who hurt him badly. The first to join the home after her husband proved to be a slimeball.

Ana: Olivia's former University roommate and sexual partner in their escapades when not studying. Finds herself becoming disenchanted with the city highlife and decides to look up her first love Olivia, almost destroying their marriage. Unfortunately, she brings Peter, a self-styled gigolo who preys on women and inevitably wrecks marriages.

Bree: Former Wife of a famous ex footballer, Chase. Ex-beauty queen type who is looking for a new life and fresh adventures after the disappointment of her husband becoming a worthless drunk. Came to a truth or dare party and never left.

Jo : A recluse who always received criticism by family and friends because she didn't achieve expectations. Pretty and vivacious underneath layers of shapeless clothes to hide herself, friends drag her along to Olivia's party and she never goes back to her dingy little room.

Michael : An Architect who studied with David through University. Moving to the area and possibly joining their firm but has problems with his wife, Sarah, who is having an affair with Wes Daniels.

Aleesha : A private investigator specialising in family matters. A tough cookie having gone through her own marriage break-up.

Monica: David, and Olivia's business supervisor and now a minor shareholder, totally reliable and a family friend, long term single mother but heading for a 'fling' with a handsome 'player' Mark, from the website company on the next floor up. Her office assistant is Dee.

Joannie & Francine: Real Estate Agents

Lauren: A gay woman who has a crush on Jo

Louise: Former long term girlfriend of a lawyer who lost interest in her.

Amber, Erika, Josh, Aaron and Rachel: New friends from a nightclub.

Rachel: Studied planning and development and now working with the Thurlows.

Erika: The Thurlow Business is to sponsor her to University

Tania: David's first sexual experience and mentor in the art of 'love'.

Ruth: A friend from the ship and an experienced hotelier.

Fay, Diana, Sue: New friends from the Ship

Molly, Kim: New friends at the Resort

Nina: A woman needing help when her husband leaves her with nothing, gets her kicks online webcam.

Ash: A player who preys on married women. He involves his ex-wife Rose as part of the play, but she's a freelance newspaper reporter and can see a story in the retreat.

Phillip: A Detective and friend of David's from way back. A long term single man, known locally as one for the women but as straight as an arrow. He and David enjoy joshing each other whenever they meet.

Bill: An old school friend of Olivia's, reacquainted at the reunion.

Abby: A new friend from the reunion, a teacher. Husband Keith is a top man with an international company.

Olivia's parents Ron and Patricia

Kate: Air hostess and part time Escort, went to the same school as Olivia.

David's previously unknown Grandparents: Rose and George.

Jill, a part of the Grandparents group.

Pat (Patricia), a teacher, first year University Land Use Studies.

Sharon and Shawn, unconnected professionals that Olivia met at a seminar.

Ciaron, a new friend and client golf club operator based near the West Coast. Sister Carol, a Restaurant owner in the same small town.

Olivia's latest secret man-toy, Greg Porter.

Brynn and Elle, new friends that David and Ana meet on the West Coast.

Miranda, A Judge who likes their ideas!

Dawn a new contact in the search for possible sites. Husband: Peter Father: Aaron

John Horsey - PI from SF

Billy gardener with big assets

Children: Olivia-Shawn, Jo-Alex, Jane-Bella, Bree-Mia

Children's Nurse Susan and Security Guard Janice

Beth, an astute woman trainee put forward by Florida Retreat to become a lead organisational administrator, training with Jane.

Andrew, a Hotel expert, that they entice away from his present job.

New University sponsored student: Janine; Teacher: Mr Carlson.

Jenny: former employee of the Agents for NDP Holdings.

Emma Hardwick, a famous and nosey TV reporter.

Honor, Grandparents pilot, inherited along with a plane.

New admin/employment specialist: Vanessa - Son: Simon

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