Sam Spade 04: Case of the Missing Heiress

"As you wish Mistress," Angela said after a glance at Jimmy.

"Let's go home." I said standing up. While the others would stay over now and then, Angela, Jimmy and I lived together permanently. I could never figure out how they did the rotation but every night there would be a different two girls spending the night with us. When we arrived home, Ashley and Tonjala were waiting with dinner ready. As we ate, the talk flowed about what fun clubs to hit and the latest dance craze. The more I thought about it the less sure I felt about letting my babies go out alone. As dinner finished up I said, "Angela, rather then you clubbing, I want you in your car as back up. If anyone gets in trouble, you go to the rescue."

Standing, I thought about changing clothes but decided the suit and fedora would be just fine. As I walked out of the dining room, I caught a glance between Jimmy and Angela in their reflection in the window glass. I walked outside and then waited by his car. When Jimmy hurried out, I stopped him. "Damnit James, ether you two will follow my orders or you and Angela can leave." I was furious. "I catch you two once more lying to me, or not doing as I say, then I will never..." I looked him in the eye, "never speak to either of you again. Do you understand?"

Jimmy gulped hard and nodded, "Yes Samantha."

Turning I stalked to the front door and opened it, "Angela?" I said sweetly, "Have you a moment?"

"Yes Samantha" she said and came outside.

Just as I had with Jimmy; I pitched a fit with her. I ended up with, "Understand now Angela, one more time, one more lie, then you and I are through. I love you but I cannot live with someone who says one thing and does the opposite."

"I'm sorry love," she said a tear rolling down her cheek. "We are just trying to take care of you."

"Before I became your mistress, I was able to take care of myself. What makes you think I cannot now?" I said as Jimmy came up.

He replied, "Ever since Cindy and your wanting to die, you have not been the same. We all know about your nightmares Red."

"Everyone?" I asked

"Yes, it is hard to hide it when we all hear you wake up screaming in the middle of the night." He replied.

I had not realized anyone knew. I didn't realize that I woke screaming from them; all I remembered was that every night I woke up in a cold sweat and afraid to go back to sleep.

I heard Ashley's voice from the doorway, "Mistress, we all worry about you."

"We do," Tonjala's voice chimed in.

"Ok, tomorrow morning we will all meet and discuss these issues. But tonight I expect everyone to go out clubbing instead of following me around." I looked at Angela as I finished the sentence.

Without breaking eye contact she said, "You win Sam. But tomorrow we all need to talk." Still making eye contact with me she said, "Will you three please call everyone else and make sure they go clubbing." When we were alone said softly, "You wouldn't turn me out would you Samantha?"

I looked at her and said, "It would break my heart." With no further words, I headed to the car. I had a few places I wanted to hit tonight. While they were not trendy spots, I hoped by flashing Cynthia's picture I might get a lead. Opening the car door, I thought I heard Angela's voice calling out, "I love you," but I could have been mistaken.

Chapter 3

It was not until I was sitting in Moon's Bar and Grill sipping a drink that I calmed down enough to take stock. Just like every other night during the week, the bar was filled with people on their way home from work. They looked like corporate bees all dressed alike and stopping at the bar as if to pay homage to an unseen queen. My eyes scanned the crowd from left to right and back again. I did not think Cynthia would show up here of all places but I was determined to enjoy my one night of freedom.

I figured I would spend 30 or so minutes here and move on to the next. There! I spotted her sitting at a table across the room looking right at me. She was dressed just as she had been earlier in the day. The sly smile on her lips that made my heart thump with excitement. I turned to gulp my drink and grab my hat before heading towards her. In those few seconds, she was gone. Seated in her place was a different woman, blond and looking like a bimbo. I scanned the room once more and moved on.

Over and over as the night progressed I would find her face in the crowd, only to lose it again. It was maddening to say the least. Finally, around midnight I gave up. I was sitting in my favorite jazz club when the bartender set a drink in front of me. "Compliments of the woman at the end of the bar," He said gesturing with his head towards the opposite side of the room from where I was.

I looked and there she was sitting there smiling at me. Not taking my eyes off her, I nodded and lifted the glass to my lips. A bloody Mary, my mouth told me as I swallowed. I started to stand but she shook her head and I felt myself sit back down. I didn't dare take my eyes from her for fear that she would vanish once more on me. Gesturing to the seat next to mine I pantomimed inviting her over. Again, she shook her head as if to say no thank you.

All other sounds faded and I heard her voice as if she were sitting beside me say, "When is a mistress not a mistress?" as her mouth moved.

"When is a mistress not a mistress?" I repeated and glanced at my glass to take a sip. In that moment, she was gone. Just like every other time, one moment she was there and the next gone like a puff of wind. Then I caught her scent and felt her hands sliding across my body from behind.

Moaning I turned slightly and felt her hot breath. Everything seemed to face except her lips her face and her captivating eyes, "Remember pain and pleasure," she said huskily and kissed me. Her kiss turned into a bite as she broke skin on my lip. Her fingers caressed my breasts and pulled hard at my nipples as she sucked my bloody lip into her mouth.

The flash of pain mixed with pleasure rocked me. It felt as if my body was on fire needing her. Our eyes locked on each other, my hands reached up under her cropped tee to cup her ample breasts. As her fingers pulled hard at my nipples I moaned in pleasure. Lifting her face from my bloody lip, she licked her lips, tongue wet with my blood, "When she has no slaves," she said cryptically and then with a final kiss walked out the door. The further away she walked, the louder the background noise became until it was back at normal volume.

I could have followed her, but my legs were weak and my mind reeling from the effect she had on me. Taking the glass, I drank down the Bloody Mary, and looked in the mirror behind the bar. My lip looked as if someone had bitten it or I had gotten into a fight. "More like bloody Samantha," I said softly. I imagined I could hear her tinkling laugh at my words.

Going home it was not until I was lying in bed alone that her second statement sunk home. Instead of sleeping, I ended up spending the night milling over her words. "Was she talking about me? Was I a mistress without slaves? Why was it that everything asked for, my pets looked at Angela for conformation?"

When I did not wake screaming at the wee hours of the morning Angela peaked in. "I'm awake," I said softly to her. In the darkened room she walked to my bed and turned on the bedside light. Sitting up I looked at her and wondered for the millionth time if Cynthia's words were meant for me.

Angela's face registered shock and worry, "My god Samantha, what happened to you?"

I had forgotten about the cut on my chest and bloody lip. Running my fingers over the scab between my breasts, I felt a throb of pleasure between my legs. "This? Oh, it is nothing. I just had a little run in last night, everything is ok."

"Are you sure?" Angela looked at me dubiously.

"Yes I am fine love." I said getting out of bed.

As I headed to the bathroom to shower, I heard Angela ask, "Would you like me to scrub your back?"

I felt a need fill me as I started to say, "No thank you." It was as if someone else added in, "But I would love you to scrub my front." Angela's eyes lit up as she smiled and followed me to the bathroom. Since I had remembered my past, I had not made love to anyone."

As we showered together, I halfway enjoyed Angela's touch. However, she was too gentle. I finally said, "I'm not made of glass love, you can be rougher with me." Even so, she still caressed my body with a tender touch, it felt good but it was not what I needed. Finally, once she started licking my flower I reached up and tweaked my nipples roughly, pulling and digging my fingernails into my flesh, I orgasmed. The whole time Angela licked and sucked at my slick flower, not realizing it was my own fingers that brought me off.

After the shower, I let the household wake on their own. When Angela asked if I was ready to head to the graveyard I replied, "Not this morning." Twice in one day I managed to see the look of surprise in Angela's face, a new record for me. "Make sure everyone and I mean everyone is there at nine am sharp for the meeting love."

"They will be Sam," Angela replied confidently.

I stayed for breakfast and watched the interactions between people; it was if I were not there, everyone was catering to Angela. Standing I said, "I am heading into the office, need to do some things before the meeting." Angela and Jimmy both jumped up, and I forestalled them with my hand, "I can find my own way there." As they sat back down, they looked unhappy but did not follow me.

I made it to the office without incident and sat in the darkened office thinking. Every now and then, I looked over at the masks hanging on the wall. Finally, I went over and picked one off its hanger. I wondered why they had not turned to dust when separated. Looking at it, I could not tell any difference then any of the others. "Why?" I asked it, "Why are you still here?"

My fingers slipped and the mask dropped to the floor shattering in to several large pieces. "Damnit!" I said looking down at the broken mask. I expected it to ether turn to dust or as the first one had done so long ago, make new masks from the fragments. After five minutes of watching, I was sure the mask was not going to do anything. They all had suckered me. Removing the masks and giving them to me had been a lie. They gave me normal porcelain masks, not ones made from millions of nanites.

Picking up the pieces, I sat down fuming and waited for the nine am meeting. There was a storm brewing and it would break on my unsuspecting pets. "When is a mistress not a mistress?" I asked aloud and laughed ruefully. I wondered how she knew. If I found Cynthia once more, I would have to ask her.

Chapter 4

At nine am sharp, I walked into the conference room. In my pocket I had a little spray bottle and one of the masks from the wall in my hand. Everyone was there talking to each other. Passing the middle of the table, I let the mask fall and break on it as if it were a centerpiece. The sound of the mask shattering silenced the room. Not speaking I moved to the head and sat down. "What news from last night?"

Each woman stood and said they had not seen Cynthia nor had the bartenders from the different clubs seen her. As the meeting went on everyone's eyes kept going to the shattered mask on the table. You could feel the tension rising. Finally, Angela stood and said, "There were no sightings last night Samantha. If you want, we can go out again tonight and keep looking."

Looking down the table at the shattered mask, "This morning I sat in my office and thought about my life. Taking a mask off the wall I accidentally dropped it." Looking at Jimmy, "Guess what happened." He looked down and away. Looking around the table I said, "Anyone?" As my eyes reached each face, the owner could not look me in the eye. Even Angela, who did not have human emotions as such, could not look me in the eye.

"That's what I thought." I stood and started pacing around the table. "I had always wondered about the masks. Why did they not turn to dust?" I reached out, picked up a piece, and held it in my hand, "They didn't turn to dust because they were not real." Several people started to speak at once but with a gesture of my hand, they all quieted. "This meeting was called so I could address my nightmares. However, before we go there I am going to get to the bottom of this."

Angela stood and looked at me, "Samantha, I can explain."

"Sit down Angela. I am sure you can come up with a story fast. But you see," I paused and looked around the table, "As of right now I trust all of you about as much as I trust a starving cannibal not to eat me." Pulling out the small bottle I sprayed my neck with it and set it down in front of my chair. I saw fear grow in Frankie's eyes as she guessed what it was. "For those who do not know, this is a chemical called capture scent," I said touching the bottle lightly. My face cold I said, "Frankie, will you come here please?"

She looked at Angela, before slowly getting up and walking to me.

When Frankie was standing close, "You remember this don't you my sweet?" I reached out and caressed her cheek.

"Mmmmm yes..." she said moving into my touch.

"Frankie, I want you to tell me the truth. You need to tell the truth to me." I said still stroking her cheek. I could see from the corner of my eye everyone watching silently. "How do you feel about Samantha Spade?" I asked her.

Frankie looked me in the eye and said softly, "I love you, always have and always will."

I kissed her tenderly, "I love you too dear. Who is your mistress?" I asked not letting the kiss linger.

Again she looked me in the eye and said, "Angela is my mistress."

"Thank you," I said and glanced at Angela. Her head was down and her shoulders shaking. "You wondered about my nightmares." She nodded in reply. "Imagine in your mind, without a sound, that you are mad, driving crazy, an accident, watching the one you love more than anyone else burning up beside you as the fire licks at your skin. Feel the pain, hear her screams, do so until I snap my fingers."

Frankie's eyes got big and her mouth formed a silent scream. I lead her back over to her chair and sat her down, everyone except Angela watched her live my nightmare. Placing my hand on Heather's shoulder I said, "You next dear."

Heather jerked as if shot. She looked as if she was going to bolt from the room but the scent had her in its power. "Please no" she whispered as I lead her to the front of the table.

Instead of granting her wish, I lead her through the same questions as I had Frankie. Her answers were the same. Just as I had done before I showed her my nightmares and had to help her back to her chair. "That's enough Samantha, you made your point." Angela spoke up finally.

"No love it is not," I replied and did the next one and the next. I repeated the process and the same answers arrived, I was loved, but not a mistress to these women. When all were done except Jimmy and Angela I looked around the table. Each of my supposed pets were now locked into a personal hell. I looked at Jimmy and him at me. Looking at his tears, I could not bring myself to do anything to him. I sat down and said sadly, "You already know my hell, no need for you to go there."

He nodded and wiped at the tears rolling down his face. "I will save you the trouble Red, I love you, and yes my mistress is Angela, not you. I am sorry but she is."

Raising my voice, I said, "That is enough," and snapped my fingers. In an eye blink eleven women all came out and sat crying and rocking back and forth. Slamming my hand down on the table, I said, "You wondered why I had nightmares? Well now, you all know, up close and personal, good luck sleeping," When they all turned to look up at me.

Turning to Angela, "I want the truth... All of it."

She looked at me as the tears rolled down her cheeks, "Don't you think we should discuss this alone?"

I started to agree with her and then caught myself, "No, you, all of you," I said gesturing around the table, "Set me up." I stood and leaned over her and said, "Tell me the truth, all of it, or by the gods I will go finish what I started in the bedroom with daddy's pistol."

I did not intend to kill myself; I just wanted the capture scent to affect her also. I knew that Angela could choose not to let it affect her. However, I took a gamble that she would be rattled and come clean with a little help from the scent.

Going back and sitting down I said to Angela, "I'm waiting."

Instead of answering, right away Angela said to the gathering, "It will be ok pets."

Looking at her, I said the fury coming through in my voice, "Don't count on it."

"Samantha, when you died, we," she looked at Jimmy before returning her gaze to me, "Didn't know if you were still there. I had to do something on the chance you were gone. Everyone here would have killed themselves had you not come back. I," she looked away, "I had to change their programming so they were loyal to me." She looked at me and then away, "You came back yes, but changed. Six times, we had to sedate you when you remembered everything. You were too unstable."

"Six times?" I said looking at her. I looked at Jimmy and saw his nod. "I only remember the one time when I got away."

"Samantha, love," Angela said. When I looked at her she continued, "Do you really think I would leave your side?" She shook her head, "No love, we let you escape once everything was ready. I knew you were having problems and feelings of guilt. Everyone was instructed to tell you the pure truth about themselves." She looked away, "I had planned on handing control back to you once you calmed down. But..." her voice softened, "But you never did. Nightmares, not sleeping, visiting Cindy's grave in the middle of the night." She looked back at me as her voice strengthened, "I'm sorry, I had to do what I computed as the only chance to save everyone."

Standing I looked down at Angela, "When is a mistress not at mistress? When she has no pets." Without another word, I turned and walked out. I don't know where I walked that day or what I was thinking. When I became aware of my surroundings, I was sitting on a bench overlooking the harbor as the sun sank.

Before me stood a child in a ragged dress, her big brown eyes staring at me, "Miss? Miss?"

Blinking a few times, I said, "Yes?"

"A woman asked me to give you this note." She said and thrusting the paper in my hands, she then scurried off like a rat.

"Wait! Come back," I called but she did not stop. Looking down at the paper I figured it was a note from Angela. I stuffed it into my pocket and sat watching the sunset. After a time as the lights came on like miniature suns turning everything a horrid shade of yellow I opened the note. On it was written an address nothing more. I realized that Angela did not send it after all. The ever-elusive Cynthia wanted to meet. I felt my heart thump and a feeling of pleasure course through my body at the thought of finally having a chance to talk to her.

A figure walking slowly towards me caught my eye. Looking up I saw Angela. I thrust the paper in my pocket and waited until she stood before me. She did not speak nor did I for a moment. Then, she knelt down, placed her face against my shoe and said, "Please forgive me love, I was wrong, I know that now. I submit to you, you are my mistress, my goddess." She looked up at me with such an abject look of sadness that my anger melted.

"What of your pets?" I asked not looking at her.

"When is a mistress not a mistress?" Angela said as she rested her face against my foot, "When she is a slave to the woman she loves." She looked up at me, her eyes bright with tears, "They are your pets now. Please tell me you still love me... please"