TABOO TALES(erotica)

“Then I’d be out of business – most of my clients are over that.” She looked around the room. “Just like in here. I guess it’s indicative of our ageing population.”

“What do your girls think about going with old guys?”All content is © N0velDrama.Org.

She shrugged. “They get very well paid to do a job, and if they don’t like it they can always look for another. Besides, older men tend to be more docile, and don’t last as long.”

“How did our friend do?”

Rosie examined him quizzically. “Do you know anything about him?”

“Nothing more than I told you.”

“Well, he’s different David… not to look at, nor in his speech or mannerisms, but -” she stared across the room for a moment, thinking. “I put one of my best girls onto the job – not just to do the deed, but to be the honey trap. It’s the first time we’ve done that, and I thought it would be pretty easy.” She smiled faintly. “If you saw Millie, you’d know what I mean. There’s not many men would pass up the opportunity if she offered herself. Surprisingly, it took three meetings before she got him in the sack.”

“That’s not why he’s different though, is it?”

Rosie sighed. “No. She saw me afterwards and asked that she never be assigned to him again.”

“Is that unusual?”

“Occasionally we’ll take a client off our books altogether, but that means he doesn’t get to come back at all. It’s very rare for one of my girls to refuse to service a particular client.”

David had never thought about the operation of a brothel before and was intrigued. “What would make you take a client off your books?” he asked.

“If their personal hygiene isn’t up to scratch, or they start asking the girls to do something we don’t cater for.” She saw his expression “You know, like bringing their Doberman Pinscher in on the act, or wanting to tie their girl up with barbed wire before they shag her.”

“Jesus!” David was shocked. “There’s not much nice about men, is there?”

Rose smiled. “On the contrary – ninety five percent of them are lovely, and I’ve got a new Porche Cayman parked outside to prove it. But then there’s the others.”

“And where does our friend fit in on the spectrum?”

“That’s the thing, David. He didn’t do anything untoward.” She nodded at the little thumb drive on the table in front of her. “You’ll see when you watch that.”

“So why did Millie want to be taken off the case?”

Rose shrugged. “She said he was weird.”

“Weird? How?”

“I asked her the same thing and she couldn’t really explain. She just said he was very charming when they met, but as she got to know him she realised he was evil. It’s not a word I’ve ever heard my girls use before.” She smiled faintly. “Evil, and Millie is not one for fanciful language, so I believe her. She also said he was malevolent, like a poisonous spider waiting in a corner of his web to kill something.”

“But he didn’t hurt her?”

Rose shook her head. “No. But when you watch the video I think you’ll understand what Millie was saying. You see, my clients want the girls to like them – it’s an ego trip… you know, young girl fancies older man. It makes them feel good, so they work at making the relationship work, even if it’s only for an hour or two in a bed. But this guy didn’t care – he was utterly ambivalent. He didn’t hurt her, but I don’t think he would have minded if he had. He was… indifferent to her.” She reached forward and grasped David’s hand. “I think you’re right to be worried about him, and I think you need to be careful.”

David squeezed her fingers and sat back in his chair to think. He didn’t know Bishop John Tobias. He’d never even seen him, but he remembered how he’d manipulated Jennifer all those years ago, with his grandiose sense of self-righteousness and utter lack of remorse as he dismantled her life with lies and innuendo. What he’d just heard added to the picture: of a man who had few emotions, prepared to take what he wanted without a shadow of guilt. These were the characteristics of a psychopath, and David felt a tingle of apprehension go down his spine.

“Did he preach religion to Millie?” he asked.

Rose shook her head. “She pretended to be a fervent Christian who wanted the close companionship of a priest, and he responded to that – you know, offering his personal comfort on behalf of the church and so on. But once he figured she was good for the sack he dropped that charade.” She smiled faintly. “Millie asked him to wear his ecclesiastical robes while he screwed her, but he didn’t, more’s the pity. It would have looked good on the video.”

“But he’s still a Bishop of the Catholic church who is quite prepared to break his vows of celibacy – not to mention blackmail, extortion and theft.”

“That’s right. Millie sat in his cathedral a couple of times when he was officiating. She said he presented as a pious man whose sermons were full of the righteousness of God and what will happen to those who break His laws. The fact that he’s lining his pockets and getting his end away in the process doesn’t seem to worry him a bit. That’s why he’s dangerous, David – he utterly believes he can do whatever he wants, and he’s totally immoral.”

David nodded slowly. It was clear that Jen had been right: Tobias would come after her. He’d been capable of violence fourteen years ago, and would certainly be capable of it now. He might even be planning how to harm her right now.

He reached into his pocket and slid a thick envelope across the table. “Thanks, Rose,” he said, “here’s what we agreed on. Cash, and no questions ever asked.”

“And here’s what you wanted.” She picked up the thumb drive and handed it to him. “I hope it works for you.”

“I hope so too.”

Rose drained her glass and stood up. “If you ever need anything, just let me know,” she said softly. “I mean anything at all, David. We’re old friends, don’t forget, and friends need each other.” The look in her eyes made the meaning clear.

For a moment David was taken by surprise, but then he remembered the stories he’d heard of this woman: bright, successful and… alone. He suddenly realised that for all her wealth and beauty the number of people who liked and respected her, as he did, were probably few, and she would value that. She must get lonely sometimes.

A vision of Jennifer’s face slid into his mind: soft, lovable, dependable Jen, with her beautiful nature and a generous spirit. “I have all I need,” he replied gently, “but thank you, Rose, I really mean that. I hope we can stay in touch.”

He watched her walk away, and his mind turned towards the problem of the Bishop. Neither he nor his sister had wanted this fight and would have been happy to drop it if Tobias had left them alone. But what he had just learned told him the stakes were too high to sit and hope for a good outcome. He must take the initiative and put a stop to it once and for all.

He stared at the little drive in his hand. If Rose was right it could be the answer, but he just had to think of a way to make sure it was.

*****

The Most Reverend Peter Delgigante, Archbishop of the Diocese of Bunyong, settled himself behind his desk and waited for his visitor to arrive. The room was sparsely furnished, which suited his austere lifestyle: a simple desk unadorned by trinkets or ornaments, a wardrobe in which he kept his gowns and a set of civilian clothing, and a sideboard containing the accoutrements of his profession.

His eyes rested on the far wall for a moment, regarding the large wooden crucifix affixed there. His predecessor had had a smaller one but the Archbishop Delgigante’s eyesight was not good and he liked to be able to discern the figure of Christ upon it without having to change his glasses.

There was a tap on the door and Deacon Williams ushered in his visitor: a youngish man, smartly dressed and with a pleasant face. Peter rose to his feet and greeted him.

“Mr. Griffiths, welcome to my Dioceses – please, have a seat.” He waited until the figure was settled before resuming his own chair on the far side of the desk.

“I must say,” he remarked, “your visit is something of a mystery to me. Most visitors let us know what it is they wish to discuss, or at least hint at the subject. You, on the other hand, are an enigma, Mr. Griffiths, as you say it is a matter of the utmost urgency but have declined to say why.” He smiled to rob his words of any offence.

David nodded in understanding. “Thank you for seeing me at such short notice, Your Eminence, and I apologise for not being a little more open. It is not only an urgent matter, but one of considerable sensitivity, as you will see.” He stooped to the briefcase beside his chair and extracted a large manila envelope. “I understand that Bishop John Tobias is an Auxiliary Bishop in your Archdioceses?”

“He is.”

“And that you, as a more senior official of the catholic church are his superior?”

The Archbishop shook his head. “Technically, no. Bishops in Australia have only the Holy Father as their superior – but as he is an Auxiliary Bishop in my Archdioceses he reports to me in administrative matters.”

“So how would discipline be enforced in the case where a Bishop is found to have breached the oaths of his office?”

“If this is about sexual abuse then the Holy Father has recently issued guidance for cases where Bishops have failed to properly handle them. It provides for an investigation by four Vatican offices who have the power to remove him from office, if need be.”