Humiliation and Revenge Pt. 03

Humiliation and Revenge

Part 3: Aftermath

by G. Lawrence

The avengers are not finished

Several readers have requested more resolution to the previous episodes of Humiliation and Revenge. And I wanted to see our avengers take on another mission. So, this story is a bit of a hybrid that wanders around, wrapping up elements of the previous adventure and introducing a new one. It is not a tightly focused story and it's not intended to be. At least one section is long and a little dull, but I find it necessary. Readers seeking something more exciting may wish to look elsewhere.

There is some sex and nudity, but not a lot. As mentioned before, this is a fantasy. It is not intended to reflect real life. All of the characters are over 18 years old.

* * * * * *

Emma paused on the sidewalk outside the old rundown house on 4th Street. It still belonged to her father for a few more months. Years of fond memories had been replaced by one terrifying night. The night her father had disowned her.

"What are you thinking, honey?" Janet asked, holding her arm. Their nondescript SUV was parked down the block under a willow tree. Half a dozen private security guarded them from a distance, watching the quiet street.

"After graduating college in New York, I came back here for the summer. To spend time with him," Emma recalled. "And my bratty little sister. It was only a stopover to my new life in a big city. Art galleries. Working with artists. Writing for journals. Then my childhood friends tricked me into that nightclub. They arranged for me to be drugged, and raped, and humiliated on stage. Recording everything. And they sent the pictures to everyone I knew, calling me a slut and a whore. My father believed their lies, locking me out of the house naked while Katy's goons were searching for me. I've hated him ever since."

Emma was twenty-five now, 5'5 and 120 pounds, with golden-brown hair and big brown eyes. Her friend was forty-three, tall and graceful, dark blonde hair with Irish green eyes. Both were married to wealthy men, Janet for twenty years. Emma for seven months.

"I know John found you working in that shabby coffee shop making minimum wage," Janet said. "It's so sad you had to go through that. But you have a new life now. A loving husband. Loyal friends. A big estate to manage. Sponsoring art shows. Don't let this terrible town take you down."

"They aren't taking me down, Jan. I'm seeking resolution," Emma answered. "John hates Langsford so much that he bought the factory and closed it. He bought the bank and bankrupted nearly everyone. Including my father. Judy, Tricia, and that rat, Samantha, tried to ruin my life. And many in this town helped them. But not everyone. Did we go too far?"

They looked back toward the deserted downtown filled with struggling shops. An overgrown park. A dilapidated city hall. The hundred-year-old factory loomed in the distance near the river.

"Gregg Jenkins had Mr. Stottlemyer offer everyone ridiculously low interest loans," Janet said. "No one twisted their arms. They thought they were stealing from their new benefactor. Then John and Harry pulled the rug out from under them. And please remember, not one person in this goddamn town lifted a finger to help you that night. I'm sorry, dear, I don't feel sympathy for any of them."

"I know you're right, but I grew up here. Not all of them are evil. And those who hurt me that night are looking at prison sentences. Maybe we can--"

A light went on in the house. And then the porchlight. Someone began to open the door. Emma and Janet retreated as their security provided escort. They couldn't tell if the middle-aged man with gray hair was armed.

"Let's have Jason Longborn look in on this," Janet suggested. "He's Trexadon's lawyer for Oregon affairs. He can give you better answers."

"I don't want to cause trouble. I know John, and Harry, and Jimmy Hopkins worked hard to get justice for me. I'll always be grateful. But we shouldn't hurt innocent people because a few were bad."

"Honey, there were sixty spectators in the bar that night mocking you and cheering the rapists on. At least another hundred knew what was going to happen, none of whom warned you. And hundreds more shared the videos. Don't expect to find too many innocents."

Emma took another look at the house she grew up in before following Janet back to the car.

* * * * * *

The corporate boardroom was filled with managers, accountants, personal assistants, and lawyers. John sat at the head of the table studying the updates. A map of Langsford was on the big video screen, a small factory town on the northern Oregon border.

"We virtually own the damn place," Jason Longborn said, the young lawyer for Trexadon managing the situation. In his early 30s, he was a valued junior officer in the company. "What do you want done with it?"

"Burn it down," John grumbled with a frown. "And then salt the earth."

"As gratifying as that would be, it's not practical," Harry said, sitting to John's right. "Janet tells me that Emma is concerned. She wonders if we've gone too far."

Like John, he was a successful businessman in his early 40s. While Harry was tall with bushy red hair, John was stocky with wispy black hair now growing bald. They had been friends since high school, when they both dated Janet. Harry had won that battle.

"What's the status?" John asked.

"The bank is still strong," Gregg Jenkins reported, 50-years old, tall and stout, wearing a finely tailored Giorgio Armani suit with Zelli Roma shoes. "Stottlemyer's daughter, Samantha, is going on trial for accessory to rape, and he's facing charges of malfeasance for pressing those low interest loans on his unsuspecting customers. We haven't foreclosed on anyone yet."

"The factory can be refitted, but it won't be cheap," Jason reported. "It's a hundred years old and the workforce is twenty years out of date. The entire plant needs retooling."

"Not a good investment, but we already knew that," Harry said. "We wanted to punish them for what they did to Emma."

"They've been punished," Jason confirmed. "Between the factory closing and their economy collapsing, it's gotten fairly depressing. There aren't any jobs. Services are shutting down. Now what are we going to do with this clusterfuck?"

"I'm not letting those who hurt Emma walkaway," John swore, clenching a fist. "Jimmy Hopkins has video and eyewitness testimony. And text messages. We know who was in the bar that night. And many who knew what was going to happen did nothing to protect her. They all need to pay. If others are being hurt who weren't complicit, we can look at them on a case-to-case basis."

"That's fair enough," Harry agreed, the staff taking notes.

"What's new on the trials?" John inquired.

"The tavern owner, Donna Livingston, is looking at rape, robbery, and drugging Emma," Jason reported. "She'll be getting twenty years. Her waitress, Belinda, is doing ten years on a plea deal. Emma's former friends, Judy and Tricia, also took pleas. They'll be getting five years each."

"Emma's sister?" John asked.

"Katy Coleman was an active participant. She may not have been involved in the planning," Harry answered. "She has pled not guilty."

"She's guilty," Jason said, standing up. "Everyone in that town talks about the sisters, and how much Katy hates Emma. Nothing that happened on the stage that night was an accident."

"Keep our guys on it," John instructed. "And let's see what we're going to do about this goddamn town."

* * * * * *

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were escorted into the long conference room, still confused by the strange summons. With them was their 22-year-old daughter Kari, and Kari's sorority sister, Lynda White. The oak table was surrounded by a dozen empty chairs. A wide screen monitor at the end of the hall indicated there would be a presentation. A thick muscular man in his late 30s was waiting for them. He wore a brown suit, a black tie, and a grim expression.

"Thank you for coming," their host said, declining to shake hands. "Please take seats. I am James Hopkins, a security official for Trexadon Industries. You must be curious."

"We are," David Ellis said, a tall man in his late 40s. "I'm due for an important meeting on the 7th floor about my construction projects. They've been delayed too long."

"Those environmental reviews can be a nuisance," Jimmy agreed.

"Lynda and my daughter are supposed to meet with your recruiting officer about corporate positions," Patricia Ellis impatiently said. "They graduated at the top of their class."

Her husband was distinguished in an expensive Brooks Brothers suit. The auburn-haired wife was elegantly attired with a pearl necklace. The young women were in their early 20s, Kari Ellis blonde and athletic. Lynda White's brunette hair was worn short, her dark eyes searching. She did not seem to have Kari's aggressive confidence.

"Interesting that you say that," Jimmy said. "This meeting concerns your daughter's future. And other futures."

A door opened on the far side of the room as two women entered. The guests instantly recognized Janet Rawlings, the celebrity wife of billionaire Harry Rawlings. Why would someone so famous be here? they wondered. They did not recognize the short, brown-haired younger woman. David respectfully stood. But the newcomers weren't smiling. Both took seats on the far end of the table without saying anything.

"Questions have arisen concerning certain financial and personal issues," Jimmy continued without making introductions. "I understand that Kari and Lynda were both members of the Tau Maga Sorority at Dale Valley University. Mrs. Patricia Ellis, and Miss Lynda's mother, Mrs. Erin White, are alumni of the same sorority. Is this true?"

"Of course it's true," Patricia confirmed. "It's the finest sorority for young women in the state, with a national standing. Tau Mega has produced lawyers, doctors, and businesswomen of outstanding character."

"Ah, yes. It's character we've gathered to discuss," Jimmy said, activating the big screen with his remote control. It showed the young women under a Tau Mega logo, along with a third young woman. Their three mothers, all sorority alumni, also appeared on the screen accompanied by detailed biographical information.

"You know Izzy Thomas?" Jimmy asked.

"Yes, she's our sorority sister," Kari answered.

"Then you know Izzy was dating Ferris Barnes, the rock star," Jimmy said.

"Our daughters know many celebrities. Even some in the music business," Patricia replied.

"It just so happens that Ferris Barnes is Mrs. Janet Rawling's nephew," Jimmy mentioned. "And from what we have learned from Ferris, Izzy has a very interesting story to share."

The tentative mood in the room grew uncomfortable. Kari started to say something but her mother hushed her.

"You should know the encounter between Izzy and Ferris was not an accident," Jimmy continued. "After being briefed on a certain situation, Ferris generously agreed to help our investigators draw confidential information from Miss Thomas that was not otherwise forthcoming. Pillow talk can be a powerful investigative tool."

Mrs. Ellis suddenly looked worried. The sorority sisters appeared confused. David Ellis glanced at his wife, sharing her concern.

"Do you want to tell us what this is all about?" David demanded.

Jimmy looked to the end of the table, getting a nod from Emma. The guests could not miss the deep frowns of their hosts.

"Six weeks ago, Mrs. Emma Latimer encountered a young woman working as a janitor in her husband's office building. The building we are in now," Jimmy said. "It seems this young woman had been attending Dale Valley University as a freshman when your daughter was a senior. She had earned a scholarship, got good grades, and was pledging the Tau Mega Sorority."

The screen activated with a new image.

"This, as you already know, is Trinity Farber," Jimmy said, showing a 19-year-old woman with sad blue eyes. "One afternoon, three of the Tau Mega sorority sisters, Kari Ellis, Lynda White, and Izzy Thomas, took Trinity aside and said there would be a test of sisterly loyalty. If Trinity failed, she would not be allowed to join the sorority. The sorority her dead mother had belonged to. She was ordered to strip naked, and wearing nothing but a windbreaker, told to join the three sisters on a chartered transport."

More images. A party van owned by Markham Rentals, and the van's gray bearded driver, with the university in the background. It looked like two detectives were pressing the driver hard. The frumpy middle-aged man was nervous.

"As the van drove off, Trinity was given a lecture about sisterhood and the importance of loyalty," Jimmy narrated, his voice growing angry. "She was told that, to prove her dedication to the sorority, she had to remove the windbreaker, leaving herself completely nude in the rear of the van. But that wasn't enough. Her hands were tied behind her back. After all the hard work and dedication Trinity had shown, she desperately hoped this was just a hazing ritual, but it was far more sinister than that. Something she discovered too late."

The video presentation on the big screen continued to expand. It showed the route taken by the van. Personal information on the driver, and the rental company. A list of the company's owners. A copy of the lease agreement. A floorplan showed the layout of the van, large enough for sixteen.

"Once Trinity was in the power of Lynda and your daughter, the windbreaker was cut to pieces, leaving her naked and helpless," Jimmy explained. "Kari, Lynda, and Izzy then berated Trinity about her mother, Amanda Farber, who was also an alumni of Tau Mega. Wasn't she, Mrs. Ellis?"

"Amanda was in our sorority," Patricia acknowledged. "A proud, arrogant, goody two-shoes. She tried to ban alcohol from our parties. Would not allow boys in the sorority house after hours. She frustrated our plans at every turn, holding us back. Everyone hated her."

"It was you who hated her!" Emma said, suddenly jumping from her chair at the end of the room. "You were jealous of her good looks. Jealous that boys liked her more. She was smart and popular. And because Amanda died and was forever beyond your revenge, you decided to destroy her daughter!"

The observers were stunned, not knowing who the furious young woman was. Though small, there was fire in her eyes. Janet Rawlings reached to take her hand. More images appeared on the screen. Six pretty sorority girls, each a year or two younger than Kari and Lynda. Their flighty smiles hid quiet fears. Emma moved to stand near the screen, pointing.

"We know everything," she warned. "After stripping Trinity and humiliating her with your hypocritical bullshit, six of your daughter's accomplices boarded the van with cameras, laughing and mocking their naked victim. They posed her in obscene positions and tagged the photos on the internet. As Trinity cried and begged them to stop, your daughter and her friends showed no mercy."

Shocking photos appeared. 18-year-old Trinity Farber was stripped, her hands bound behind her back as eight of her so-called sisters tormented her. They were laughing. Kari and Lynda appeared to be having a joyous time. They were the masterminds, proud of executing their glorious plan to perfection. Just as their vengeful mothers had wanted.

"Not satisfied with devastating that poor girl," Emma continued, "you had the driver drop her off in a school zone where two law enforcement officers were conveniently waiting to arrest her." The photos of the two veteran officers appeared. They did not look happy.

"Here we see the officers you bribed to arrest Trinity," Jimmy said, taking over the presentation.

The two men in shabby blue uniforms frowned at the camera, angrily waving the photographer off. Then the image of a dumpy middle-aged man in a rumpled suit appeared. The eyes were sunken. He was standing before a magistrate looking ready for a heart attack.

"Here is the crooked lawyer you hired to sabotage Trinity's defense," Jimmy continued. "Any good defense attorney would have gotten Trinity acquitted and exposed the whole rotten conspiracy, so you pretended to find her a lawyer. A dishonest lawyer who tricked her into pleading guilty."

An entire string of new images appeared. Men and women looking very professional.

"You know Mrs. Serena Rollins, the Dean of Dale Valley University," Jimmy pressed. "She was also one of your sorority sisters, wasn't she?"

The slender middle-aged woman appeared outside her office under stress. Face drawn. Her head covered by a large bandana. She was under fire, cringing from aggressive reporters. Then she mumbled some excuse and ran.

"And Mr. Dartmoor Ashman, the city attorney," Jimmy concluded, showing a tall older man with white hair. "Your old school chum, Dean Rollins, immediately expelled Trinity without a hearing, declaring her guilty. The city prosecutor, following a substantial business loan, charged her with a sex offense. It was all a carefully crafted plot."

The screen now held photos of the police officers, the dean, the city attorney, and a dozen others, from assistants to messengers. All were in the process of being questioned by grim investigators. The guests noticed James Hopkins taking a prominent role in the proceedings. In several photos, Janet Rawlings and her mysterious young friend were in the background.

"Trinity was sentenced to three months in jail. All because you hated her mother," Emma concluded, arms crossed.

"You can't prove any of this," Kari's mother insisted.

Jimmy, Emma, and Janet exchanged satisfied glances.

"It's already proved," Jimmy said, the big screen adding more video.

"During their pillow talk, Izzy Thomas gave Ferris Barnes everything. Text messages. Photos. Recordings," Jimmy explained.

"That's Izzy's story. It doesn't implicate us," Kari said.

"The party van had a security camera," Jimmy answered, quieting the criticism. "The driver will testify that you paid him to frame Trinity. Markham Party Rentals has agreed to a settlement offer and is fully cooperating."

"They are fools," Patricia mumbled, trying to put it all together.

"Let's take a look at the scorecard, shall we?" Jimmy said, beginning to enjoy himself. "The crooked lawyer you hired to defend Trinity has turned over all of his records. The police officers you bribed have lost their pensions. The Board of Regents has demanded Dean Rollins' resignation. She submitted it this morning in disgrace. Your friend the city prosecutor has been fired by Governor Pickart. He took a midnight flight to the Bahamas.

"Oh, we don't want to forget your little friends do we?" Jimmy added as the images of the six young sorority women were enlarged, all looking scared. "Of the sisters Kari and Lynda brought onto the van to humiliate Trinity that day, five have confessed. The university has suspended them pending an investigation. None of them will ever get the jobs they were hoping for. Your daughter and Miss White are facing more serious charges."

"That's impossible!" Patricia protested, pounding the table. "Even if what you say happened really happened, which it didn't, none of this is actionable."

"I'm afraid that's not true, Mrs. Ellis," Jimmy replied. "Many of the accomplices are already pleading guilty and cooperating."

"And guess who they blame for their misfortunes?" Janet announced, standing at Emma's side. "The van driver. The cops. The sorority sisters. Even Dean Rollins, whose career is now ruined."

"At worst, it was a hazing incident gone bad. Our daughter did not commit any crimes," David defended.

"You are mistaken, sir," Jimmy countered. "They engaged in a conspiracy to frame an innocent young woman who was wrongfully convicted of a sex offense. That makes them complicit in the original indictment. Holding her in the van against her will was unlawful restraint. The police officers you hired forced Trinity to endure a cavity search, even though they knew she had committed no crime. That's rape."

"Your daughters are looking at five to ten years in prison," Janet explained. "By the way, on the advice of my nephew, Izzy Thomas has turned state's evidence. For a reduced sentence, she will be the star witness at the trial."

The room grew quiet. Kari and Lynda started to cry.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," her father consoled. "We'll get you the best lawyers in the country. We have friends in high places."

"That may prove complicated," Jimmy cautioned.

"How is that?" David asked.

"It would appear you've made an unwise financial investment," Jimmy answered. "When all three of your construction projects were put on hold pending environmental reviews, the startup money was placed in a bitcoin company. Tragically, that company has filed for bankruptcy. As of twenty minutes ago, the banks began attaching your assets."

"This will never stand! It's fraud!" David protested, leaping to his feet.

"Perhaps. The courts will need to sort that out, and Trexadon has a deep legal bench," Jimmy replied. "We can continue litigation for the next twenty years."

"This isn't right. It's not fair," Patrica whined, wringing her hands.

"What isn't fair is that a group of mean girls and their vicious parents tried to destroy an innocent young woman," Emma replied, marching around the table to confront her. "Trinity's conviction is going to be overturned. I'm giving her a full scholarship to a better school. And she'll sue you for millions. Represented by my lawyers. The best lawyers in the world. She'll get the life back you stole from her."

"And you are getting what you deserve," Janet said, protectively holding Emma's arm. She pointed at the screen. It showed an AI generated image of two young women standing behind bars wearing orange jumpsuits. They looked like Kari and Lynda.

"That will never happen! Never! It was an honest misunderstanding," Patricia claimed.

"It will be interesting to see if you can prove that," Jimmy said. "In the meantime, our security officials will escort you out of the building. Police detectives are waiting in the hall to arrest Miss White and your daughter."

After the guests were gone, Jimmy rushed to Emma.

"How are you?" he asked, taking her hands. "This must have been hard. All the stress. You didn't need to confront them; I had it under control."

"No, I needed to be here," Emma disagreed. "I needed to see Trinity get justice. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I could not have done this without you."

"This is the third case you've solved since beginning your crusade," Jimmy said. "Mr. Latimer still hasn't spoken to the press about your marriage, but you won't be flying under the radar much longer."

"John and I had a quiet ceremony. Only my co-workers from the coffee shop. Before he told me he's rich," Emma recalled. "John wants a big wedding when we're ready."

"Which I will be planning for my best friend," Janet said, giving Emma a hug. "Honey, this work you're doing is so terrific. It's inspiring victims to fight back."

"I know how these women feel," Emma answered.

* * * * * *

"What is this, Harry? Why are we meeting at your place?" John asked as he entered Rawlings' 12-acre estate. The mansion was two-stories high with a Greek-style entrance, a huge marble entry hall, and eight upstairs bedrooms,. The living room and patio could accommodate a hundred guests, supported by a chef's kitchen large enough to feed a restaurant. Only Harry and Janet were present, the staff mysteriously absent.

"You got me," Harry answered with an insincere shrug.

"Have you seen Emma?" John asked. "Mrs. Hudson says she hasn't been home all day."

Janet smiled and pointed to the pool. John stepped out through the sliding glass doors.

"Emma? Where are you? Planning another crusade?" he called.

"Maybe," a quiet voice replied from the water.

John saw his young wife in the giant pool. Naked. He didn't see a swimsuit or robe anywhere in sight, which was unusual, for Emma could be quite conservative.

"Sweetheart, what is this?" he said, approaching slowly.

Emma climbed from the far side of the pool, keeping a distance. Giggling. John started around the edge. Emma danced away on the other. John reversed course. Emma reversed course, too, still laughing. She had a small but athletic body toned by hard work, with perky breasts and a sleek waistline. She had waxed down below, to please him, leaving nothing hidden. Emma may have thought her looks were only average, but to John, she was incredibly beautiful.

"Em, do you realize everyone in the house can see you?" John warned.

"Yes, but they can't catch me," she answered. "Either can you."

Emma turned toward the back fence, opened the gate, and ran across Harry's putting green into the lush grasslands behind the house. Streaking completely naked. John ran after her, enticed by the delightfully tight butt wiggling in front of him. He couldn't remember her ever acting so strangely.

Emma was barefoot but on a flat dirt trail. John hustled to keep up, dashing through spring flowers, struggling harder than his agile young wife. She was amazingly fast, heading for a cop of oak trees on the border between the Rawling's estate and his own. Then she disappeared.

"Emma? Emma?" he called. He heard a laugh.

He searched, finding nothing. There was movement. She was gone again. All he heard were rustling leaves and quiet chuckles. It went on for fifteen minutes, but John never considered giving up. It wasn't in his nature.

The frazzled husband finally found his errant wife in a shady glen, lying on a thick quilt. There was a picnic basket, paper plates, and two bottles of wine. She stretched out, showing him everything. John stripped off his clothes to sit next to her.

"What's this all about?" he dared to ask.

"Make love to me," she answered.

"Here? In the woods?"

"These are our woods, and today, this is our world," she responded, pulling him down for a deep kiss.

"Shall we have wine first?" John asked, for that had been their habit.

"No, no wine yet. I want you. I want you right now!" she insisted.

John did not waste another moment, finding his wife more than ready. He began with the foreplay she enjoyed most. Sometimes getting Emma to relax was difficult, but not today. And she had little patience for foreplay. She rolled John on his back, made a point of pinning him to the quilt, and slid down on him. John couldn't remember ever being so hard. Or his wife so incredibly passionate.

Emma pressed on, exerting herself, giving John everything he could want while taking plenty for herself. She struggled to hold her orgasm until John had fulfilled his mission, and then exploded like the world was on fire, screaming at the sky. She dropped to the side, out of breath. John leaned over.

"You're so wild today," he remarked, giving her an adoring kiss. "Naked in the pool. Running in the meadows. Being a woodland nymph."

"Janet and I swim naked all the time," Emma mentioned, reaching for the picnic basket. "Jan likes being naked at the gym, too. And at the spa. She keeps talking about nude beaches in Spain and France. I think she's quite the exhibitionist. This is the first time I've seen you without clothes outdoors."

Emma picked up the wine bottles. The corks had been loosened. She poured a glass for John, set the bottle down, and picked up the other bottle.

"We each have our own?" John said. "They look alike."

"They may look alike, dearest, but they aren't," Emma replied, raising her glass until they clinked. "Your wine is Poggis di Sotto from Harry's wine cellar. It cost him a lot of money. My wine is a special blend from southern France. It's made especially for pregnant women."

"Pregnant? You mean--"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. You're going to be a father," Emma said with a huge grin.

"Oh my God. Oh my God, Emma, this is wonderful! I love you so much!" he exclaimed, starting to reach for her. And then he drew back. "Oh my God, what we just did. We just--"

"I'm not delicate yet," Emma said, pulling him close. "And I didn't bring you out here to talk about the weather."

* * * * * *

"I need to see my father again," Emma confided, sitting in the backseat of a nondescript town car. "Quietly. Will you help me?"

"Honey, I will do anything for you, and you know that," Janet replied. "John, Harry, and I have been best friends since high school. I always wanted him to find someone special, and was afraid it would never happen. And then you appeared. The perfect wife, and the perfect friend. But we're still telling Jimmy Hopkins. The wives of billionaires do not sneak off into small towns where their husbands are hated. The world doesn't work like that."

"I don't want my father to learn of my good fortune," Emma said. "As far as he is concerned, I'm still the worthless slut who was chased out of town naked on the bus."

"He can't really think that," Janet said, taking her hand.

"That night, while they were raping and humiliating me onstage, Katy messaged all the photos to him. He locked me out of the house while gangs were hunting for me. That's a little hard to forgive."

"He was lied to by your sister. The sister facing charges next month for accomplice to rape," Janet said. "Jimmy's detectives say your father isn't such a bad guy."

They were driving south on the main highway when Emma noticed an art gallery next to Mendacious Frontier College. It reminded her of those early days as a student traveling to local galleries while seeking a scholarship to New York University. She had been successful, leaving Langsford behind. Until jealous friends decided to take revenge on her four years later.

"Let's take a look," Emma said, having the car stop. She noticed Jimmy's detectives were good at their jobs, spreading out like an invisible shield. She had no idea how much such protection cost. Working an entire year at the coffee shop probably wouldn't have paid for a day of their time.

Emma and Janet walked into the gallery with Jimmy a few steps behind. Being plainly dressed, they didn't attract any particular attention. It was an older stucco adobe building, perhaps a public library at one time. The large rooms displayed paintings, sketches, collages, and nude portraits. Janet wasn't impressed. Emma admired the artists' willingness to dare, even if conceding Janet's point about the poor quality. And then she stopped.

"Oh, no. This is awful," she quietly exclaimed, hands over her mouth.

Janet saw a 6' x 8' black & white photograph of a naked woman, on her back, with legs spread. The contours of the vagina had been manipulated to look large and flappy. Her anus appeared to be leaking fluid. The model's face was filled with humiliated agony. Next to the huge display was a checkerboard of smaller works in paint, pencil, and charcoal, all featuring the same stricken woman.

"It's kind of tough to look at," Janet agreed, drawing Emma back.

"It's revenge porn," Emma insisted. "Raw, naked, revenge porn. Why is it in this gallery? Why do they have the model's name posted? None of the other models are listed. Jimmy! Jimmy! Come here! Come here now!"

Jimmy came running, preparing to draw his gun. He found Mrs. Latimer in an agitated state. He was glad to see there was no physical danger.

"Emma, catch your breath," he said, holding her arms. "Calm down. Breathe."

It took a moment for her to regain composure. Janet took her hand.

"Mr. Hopkins, I'm so sorry for calling out like that," Emma apologized.

"It's okay. I've been Jimmy to you for a long time. Tell me what you need."

"This photo. These sketches. I want to know everything about them. Who made them. Under what conditions. What happened to the model? Why is this gallery allowing such an obscene piece of trash hang on their wall? Who is responsible? And once we have all of that, let's find out if this poor woman requires justice."

Jimmy's face lit up, glancing at the photograph. Like Emma, Jimmy's sister had also been the victim of a sick twisted plot. One he had never forgotten or forgiven. Emma's demand for justice suited his desires perfectly.

* * * * * *

"Are you sure about this plan? It's kind of weird," Janet said.

"I need to know where I stand with him. It won't be as the wife of a billionaire," Emma answered.

"But pretending to be a maid on the Latimer Estate? Wearing this ridiculous costume?"

"This is a real maid's uniform," Emma protested.

"Who told you that?" Janet asked.

"John. While we were shopping online."

Janet laughed. "Honey, this maid's uniform was bought off a porn site. No maid would ever wear it. And none of your employees were uniforms."

"This is a porn outfit?" Emma asked incredulously. "Which John ordered for me?"

Janet took hold of a shoulder strap and gave it a tug. It opened Emma's shirt. The other strap removed the blouse entirely. Another pull ripped the skirt away, leaving Emma standing in a thin red bra and black panties.

"Want to see how fast that underwear comes off?" Janet asked with a grin. And with two more quick snatches at the fabric, Emma was standing nude before her, except for black net stockings and high heels.

"This is so hilarious," Janet said as she dangled the outfit just out of reach.

"This is humiliating!" Emma exclaimed, hands crossed over her chest.

"I have to admit, sweetheart, you look great," Janet complimented. "Going to the gym isn't hurting you at all."

"This prank is unacceptable," Emma complained, holding an ENF pose.

"Are you really mad at him?" Janet asked, a little surprised, for she never knew her friend to be cross with John.

"Yes, I'm furious. Absolutely furious!" Emma answered. "And that's exactly what I'm going to tell John tonight. When I'm wearing it for him. In our bedroom."

Janet couldn't contain herself, bursting with laughter. "I swear to god, honey, you are the best wife John could ever hope for. He struck uranium the day he met you."

"I've been so blessed since he rescued me," Emma replied. "Now I need to see how my father will fit into this. I'm scared about that."

"I'll stay off to the side but close enough to watch. You also have Hanna, her staff, and Wendy Shin. Windy may be tiny, but she's a blackbelt in three disciplines. If your old man gets out of line, she'll take him down in five seconds."

"My father was never violent, just a mean, stubborn, disagreeable man who always thinks he's right."

"Honey," Janet whispered. "All men always think they're right."

* * * * * *

Just after noon, the taxi pulled up in front of the Latimer mansion with a tall man in a black suit going out to open the door. The green courtyard had leafy trees, flower gardens, and a crystal fountain.

"I'm Melvin Coleman, Emma's father," the short, thin man introduced, shaking hands. "This is my daughter, Katy. Emma's younger sister. We've been invited."

"My name is Reginald Lincoln, chief butler for the estate," the middle-aged greeter replied. "Your name appears on our visitor log. Rooms are prepared for you in the guest wing. Mr. Latimer greatly values your daughter's contributions to our household."

"She was always a hard worker," Melvin conceded.

Melvin and Katy were led through the grand house. A marble entry. A chef's kitchen. A billiard room with two tables and a library. The living room was big enough for fifty guests before leading out to an even larger patio. There was a huge pool. They saw tennis courts, palm trees, and a 3-hole golf course.

"This guy knows how to live in style," Melvin said. "How did he make so much money?"

"Mr. Latimer found factories that no one wanted and made them into factories that everyone wanted," Mr. Lincoln responded.

"What does Emma do here?" Melvin asked.

"Does she mop floors?" Katy said, speaking up for the first time. "I bet she's good at scrubbing toilets."

"You need to excuse my daughter," Melvin said. "She is facing exaggerated charges in court next month and hasn't learned to comport herself."

"At least I'm not a complete slut like Emma," Katy defended.

Emma slowly emerged from the west wing wearing a plain white dress with wide yellow lapels and black work shoes. Her head was down, stopping a few feet short of the guests.

"Hello, father. It's been a long time," she offered.

"Too long. You never told me why you turned into a drunken whore getting screwed on a nightclub stage while your friends took videos," Melvin replied.

"You never let me explain. You locked me out of the house that night," Emma answered.

"That was rash, I admit."

"It was more than rash, father. It was despicable," Emma said, her jaw set tight.

Melvin paused. Never in his life had she spoken to him in such a manner. This was not a daughter apologizing for her mistakes. It was a defiant woman holding him in the wrong.

"After what Katy told me, I was outraged," Melvin confessed. "Though in retrospect, it seems not everything Katy has been telling me is the truth."

"I have my own truth, and I hate Emma. I always have," Katy said. "I got her in trouble that night. We got her naked, showing her true self. But I never told anybody to rape her. That's a lie."

"Is that true, honey? Were you raped that night?" Melvin hesitantly asked. "Drugged, like some people have been saying?"

"Yes, father, it's true," Emma answered, holding back tears. It took him a few seconds to grasp what she had said.

"I'm sorry," he offered, reaching out his arms. And hoping she wouldn't reject the gesture. After a moment of hesitation, she moved into them.

"I know we have a lot of work to do," Melvin said, hugging her gently. "Rebuilding trust is hard, but we'll get through this."

"Just get her to drop the charges against me, Daddy," Katy interrupted. "That's all I want from this lowlife bitch. Scrubbing toilets for a living is the only thing she's good for."

"You are too harsh, sister. Please don't get me in trouble," Emma pleaded, glancing at Hanna. Her estate manager was struggling not to smile.

"How could I get you in trouble?" Katy asked.

"Please, Katy. There are stringent rules here," Emma answered. "Employees can be disciplined if their guests violate them. Isn't that true, Mrs. Hudson?"

"Yes, Emma, it's very true," Hanna confirmed. "For instance, there is no skinny dipping in the pool. Employees with guests who swim nude are quickly fired."

"Fired? From this fancy place?" Katy said, pulling off her shirt. And then the skirt. The bra followed. After stripping away the panties, she dove in, wearing nothing. It happened so fast, her startled father barely realized what had happened.

"She's been acting out lately," Melvin defended. "Pressure about the court case."

"Don't worry, I think Katy will do better than expected. She always does," Emma said with a soft grin. "Hanna?"

"Yes, dear?" the older woman asked.

"Please gather up my sister's clothes. They shouldn't lay around the pool yard with photographers coming."

"Yes, Emma," Hanna said with a grin. "What should I do with your sister's clothes?"

"Burn them," Emma replied.

With the afternoon weather being pleasant, Emma led her father to the outdoor Tiki bar where she started to make drinks. A young Asian woman appeared, taking over as bartender, wearing a daringly skimpy Hawaiian dress and a straw hat.

"Thank you, Wendy," Emma said, selecting pomegranate juice.

"My pleasure, Mrs. ... Emma. What is your father drinking?" Wendy answered with a Georgia accent.

"Rum and coke is fine," Melvin answered.

They retired to a picnic table. Hanna provided snacks. Wendy kept Melvin's glass full. It all seemed ordinary, but not quite. Melvin thought there might be something going on between Emma, Hanna, and Wendy that didn't add up.

While Katy frolicked nude in the pool, defying anyone to object, Emma took her father aside, sitting on a bench in the shade. They looked out on a vast green meadow with a forest in the distance.

"Father, I need you to know that I'm pregnant," Emma announced.

Melvin was quiet for some time. "Do you know who the father is?"

"Yes. He has money. That isn't going to be a problem."

"Praise God. Nothing is worse than having a child without money to keep them safe. I let you down on that."

"Katy and I got by fine. I got a scholarship," Emma said.

"But I didn't treat you right when you came home. You had changed so much. And now I'm losing the house. Did you hear about that? The house your mother's folks gave us for a wedding present."

"I know times have been hard in Langsford since the factory closed," Emma mentioned.

"It's worse than that. We got suckered into loans that sounded too good to be true, and they were. Now the bank's calling in our paper and we have no equity to pay it."

"That's hard. Maybe as bad as I felt being chased out of town naked on a bus, never to return. Just because I wanted to visit my father and help an old friend."

"If you're saying I've got this coming, I won't say different," he replied. "There's a balance to all things if you look close enough. I just wasn't looking. Now what are we going to do about this baby? Are you sure you have enough money? Times are tight, but I might be able to find a place for you to stay."

"Thank you, father, but I have a place to stay. Don't I, Hanna?"

"Yes, you do, Mrs. Latimer," Hanna replied.

"And we like it this way, Mrs. Latimer," Wendy added.

Melvin looked around, wondering if another woman had snuck up on them. He only saw the three of them.

"Mrs. Latimer?" Melvin said, starting to catch on.

"I am Mrs. Emma Latimer, the wife of Jackson John Latimer. And this is my home," Emma said, waving at the stately mansion. "Mrs. Hudson is my teacher. Miss Shin is my bodyguard. Mrs. Janet Rawlings is my mentor. John and I have been married for eight months. I'm having my husband's baby."

Melvin leaned back, trying to take it in. As Emma wasn't showing yet, he knew it wasn't a shotgun marriage. Somehow, his daughter had snagged one of the richest men in America. And judging by the light in her eyes, it was a love match.

"I thought you were poor," he said. "After what happened. Something about a coffee shop."

"That was true. Things changed."

"What do you want from me, darling? To hear me say I was wrong? I was wrong. To hear me call your sister a liar. She is a liar, and not even very good at it. You were always the smart one. What is your heart telling you now?"

"That you're still my father, and I love you. But to be honest, you better not ever step over the line again. I run with a rough crowd these days. Fool me once, shame on you. Try to fool me twice, you'll get crushed."

Melvin wanted to laugh, but saw Emma wasn't joking. She had grown a rod of steel in her backbone.

"Never again, I swear," Melvin promised, reaching for a hug. "What do you want to do about Katy?"

"It's time to let Katy be Katy," Emma said, seeing her younger sister lying nude on the pool deck. "She was very mean to me the night I was raped. Our lawyers say she deserves prison time, but we might get her off with probation. What do you think?"

"We have always lived in the real world," her father answered.

"Which means?" Emma asked.

"If Katy is convicted, she becomes unemployable. And who has to pick up the slack for that? Me. And you, if you get involved. If Katy finds some sort of career, she can make her own way without troubling us more than necessary."

"Funny you should say that," Emma grinned.

She noticed the film crew entering the pool yard. Farranti Decant, the jet-setting photographer for Vogue, Vanity, and many other magazines, was in the lead. He had personal assistants, an equipment manager, light manager, and a videographer. Katy looked up from her nude sunbath, suddenly surrounded by half a dozen strange men and women in their work clothes.

"Oh, my God, can someone please hand me a towel?" she cried, trying to clutch herself. There was no immediate response. The film crew began assembling their equipment.

As Hanna offered liquid refreshments to the new guests, Wendy stood at the edge of the pool, her dark eyes keeping watch with crossed arms. She smiled, viewing Katy squirming red-faced and vulnerable on the bare decking. She found Emma's younger sister quite attractive. Twenty-two years old with long black hair, thin at the waist, and large firm breasts. Her ass was gorgeous. Wendy was not put off by the mischievous evil that inhabited her heart.

"I'm sorry, Miss Coleman," Wendy said, squatting next to her and stroking a thigh. "Mrs. Hudson says it's laundry day. All of the towels are in the washer."

"Please, I'm completely naked. Please find me something," Katy pleaded.

"No need for that," Farranti said, a short bald man in his early 60s. "This woman is suitable for our film shoot."

"Hey? Aren't you Farranti Decant?" Katy said, looking up. "And you want me to pose for you? Nude?"

"Yes, yes. You will pose nude. All day long. All night long," Farranti answered in a thick Italian accent. "We will find a car for you to lay on. A bearskin rug. A motorcycle. All those things you Americans love. We will find a horse for you to ride. A tribute to Lady Godiva. You will be famous."

His crew got to work. Katy stood up, shamelessly revealing everything as an assistant began applying makeup. No one offered her a robe.

In the shade near the house, Melvin whispered to his daughter.

"How much did it cost you to set this up?" he asked.

"More than you'll ever know," Emma admitted.

* * * * * *

"Mrs. Latimer, there is an update on the Jennie Bartholomew case," Jimmy reported, entering Emma's spacious office on the mansion's ground floor.

"I hope it's good," Emma said, looking up from her computer.

"They've taken plea deals. They had to. We had them cold," Jimmy said, laying a folder on her cluttered desk.

Her father was sitting next to a window overlooking a green meadow. There was a herd of elk. Katy was upstairs in her room, drooling over the scandalous photos a famous photographer was posting online. She still had no clue her sister was married.

"Jennie who?" Melvin asked.

"Last year, a young woman returned after a year at college," Emma explained. "Her high school girlfriends were viciously jealous but never let on, pretending they were still her best friends. They arranged a pool party with dozens of her former classmates. All of them were in on the plan. After getting the girl hopelessly intoxicated, they stripped her naked and let three boys rape her. In front of the whole crowd. Jennie didn't even know what had happened until months later, when videos began appearing on the internet. Her former best friends thought destroying her life was wonderful revenge."

"So, what happened?" Melvin wondered.

"After acquiring the videos taken at the pool party," Jimmy replied with satisfaction, "we tracked down those who didn't participate in the rape directly, threatened to destroy their lives if they didn't turn state's evidence, and took the case to the district attorney. The rapists have been arrested along with the two so-called best friends as accomplices. All of them are getting prison sentences ranging from six to fifteen years."

"You did all of that?" Melvin said, looking at his daughter.

"It's only the beginning," Emma answered with a determined frown. "We have a dozen more cases in progress."

"I also have the preliminary report on that new matter," Jimmy mentioned.

"Is it as bad as I thought?" Emma asked. Jimmy looked at Melvin, hesitating. "It's okay, Mr. Hopkins, my father may as well know."

"Know what?" Melvin asked, straightening up with a vodka tonic in his hand.

"Your daughter is not a lazy aristocrat," Jimmy said more sharply than he intended. "She's an avenger. Using her resources to seek justice for wronged women. Women mocked and cast aside by cruelty. Something you know all about."

"I'll do better," Melvin replied, shocked to be spoken to in such a way by an employee. But he realized James Hopkins was a serious man. Not someone to be crossed.

"Your instincts were spot on, Mrs. Latimer," Jimmy reported.

"Don't be afraid of informality in front of my father. I'm Emma to you. I always will be. We've been through too much together."

Melvin was curious but remained quiet. Whatever the bond was between them, it wasn't sexual. It ran far deeper. Companions on a quest?

"The victim is Miss Alice Marbury," Jimmy said, sitting next to Emma at her large rosewood desk. "She was a student at Mendacious Frontier College, but not anymore. That art display cost her a job and her scholarship. She's still dealing with the emotional fallout. We haven't made contact yet. What would you like to do?"

"Road trip," Emma replied.

* * * * * * *

Author's note: we can wrap this up here, confident that Emma will be pursuing many more cases, or try another chapter. Any thoughts?