33.
A few days later
It was quiet on Pirate Cay. The Senator and the Dean had returned home to Washington and Pitcher, respectively. Big Fred, in view of embarrassing slip up that had resulted in the rebels having briefly taken the Ambassador hostage, had decided, for the moment at least, to spend a bit more time on the main island governing and a bit less on Pirate Cay satisfying his lusts
The boss had spent the last few days focusing on some business transactions. In that brief span, he’d made enough to cover the costs of the rescue operation undertaken by Robert and his colleagues several times over. Life was good.
He picked up the phone. “Doc, how’s the patient doing?”
The doctor assured him that the Ambassador was recovering well under her care. He smiled, imagining the two of them naked, the doctor’s legs in the air, Barb’s tongue planted tightly on her clitoris. He’d watch the video later, maybe have Kelly or young Barb blow him as he enjoyed the spectacle.
“That’s good,” he said. “Would you bring her to my office in a bit, please?”
“Should I have her get dressed?” the doctor asked. He laughed at the question.
“Yes. This is business,” he replied.
Then he called Tara. “I want you to get young Barb, give her a shower and find some clothes for her. Nothing fancy, but something decent. When she’s presentable, bring her to my office. You can skip the leashed dog act. Just walk with her over here, OK?”
About ten minutes later, there was a knock. He got up and opened the door. The doctor stood there dressed in her white lab coat, seemingly with nothing under it. Next to her stood the Ambassador, dressed in a Minnesota Gophers T shirt, shorts and flip-flops
He smiled warmly. “Come in Ambassador,” he said, ushering her inside.
Turning to the doctor, he added. “I trust Ambassador Moore was properly grateful for the excellent care you provided.”
The doctor winked. “Yes, she was,” she said, turning to leave. He would definitely watch that video as soon as he had a few spare moments.
He closed the door. “Have a seat, Barb,” he suggested, indicating one of the chairs facing his desk.
“I’d rather stand, if you don’t mind,” she replied.
He smiled. “Yes, I suppose you would,” he replied. “Would you like something to drink? A nice chilled Reisling? Some champagne?” he asked.
She shook her head. “That might be a wise choice,” he said. “Perhaps an iced tea? Nothing added to it, I promise. This is business,” he said.
“That would be nice,” Barb said.
He went to adjoining kitchenette and returned with two glasses of iced tea, handing one to her and perching himself on the edge of his desk so that they could be more or less equal.
“Everyone has agreed that you came through your initiation swimmingly. You will make a fine addition to the crew here at Pirate Cay.”
Barb looked at him. “That’s nice, but I have no intention of being ‘an addition to your crew’ as you put it. I’ve experienced it, I’m not sorry that I did, but it’s time to get on with my life. I am the US Ambassador and I haven’t performed a single official duty in the time I’ve been here. I need to go back to the main island and get busy at the Embassy. The PRFF terrorists are all dead, so I presume I can be safe there now.”
“That’s true, Barb. But let’s be honest, there isn’t much for an Ambassador to Providencia to do. Fred’s not here, so we can be honest and admit that it’s a backwater. Do you want to spend the next four years re-uniting American tourists with their lost luggage?”
“It beats getting whipped and caned and digging holes to fill other holes,” she replied.
He smiled. “Barb, I think, despite your complaints, that you found your ordeal a stimulating experience. Be honest with yourself.”
She blushed. “OK, there were parts that were, I guess stimulating is a reasonable description. But, I hope I would be invited back for a visit now and then. Look, POTUS and Leo McIntyre-he’s the Chief of Staff- put their trust in me and I feel I shouldn’t let them down.”
“Barb, they have bigger fish to fry as you say in the Midwest. They can find another political supporter to reward with some sun and fun very easily. What if I were to offer you something that will be a much better use of your diplomatic skills?”
“I don’t think I’d be interested,” she said.
“Hear me out,” he replied.
She sighed. “Fine,” she said.
“We have a big hole here at Pirate Cay. With Kelly’s betrayal, we lost our recruiter. My guests and I thrive on new blood, innocent young college girls lured down here to be debauched. And I think you would be just the woman to convince them to put their silly concerns aside and give it a whirl.”
“You want me to visit colleges and procure students for you to whip and cane and fuck? Is that it?”
“I prefer to say ’Offer them a real opportunity to make excellent money and learn all about the business world.’”
Barb shook her head.
“How much does that Ambassador’s job pay?” he asked.
She named a number. “I’ll double it to start. With bonuses based on performance. And you will accompany them here and get to watch and participate in their education.”
She shook her head.
He turned and reached onto his desk and picked up a folder. “You need to read this,” he said. “It’s from a very highly recommended private investigator in Minneapolis. But you had best sit down.”
“Must I?” she asked.
“I insist,” he replied. He watched as she gingerly lowered herself into the chair, wincing as her tender bottom flesh made contact with the seat.
He handed her the folder, watching as she began reading, her mouth open in shock. “Oh, my God!” she exclaimed. “Barb is…”
“Your cousin,” he said. “Which explains the physical resemblance and the same stubbornness and lack of judgement and, shall we say, proclivities.” Barb glared at him. “And you didn’t know?”
She shook her head. “My father mentioned having a brother on occasion, but he didn’t want me to contact him, so I never did. I meant to look him and his family up at some point, but I got busy with a hundred other things. I had no idea that he had a daughter with the same name as me.”
“Life is strange, isn’t it?” he said.
“And I whipped her,” Barb said, looking stunned.
“Yes, you did,” he replied. “And were whipped with her.” There was a knock at the door.
“Excuse me for a moment, he said,” going to the door and opening it. Standing outside was Tara, accompanied by the younger Barbara Moore, who was, for the first time in months, wearing clothes-in this case a Pitcher College T shirt, shorts and flip-flops.
“Come in, Barb,” he said. She looked afraid to enter. “Don’t be afraid. This is a business meeting. Remember you said you wanted to come here to learn about business. That was a lie, of course, but you’ve paid for that. I won’t lay a finger on you. I promise.”
Timidly, she entered. He closed the door. “Barb,” he said to the Ambassador. “Come over and stand next to your cousin.”
Young Barb stared at him in shock. She looked like she wanted to blurt something out, but had been so cowed by her treatment over the last several months that she didn’t dare. “Go on, Barb,” he said. “You can speak freely here. This is a business meeting.”
“We’re cousins?” she asked.
“Barb, would you give Barb, that folder?” he said.
Ambassador Barb stood, walked over and handed the folder to young Barb, who took it and stared at it blankly. ‘She probably hasn’t read anything in months,’ he thought. “But it’s like riding a bicycle; you never forget how.’
“Go on, read it,” he urged. She opened it and began reading, slowly. “I assure you this is all real. The investigator back in Minneapolis is a solid professional. You two are first cousins.”
“Did your father ever talk about his brother?” Ambassador Barb asked.
“No,” Young Barb replied, shaking her head.
He turned to Ambassador Barb. “So, now that you know, let me expand upon my offer. I’m afraid I can’t let your cousin leave Pirate Cay. That would be too dangerous. But what I can do, if you accept, is to free her from her prisoner status and let her serve the rest of her time here as a companion. She can sleep in the old room she had, eat dinner with us, enjoy the beach and the pool, even take classes on line. No more toting rocks up and down the hill. And she can learn about business; I’ll be happy to teach her.”
“She will be asked to entertain guests from time to time, as all the companions are asked to, but she does that anyway, in much less luxurious circumstances. The more new blood you recruit, the less of a burden will be on her. Especially with Tara and Delia leaving once the baby is born.”
“You’re going to let them off the island?” she asked.
“That was the deal and I keep my deals. They will be well-compensated and are implicated in everything that goes on here by now, so they will have every interest in keeping silent.”
“I see,” Ambassador Barb said. “And if I say no?”
“Then the next 24 and a half years of your cousin’s life will be unrelenting misery.”
“What about Kelly?” Ambassador Barb asked.
“That traitorous bitch deserves no sympathy,” he said, looking angry for the first time. “She isn’t your cousin, so what do you care? She can keep lugging rocks.”
“And what about my husband?”
“Roger? It doesn’t seem like you two have much of a marriage. He got to talking with Leo McIntyre and has filed for divorce. “
“I see,” Ambassador Barb said.
“So, the fate of your cousin is in your hands.”
“This is all a bit much to absorb,” the Ambassador said.
“I understand that. Think it over; you can give me your answer in the morning.”
Suddenly, young Barb got down on her knees-a position that had become second nature to her-in front of her cousin. “Please, Barb,” she begged. “You can’t leave me to live like an animal for the next 24 years. We’re family. You have to help me!”
“You see?” he said. “It’s not just about you.”
“I’ll think about it,” Ambassador Barb said.
“Good. I hope you make the right choice,” he said. “Now before you go, I want a picture of the two of you together. Come on,” he urged.
Young Barb stood and the two cousins arranged themselves next to each other. “Closer,” he said. They moved closer. “Put your arms around each other.” They did as he asked. “Now smile,” he said, raising his phone.