Part 7 (1/2)

”Wh-what?” she began.

I concentrated and she slipped into a different time phase with Gertrude. They could interact there. At least they had company. Though it wouldn't be for long. Even if I kept them here a week, they'd only have time for maybe few sentences. They were moving that slow. I hardly had to take the precaution of binding them at all.

Jane just looked at me. ”That is just so amazing. I'd be really impressed if you used it for the common good, instead of for enslaving me.”

I smiled at her as we walked back into the house, Jane's bare feet making a slight trail through the gra.s.s in front of me.

Chapter 72.

As we re-entered the kitchen, Jane picked up her handcuffs from the table and handed them to me. She raised her wrists, allowing me to lock her wrists together again. No complaints.

I hesitated before putting them on her.

”Janey? If I don't lock your hands, will you behave?”

”Of course. I've only been telling you that for days.”

”No. I mean I think I need your hands free for a while.”

Her perception kicked in. ”You want me to be there when you deal with the a.s.shole.” A statement.

”You tie better knots than me. You think you can make him uncomfortable?”

Jane actually smiled. ”If you let me tie that jerk up, Christ, I'm yours forever. He'll be uncomfortable.”

I nodded. ”That's my girl. Come on.”

We practically ran upstairs.

Jane shuddered as we entered the business room. Mayer was still standing in the same position that I had refrozen him. Technically he could have moved a couple of millimeters, but I doubted if he even moved that far. I saw Jane glance at the red puddle on the ground. I guess I could have returned that piece of carpet back to the prime timeline. It should clean itself. But I wanted a reminder of this man's behaviour. I still held Jane's handcuffs in my hands.

I carefully walked to the leather chair, motioning Jane to close the door and follow me. I vaguely wondered if I should have brought Christi up as well. She'd want a shot at this guy. I considered it, but I'd let her have her fun after I had this guy under a semblance of control. He was going to be a challenge. I figured that he would be a coward underneath the tough exterior. Far more concerned for his own skin than anyone else's. I should be able to use that to my advantage.

I pulled the gun out of its impromptu holster and aimed it at Mr. Mayer. Jane just stood quietly behind the chair. I glanced up and regarded her face. She was doing her best to control her emotions. But I could see it in her eyes. Almost rage at this animal in front of us. She'd talked to Sheila far more than I. She was probably far more aware of the horrors that had happened here than I was.

”You ready?”

”Let's get him.” Jane was ready.

I concentrated and released our judge from his time block. Without really noticing anything wrong, Mayer continued his turn towards the closet. Fuming about his now non-existent slave who was peacefully sleeping in his bed.

”Oh Judge?” I called out softly.

He turned at the sound of my voice. He stopped dead as he saw me sitting in his chair. I saw his eyes travel to Jane. Eyeing her. Lingering on her exposed chest. Then the eyes fixed on the gun. This distraction only held for a second or so.

He exploded. ”What the f.u.c.k?!?!?!?”

”Sir. I think we should get something straight here. This is a gun.” I let a shot off into the ceiling above his head. Chips of wallboard shattered across the room. Mayer screamed. ”It's loaded. And I won't hesitate to shoot your b.a.l.l.s off if you don't cooperate.”

He stood still and glanced around the suddenly small room.

”What do you want? Money? It's in the safe. I'll get it for you.” He'd noticed that Sheila was not in the room but he hadn't mentioned it yet.

”Sir. I have no interest in your money. At all.”

”Then what do you want? How did you get in here? Who's the b.i.t.c.h?” I felt Jane's fingers tighten on my shoulder.

”You are Judge Evan Mayer. Aren't you?”

”Yeah. Who the f.u.c.k are you?” Still not moving.

”Evan. Can I call you Evan? Yes. I suppose I can. I'm the one with a gun. Evan. I'm getting tired of all this profanity. I don't let my girls use it idly. And I won't let you.”

”In case you hadn't noticed. I ain't one of *your girls'. f.u.c.k you.”

”Evan. I'm going to give you this last warning. You can quit the swearing, and apologize to Jane, or, and I think I'm being reasonable here, I can happily shoot you in the elbow. Or perhaps you'd prefer a bullet in the b.a.l.l.s? At this range I doubt if I could possibly miss. What do you think?”

His face paled and he stammered. ”Wh-what. What. What do you w-want? Please.”

”At the moment I want you to apologize to Jane here. The only person that calls her a *b.i.t.c.h' is me. And I would only do that if she was being particularly disobedient. Or I had her acting like a dog. She has never deserved it. Now apologize to the lady.”

He took another look at the gun. ”Lady. I apologize.”

”That okay Janey?”

”For now.” Her voice was like ice. She hadn't met this guy before now. But she knew him. She was holding herself in check pretty good. She was good at self-control. Perhaps it was better that I hadn't involved Christi in this, after all. I'm not sure that she would have the self control necessary for this situation.

”Now. Evan. You remember that girl you had a moment ago? Sheila was her name?”

”What have you done with her? Where is that c.u.n.t? Is she behind this?”

”Uh-uh.” I raised the gun. Let him be very aware of it. ”Language judge. Language. You remember what you liked to do to her? Tie her up? Had a good time with her, didn't you mister judge?”

”I swear. I'm going to kill her for this.”

”You are going to do nothing of the sort. You will do exactly as I say or you are going to meet some agony that makes what you put her through seem like a cake walk.”

”I never touched that stupid c.u.n.t.”

”I'm getting really tired of your mouth, Evan.”

I glanced up. In the ceiling above his head were two eyebolts. Similar to the ones I'd used to torment Amy yesterday. Looked like they were sunk right into the overhead beams. Solid as all h.e.l.l. Probably Sheila had discovered the hard way what they were good for. I felt a pang of empathy for the sleeping girl.

”Evan. I'm going to have Jane here do something to you that you probably did to Sheila. That's fair isn't it? Turnabout and all that? You won't like it, but if you don't resist you can keep your joints. Sound fair?”

Fear began to enter into his eyes. I think he was beginning to sense the depth of the anger that was present just below my calm. And he was frightened.