Chapter 4
“What? Who placed a bounty?” asked a stunned Janine.

Marcus was grim. “Prince Abu Bakr Asif Karim. The girl was apparently promised to his son, Farouk. When the Prince found out about the true nature of the arrangement, he went nuts. He thinks that the girl knows too much and could destabilize things for him if his enemies got wind of this”

“Shit, Marcus. This is getting out of control. How are we going to keep a lid on this and protect her at the same time? I have an investigation to run. The intel we picked up from Steele’s files alone will keep me busy for another couple of years”

“I have an idea, Agent Rodgers, if you can calm down” He pulled out a card and handed it to Janine. “Call this man, Kevin Howard from Pluton Security. He has a history of competency in this area. I know his employer”

Janine took the card. “If you say he’s good, then that’s all I need. I'll call him right away”

“I’ll do what I can on my end. Good luck, Janine, and keep me informed. I’ve been called back to Washington. Something's up”

Janine decided to visit Bethany in her new room. A guard had been placed at the door, an LAPD officer, not hospital security.

Janine quietly opened the door and crept in. Bethany was awake and staring out the window. She didn’t acknowledge Janine’s presence at all. She was crying quietly.

“Hello, Bethany. I see you’re awake”

She never took her eyes off of the window. “Who’s Bethany? I’m slut. Nobody”

Janine slid a chair between the bed and the window. “Bethany is your new name, honey. Don’t you like it?”

“It means nothing to me. I already have a name" She continued looking out the window. "Do you know I haven’t seen the sun since, since, I don’t know”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“I guess so”

Janine noticed that Bethany’s voice was a monotone. Emotionless and flat. It was the voice of someone who had lost all hope. “I know it’s a lot to process right now. You’ve been through a lot, more than anyone I know. But in a lot of ways, the worst is over. The man who abused you is in jail, and I’m on the trail of all the others who have ever hurt you”

“What does it matter? They’ll never pay, why should they? They just used me for what I am. All that I’m good for”

Janine knew that she should stop and get Francine, but she didn’t want her to stop talking. “What do you mean? What they did to you was wrong, Bethany”

“Look. I remember you from the raid. I have no idea if this is some sort of dream or just another one of Master’s tests. My name is slut. I am good for nothing except to serve the Master’s desires. If you want to use me, go ahead. Do you want me?”

The tears were still coming. They were real. Something in Bethany’s mind was beginning to accept that maybe her nightmare with Steele was over, of that much, Janine was certain. She pulled out her cell and texted Francine.

“No, I don’t want anything like that. I’m with the FBI, and you don’t have to do that anymore”

“Whatever. If you change your mind, I’ll serve you. Can I see Master? I don’t know what to do”

Janine knew she was in over her head now. She decided to wait for Dr. Davis. “Master won’t be coming back, Bethany. He’s in jail and will never bother you again”

She was met by silence, as the traumatized child’s tears continued to soak her pillow.

Janine stayed by Bethany’s side until Dr. Davis got there. “Can I see you outside, Agent Rodgers?”

“Sure” Janine squeezed Bethany’s hand and got out of the chair.

After the door closed to the room, Francine got right to business. “How long has she been awake?”

“I have no idea. She was awake when I came into the room. I texted you about thirty seconds later”

Francine’s look darkened. “What did she say?”

Janine related the conversation to Francine.

“So she still hasn’t accepted that she’s free. Interesting. The tears are a good sign. We need to get her to open up, to see how she sees herself, if indeed she has accepted her new gender role” Francine said, more to herself than anyone else. “Thank you for your attention to detail, Agent Rodgers. I’ll take it from here”

“Good. I know she’s in good hands with you” She turned to leave, then back. “There’s something else you need to know. There is a bounty on the girl. Someone very rich and powerful wants her dead”

Francine winced. “Okay, that’s good to know, I guess. What is your plan?”

“I’m calling in some special help. I’ll let you know when everything is in place” She paused, thinking, then added “Help her, Doctor. I’m afraid of what’s going on in her mind”

Francine hugged Janine. “I’ll do my best, count on it”

Shameless plug time: If you want to know more about the following, read the story "532" by me!

Dallas, Texas

Kevin’s cell rang. The number was one he didn’t recognize. “Kevin Howard”

“Kevin, this is Agent Janine Rodgers from the FBI, Internet Crimes Division”

Kevin had heard of Janine. In his line of work, her name came up quite often. “Yes, Agent Rodgers. How may I be of assistance?”
“Marcus Dubois gave me your card. I think I have a job for you, if you’re interested”

Kevin smiled. “Always ready to help. What have you got?”

Janine gave him the rundown on everything that had transpired to that point. Kevin took notes as she gave the details, as he always did. “Sounds like a real hairball, Agent Rodgers, but I think I’ll be able to help”

“Great. Marcus seemed to have a lot of confidence in you”

Kevin chuckled. “I’ve helped him a time or two, he’s a good man. If he gave you my number, then I guess I don’t have any choice. I’ll be out there tomorrow”

“See you then, Mr. Howard, and thanks”

Kevin disconnected. He looked across the table at the beautiful woman across the table. “Well, Belle, I guess our plans for the weekend are kind of ruined. Duty calls” He spoke French to his lovely companion, the love of his life, Belle Kalisek. They had met for a late lunch to go over plans for the long weekend they were taking with her parents.

Belle pouted, which only served to make her prettier. “Poo! You promised me, Kevin! Mom has already made the reservations!”

“I know, but this is one I can’t turn down” Kevin said sadly. He explained the details of the call and the situation to Belle. She knew only too well the hell that Bethany had been put through. She dabbed at her eyes as he explained.

“I understand. You need to go. Mom and Dad will understand. If I can be of any help, please let me know”

Kevin reached across the table to hold Belle’s hand. She was only seventeen, and in truth looked a bit younger, but she had a perfect understanding of what Bethany was going through.

She had been boy named Brian who was kidnapped and put through the same sort of treatment a couple of years before. She, however, was transformed by magic, and was fully female. Her sole lasting side effect of the transformation was that she could only speak French, and due to the spell that had enabled her to do this, she was having difficulty learning to speak English. She could understand English perfectly, but the speaking part evaded her.

“I’ll let you know, babe” Kevin knew her past. In fact, he was responsible for rescuing her. But that made no difference to him. He saw only the lovely girl in front of him, and that was enough for him.

They finished their meal and Kevin kissed her goodbye. She left in the new Honda Civic he bought her. He wanted to get her something a lot more expensive, but she told him that his money could be better spent elsewhere; she thought the car was cute.
Kevin got on the phone to his boss, the CEO of Pluton Security. The world knew him as Charles Baer, but Kevin knew him as Cerberus.

“I already know, Kevin. Get on the first flight out”

That Cerberus knew already was no surprise to Kevin. He pretty much always did. “I’ll make the arrangements now, Boss”

“Good. I’m working on another matter right now, but call me if things get bad. I’m watching this one, Kevin”

“Good to know, Boss. I’ll keep you posted”

Los Angeles

Francine checked in at the nurses’ station before going to Bethany’s room.

“What’s the status on our guest in 505?”

The shift supervisor looked grim. “Not good. She won’t eat, and we just checked her, she’s just lying there on her bed staring out the window”

Francine rubbed her temples. She had more or less expected this. “Okay, thanks for the update. Please don’t disturb us for the next hour”

Francine made a point of knocking on the door before entering. “Can I come in?” Silence greeted her.

Taking a step into the room, Francine saw that Bethany wasn’t on the bed. For a moment, she was worried that Bethany had gotten out of her room, and then she saw a dark head of hair in the corner. Francine walked around the bed and found Bethany naked, on her knees facing the corner. Her head was bowed, almost in an attitude of prayer.

Francine sat on the floor, back to the wall, legs crossed in the lotus position. “He made you do that, didn’t he?”

“Master said this was my position when I was bad. I had to earn the right to wear clothes” Bethany was emotionless, matter of fact.

“I see. You do know he no longer has power over you, don’t you?”

“He told me he would always have power over me. I would never be free” Her head never moved, but tears still trickled down her face.
Francine noted Bethany’s body. She had C cup breasts, and the body of a model. She was tall, and quite pretty in an exotic way. Her eyes were ice blue, which added to the haunted vacant look she possessed. Steele had really done a number on this one. “I can’t begin to understand what you’ve been through. You’ve been brutalized and used in terrible ways. Can I ask you something?”

“You can do whatever you want. If I say no I’ll be punished”

Francine was starting to get angry at the son of a bitch who did this. “If you had a choice, would you stay a girl? Or try to become what you were”

“I don’t have choices. I do what Master says, always”

“I know, but if you did. What would you do?”

There was silence for what seemed like an hour, but was really only a minute or two. This was good from Francine’s point of view. Bethany was actually considering what she actually thought.

“I…I…I guess I would stay like I am” she answered timidly.

Francine nodded. “Okay, we can do that. You do have choices now, sweetie. You don’t have to make a lot of them now, but in time, you’ll find that you can. I want you to get up now and get your gown on and get back into bed. You aren’t being punished anymore, okay?”

Bethany got up slowly. Francine could tell she was unsure about this, and was waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak.

Francine gently put her gown on and led her to her bed. “You get in bed now and get some rest. I’ll sit with you for a while. If you want to talk, just talk, okay? I’m a good listener”

Bethany looked at Francine, almost as if she was staring at someone who wasn’t real.

Bethany looked as if she was about to say something when there was a commotion in the hall. A male voice raised in anger. Francine was focused on Bethany, and then realized who she was hearing. Just as she got up to see what was happening, Greg burst into the room.

“Why didn’t you tell me he was awake? What in the hell is going on here! Do I have to go to the Administrator about keeping me in the loop?”

Bethany was clearly terrified. Her eyes closed and she sank down into the bed, pulling the covers up to her neck.
Francine jumped up quicker than Greg realized. “Mr. Phillips!” She whispered into his ear. “Did the nurses not tell you that we weren’t to be disturbed?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“But nothing. Leave now. I’ll talk to you out in the hall” Francine’s voice never got above a whisper, but it was enough to turn Greg around in his tracks.

Greg went back out into the hall. Francine turned and saw Bethany. She was nearly catatonic.

Francine rushed to her side and Bethany recoiled from her in horror. “I…I…I…can’t! I can’t!” she screamed.

“Shit!” Francine cursed under her breath. She was opposed to violence, but right now she wanted to kill that idiot Greg Phillips.
She left the room and collared a nurse. “Stay with her until I get back” She continued on to where Greg was chewing on a nurse who clearly had no idea what he was talking about.

“…And furthermore, I want hourly updates on my son’s condition. Is that clear?”

“No, it isn’t clear, Mr. Phillips. Come with me”

Francine led him to the women’s restroom. He hesitated at the door, and Francine dragged him in.

“Listen to me, you arrogant bastard. When I am in a session with your DAUGHTER, I am NOT to be interrupted for ANY reason. Not the world ending, not to tell me I won the lottery, NEVER! By you or anyone else”

Greg was flushed with anger. “That’s my child, and I have the right to…”

“Your parental rights at this point mean exactly nothing right now. I was starting to make a little progress in there, but you shot that in the ass because you are too stupid to see past what you don’t understand. Go home, Mr. Phillips. It’s the only chance your child has. If you can’t do that, stay the hell away from her”

“I…I have a right to…”

“No, you don’t in my professional opinion, you are counter to her recovery, and you are barred from this floor until I see fit to let you come back”

“I’ll sue!”

“You’ll LOSE! So go ahead, get a lawyer. This isn’t Texas, and your daughter is a material witness in a kidnapping and human trafficking case. I like my chances in court.”

For one of the few times in his life, Greg was at a loss for words. Bulling into things served him well in the business world, but got him absolutely nowhere here, and he didn’t like it.

“Get the hell off my floor, before I have the officer outside carry you off in handcuffs”

Greg left the restroom, furious. “This isn’t over, not by a long shot”

To Be Continued