Adele arose and addressed the jury to make her opening statement.

"At least twenty-five percent of women serving in the U.S. military have been sexually assaulted, and up to eighty percent have been sexually harassed. Women in the U.S. military are more likely to be raped by fellow soldiers than they are to be killed in combat," she began.

"Now this is not a court martial, the defendant is not a member of the military but he is a Defense contractor and Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer was on duty when she was attacked in the offices of Dynamic Aerospace Solutions where she had been seconded to work on the acquisition of Defense apparatus, which for the sake of security will not be articulated, nor is it relevant to the case."

"What is relevant, and that the plaintiff's counsel will prove, is that Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer made a sexual assault report to military officials who directed a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination or SAFE Report be rendered. The Uniform Code of Military Justice prescribes that the victim of a sex-related offense that occurs in the United States must be consulted on their preference regarding whether the offense should be prosecuted by court-martial or in a civilian court with jurisdiction over the offense. We will explore the contents of Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer's SAFE report which has been tendered to the court, released by her in the cause of justice."

"In summary, I will prove to this court that Oliver Randal sexually assaulted Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer in his office after he had sexually harassed over a considerable period of time and that the attack was unprovoked and premeditated. We will be asking for a guilty verdict and an award of damages that recompenses Amanda for her pain and suffering and sends a strong message not only to the military but also to their contractors and civilian employees that this behaviour will not be tolerated," Adele completed her address and sat down at the plaintiff's table.

Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer sitting at the plaintiff's table in full uniform dabbed at the tears running down her cheeks and Adele put a comforting arm around her.

It was all part of the performance to make the jury sympathetic.

Weldon Jennings arose from the defendant's table, straightened his tie and cleared his throat. He was wearing a dark Armani suit and brilliant white shirt. He was tall, dark and handsome but not officious or presumptuous; juries loved him.

"My adversary has made a remarkable and arresting opening statement. She's quoted some facts and figures regarding the military and its abysmal record regarding sexual assault. She's tossed around words like Uniform Code of Military Justice and SAFE reports," Weldon began his own opening remarks.

"The reality is none of those words have any relevance here. We are not, as the plaintiff's counsel has articulated, sitting in a court martial or for that matter a criminal court. We are sitting in a civilian court room undertaking a civil trial. The plaintiff bypassed the option of bringing criminal charges against my client."

"The plaintiff went straight for the money."

"Why?"

"Because Dynamic Aerospace Solutions or DAS as it is known informally, has won a billion dollar Defense contract to provide guidance systems to the latest long-range air-to-air missile. As one of Dynamic Aerospace Solutions' three CEOs, Oliver Randal is a cash-cow as far as Amanda Palmer is concerned and she knows that any settlement offer made by DAS would be substantial."

"But the plaintiff has outfoxed herself. There will be no settlement in this case. We will prove that my client is innocent."

"Thank you," Weldon wrapped up his opening statement quickly.

He had been careful not to besmirch Amanda Palmer's character. Victim-bashing was never a good tactic, especially where sexual misconduct was involved. Better to show Amanda as a moneygrubber who had foregone criminal proceedings and instead went straight to civil litigation in order to make a substantial amount of money. There were always jurors who hated gold-diggers and he counted on there being one or two on jury. He only needed four of them to cast their vote in the defence's favour for his client to win the case.

Judge James Duncan Payton Chatsworth III sat at the bench wearing his black robe looking distinguished and knowledgeable. He took an inordinate amount of time giving the jury directions, even though they had been explained meticulously after the voir dire. The jury's attention began to wane and some were close to nodding off by the time he finished his speech. The jury wanted to hear the dirty details of the crime not the judge prattling on in legalese.

Weldon Jennings didn't mind the judge antagonising the jury, it worked in his favour. Also Judge Chatsworth was known to be a defendant's judge when it came to he-said, she-said cases of sexual misconduct. He was no fan of the #metoo movement and believed there was far too much bias afforded to anyone bringing an unsubstantiated complaint.

Adele Edwards had made a name for herself winning civil litigation cases where consent was in question. Most of the cases were uncountable, in other words they were he-said she-said, without witnesses to the act, but accompanied by forensic evidence which was often not conclusive. The presence of semen and even bruising and flesh wounds could be explained away by the defence as vigorous consensual sex. Adele's forte was winning over the jury and making them sympathetic to the plaintiff. In one notable case she had taken the stand herself and told of her own sexual assault by a gang of fellow students at college and explained that compliance under coercion and intimidation did not signify consent, neither did the victim becoming sexually aroused during the attack.

Adele Edwards called her first witness after a short break.

Janet Pennyworth was a fifty-something woman of pleasant disposition who was attractive although she carried a few extra pounds. She had a kind, open face and was the perfect plaintiff's witness. They got the deposition out of the way quickly and Adele began the questioning in earnest.

"So you are a senior clerical assistant at Dynamic Aerospace Solutions, Los Angeles California and you were at your desk on the day of the alleged incident," Adele was leading the witness but this was a civil case and these facts had been established during the preliminary questioning of the deposition.

"Yes," Janet smiled sweetly at the jury, as she had been instructed to do during witness preparation.

"Please tell the court what you saw on the day in question," Adele liked her witnesses to extrapolate rather than to ask a series of direct questions.

"I saw Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer go into Oliver Randal's office. She stayed in the office for about thirty minutes or so and then suddenly the door was flung open and Amanda staggered over to me and told me she had been raped," Janet's smile had vanished and she looked angry.

"What exactly did Amanda Palmer say?" Adele asked.

"She said 'Rape! Rape! Rape! I've been raped. Mister Randal has raped me!' Amanda was crying," Janet gave Oliver Randal a scathing look.

"So she was distressed. How did she look?" Adele continued.

"Her uniform was dishevelled. She was missing a shoe, her skirt was hitched up and her nylons were full of runners and her panties were torn and hung around one ankle, her blouse had been torn open and her makeup and hair were ruined," Janet said solemnly.

The jury, consisting of eight women and four men, leaned forward, listening intently. They were getting to the juicy bits of the trial.

"What did you do?" Adele asked.

"I told Julie Westwood to call 911 and helped Amanda Palmer to the break room where I made an attempt to comfort her while we waited for the police and the ambulance," Janet explained.

"And did Amanda say anything to you while you were waiting?" Adele was ready to wrap it up.

"She just kept repeating over and over again that Oliver Randal had raped her," Janet gave Oliver another withering look.

Adele handed the witness over to the defence.

"How long have you worked at DAS Miz Pennyworth?" Weldon Jennings asked, smiling at the witness and giving her an easy question to start with.

"Over twenty years. I started working for Mister Randal way back when we were in our old offices when the company was just starting out," Janet was proud of her service to the company.

"And you are now part of the managerial administration of the company, even though you described yourself as a senior clerical assistant, a better title might be Executive Assistant would it not?" Weldon asked.

"Objection, leading," Adele interjected.

"Withdrawn," Weldon said dismissively.

He could tell that Janet Pennyworth was flattered at being referred to as an Executive Assistant. Weldon had achieved what he wanted.

"And how long have you known Oliver Randal?" he continued his line of questioning.

"I've known Mister Randal all the time that I've been with the company," Janet replied.

"And during the time you've known Oliver Randal have you ever experienced any form of harassment or witnessed him harassing other female members of the staff or women generally?" Weldon asked.

Weldon knew he was sailing close to the wind here but he was taking his chances.

"Well, like a lot of gentlemen of his generation he is sometimes condescending and has a wondering eye but I've never seen him actually harass any women, no."

"And have you heard any complaints or rumours that he has used his position to obtain sexual favours?" Weldon asked.

"I've not heard any complaints per se; but I think he might have gotten a little closer to one of the legal secretaries in the Compliance section than decorum would dictate," Janet Pennyworth seemed pleased with her answer.

"But you never heard the secretary in the Compliance section complain or look distressed or request a transfer or resign?" Weldon knew all about Oliver's brief affair with the little vixen from Compliance.

"Well you know young people these days. Their moral compass tends to swing as the mood takes them," Janet tsked.

"I'll take that as a no. And did you actually witness Lieutenant Commander Palmer being attacked or did you see anything that occurred in Mister Randal's office?" Weldon was nearly done.

"No. The blinds in his office were closed and the door was closed; in fact I heard it lock when Lieutenant Commander Palmer went inside the office," Janet folder her arms, she was getting annoyed.

"You didn't hear any screams, cries for help, or sounds of a scuffle or fight?" Weldon asked.

"No... well not really. I did hear muffled voices but nothing I could decipher. The walls are insulated and as I said the door was locked and the blinds were drawn," Janet seemed pleased with her answer.

And so was Weldon Jennings.

"And is it unusual for Oliver Randal to have his blinds drawn and door locked?"

"Well no. A lot of his work is classified and he has access to the secure Defense network so he is obliged to keep his office locked down when he's working on sensitive material," Janet replied.

"After Amanda Palmer staggered, as you put it, from Mister Randal's office; did he make any attempt to leave? To run away? Any attempt to restrain Lieutenant Commander Palmer or to contradict her, to shout her down so to speak?" Weldon asked.

"He just sat in his office until the police arrived. He looked stunned," Janet sighed.

"Thank you Miz Pennyworth. Nothing more your honour," Weldon had done the best he could.

Adele bought in Julie Westwood who had seen exactly the same series of events that Janet Pennyworth had seen and heard. Weldon Jennings elicited the same responses to his questions: no Julie Westwood had not witnessed any sexual assault and spoke favourably to Oliver Randal's character.

"You honour, the defence is prepared to stipulate that the next three witnesses will provide the same testimony as provided by Miz Janet Pennyworth and Miz Julie Westwood and that they will respond in kind to questions submitted by the plaintiff and the defence. In the interests of a speedy trial and to unburden the court I request my stipulation be upheld and spare the court hours of repetition," Weldon said to Judge Chatsworth.

"So stipulated. Move along Miz Edwards," the judge was obviously bored.

Adele looked at the jury and decided that objecting and calling another three witnesses to say the same thing would only irk them. They had heard Janet Pennyworth's testimony and heard it corroborated by Julie Westwood; it was enough that the jury knew that she had three more witnesses that could substantiate the evidence; they didn't need to hear it.

Both Oliver Randal and Adele Edwards knew that keeping the jury onside was the only way to win this trial.

The judge recessed for lunch and Adele was torn between her loyalty to her client, who seemed to need constant reassurance, and to her kidnapped daughter Kimberly. She compromised and spent half an hour with Amanda Palmer, assuring her that the trial was going their way and then handed her over to her co-counsel, Sandra Cochran, while she slipped away to make some calls.

"Anything?" Celia asked.

"I've heard nothing at all. I received a text from Cassandra Rivers on my burner but I haven't read it yet; I'm too busy trying my case," Adele replied.

"I'm going crazy Adele; Michelle DeLong is holding my case together. All I can think about is Kimberly and Alisha," Celia was stoic under pressure but Adele could sense the intense strain she was under.

"The kidnappers will have to make their demands soon otherwise it's pointless. Let's talk hard facts: if the girls had been kidnapped by traffickers we'd never hear from them, they would have just disappeared. If they were sexual psychopaths, they would have done what they were going to do to them by now and moved on. The kidnappers told me they would be making demands soon so we just have to wait it out," Adele fought back tears.

"Are sure we shouldn't go to the FBI Adele? The kidnappers seem to only want to talk to you and you seem to be making decisions for both of us," Celia said coldly.

"Look... they told me that we need to make it worthwhile for them to keep the girls unharmed and alive. That if we do what they ask they will not touch them and keep them well cared for. They said if we go to the authorities they will kill them. They said they will know if we do," Adele whispered harshly into her phone.

"They know what we're doing; they're monitoring us. They hacked my computer, they have our phone numbers. Steven Baker hasn't been able to trace them and fuck knows what Cassandra has been doing. Until we know what they want we have to carry on like nothing has happened," Adele sighed.

"That's easier said than done," Celia was crying now.

"Look honey... Kimberly is made of stern stuff. I never told you about this, I promised I never would, but she and I have been in a similar situation before and we survived. I can't tell you about it over the phone; I'll tell you about it when you get home. I have to get back to court," Adele looked at her watch.

Celia said nothing for a beat and then her voice was so quiet that Adele could hardly hear her.

"You better tell me Adele. You better assure me our daughter is going to be ok," Celia broke the connection.

She pulled the burner phone from her handbag. It had vibrated whilst she was in court but the judge would have had a fit if she had pulled the phone from her bag. The only other person beside Celia with the number was Cassie so the message had to have come from her.

'I have something. Don't try to contact me, I'll contact you' the message read

Adele went to the ladies room to fix her face and when she came out she was all business. She re-entered the court and took her seat. During the break a large video screen had been positioned so it could be seen by the judge, the jury and the defence team.

"You honour the plaintiff calls Senior Master Sergeant Jessica Long," Adele called her first witness after lunch.

After Jessica Long was sworn in Adele began her questioning.

"Can you identify yourself and your current position please?"

"I am Senior Master Sergeant Jessica Long and I'm currently the sexual assault response coordinator and uniformed victim's advocate stationed at the Sixty-First Medical Squadron at the US Air Force base Los Angeles," Jessica looked pretty and prim in her uniform but she gave off an attitude that she was not to be messed with.

The jury were getting excited. There would be more juicy evidence for them to digest. Weldon Jennings made a point of appearing calm and Oliver Randal remained stoic.

The screen was suddenly filled with an official looking document.

"Master Sergeant Long, can you tell us what we are looking at on the screen please?" Adele asked in a deferential tone.

"That is a Department of Defense Form 2911, Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Report, usually referred to as a SAFE report. Its principal purpose is to document the medical and forensic examination of a sexual assault victim. Form 2911 also documents the victim's reporting preference, that is either Restricted or Unrestricted, which is an intrinsic part of the sexual assault prevention and response program," Master Sergeant Long said by rote.

"In Part C of the report, Lieutenant Commander Palmer elected the reporting option Restricted, is that correct," Adele pointed to the appropriate part of the form with her laser pointer.

"Correct Ma'am, just as you see there on the screen," Jessica Long asserted.

"What is the difference between a Restricted and an Unrestricted report?" Adele made a point of looking at a document in her hand.

"If the victim elects to file a Restricted Report, the sexual assault can only be disclosed to the uniformed victim advocate, sexual assault response coordinator, the victim advocate, sexual assault response coordinator and healthcare personnel."

"Restricted Reporting is confidential and does not trigger an investigation or command involvement, and allows the victim to access to
Advocacy services, medical and counselling services, and victims' legal counsel," Master Sergeant Long explained.

"So this form is used solely by the Department of Defense?" Adele looked up from her notes.

"Yes. It was introduced by the DoD in response to the ending of violence against women campaign after the US military's abysmal record of dealing with sexual assault victims was made public," Senior Master Sergeant Long said bitingly.

"Objection, the witness is testifying to facts not in evidence," Weldon Jennings rose to his feet.

"Overruled. Too late now anyway counsellor the plaintiff's counsel has made her point," the judge waived his hand dismissively.

"Are there any exceptions to these rules Master Sergeant Long?" Adele asked.

"In some states, including California, healthcare providers are required to report sexual assaults to law enforcement, and cannot offer a Restricted Report," Jessica Long answered.

"So what happened in the case of Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer? You would know of course, having been appointed her Victim's Advocate, is that correct?" Adele was getting to the point.

"Commander Palmer's incident was reported to the civilian first responders via a 911 call made from the offices of Dynamic Aerospace Solutions. When the police arrived Lieutenant Commander Palmer refused to answer any questions and when the emergency medical team arrived she allowed them to provide her with first aid but insisted on being taken to the nearest military hospital for treatment," Master Sergeant Long replied.

"Because she refused to identify her assailant or even admit that an assault had taken place, the police just lodged an incident report in their system and left the scene. The EMTs drove Commander Palmer to the Los Angeles Air Force base and handed her over to us at 61 Medical Squadron," Jessica articulated.

"And it was here that Lieutenant Commander Palmer was forensically examined and the aforementioned Form 2911 was completed?" Adele was leading the witness again but she made the most of the latitude afforded her.

"What condition was she in when she arrived?"

Now the jury were very alert again.

"Her uniform was dishevelled and her blouse had been torn open. Her skirt appeared to be spattered with semen and her pantyhose and undergarments were torn. I stayed with her while the medical officer examined her and completed the SAFE report. Her clothes were sealed in evidence bags for further forensic examination," Master Sergeant Jessica Long explained.

"She changed into in a hospital gown. While she was undressed I observed bruises on her hips, thighs and buttocks but you have the full SAFE report provided to you by the JAG," Senior Master Sergeant Jessica Long sat with her back straight, confident that she had done her duty.

Adele handed her witness over to Weldon Jennings.

"Master Sergeant Long, is it true that had Amanda Palmer undertaken her SAFE examination at a civilian hospital, her alleged assault would have had to be reported to civilian authorities who could investigate the offence regardless of her wish not lodge a complaint with the police?" Weldon went for the jugular.

"Objection your honour, the witness is not a legal practitioner," Adele sprang to her feet.

"No she's not your honour but in her role as a military sexual assault response coordinator and uniformed victim's advocate she would know that if the Form 2911 was completed at a civilian hospital, the plaintiff would not have the option to make a Restricted report," Weldon countered.

"Overruled, the witness may answer," the judge grunted.

"Yes sir, you are correct," it was obvious that Jessica Long disliked Weldon Jennings.

"But this Restricted report, with its very limited distribution, was provided to the plaintiff's counsel." Weldon continued.

"Is there a question there your honour?" Adele called from her seat.

"The question was implied counsel; you are not auditioning for The Good Wife here," the judge snapped at Adele.

"Lieutenant Commander Palmer requested that the DoD provide the SAFE report to her civilian attorney, which is her right," Jessica replied smugly.

"So Amanda Parker did not want the JAG to investigate the alleged offence, nor did she want the Los Angeles Police Department to investigate the offence but was happy to provide all of her private information to her civil attorney for the purpose of a civil lawsuit in order for her to make money," Weldon snapped back.

"Objection!" Adele flew to her feet.

"Sustained! The jury will disregard the defence counsel's question and you will be careful Mister Jennings," the judge growled at Weldon Jennings but Weldon had made his point regardless.

"During the SAFE examination, did anyone search Amanda Palmer's handbag or was it taken into evidence?" Weldon continued as if nothing had happened.

"No. Only exhibits deemed relevant to the attack were taken into evidence," Jessica replied, looking a little confused at the question.

"No further questions for this witness your honour," Weldon sat down, satisfied that he had damaged the plaintiff a little.

Adele was about to call her next witness, Doctor John Littlewood a forensic expert, when Judge James Duncan Payton Chatsworth III called it a day and adjourned the court.

Adele spent precious moments with Amanda Palmer telling her that today had been a victory for the plaintiff, something she wasn't entirely confident of. Then she and Sandra Cochran had a quick strategy meeting and talked about how they would present their witnesses the next day.

*****

The thought of going back to the empty apartment she shared with Celia and where they had nurtured Kimberly through adolescence after she and Celia had adopted her depressed Adele. She decided to get a drink and eat out. If she went to their favourite restaurant it would only remind her of Celia so instead she went to O'Malley's, an Irish pub close to home that served traditional Irish dishes, she was suddenly ravenous.

It was early so Adele was able to get a booth in back away from the crowded bar; she was not in the mood for people. She carried her pint of Guinness to the booth having placed her dinner order with bartender. She set up her laptop and arranged a legal pad and a pen on the table, effectively claiming the booth as her own and then she used the conveniences.

When she returned she found Cassie Rivers sitting in the booth across from where Adele had nested. Cassie also had a pint of Guinness in front of her. A waitress came over carrying two plates.

"One Irish stew and one colcannon," the girl said with a broad Irish accent.

"I'm the colcannon," Cassie raised her hand.

Cassie moved Adele's laptop and legal pad out of the way so the waitress could set down Adele's dish. Adele was still standing watching the waitress arrange cutlery and napkins.

"Do you mind if I join you for dinner?" Cassie looked up at Adele.

"Looks like you're settled in," Adele replied scooting across the bench.

Adele took a long pull on her Guinness and then began to tuck into her stew. It was only when she began to bolt down her food that she realised that she hadn't eaten all day.

Cassie chinked her glass against Adele's and tucked into her colcannon. Neither spoke until they had finished eating.

"Sorry; I was ravenous," Adele burped discreetly into her napkin.

"Me too, but I'll have to put in an extra five miles tomorrow to burn up all these carbs," Cassie smiled at Adele.

"You're a runner? You look like a runner,' Adele replied.

"My partner got me into it when we first met and it just stuck. It's addictive I suppose," Cassie smiled.

"You didn't join me for dinner to talk about your exercise regime," Adele wished she still smoked; a cigarette would be the perfect ending to her meal.

"May I?" Cassie pointed to the bench seat beside Adele and Adele nodded.

Cassie slipped into the seat beside Adele. Cassie was wearing a suit similar to what she had worn yesterday: black pencil skirt with a side kick-pleat, a pristine white satin blouse, nearly-nude fifteen denier hosiery and patent-leather black high heels. Adele was acutely aware of the proximity of Cassie's body and the Fracas eau de parfum she wore smelled exotic. The side pleat of Cassie's skirt had opened exposing her leg and because Adele insisted on wearing short skirts, their thighs were touching, their nylons rubbing sensuously together when they moved.

"Two Jack Daniel's on the rocks," Cassie smiled at the pretty waitress who was clearing their table.

"How do you know I drink Jack Daniel's?" Adele asked.

She didn't know why but she resented that Cassie knew where she was and had just invited herself to dinner.

"I know all about you Adele. You're my client so I need to know everything there is to know about you so that I can best serve you," Cassie smiled sweetly but her eyes were cold.

"But I know nothing about you," Adele countered.

"A search of the web produced nothing; it's like you don't exist. Now if you were some schmuck housewife or secretary I'd expect that. But even housewives and secretaries exist on social media, most likely on Facebook or LinkedIn. But there is nothing anywhere on Cassandra Rivers; unless of course this is you?" Adele spun her laptop around and clicked on a jpeg image.

Cassie looked amused at the picture on the screen.

A tall attractive young woman with long thick black hair wearing heavy makeup, clad in tight black denim, a leather jacket and a pair of Falco Ayda calf-high leather boots sat astride a Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide motorcycle. Over the leather jacket the young woman wore a denim vest embroidered with a 1% badge high on the right breast and below in gold on black embroidery was a patch that read 'Original' and above that another that read 'Men Of Mayhem'. On the left beast was a stylised emblem of a woman riding a motor cycle with the words 'Biker Bitch' above and 'Don't Fuck With Me' below.

"Where did you find this?" Cassie looked intently at the picture.

"I just typed Cassie Styles into the search engine but this is the only thing that came up that even resembles you. That isn't you is it?" Adele asked.

"Not anymore," Cassie said wistfully.

"Look Adele I didn't join you for dinner for social intercourse, I have an update for you. I'm going to show you something and I want you to keep calm; we're in a public place and what you are about to see might be disturbing," Cassie put her hand over Adele's to comfort her.

The closeness of Cassie's body, her hand touching hers and their thighs pressing together was disconcerting to Adele. Her wife had only just left for Missionville that morning and her daughter was being held hostage, the intimacy she was feeling seemed inappropriate.

Adele nodded almost imperceptibly.

Cassie reached across to put a thumb drive into a USB port on Adele's laptop and her hair brushed Adele's face. Cassie smelled wonderful.

"Ok here we go," Cassie bought up a video file and played it.

The imagery was grainy but still sharp enough to perceive everything. It appeared to be taken from overhead, likely a surveillance or security camera.

Adele gasped and then held her breath.

A white woman and black woman were walking down a pathway near a park. Even from the distance that the video was taken you could see that they were young and pretty, they were wearing spandex workout clothes, carrying gym bags with suit carriers slung over their shoulders, they appeared to be engrossed in conversation.

A white van pulled up beside them and a door was flung open and two masked men wearing dark clothing leapt out and grabbed the girls, pressing something over their faces. The girls dropped their suit carriers and gym bags and struggled briefly but they became unconscious almost immediately.

The men manhandled the girls into the Econoline and quickly drove away.

"Breathe Adele," Cassie squeezed Adele's hand.

Adele gasped.

"It's them," Adele whispered.

"I know. This video was taken from a security camera covering Bruin Walk at UCLA but something's not quite right," Cassie closed the program and unplugged the flash drive.

Adele looked at Cassie questioningly, faintly aware that Cassie still held her hand.

"As you would expect on a university campus there are security cameras everywhere. We have our ways, as I've made you aware, of accessing almost any data stored on any platform. Both the UCLA PD and LAPD have cameras covering that area and all footage taken during the time of the abduction except for this has been wiped clean," Cassie held up the flash drive.

"The kidnappers infiltrated the systems and deleted the video but left this there for us to find I'm sure of it. As soon as we found the video and downloaded it, it was automatically deleted from the police servers. These guys are really good Adele. They wanted us to find the video but they don't want the authorities to see it," Cassie explained.

"More proof that they really have my daughter and Alisha," Adele whispered.

Cassie nodded.

The women sat in silence for a while then Adele gulped down her drink and slammed the glass back down on the table. She waved at the waitress for two more.

"What now?" Adele asked.

"We have somewhere to start. We know where the abduction took place and we accessed every security camera in the area and were able to follow the Ford Econoline van the kidnappers were using. The trail ended at Central City North, the warehouse district in downtown Los Angeles. There are literally hundreds of security cameras in that area but stored video footage for the time in question has been deleted," Cassie said.

"The kidnappers," Adele muttered unnecessarily.

"At least we know they are still in the city. The BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad lines run through that area but we doubt the kidnappers would risk transporting the girls by train," Cassie smiled at the waitress who bought their drinks.

Adele was aware that Cassie was still holding her hand and she disengaged and reached for her drink.

"You have to be strong Adele. You have to believe that the kidnappers are keeping the girls safe; it's in their interests to do so," Cassie said.

"That's easy for you to say. It's not your daughter," Adele hissed.

"Adele. I know that you're strong. I told you that I know all about you. I know what you went through in college, your transition and coming out to the world as a transgender woman. You are proudly transgender but you don't push it in people's faces," Cassie reached for Adele's hand again and squeezed it.

Adele snatched back her hand.

"You don't know what I went through in college. You could never know what happened to me. How it affected me. What it's like to be me," Adele snapped.

Cassie reached for Adele's laptop and brought up the picture of the woman on the motorcycle and tapped the screen.

"When I was twenty-one I spent four days chained to a billiard table in the Beasts of Burden Motorcycle Club clubhouse. I was continually gang raped over those four days and when they'd finished with me they took me out into the desert and threw me in a hole and left me for dead," Cassie said wistfully.

"I was rescued... well sort of... it's a long story, but I returned to the Club and claimed what was rightfully mine: a full-patch membership, the respect of the other members and revenge on those who had wronged me. That was a long time ago. The woman seated on that motorcycle has long gone, but that was me," Cassie took a sip of her drink.

"It's not the same," Adele whispered.

Cassie leaned into Adele and whispered in her ear.

"They chained me to that billiard table because I used to be the son of the founding father of the MC. They found me dressed as a girl, dragged me to the clubhouse and abused me because they hated what I had become. It made me stronger. I wouldn't be the woman I am today if those terrible things hadn't happened."

Cassie picked up her pocket book.

"It's the same," Cassie said and eased herself out of the booth.

*****

The court reconvened for the second day of trial and Judge James Duncan Payton Chatsworth III quickly bought matters to order; the judge was a staunch supporter of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution which asserts the right to a speedy trial. He was not one to allow his docket to become congested.

Adele called her first witness, Doctor John Littlewood, a forensic science examiner.

Adele spent some time establishing Doctor Littlewood as an expert witness to the satisfaction of the court. While this was going on exhibits were arranged on a table and the large screen was once again positioned so it could be seen by the judge, the jury and the defence team.

Adele couldn't help thinking that it would most likely be Kimberly assisting her co-counsel with the exhibits and preparing the evidence for her. It was one of the duties Adele allowed Kimberly to perform as a paralegal so she could get exposure to court proceedings. She put her daughter out of her mind and addressed the witness.

John Littlewood was an expert in his field and Adele had used him many times before in sexual assault cases but he had a tendency to become pompous and wonder off point, labouring in minutiae that sometimes tested the jury's patience. Adele had briefed him to keep his testimony short, sharp and simple unless she directed specific questions to him.

Once again Lieutenant Commander Palmer's SAFE report was projected on the screen.

"Doctor Littlewood, are you familiar with the Department of Defense Form 2911?" Adele asked.

"I am very familiar. Its title is in fact DoD Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Report and forensics is my field of expertise," the doctor sounded a little self-congratulatory so Adele moved him along.

"We will move on from the general information and consent parts of the form and examine the patient history and activity," Adele nodded to the court clerk who gave copies of the form to the judge, the defence and the members of the jury so they could follow.

"I object again your honour. This is a Defense Department document and this is a civil trial not a military court," Weldon Jennings was quick to his feet.

"We had this out in pre-trial motions Mister Jennings and once again your objection is overruled," the judge didn't even look up from the form he was studying.

Weldon Jennings knew the contents of the form were inflammatory and had tried to get it excluded from the trial without success but he made the objection to once again to remind the jury that Amanda Palmer had foregone a criminal investigation and gone straight to civil litigation.

"The defendant has stipulated on the form that prior to the alleged attack that she had not participated in any sexual activity for five days and had not cleaned herself prior to the forensic examination," the doctor began to give his evidence.

"It is then recorded that the defendant's vulva was swollen and she had bruising on her buttocks, thighs and hips. I examined the forensics photographs taken by the examiner. The swelling to the vulva and perineum in my opinion are consistent with violent sexual penetration. The examiner used toluidine blue dye in the area which gave a positive indication for semen which concludes that at some stage of the attack she was penetrated by a penis," Doctor Littlewood said as the forensic photographs were passed around the jury.

Amanda Palmer looked humiliated as the members of the court examined pictures of her intimate body parts.

"And the bruising?" Adele raised her eyebrows indicating for her witness to continue.

"The bruising on the hips is consistent with someone being held forcefully, the bruising on the buttocks and thighs are consistent with someone undertaking vigorously physical activity. They are common on women who have been sexually assaulted."

Weldon Jennings was tempted to object but he kept his powder dry. He would have his chance to rebut the evidence during cross.

"What other parts of the form are relevant to your specific field?" Adele asked.

"As you can see on the form, there were toxicology examples taken, a vaginal speculum exam was conducted and samples taken, and her clothing was taken into evidence," the doctor said while Adele followed him down the form on the screen with her laser pointer.

"Did you have access to all evidence and specimens taken during the exam and if so what did you find?" Adele was now prepared to allow John Littlewood to prattle on because what he was about to say was damning to the defence.

"Amanda Palmer's toxicology report proved negative for alcohol and drugs. There was semen found in and around her vagina and on her thighs. There was saliva around her mouth, neck and breasts and her uniform skirt returned a positive result for semen," the reports were passed around the jury but they had little interest in the paperwork.

They were however very interested when Amanda Palmer's navy blue uniform skirt was passed around; the numerous chalky semen stains on the front of the skirt were obvious.

"Did you conduct a DNA test on the semen and saliva samples Doctor Littlewood?" Adele held her breath for the answer.

"The samples were all determined to belong to the defendant, Mister Oliver Randal," the jury murmured at the witness's response.

"And how accurate are current DNA testing techniques?" the cherry was about to be placed on the cake.

"My tests are 99.9 percent accurate," Doctor John Littlewood couldn't help a smug grin.

"Finally, is it your belief that from your examination of the evidence and the findings of your forensic analysis that Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer was sexually assaulted?" Adele had coached the doctor to pause for dramatic effect and he did.

Then...

"Yes," he answered simply.

Adele did not want to bore the jury to death with scientific jargon so left the questioning there.

Weldon Jennings got to his feet and made a point of turning off the screen and moving it out of the way and waited patiently for the exhibits to be returned to the evidence table so he had the jury's full attention.

"You did not actually conduct the forensic examination on Amanda Palmer did you Doctor Littlewood?" he began.

"No I did not. Just the exhibits and evidence collected from her," John Littlewood replied.

"You've given testimony at numerous trials Doctor Littlewood, you know you should limit your response to the question being asked," Weldon had scored a point when the doctor blushed.

"Do you know who did conduct the forensic examination?" he continued.

"Captain Joseph Morales US Air Force oversaw the exam. He signed and dated the SAFE report," John Littlewood squirmed a little in his seat.

"And do you know why Captain Joseph Morales US Air Force is not here to provide testimony?" Weldon smiled waiting for the objection.

Adele flew to her feet but the judge motioned for her to sit.

The judge turned to jury.

"The plaintiff's counsel was about to object on the grounds that the expert witness' response would only be hearsay. Now if this was a criminal trial, I would sustain the objection but once again I stress that this is a civil proceeding and the plaintiff and the defence are allowed some laxity," he explained.

"Answer the question to the best of your knowledge Mister, sorry, Doctor Littlewood," the judge turned back to the witness.

"Captain Joseph Morales refused our request to participate in the trial and the JAG had the subpoena issued by the plaintiff's counsel quashed," John Littlewood shook his head.

"So you had no opportunity to confer with the man who conducted the medical exam immediately after the event?" Weldon was on a roll.

"No," John Littlewood would not be drawn further.

"But my client attended your laboratory and freely gave you hair, blood and saliva samples. He even surrendered the clothes he was wearing on the day of the incident, all without the need of a subpoena, is that right?" Weldon put out his hand to indicate Oliver Randal who was sitting up straight at the defendant's table.

Weldon didn't wait for an answer.

"To summarise your testimony, you claim the bruising and swelling and secretions found on the plaintiff are consistent with sexual assault. Is that correct?" Weldon asked.

"Violent sexual assault!" John Littlewood said angrily.

Weldon let the overemphasis go.

"Could they not also be consistent with vigorous consensual sexual activity?" Weldon asked.

"Yes, but not in my opinion," the doctor answered, but Weldon had scored another point.

"One final matter before we conclude doctor. The list of exhibits includes the plaintiffs torn pantyhose and panties. Did you find any semen or bodily fluids on either of those garments?" Weldon asked.

Adele looked confused. Why was he asking that question?

"I found nothing on those garments. But that's not to say they were not torn off during the attack," John Littlewood appeared smug again.

"If it please the court, I'd like to read an excerpt of the transcript of Miz Janet Pennyworths testimony?" Weldon looked at the judge who nodded.

Adele knew there was no point objecting, the transcript was already in evidence and on the record.

"'Her uniform was dishevelled. She was missing a shoe, her skirt was hitched up and her nylons were full of runners and her panties were torn and hung around one ankle' is what Miz Pennyworth testified."

"If this was the violent attack you eluded to and Amanda Palmer came out of Oliver Randal's office still wearing her pantyhose, wouldn't they too be stained by semen given it was found on her genitals, around her vagina, on her thighs and on her skirt?" Weldon said forcefully.

"They could have been removed during the attack," John Littlewood was still smug.

"So you hypothesise that Amanda Palmer, who you allege had just been violently sexually assaulted, stopped to put on her torn and runnered pantyhose before she left Oliver Randal's office?" Weldon grinned sarcastically at the doctor.

"Objection!" Adele almost screamed at the judge.

"Don't bother to answer Doctor," Weldon turned his back on the witness and went back to the defence table.

*****

The next witness that Adele put on the stand was Steven Baker; he had conducted a forensic examination of Amanda Palmer's cellular phone and found a series of messages and emails from Oliver Randal. Adele took a deep breath to steady herself. Steven Baker had worked closely with Kimberly in her role as a paralegal when he examined the phone; Kimberly had put the evidentiary presentation together as part of the legal brief. Adele had to clear the images from her head of Steven Baker and Kimberly working in the office, stooped over the phone extracting and recording the data.

"Please identify yourself, your current employer and your area of expertise to the court," Adele began once she composed herself.

"I am Steven Baker and I am the Information Technology Specialist for Edwards and Bettany Attorneys at Law. I manage the firm's IT requisites and I am also a computer and digital forensic investigator," Steven Baker said.

"So you work for me?" Adele ensured the jury knew that he was her employee in case Weldon tried to make a deal of it.

"Yes, in the capacities that I have stated," Steven Baker was now ready to give evidence.

"You conducted a forensic examination of Commander Palmer's phone did you not?"

"Yes. Lieutenant Commander Palmer provided her phone to the law firm at your request," Steven Baker turned to the large screen where a series of text messages appeared.

"I first examined the text messages she had received on her personal phone. Some were still stored on her phone and some had been deleted but I was able to recover them. Some were very explicit and had images attached."

A series of 'dick pics' appeared on the screen.

Adele had Steven Baker read out some of the more explicit text messages and emails that Amanda had received. They were mainly complementary but contained provocative comments about her body and requests for sexual favours. There were enquiries as to what underwear she was wearing and descriptors of the type of lingerie the sender liked women to wear.

"And were you able to ascertain where the texts, emails and messages originated?" Adele was smiling.

"They were all traced to devices owned by Oliver Randal and the emails were traced to his account," Steven Baker said smugly.

Weldon Jennings knew this testimony was coming and had instructed Oliver Randal not to show any emotion or to turn away from the jury, he had been directed to remain impassive which he did.

Adele had Steven Baker explain how he had ascertained this information but kept it brief; she didn't want to bore the jury with technical jargon. She handed her witness to the defence.

"While you were examining the texts and email that you have read out to the court, did you also examine Amanda Palmer's responses?" Weldon asked.

"Yes I did," Steven Baker was not going to embellish his answers.

The screen changed and a series responses to the texts appeared.

"Can you read the text messages displayed on the screen?" Weldon asked.

Steven Baker read out a few responses such as: 'that's naughty', 'you're very dirty', 'I am not doing that'; all very vanilla.

"Would you describe these responses as rather banal and innocuous?" Weldon asked.

"I found nothing explicit or encouraging from Commander Palmer if that's what you mean?" Steven Baker sounded self-satisfied.

"But did you find any responses from her telling the sender to stop sending the messages?" Weldon asked.

"No, but like I said there were no responses that I saw that encouraged the sender either," Steven Baker countered.

"But to clarify; there were no messages that implicitly told the sender to cease or desist?" Weldon wanted to make his point.

"None that I found," Steven Baker responded.

"Nothing further," Weldon Jennings turned his back on the witness dismissively.

*****

After lunch, Adele put the witness on the stand that the jury really wanted to hear from: Amanda Palmer. Adele and Sandra had spent hours with Amanda going over her testimony and grooming her. It was imperative that the jury believe her and become sympathetic to her. They had warned Amanda that the defence would be rough on her but she responded that eleven years military service had made her tough. Adele warned her not to appear too tough; she needed to appear to be vulnerable.

"Lieutenant Commander Palmer where were you stationed and what were your duties around the time assault took place?" Adele began.

"I was assigned to the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station and seconded on TDY to the AIM-260 project Trials and Evaluation Team. Because of the distance involved I worked remotely at the Los Angeles offices of Dynamic Aerospace Solutions."

"I have a small condo close to the offices of DAS," Amanda explained.

"So you work in the offices of DAS. And how long have you known Oliver Randal?" Adele went on, drawing the story out.

"Ever since I was posted to China Lake; so about a year or so. We work closely together," Amanda answered.

"And what was your relationship with Oliver Randal?"

"At first it was just professional but I could tell he liked me. He told me so. Then Oliver started making inappropriate comments and sending me texts. At first I just played along until it became too personal and then I told him to stop which he did."

"What do you mean too personal?" Adele asked.

"He would single me out at meetings and social functions, he'd stand too close, he'd whisper lewd comments and touch me inappropriately. Then he started turning up at restaurants, bars, nightclubs, that sort of thing. He was sort of stalking me."

"He even sent me lingerie through the mail."

"But you never reported him to the company or to your naval superiors?" Adele knew the defence would ask this very question.

"Like I said; he stopped. He became cordial, civil, courteous, you know what I mean. He treated me with respect. That was until he attacked me of course."

"Lieutenant Commander Palmer can you tell the court why you were in the Oliver Randal's office on the day of the attack," Adele asked the question that jury desperately wanted to hear.

"I was there to review some expense reports and to get his signature on them," Amanda replied.

"And you were wearing your uniform; identical to the uniform you are wearing today in court?" Adele asked.

"Yes."

"The office blinds were closed and the door was locked. Why was that?"

"Mister Randal often kept the blinds drawn and asked me lock the door when I entered."

"Is that usual? For the door to be locked while you were in his office?"

"Not always, no. Only if he was working on something classified."

"And were you working on anything classified that day?"

"No. As I said, we were just reviewing expense reports."

"When you were in his office were you sitting and where was Mister Randal sitting?"

"His office is very big. There is a lounge area for informal conferences; I was sitting on the couch there. Mister Randal sat across from me on the other side of the office at his desk reading the expense reports."

"I know this is difficult but please take your time and tell the court about the attack," Adele stood near her client to offer her support.

"Mister Randal asked me to come over to his desk so he could show me an anomaly in one of the reports. When I leaned over to look at the report he put his hand under my skirt and began to touch me. I asked him to stop."

"He didn't, so I tried to pull his hand away but that made him angry. He called me a prick teaser and said that I needed a good fucking and he was the man to do it." Amanda remained impassive, although she was blushing and her eyes were watering.

"He got out of his chair and grabbed me. He pulled me into his arms and tried to kiss me but I struggled and fought him. During the struggle he pulled off my jacket, which I had already unbuttoned to sit. He ripped open my blouse and mauled my breasts with one hand while he squeezed my buttocks with the other. I was pinned against the desk and couldn't get away."

"Then he turned me around and pulled my skirt up, he pulled down my panties and tore my pantyhose. I was trying to kick him and he wailed on my buttocks until I stopped. I was nearly exhausted; the struggle had sapped my strength. He bent me over the desk and entered me. I used my remaining strength to resist but he dug his fingers into my hips and held me while he... he... he copulated with me."

"He did that to me for a while; I lost track of time. Then he pulled himself out of me and dragged me over to the couch and threw me down and then he opened my legs and lay on top of me. I fought him again but he forced my thighs open, it hurt so I stopped resisting. He entered me again and tried to kiss me; he licked my neck and sucked my breasts. I could tell he was nearly done so I used the last of my energy to try to get him out of me. I didn't want him to ejaculate inside me."

"He climaxed and I managed to get him out of me while he was doing so and most of his ejaculate spurted on my body and my skirt."

Adele let Amanda compose herself, she had been sobbing during her description of the assault and the court was deadly silent.

"Then what happened?" Adele's voice was almost a whisper.

"Mister Randal got off me. He went to the ensuite bathroom; to clean up I guess. I ran to the door and unlocked it and came out into the main office. I don't remember clearly, but I know that Janet Pennyworth took me to the break room and that Julie Westwood called the emergency services," Amanda composed herself and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.

"I was in shock but the one thing I knew was that if word of the assault became public my career would be over. Women in the military who make complaints end up on the scrapheap."

Weldon Jennings contemplated objecting but it would only make the jury more sympathetic so he decided against it.

"He was the CEO of a huge corporation with a contract with the Navy worth millions if not billions of dollars. He knew Admirals and Generals, congressmen and senators and I was a lowly ranked naval officer. I knew that I had to get myself to a military establishment."

"That's part of our basic training. Always get back to base. You will be safe back on base."

"I didn't talk the police and I asked the EMTs to take me to the nearest military establishment that had healthcare facilities."

"You were taken to the Sixty-First Medical Squadron at the US Air Force base Los Angeles where you underwent a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination and elected to have the report classified Restricted. Why was that?" Adele asked.

"For all the reasons I just said. Plus I was ashamed. I didn't want my fellow officers to know what had happened to me. I've heard the male officers and sailors talk about women like me; they say we get what we deserve it or that we're just suffering post coital regret. They slut-shame us and say we make allegations out of spite. I didn't want to be one of those women," Amanda was crying again.

"But later you came to me and asked me take your case and file it in civil court. Why?" Adele offered Amanda a fresh handkerchief.

"After a while I couldn't stand myself. I felt worthless. I knew that if I changed my mind and requested that the SAFE report be made Unrestricted and given to the authorities that I would be accused of making the complaint for spite. I wouldn't be a reliable witness. But I didn't want him to get away with it."

"The criminal justice system and the military justice system chew up complainants like me; women who come forward after the event. So I elected to take my case to the civil course to seek retribution," Amanda stopped crying and sat up defiantly in the chair.

"That you very much; you have been very brave," Adele relinquished her witness.

Weldon Jennings knew that how he cross-examined Amanda Palmer was crucial to the defence. He had two aims: to prove the sex was consensual and convince the jury that Amanda Palmer was a gold-digger. He had to be careful not to attack her moral character, in the #metoo age that was judicial suicide. Any woman who alleged that she was sexually assaulted or harassed in a he-said, she-said situation with no other witnesses to the incident was invariable believed.

"Lieutenant Commander Palmer, first of all thank you for your service, how long have you served in the United States Navy?" Weldon asked cordially.

"Eleven years," Amanda had been instructed to answer any questions forthrightly, not to elaborate and not to become argumentative on the stand.

"So you made rank in minimum time, congratulations," Weldon smiled at the witness.

"Objection! Relevance?" Adele called out without even bothering to stand.

"I'm trying to put into context how Lieutenant Commander Palmer was selected for the very important position she occupied at the time of the alleged offence," Weldon countered.

"Overruled," Judge Chatsworth waved his hand dismissively.

Adele knew that if she kept objecting she would antagonise the jury. They wanted to hear the witness testify without interruptions and also it would appear that Adele was deliberately defending her witness from something she had to hide.

"I also notice that the stack of ribbons on your chest is not really that impressive for a person of your rank and time in service. Most officers of your rank and seniority strut around like Spanish Admirals with a huge stack of medals and devices pinned to their chests," Weldon got the jury to chuckle.

"Is there a question in there somewhere counsellor?" the judge asked.

"I'll move on. What I'm getting at is that you have only the most innocuous service ribbons with no combat or achievement awards, yet you made rank in minimal time. How did you achieve that?" Weldon asked.

Amanda Palmer blushed.

"I started out as a Line Officer but decided that the warfare speciality was not for me so I transferred to the Naval Supply Corps. Our assignments are limited so, as you pointed out, I don't have any combat or warlike service ribbons but my job is as essential as those who serve on the front line," Amanda replied.

"So your career has not just been a series of 'pogue' transfers from one cushy posting to another?" Weldon asked and metaphorically ducked for cover.

"Move along counsellor," the judge admonished him which saved Adele having to object to the question.

"What I'm getting at is this. You have insinuated to the court that you hold an important position on the AIM-260 project Trials and Evaluation Team. What exactly is your position on the Trials and Evaluation Team?" Weldon asked.

"I'm the comptroller," Amanda responded proudly.

"So in layman's terms you are an accountant, an administrator, a financial officer?" Weldon extrapolated.

"Are you mansplaining my job Mister Jennings? I have a vital role to play in the project!" Amanda burst out angrily.

Adele sighed and tried to make eye contact with her client and when she did she shook her head, indicting for Amanda to cool down.

"And what is your security clearance?" Weldon asked, unfazed by Amanda's outburst.

"Objection! My clients security clearance is classified information," Adele was on her feet again.

"On the contrary judge; the witnesses security clearance is in itself not classified, it's the information she has access to that is classified," Weldon countered.

Adele had inadvertently assisted Weldon, helping him make his point.

"The witness may answer," the judge replied.

"I have a Confidential security clearance," Amanda answered.

Weldon picked up a sheet off his desk.

"A Confidential clearance is hierarchically the first security clearance a military member gets, typically requiring a few weeks to a few months of investigation and must be renewed every 15 years. Is that correct?" Weldon read from the paper he was holding.

"That is correct, but I fail to see the relevance of it," Amanda snapped back.

Adele shook her head. She wished Amanda would remain on script.

"I'll get to that now. What is the overall classification of the AIM-260 project?" Weldon asked.

"The project is classified Top Secret and a Compartmented clearance is required for access to most of the classified material. But as you pointed out counsellor, my job as comptroller does not require me to have access to classified material," Amanda said with a self-satisfied grin.

"But you told the court that Mister Randal often kept the blinds closed and the door locked when you were in his office because he was working on Top Secret material. Wouldn't he be breaching security?" Weldon asked.

The grin left Amanda's face.

"He probably turned off his computer screen or put the classified files away when I entered. I don't know; you will have to ask him," Amanda's reply was gritty.

"Oh I'm going to ask him Commander; but you told the court that Mister Randal asked you to lock the door. Wouldn't you be suspicious of him asking you to do that?" Weldon asked.

Amanda didn't answer straight away so Weldon continued.

"Are you suggesting that the CEO of a company with a billion dollar Defense contract would risk throwing all that way by committing a security breach? I know for a fact that every log-in and log-out of the Defense security network is recorded, as is access to the Dynamic Aerospace Solutions computer system. Why would he risk his job just to review some expense reports?" Weldon asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he got lazy?" Amanda snapped back.

"Ok. So moving along. You said in your testimony that you and Mister Randal worked closely together and implied that you met often. Is it not a fact that you had only one scheduled weekly appointment to review the administrative operating accounts, that the millions of dollars in research and development funds were handled by the company and that as the naval representative you only handled the administrative expenses?" Weldon asked.

Adele once again considered objecting but remained seated.

"I had a scheduled weekly meeting with him. What I meant by working closely was that we worked closely together during those meetings. As I said, he did seem to turn up at the same social gatherings as I did and he did harass me," Amanda replied.

"I'm going to move onto the alleged assault and I'll try to be as delicate as possible but I will have to ask you some personal questions. First off, can you please examine these exhibits?" Weldon nodded to one of clerks who handed Amanda the sealed evidence bags containing her underwear and skirt.

Amanda handled the exhibits like they carried a virus, reluctant to touch them. She handed them back to the clerk.

"These are the pantyhose and panties you were wearing when the alleged assault took place; is that correct?" Weldon pointed to the items now located on the evidence table.

"Yes," Amanda nodded.

"And you were wearing them before, during and after incident?" Weldon pointed to the table.

"Yes, of course," Amanda was becoming riled.

"You didn't wear some other lingerie to the office and then change into the pantyhose and regulation uniform panties after the alleged assault?" Weldon asked.

"Objection," Adele drawled.

"Withdrawn. Can you explain then how semen was found on your skirt, in and around your sex parts, and on your thighs but not on the pantyhose or panties you were wearing?"

"Objection. The witness is not a crime scene investigator or forensics expert," Adele was quick to respond.

"Sustained," the judge said gruffly.

"Ok moving on. How much do you currently earn Commander Palmer?" Once again Weldon had a sheaf of reference material in his hands.

"I earn around seventy thousand dollars a year plus some allowances," Amanda seemed relieved that they had moved on from questions about the assault.

"Allowances such as rent for the condo in which you lived at the time, paid for by DAS?" Weldon looked up from his notes.

"With allowances and per diem I was earning around one hundred thousand dollars year when I worked at DAS, if that's what you are asking Mister Jennings," Amanda was becoming anxious again.

"And you are currently on administrative leave pending acceptance of your resignation from the United States Navy?" Weldon consulted his notes.

"Yes. My career has been effectively ruined and I'm no longer comfortable serving in the military," Amanda began to tear up.

"And have you applied for civilian employment? Your degree from Annapolis and your distinguished military career would surely make you a prime candidate for a highly paid position," Weldon said sarcastically but didn't look up from his notes.

"Objection," Adele grumbled, fully expecting it to be sustained, as did Weldon.

"I'll allow the question," the judge said.

Amanda looked shocked. She had not been prepared for the question. Adele looked equally shocked.

"I err... I've been too busy with my lawyers and too traumatised to look for outside employment," Amanda stuttered.

Weldon frantically flipped through his notes.

"But your discharge is effective at the end of this month and you will have no military pension. How do you intend to support yourself?" Weldon asked.

Amanda Palmer was speechless and looked to Adele for help.

Weldon seized the moment.

"Isn't it true Miz Palmer that you expect the lucrative damages to be awarded to you from this lawsuit to finance your lifestyle? Is it not also true that you recently purchased the latest model BMW Hommage and have lodged an application with a prominent Los Angeles realtor to find you a condominium with a price cap of two million dollars?" Weldon said angrily.

The judge rapped his gavel repeatedly through the question, banging in faster and louder until Weldon stopped speaking.

"No further questions your honour," Weldon stalked back to his seat.

Amanda Palmer stormed out of the witness chair and made her way back to where Adele Edwards and Sandra Cochran were standing at the plaintiff's table screaming objections at the judge.

"Counsel! Chambers! Now!!" Judge James Duncan Payton Chatsworth III was ropeable.

*****

Judge Chatsworth took off his robes and indicated two chairs in front of his large oak desk. Adele had left Sandra Cochran to try to calm down Amanda Palmer; she took the proffered chair and glared at Weldon Jennings who sat down in the other chair as and smiled at her innocently.

The judge poured three large tumblers of scotch and handed them out without asking who wanted one. He sat behind his desk and took a long pull on his drink.

"I knew this case was going to get messy but you crossed the line in there Weldon," the judge glared at Weldon Jennings.

"Crossed the line! The jury needs to be instructed to ignore any implication that my client is here solely for the money," Adele snapped.

"Really Adele? Isn't that why she's here?" Weldon studied the golden liquor in the crystal glass.

"Judge, you don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to see that our defence is based on the plaintiff being a self-aggrandising gold-digger who seduced my client with the intent to milk his company of millions in a settlement after she made her false claims. She has now been caught with the consequences of her actions," Weldon Jennings stated.

Judge Chatsworth put out his hand to stop the two counsellors talking.

"We are not here to try this case in chambers. I wanted this case settled before it got anywhere near my court and I still don't understand why you don't just settle Mister Jennings. The recompense that the plaintiff is asking for is a rounding error in your client's capital worth," the judge took a long pull on his drink and then topped it up.

"Judge, my client can't settle at any price. The United States Department of Defense has suffered from bad publicity and been vilified in congress and in the press regarding its record regarding their handling of sexual assault. The Military is working hard to clean up its act and now has strict policies that are punitive to those found guilty of sexually related offences. These policies also apply to Defense contractors," Weldon explained.

"If my client settles, the settlement will be construed as an admission of guilt and his company will lose their Defense contracts, in particular the AIM-260 project. The only recourse would be for my client to resign his position as CEO and leave the company he built from the ground up. That ain't happening judge," Weldon drained his drink and slammed his glass down on the desk with some finality.

"Well it looks like we are going back in the courtroom; how many witnesses do you have left Adele?" Judge Chatsworth asked.

"I'm about done Judge; I'll likely rest my case when we return to the court," Adele had had time to cool down.

"And you are ready to proceed Mister Jennings?" the judge was still angry at Weldon who nodded the affirmative.

"Then we will go back in there for the plaintiff to rest and then reconvene tomorrow to hear from the defence and hopefully have a verdict before the weekend," the judge stood and started to put his robe back on.

*****

When Adele went into her office it was late. She, Sandra Cochran and Amanda Palmer had spent hours in the firm's conference room reviewing Amanda's testimony, trying to evaluate the damage that Weldon Jennings had done to their case when he cross-examined Amanda. They reviewed the defence's witness list and pointedly asked Amanda if she knew what each of the witnesses would say. Adele saw the case slipping away and they needed to crush the defence witnesses during their testimony, particularly Oliver Randal.

She was worried about Kimberly and Alisha, but as instructed by the abductors, she had tried to remain focussed on the case. She continually speculated as to how the Palmer case could possibly be tied to her daughter's abduction. She couldn't see a connection.

She poured herself a drink and then suddenly the computer screen on her desk burst into life. On the screen Kimberly and Alisha were once again chained against a wall. They were wearing clean clothes and makeup. They had obviously been allowed to change out of their sports attire and into the clothes that were going to wear to work on the day of the kidnapping. Adele took cold comfort in the fact that the kidnappers seemed to be looking after the two girls.

But Adele was angry. She'd had a bad day in court and stupidly took out her acrimony on the kidnappers.

The two abductors were once again wearing their nondescript tracksuits and ski masks.

'Hello Adele. Good day in court?' the man typed.

'How do I know what I'm seeing here is real? It could all be staged or pre-recorded,' Adele typed into the text box.

The man walked over to the laptop and fiddled with it a little and suddenly the speakers on Adele's computer burst into life.

"There we go; I've turned on the audio function. You can hear me now, right?" the man said.

"Yes I can hear you," Adele replied.

The man's voice coming from her computer speakers had been altered electronically but she could understand him plainly.

"You think this is smoke and mirrors? Electronic mumbo jumbo? Maybe we should send you something organic to prove we are real?" the man turned to the camera and gave an evil grin.

"It's ok. I believe you." Adele gasped feverously, she realised she'd made a huge tactical blunder.

"No you're right. You need tangible proof... something you can hold in your hand," the man mused, stroking his chin.

"A finger?"

"I can cut off Kimberly's ring finger and you can see that the emerald ring on it is the one you bought her for her eighteenth birthday and of course you could check the fingerprint without alerting the police. We know you have friends in the LAPD and in the Prosecutors office."

"No! No! No! That's not necessary I believe you." Adele was crying.

It was Adele's insistence that had brought about this situation and now she was regretting it.

On the screen the man was wielding a knife, waving it under Kimberly's eyes but her daughter remained unmoved. In that instant she loved her daughter more than ever.

"Ok you don't want me to chop-chop so how about this..."

"Do not turn off your computer Adele. I'll know if you do and worse will happen. Part of your punishment for not believing us is to watch what happens."

"We promised not to sexually assault your daughter and we won't...yet! But I'm going to give you something from her and something from me to prove this is real. Watch, you're going to enjoy this. Well you won't but I will," the man chuckled.

The other man took the camera off the tripod and closed in on Kimberly, first focussing on her pretty face as the other man caressed her cheek and then following the man's hand as it strayed down her body. The man stopped at the hem of her skirt and then lifted the hem up and tucked it the waistband and Kimberly began to struggle and cry out.

"Stop it bitch!" the man put the knife to Kimberly's neck and she stopped struggling.

"Good," the man dropped the knife and his accomplice trained the camera on him as he lowered his tracksuit pants.

The man was fully erect and had an impressive penis.

"No! No! No! Don't" Adele screamed

"Shut up and watch!" the man replied.

The camera focussed on Kimberly's pink nylon panties. They were full-cut and had a cute red bow at the front.

"Ok here we go," the man grunted and his accomplice had to move away to find a better camera angle.

When the camera focussed again Adele was horrified to see that the man was rubbing his erect penis on her daughter's panties, pressing it into her pubic mound.

"Stay silent and watch, otherwise things will get worse for Kimberly," the man grunted as he thrust his cock against her daughter.

It was torture for Adele to watch the man rutting up against her daughter, made all the worse by the man with the camera constantly changing the field of view to show the man pressing his body against Kimberly and alternately showing a close up of the man's cock pressed into the folds of her daughter's labia shrouded in the flimsy pick nylon panties.

The man was obviously close to extremis as he pushed harder and faster against Kimberly's panty-clad pubis she could hear him grunting. The camera remained locked on his cock and on Kimberly's mound.

Then the unthinkable happened. At first Adele thought it was her imagination but then she saw an almost imperceptible movement as her daughter pressed back against the man as he ground himself against her. Kimberly gyrated her groin almost indiscernibly but she was definitely doing it.

During a court case Adele had convinced the jury that a person could be coerced, manipulated and downright compelled to experience pleasure during a sexual assault. She had gone as far as to put an expert witness on the stand to prove it. She herself had orgasmed during her college rape and again multiple times when she was abused in the shotgun shack in the woods.

The man abusing her daughter pressed himself hard against Kimberly, holding her daughter by the shoulders. The cameraman shifted the camera's field of view and focussed on Alisha chained to the wall beside her best friend, watching Kimberly being sexually maltreated by one of their captors. Alisha looked to be in a state of shock but she was unable to look away.

The camera moved back to Kimberly's face which appeared to be both alarmed and confused. Adele understood that her daughter didn't understand why her body was betraying her. Kimberly suddenly gasped and bit her lip and then she closed her eyes. Adele guessed that Kimberly had probably just orgasmed and she felt pity for her.

The camera scanned down Kimberly's body, past her heaving chest pressed against her abductor, down past her skirt which was hiked up and tucked into the waistband and down to her groin where the man was rutting against her sex. There was no mistaking that Kimberly was thrusting back against him, pressing her panty-clad mound against the man's pulsing cock which suddenly erupted, spattering the front of Kimberly's pretty pink nylon panties with glutinous gobbets of hot semen.

Adele whimpered and sobbed; her sorrow almost inconsolable. She wiped away the tears and snot from her face with a tissue and stifled her sobs. She was determined not to break down.

The man in the tracksuit stepped away from Kimberly and hitched up his pants.

"Whooee! That was good!" the man faced the camera.

"We'll have your daughter's pretty pink panties express delivered to you and just to prove we aren't pulling a switcheroo watch this," the man grinned into the camera.

He took a sharpie from his pocket and grunted with exertion as he turned Kimberly around, which was difficult with her wrists chained to the wall and the spreader bar between her feet.

"Here we go," the camera zoomed in for a close-up as the man removed the cap from the sharpie and began to write on the back of Kimberly's panties.

'I'm a spoiled little slut' he wrote across the back panel of her panties.

"There you go. You're welcome to my DNA by the way; I've never been arrested and it's not on file anywhere but I'm sure you'll find that out if you get it tested. Just remember, if you tell any of your law enforcement buddies about us holding the girls for ransom we'll spend some time having fun with them and then get rid of them. Be careful Adele. See you soon," the man grinned into the camera and then the screen went blank.

Once again her computer shut down of its own accord and began to reboot.

To be continued

The package arrived overnight and was waiting for Adele when she arrived early at the office. It was a plain brown padded postage bag with no markings on it. It was addressed simply to Adele Edwards and marked urgent.

Adele put the package down on her desk and deliberated. She guessed what was inside it and she knew that she should hand it over to Cassie so it could be forensically examined. She was tempted to tear the envelope open but instead she called Cassie Rivers using her prepaid phone. Cassie said she would be right over and that she would be no more than fifteen minutes which to Adele seemed like an eternity.

When Cassie arrived Adele ushered into her office and locked the door.

"This arrived from the kidnappers; also I need to tell you something. I antagonised the kidnappers last night when they contacted me. I was so stupid!" Adele began to cry and Cassie comforted her.

Adele told Cassie what she had said to the kidnappers and what the consequences of her actions had been. Cassie thought that Adele had been stupid to challenge them but she could understand Adele's frustration and anger and seeing what that man had done to her daughter was punishment enough, she didn't need to add her own admonition.

Cassie took a pair of latex surgical gloves out of her briefcase and a device that looked like a digital camera but the lens looked peculiar. Cassie explained that it was a low dose portable X-ray machine. Then she took out a small UV light.

"Turn out the lights please," Cassie said.

Cassie dusted the package and examined it with the UV light and then she used the miniature X-ray machine on it and then had Adele turn the lights back on.

"Just as I expected, there are no prints on the package. I'm going to assume they wore latex gloves so I doubt there will be any prints on the contents. Inside there appears to be a USB type data storage device wrapped in some kind of fabric. I say we open it," Cassie looked at Adele thoughtfully.

Adele picked up the package and tore it open.

Kimberly's full-cut pink nylon panties with the cute red bow at the front fell on her desk. The musty aroma of semen arose from the garment, the panties were still damp. On the seat of the panties written in black sharpie were the words: I'm a spoiled little slut.

Adele began to whimper but she composed herself. Inside the package was another envelope. She opened it and found a plain sheet of paper and taped to the paper was a tiny USB flash drive. Written on the paper in block text was a note:

Here is your salvation. Ask for four million dollars. Instructions how to transfer the money are as follows: Put the money into...

What followed were directions to transfer four million dollars into a numbered account in the Cayman Islands. Adele was confused.

"I told the kidnappers that I wouldn't be able to get my hands on any amount of ransom money in the timeframe they had dictated," Adele said, exasperated.

"Then whatever is on that flash drive must be worth four million dollars," Cassie countered.

"So what do we do?" Adele asked.

Cassie picked up the flash drive and turned it over in her fingers and then plugged it into Adele's desktop computer.

A document opened on the screen with some explanatory notes but Adele was impatient to play the video file that accompanied the text document.

"What the fuck?" Adele was confused as she read the explanatory notes.

"How deep did you go into your client's background?" Cassie tapped a fingernail against her teeth.

"I didn't. Amanda Palmer came to me with her case and all the documentation and exhibits associated with the SAFE report which was validated by the DoD but being a naval officer it was almost impossible to dig into Amanda Palmer's past. We had to take her at face value," Adele wondered why Cassie was asking.

"Did you ever wonder why Captain Joseph Morales refused your request to participate in the trial and why the JAG had the subpoena you served on him quashed?" Cassie asked but didn't wait for an answer.

"At Executive Solutions we trust no one until we have fully researched their background. Knowing that either yours or Celia's cases were intrinsically linked to the kidnapping we did our own research into Lieutenant Commander Palmer's past," Cassie frowned.

"This is what we found out about her..." Celia summarised what Executive Solutions had discovered.

Lieutenant Commander Amanda Palmer's career was best described as chequered, though she had made O-4 in minimum time. She had served the least amount of time at sea as possible, completing only one full rotation as a line officer before she had taken a series of cushy shore-side logistic assignments usually in popular locations such as the Naval Station Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Japan, Naval Base Guam and was currently based out of China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station in California.

Amanda had slept her way to the top, usually by undertaking relationships with older senior officers who were married. At first the men were enamoured with her good looks, her rapacious sexual appetites and willingness to experiment, and her discretion. Once she had insinuated herself into the relationship she became a bloodsucking harridan, milking her victims for everything she could, playing to perfection the victimised subordinate who had been sexually harassed. Once she had bled the senior officer dry she would blackmail him into obtaining her next comfortable assignment in a location of her choosing.

Despite warnings about her behaviour spread on the 'senior officer's grapevine', Amanda would invariably find a superior officer who was captivated by her charms. Her last relationship had been with a female, Captain Kathy Moore, who Amanda threatened to out for being a lesbian to the navy, her friends, and her family. The Captain had been closeted her whole life and would have been devastated had she been exposed as lesbian and as a consequence she had ensured Amanda got promoted and moved on to her current position on the Naval Weapons Trials and Evaluation Team at China Lake, where she was employed in an administrative capacity.

"So... shall we play the video file?" Cassie asked Adele, who was shocked at what she had just been told.

They played the video file and after thirty minutes of stunned silence Adele and Cassie knew why the kidnappers had called the contents of the flash drive her salvation.

*****

Amanda Palmer had lived the high life in LA and quickly became enthused with the lifestyle and was looking for a quick exit from the discipline, drudgery and intrinsic routines that military life required. The only problem was that Amanda had saved not a penny of her income and was not eligible for a military pension. Besides, she needed an income that would pay for the lavish way of life to which she aspired and she had hatched a plan, which if successful, would provide her with a fast and substantial cash payout.

Amanda had been deliberately teasing Oliver Randal, making frequent visits to his office and 'accidentally' turning up to the same social functions that he attended. She flirted with him openly and he soon became infatuated with her. She sent him a series of texts that looked innocuous to which Oliver Randal stupidly replied, going into great detail about what sexual acts he would like to commit on her person.

Amanda was a very attractive woman in her mid-thirties. She actually made her winter blue and summer white uniforms look sexy. She had them tailor-made to hug her hourglass figure, her well-shaped buttocks and pert breasts. She was constantly being reminded of navy uniform regulation article 3501.65 which stated that the hem of the skirt should fall 1.5 inches above or below the crease behind the knee however she had her skirts cut three inches above the knee to show off her long shapely legs. She was also often reproached for wearing too much makeup.

On the day of the alleged assault she sat across from Oliver on his white leather couch with her legs crossed which drew the hem of her skirt so far up her legs that he could see that she was wearing stockings rather than pantyhose. She'd had plenty of opportunity to adjust her skirt but deliberately refrained from doing so. She constantly played with her shoulder-length platinum blonde hair and occasionally 'subconsciously' stuck a fingernail into her pouty bright-red lipsticked lips and sucked on it. Her blue uniform jacket was open and her breasts pushed against her white cotton blouse. Her nylons rustled when she reached down to take off one of her black court shoes and scratched the sole of her foot and then left the shoe dangling.

Amanda had ensured that Oliver saw her locking the door behind her on the pretext of security and checked that the blinds were closed on his office windows when she entered the office.

She was surrounded by a miasma of perfume and Oliver could hardly take his eyes off her as he sat at his desk studying the documents she had bought over, which could easily have been sent by courier or delivered by a minion. Oliver was rock hard and his imagination conjured up images of Commander Palmer bent over his desk with her skirt hitched up as he vigorously fucked her.

"Amanda, I'm having problems reconciling these figures," he called out to her.

Amanda uncrossed her legs and gave him a flash of her very non-regulation see-through red nylon panties. Her legs opened wider as she leaned down to put on her shoe causing Oliver to have heart palpitations. She took off her jacket and rummaged in her handbag and found her mobile phone and toyed with it briefly and then set it down on the coffee table.

She stood up without smoothing her skirt, leaving it bunched around her thighs and sauntered across the spacious office to Oliver's desk and stood as close to him as she could get. She leaned into him to look at the document he was studying on her desk. He breathed in her heady perfume.

"That isn't regulation underwear you're wearing today Lieutenant Commander Palmer," Oliver slid his hand under Amanda's skirt and caressed her thigh where her stocking-top met her creamy flesh.

"You bet it isn't, I wore it especially for you. All those texts and emails describing how you would like to see dressed and the naughty lingerie you sent me inspired me," Amanda whispered in his ear.

The softness of her breath in his ear and the silky caress of her hair brushing his cheek made his cock throb.

"I think I've teased you enough Oliver. Time for us to consummate this relationship, if that's what you want?" she nipped his ear.

Oliver pushed his chair away from his desk and reached for Amanda who obligingly fell into his lap. She could feel his hard cock pressing into her buttocks through her skirt as she lowered her pretty face to his and kissed him. He began to maul her, his hand unbuttoning her blouse as she worked her tongue in his mouth.

Amanda leapt from Oliver's lap, finished unbuttoning her blouse and took it off and then she took off her brassiere. Oliver took off his jacket and tie and Amanda pressed her body against him and kissed him again. She guided his head down to her breasts and encouraged him to suckle them. She giggled when he nipped her engorged nipples. Oliver slavered at her bosom and then licked her flesh working his mouth up her neck and back to her soft full lips.

They kissed again and Amanda's fingers found Oliver erect inside his pants and she squeezed his swollen phallus and smiled when he groaned. She freed his manhood and began to stroke it, bringing it to complete tumescence.

"Fuck me Oliver. Give it to me hard. I've been a naughty girl teasing you for so long and I deserve a hard fucking," Amanda disengaged from Oliver and bent over desk, wiggling her buttocks invitingly.

Oliver lifted Amanda's uniform skirt and gazed at her milky-white globes encased in the red see-through panties and groaned. He eased the gusset of her panties aside and marvelled at her freshly shaved vulva. Her inner lips were protruding from her vagina and they glistened with dewy secretions. He put his cock inside her fleshy mound and slid it deep into her hot slick cunt.

"Fuck me Oliver, fuck me hard!" Amanda squirmed and pushed her buttocks back against him.

Oliver began to fuck her.

She took his hands and guided them to her hips.

"Hold me tight Oliver. Hold me tight and fuck this bitch!" she encouraged him.

Oliver's fingers dug into her tender flesh as he pounded his cock in and out of her tight cunt.

She let him fuck her for awhile and then she squirmed and wriggled until his penis slipped out of her sodden minge.

"I've been a naughty girl Oliver. Teasing you and letting you fuck me and then not letting you finish what you started. Spank me Oliver. Spank me; I'm a naughty girl who deserves it."

Oliver went along with the role-play. It was sexually arousing and novel. Amanda obviously liked it rough.

Oliver wailed against her buttocks with the flat of his hand and Amanda encouraged him, begging him to hit her harder. Oliver spanked her creamy globes until they were scarlet, then she spun around and pressed her body against him and kissed him. She guided his hand to her sex and encouraged him to squeeze and pinch her moist flesh. She stroked his hard cock, and squeezed his scrotum until he gasped with both pleasure and pain. Oliver reciprocated and roughly worked his fingers in her sex.

"Fuck me again Oliver. Over there, on the couch. I wanna see your face when you shoot your load inside me," she dragged him over to lounge and fell down on it with her legs wide and her skirt hitched up like a slattern.

Oliver took one of her legs in his hands and nuzzled her calf, her sheer stockings excited him and Amanda put her other leg between his legs and rubbed her nylon-sheathed foot against his rampant penis and listened to him whimper with lust.

"Stop pissing about Oliver; fuck me! Fuck me like a whore!" she stared up at him defiantly, her lipstick smeared, her lips swollen from the nipping and biting.

Oliver fell on Amanda. His cock slammed into her sex, bruising her delicate lips as she writhed and wriggled as he tried to penetrate her. She teased him preventing him from entering her and he became enraged and gripped her thighs tightly, digging his fingers into her delicate flesh. She smiled up at him wickedly.

"That's it Oliver, fuck me like a whore! Use me! Defile me," she encouraged him.

Oliver found her vagina and slammed his cock into her, fucking her vigorously as she clung to him, wrapping her legs around his body so she could rise to meet his thrusts. He bit and scratched her and she encouraged him, screaming obscenities into his ear as he pounded away at her body.

Oliver roared as his climax approached and Amanda felt his cock swell inside her and then it began to palpitate as his hot semen flooded her sex. She let him shoot himself inside her and when she felt he was nearly done she expelled him and squeezed his cock so that the last of his spend splashed on her thighs, her belly and over her navy-blue skirt.

Oliver couldn't see because his head was buried in the crook of her neck but Amanda was smiling wickedly. She had already orgasmed twice during the intense fucking and a third wave of pleasure inspired by both lust and greed beset her.

Oliver was close to collapse; he had fucked Amanda so hard that he had used up nearly all of his energy. He disentangled himself from her and hitched up his pants and gathered them around his waist to keep them from falling down.

"I'm going to use the bathroom honey; you're welcome to clean up in there when I've finished," Oliver panted.

He shuffled across the floor to his private bathroom and closed the door.

Amanda winced as she lifted herself off the couch. Her back ached, her buttocks stung, her vulva was sore and she could feel the bruises blossoming on her flanks and thighs. She smiled evilly.

She went over to the coffee table and picked up her phone and dropped it in her purse and then took out a pair of regulation white cotton panties and a pair of fifteen denier sheer-to-the-waist pantyhose, the same flesh-tone as the stockings she was wearing. She removed her red see-through nylon panties and unrolled her stockings, balled them up and put them in her purse.

Amanda sat on the couch to put on the pantyhose and panties and then walked over to Oliver's desk and found her blouse and brassiere and put them back on and then she put on her jacket. Amanda took a small bottle of cologne out of her handbag. She forced herself to keep her eyes open and sprayed a puff of perfume into them and they immediately began to water and a stream of tears ran down her cheeks. She rubbed her eyes, causing her mascara and eyeliner to run. At that moment Oliver came out of the bathroom and looked at her incredulously.

"That was a really good fuck honey... I'm sorry to have to do this," Amanda grinned viciously.

She raked her hands through her hair, dishevelling it and then she tore open her blouse, the buttons scattering across the room. She pulled the tails of her blouse out of her skirt and then she hiked it up and began to tear at her pantyhose, ripping out the crotch. She pulled and tugged at her cotton panties until they too were torn. She kicked off one of her shoes and then staggered to the office door, unlocked it and flung it open.

"Rape! Rape! Rape! I've been raped. Mister Randal has raped me!" she whispered hoarsely as she teetered over to one of the secretaries desks.

*****

"She did a Lewinsky on him," Cassie chuckled.

Adele grunted, unable to look away from the screen.

"She got his semen on her skirt," Cassie explained.

Adele stared at her computer screen fascinated. It clearly showed that Amanda Palmer had seduced Oliver Randal and then staged the scene and cried rape. Her client was the gold-digger that Weldon Jennings claimed she was.

Adele knew what was legally required of her. She should hand the evidence over to the authorities and immediately tell Amanda Palmer that she done so and inform her of her legal rights. Or... she could bury the evidence and continue to try the case and hope for a substantial award in damages.

But Adele's daughter and her daughter's best friend were being held for ransom by two ruthless men who wanted four million dollars and the contents of the USB were worth at least that to Oliver Randall and Dynamic Aerospace Solutions.

"Adele I can't advise or encourage you to do anything illegal but there's your four million dollars right there if you want it," Cassie said.

"I'm going to leave you alone to make up your own mind, one of my operatives has a lead down in the warehouse district and I'm going to follow it up. Good luck," Cassie leaned in and kissed Adele on the cheek.

Cassie paused at the door.

"If you decide to parlay that evidence, ensure that you are not compromised. This needs to remain a secret; if you ask for money and get caught doing so you will end up behind bars," Cassie said before she opened the door to leave.

Adele thought about it for only a second before she called Judge Chatsworth and asked for a continuance for the morning stating that she was likely to settle the case. The judge was relieved and granted the continuance. Then Adele called Weldon Jennings and asked him to meet her in her firm's conference room in one hour. He was to come alone and not to tell anyone that he was doing so. Intrigued, Weldon had agreed and he sat at the conference table waiting patiently. He was wearing his usual dark Armani suit and brilliant white shirt and Adele couldn't help but be taken by his dark handsome good looks.

Adele came into the conference room wearing one of her navy blue business suits, heels and hose. For a woman who was under immense pressure she still looked attractive and alluring. She deliberately locked the door behind her and ensured that the blinds were closed so they had complete privacy.

"This looks very secretive and intriguing Adele; what do you have for me? I've told you a million times that I can't settle this case," Weldon gave her one of best smiles.

Adele said nothing. She opened her notebook computer and flipped it around to face Weldon.

Weldon read the Word document first and then she opened the video file. Adele watched Weldon stare at the screen enraptured and she was amused when she saw him adjust himself to hide a burgeoning erection.

Weldon knew that Adele was not obliged to hand over the document and the video to him; disclosure of the evidence was totally under her control but she had obviously shown it to him for a reason. The evidence destroyed her case.

"Where did you get it?" Weldon asked giving nothing away.

"I can't say," Adele answered honestly.

"Ok. How much?" Weldon smiled at her salaciously.

Adele reached over and closed the laptop and put a finger on his lips.

"Put your phone and any recording devices you have on the table; I'll do likewise," Adele put her iPhone and her smart watch on the conference table and Weldon put his phone on the table next to hers.

"Come," Adele beckoned and he followed her into the ensuite bathroom.

Adele locked the door behind them.

"There are obviously no recording devices or cameras in here. I can't say the same for the rest of my offices," Adele explained.

"If anyone ever hears about this I will be disbarred and likely go to jail," Adele said anxiously.

Weldon just nodded.

"You never tell anyone about what you have just seen or who showed it to you; understand?" Adele locked eyes with Weldon, she was deadly serious.

"I'm going to show Amanda Palmer the video and tell her that we are withdrawing our complaint and withdrawing the lawsuit. She gets nothing, Oliver Randal walks away unscathed with his reputation intact. Dynamic Aerospace Solutions keeps their Defense contracts."

"I understand. But like I said before... how much?" Weldon gave her a wry smile.

Adele took a slip of paper from her pocket and handed it to him.

Weldon remained composed and impassive when he read it.

"Why Adele? Why are you tanking the case? You could have kept this a secret and asked for more than this in damages," he asked, folding the note and putting it in his pocket.

"It doesn't matter," she replied and reached for the door handle.

Weldon put his hand out to stop her.

"I haven't agreed yet," Weldon gave her a lecherous smile.

"You're going to. You have to," Adele smiled back.

"Ok you're right but I want one more thing from you. That's a lot of money you're asking for Adele," Weldon said.

Adele tilted her head to one side inquisitively.

"I've always wanted to fuck you. Just to see what it would be like," Weldon grinned.

Adele remained motionless and weighed up her options.

Then she leaned into Weldon and kissed him passionately and reached for him through his pants.

"Make it quick! I want this settled today," she spun around and leaned against the sink.

She lifted the back of her skirt up out of the way and offered her buttocks to Weldon who unzipped his fly and freed his erection.

"No foreplay?" Weldon grunted as he grasped her buttocks and stroked them through the silky layers of nylon and satin.

"Just get it over with," Adele leaned over further and wriggled her buttocks invitingly.

"Use the moisturiser there and don't come on my skirt or blouse; keep it in me when you come," Adele said emotionlessly.

"Ever the lady Adele," Weldon chuckled as he pulled down her panties.

He poked a hole in the gusset of her pantyhose and widened it enough to take his cock. He squeezed a dollop of moisturiser from the dispenser on the sink and lubricated his shaft and smeared the rest around Adele's puckered sphincter. He couldn't see her genitals and figured she was tucked which she confirmed by reaching into the front of her pantyhose and freeing her semi-hard cock from between her buttocks.

"You're aroused Adele. I believe that you're actually enjoying this," Weldon grinned.

"Shut up and fuck me Weldon," Adele pushed her buttocks back against his turgid cock.

Weldon gripped Adele's hips and slid his cock inside her tight anus. His glans pressed on her prostate and Adele, already aroused from watching the video, climaxed instantly, her seed spattered on the bathroom tiles. She mewed and cooed incoherently.

Weldon pushed himself deeper inside her and ejaculated. He too was over-stimulated having watched the video and seen Adele climax so quickly.

He held her tight and she pressed back against him, her anus contracting to milk every drop of his spend.

"Ok Weldon. You've had your fun," Adele reached out and took a handful of paper towels from the dispenser and handed them to Weldon.

He carefully extracted his penis from Adele's anus mindful not to spill any semen on her skirt as instructed. Adele went into the cubicle and evacuated most of Weldon's semen from her anus, wiped herself and adjusted her clothing.

Weldon was waiting for her with a self-satisfied grin on his face.

"Well that was nice," he smiled at her.

Adele kissed him softly on the lips.

"I've had better but it was nice for a quickie. Go and make the payment," she pushed him away from her.

*****

Adele Edwards, Cassandra Rivers and Steven Baker were in Adele's office. Adele had introduced Steven to Cassie and explained that Cassie was a private investigator helping Adele with the DAS case.

They stared intently at her computer screen. Steven had been able to access the Cayman National bank numbered account that the kidnappers had provided in their ransom demand and they watched as the four million dollar transfer was deposited into the account. Steven had used his skills to install a tracer program and he was confident that they would be able to see where the money finally lodged. It might give them a clue as to who the kidnappers were.

Almost immediately the funds disappeared from the Cayman National bank and reappeared in an ANZ Bank account in Melbourne Australia, then seconds later at Landsbankinn in Iceland, and almost immediately it was transferred to Capitec Bank in South Africa. The refresh rate of the screen could hardly keep up with the transfers.

"They're bouncing the money around the globe so it's untraceable," Steven leaned in close to the screen.

"Look here see it's... oh shit!" the screen suddenly went blank and then Adele's computer began to reboot.

"Fuck!" Cassie shouted.

"They have the money. There's no point in them keeping the girls any longer; they'll let them go now," Cassie tried to reassure Adele but she knew that was not necessarily the case.

Then the screen came to life again.

Kimberly and Alisha were once again chained to the wall by their wrists, their arms outstretched and their legs spread wide by the stainless steel spreader-bars cuffed to their ankles. They were wearing their work attire: skirts, blouses and heels. A man dressed in a dark tracksuit and wearing a ski mask came into the picture; he walked over and stood between the girls.

"Well done Adele, you have met our demands. Kimberly and Alisha will be released soon," once again his voice was digitally altered.

"You have your money; I want my daughter and Alisha now!" Adele screamed angrily at the screen.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch honey. You will have them back sometime soon, we just have some loose ends to tie up," the man sniggered.

Adele was about to reply but the screen went blank and just like previously, her computer shut down and began to reboot.

Adele and Cassie comforted each other and Steven Baker left them alone.

Back in the dungeon the man unshackled the two young women, put on their blindfolds and led them back to their room.

"When are you going to let us go?" Kimberly asked, careful not to sound petulant.

They were so close to being to be released that the last thing she wanted to do was upset her abductors.

"My colleague will be here soon. He's making some last minute arrangements for your release so stay dressed in your pretty clothes. Pack everything else into your gym bags; you will be leaving here soon. Chill out. Have a couple of drinks. It's nearly over," the man said.

He locked the door behind him and Kimberly and Alisha hugged each other. They smiled for the first time since their ordeal had begun.

"Fuck it! We're out of here soon so let's celebrate," Kimberley opened the refrigerator and took out two vodka cruisers.

The girls had packed their bags and drunk half a dozen cruisers by the time their captors returned.

"We're all packed up and ready to go," Kimberly giggled drunkenly when the two men entered.

"And we have our van ready to take you to the release point. There is only one thing left to do," one of the men replied.

"What's that? Let me guess. You're going to blindfold, gag us and tie us up. I think the gagging and tying is hardly necessary we're both pretty well stewed," Kimberly snickered.

"No. I said we had one thing left to do. That's to give you both a good fucking. We've both been sorely tempted but we've restrained ourselves so I think it's time to reward ourselves," the other man said.

The two girls looked stunned.

"Here is the deal. You girls can play along and get it over with; hell you might even enjoy it... or you can put up a fight and then it might turn nasty. Your call," the man said smugly.

Alisha started to cry and Kimberly embraced her.

"Alisha. Let them do it. Let's get this over with. Just pretend they are some faceless guys that we picked up in a nightclub and bought home to fuck. We've done that plenty of times before," Kimberly whispered.

Alisha nodded and dried her eyes.

"Ok. There is nothing we can do to stop you, so do whatever you are going to do. We won't resist," Kimberly fell back on the bed and lay still.

Alisha staggered drunkenly over to her bed and lay down too.

The two men looked at each other and nodded. They approached the girls and then they stripped naked.

"Ok girls; here we go. This is going to be fun," one of them said.

Kimberly thought the men looked ridiculous standing naked with their ski-masks still on, their cocks standing proud.

The man who had been the driver of the van came over to Kimberly's bed whilst the other went over to Alisha. The man's flesh was pale but his body was toned. He lay on the bed beside Kimberly and took off his mask. He was handsome.

He began to kiss Kimberly and at first she didn't respond but the man was good and his hand was under her skirt rubbing her sex through her panties and pantyhose. He pressed a finger into her and found her clitoris and she couldn't help but mew. The man worked his finger expertly and Kimberly began to respond, her panties began to become damp and when the man slid his tongue into her mouth she let him. She put her arms around him and opened her legs wider.

"Make it quick Joe, the last thing we want is to get caught now that we have the money," the man called out to his partner.

Kimberly looked over and saw that the man called Joe had his face buried between Alisha's legs who was far from fighting him off, Alisha had her hands on his head guiding his tongue to the places she wanted it. She was breathing heavy and lifting her hips up off the bed to encourage the man who was performing cunnilingus on her.

"Your friend seems to like it," the handsome man grinned down at Kimberly.

Kimberly pulled his face to hers and kissed him. She recalled how he had ground against her when she was chained to the wall in the dungeon. She wondered what Adele had thought when she had seen her daughter defiled like that. She became wetter.

The handsome man climbed between Kimberly's legs and pulled down her panties and pantyhose, exposing her shaved pubis. The lips were dewy with excitement. Kimberly wrapped her legs around him when he entered her and pulled him close. The man was excited. It was kinky fucking this young woman while she was fully clothed. Her pussy was tight and she was returning his kisses, driving her tongue into his mouth as she writhed beneath him, rising to meet his thrusts.

The man's long, thick hard cock was buried deep in Kimberly's quim, filling her and eliciting waves of pleasure, his groin pressed on her clitoral area and feelings of rampant desire began to intensify.

She looked over and saw that Alisha was riding the other man cowgirl, her head thrown back with wanton lust as he held her by the waist as she bucked up and down on his cock.

The room filled with the sounds of groans and moans and the 'schlock, schlock, schlock' sound of cocks slamming into wet cunts; it seemed that the four of them climaxed together. Kimberly clung to the handsome man, her legs locked around his back, her groin raised up off the bed as she writhed beneath him and orgasmed. She felt his seed fill her bruised pussy and she smiled and kissed him harder.

Alisha was squealing like a banshee as she ground herself down onto the cock that impaled her body; she drummed her fists on Joe's chest.

"Fuck me you fucker!" she wailed.

The room became quiet after a while and the men disentangled themselves from the women and began to dress. Kimberly and Alisha looked at each other and blushed with guilt and embarrassment. Kimberly came over and sat next to Alisha who was fiddling with her underwear.

"This part never happened ok?" Kimberly said conspiratorially.

"Which part?" Alisha gave Kimberly a knowing look.

Kimberly nodded and went to the bathroom to clean up.

The kidnappers blindfolded Kimberly and Alisha but they didn't bother to restrain them or gag them. They drove them to Topanga State Park and released them with instructions to count to one hundred before they took off their blindfolds.

The girls were able to walk the half-mile to the Topanga Village store and use a payphone.

*****

Once she was sure that the kidnappers had received their ransom, Adele called Amanda Palmer and told her to come to her offices as there had been a development.

"Why did you video the sex on your phone?" Adele asked Amanda Palmer who sat across from her at the conference table wearing her dress blue uniform.

Amanda looked confused but only momentarily.

"It was stupid. I realise that now but the video was my fallback. If I couldn't bring the law suit for some reason I figured I could blackmail Oliver with it for a few bucks. Oliver Randall is married. I've used the same ruse before with some success," Amanda showed no remorse.

She reached into her handbag and took out her cigarettes and lighter.

"Do not light up in here," Adele said dispassionately.

"Oh for fuck sake Adele, lighten up. We've lost the case and I've got no money to pay you," she shook the packet at Adele who begrudgingly took a cigarette and lit it.

"I'll waive the fees but that's it; we're over," Adele blew smoke at the ceiling.

"I read about you before I engaged you as counsel. I read a transcript of your testimony in the Mitchell Brooks case where you described how Mitchell and three of his friends sexually assaulted you in your college dorm when you were only eighteen," Amanda studied the tip of her cigarette briefly.

"That was brave. Admitting to the court that you are transgender and describing the assault; explaining that although you were an unwilling participant that your body betrayed you and you became sexually aroused and even climaxed. I heard what followed the attack was a period of obsessive promiscuity that you had no control over."

"What if I told you the same thing happened to me? That I was gang-raped at Annapolis by my classmates and it made me who I am today?" Amanda looked like she was about to cry.

Adele reached for a box of tissues but when she offered them to Amanda she gave Adele a sinister grin.

"See how easy it is to be the wronged woman? Anyone will believe what you tell them. If a man belittles a woman it could become a lawsuit. If a woman belittles a man it's a Hallmark card."

"I just made that story up. I did my fair share of train-pulling when I was at Annapolis but it was all voluntary; in fact I was the initiator. Men are so stupid. They think with their cocks and some women are even stupider. Captain Kathy Moore was a U-Haul lesbian of the first order and I had her wrapped around my finger. Some women want to believe that all men are assholes," Amanda tapped her ash into the saucer.

"But you're neither are you Adele? You're transgender so you have a foot in both camps I suppose. Sorry you won't be getting any of the huge settlement that we were asking for but I'm sure you will move on," Amanda stubbed out her cigarette and arose.

"Now I'll just have to find some other schmuck to leech off. Admiral Coates is looking for a staff officer so I might park my ass there until my discharge comes through. He's a womaniser and his family has money. I might just let him bounce up and down on me for a while and see if I can prise him away from his skinny-ass wife and get him to waive a pre-nup. I hear he's got a big one so it should be fun," Amanda grinned as she buttoned her coat.

"Do you have a big one Adele? It would have been fun to have found out. I know you like women because I've seen that little limey cunt that you call a wife. Never mind... spilt milk and all that," Amanda let herself out of the conference room and left Adele seething.

Adele raced after Amanda and caught her as she was exiting the building.

"Feel free to suck a few cocks on your way through the parking lot," Adele said bitingly.

Amanda just smiled and waved.

"Don't be a sore loser Adele," Amanda turned and walked away.

Adele went back to her office and conjured up images of her daughter and prayed that Kimberly and Alisha would be released soon. The kidnappers had their money so there was no need for them to keep the girls.

*****

When Adele got the call from Kimberly she nearly broke down but she was made of stern stuff. She told Kimberly that she and Alisha were to stay right where they were inside the store; that she would soon be there to pick them up. Adele called Cassie who told Adele that she would rendezvous with her at the Topanga Village store. It was unlikely that the kidnappers would return but it wouldn't hurt to have backup.

Cassie arrived first in one of her firm's black SUVs driven by two of her operatives. They cased the area around the store and formed a loose perimeter. Adele's BMW sped into the car park and skidded to a stop, throwing up a shower of gravel. She was in such a rush to see her daughter that she left the car door wide open.

Cassie followed Adele inside the store and saw the pretty white girl and the pretty black girl incongruously dressed in office attire huddled in the corner of the state park general store.

Adele wrapped her daughter in her arms and smothered her with kisses as she sobbed. Alisha joined them and all three hugged each other.

"Sorry to break up the reunion Adele but people are staring. Someone will call the police or post something on social media if we don't get out of here," Cassie said.

Adele refused to let go of her daughter and kept her arms around Kimberly as they left the store; she looked like she was about to collapse.

"I'll get my guys to drive your car Adele; you're in no fit state to drive. You and the girls come with me in the SUV," Cassie said and Adele nodded.

Adele and the two girls climbed into the back of the SUV and Cassie hopped into the driver's seat.

Adele soon recovered and began to bombard the girls with questions and Cassie told her to stop.

"Just enjoy having your daughter back for now. We'll go back to Executive Solutions and decide where to go from here. I take it you have no intention of reporting the kidnapping to the authorities?" Cassie looked at the three women in the rear vision mirror and saw Adele nod her compliance.

Back at the offices of Executive Solutions Cassie had her team standing by. Kimberly and Alisha were first handed over to a female doctor who gave the girls a thorough medical examination. Both girls refused to be examined internally or to hand over their underwear.

Adele was in Cassie's office talking to Celia on Skype when the doctor confronted Cassie with the information that girls were refusing a rape kit exam. Cassie left Adele alone and went into the examination room.

"Did those men assault you?" Cassie asked bluntly.

Both women kept their heads bowed.

"Adele doesn't have to know unless you tell her," Cassie folded her arms.

Both of the young women remained silent.

"Stockholm Syndrome is when feelings of trust or affection are felt in cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim towards a captor. Is that what happened?" Cassie asked.

"We'll answer your questions but we're not talking about that and we don't want Adele or Celia to know. There is nothing to be gained by it," Kimberly answered.

"Ok. I get it. Other than the incident that Adele saw on the video screen there were no other sexual advances made by the kidnappers. We'll get you some fresh clothes. We will examine the clothes you were wearing during captivity for any hairs and fibres but we will destroy your underwear. Is that fair?" Cassie said.

Both girls nodded.

Adele was reunited with Kimberly and Alisha and was told that both girls were in good health and had been well cared for. The girls had no idea where they were being held during the ordeal nor had they any clue as to the identity of their captors. They had stated that their captors had remained dressed in their tack suits and ski-masks throughout the ordeal.

Adele fired up Skype again and reunited Celia with her daughter and Cassie left them alone.

"We want to go home now," Adele said once they had finished their video call.

"What about the investigation Adele?" Cassie asked.

"Drop it. I have my daughter back; that's all that matters. Send your final invoice to my office. This never happened. The girls have taken a sabbatical from their studies and will return to UCLA next semester, that's the story I'm running with," Adele said with finality.

Cassie escorted the three women to the underground parking garage and watched the girls get into the back seat of Adele's BMW. One of her employees put their gym bags and their clothing, now sealed in evidence bags, into the trunk.

Adele hugged Cassie and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks for everything Cassie," Adele sighed.

"I didn't do much I'm afraid," Cassie said honestly.

"You were there for me," Adele leaned in and kissed Cassie on the side of the mouth.

*****

Adele kept the Kimberly and Alisha confined to her apartment for the first few days after their release and they made daily Skype calls to Celia in Kentucky who was frustrated because Brindle Coal and Power were stalling and the witness depositions were dragging on. It was agreed that Kimberly would fly to Missionville to reunite with Celia at the end of the week.

Women in their early twenties are strong-willed and Kimberly and Alisha soon began to rebel against being confined. Alisha wanted to get back to her studies and her part-time job working as a temp at a securities and brokerage firm where she was hoping to find employment once she had attained her degree in commerce and accounting. She had dreams of becoming a broker.

Whilst Kimberly was prepared to take some time off from her classes, she continued to study and both girls wanted to return to their apartment at the Saxon Residential Suites. Adele reluctantly agreed. She needed to get back to work too. She was hoping that things would eventually return to normal.

Adele picked up Kimberly from her apartment and drove her to LAX. Kimberly seemed excited about seeing Celia again and Adele was a little jealous and pissed that her caseload prevented her from accompanying her daughter.

At the LAX passenger drop off Adele clung to Kimberly until the parking attendant threatened to ticket her unless she moved on and she watched Kimberly pass through the same sliding glass doors that Celia had done so only a few days ago but that now seemed like it was an eternity ago.

Once Kimberly was through security she strode purposely through the domestic terminal pulling her carry-on suitcase behind her. She dropped her boarding pass for her flight to Missionville into the trash and continued on towards the American Airlines business lounge.

The handsome man who had fucked Kimberly on the bed in the room where she was being held captive was sitting at a table near the bar and he smiled when he saw Kimberly approaching. She dropped herself into the seat beside him and they kissed passionately.

"How did it go?" the man asked holding Kimberly's hand, reluctant to let it go.

"Adele doesn't suspect a thing and Alisha is just glad it's over. That was a smart move getting Joe to fuck her," Kimberly sipped the gin and tonic she had ordered.

"She feels so guilty about it that she'll never say a word," Kimberly smiled.

"Well I had to let him; he really wanted to fuck you but there was no way I was going to let him," the man sipped his bourbon.

"I'm pretty sure he jizzed on me when I was unconscious in the back of the van. My tights were wet when I woke up and I'm sure it was cum," Kimberly smiled provocatively.

"A small price to pay. Joe thinks the ransom money is safe and sound; he's as clueless as the rest," the man grinned.

A boarding call was made for flight AA 283 to Honolulu and they finished their drinks and walked hand in hand to the boarding gate.

Just as Adele was dropping Kimberly off at LAX for her flight to Missionville, a young man by the name of Joe Brady was walking down Melrose Avenue window shopping. He was imagining all the things he could buy once his share of the ransom money went into his account.

Distracted by goods in the high-end retail outlets he didn't notice the black SUV pull up to the curb until two burly men manhandled him into the back and put a hood over his head.

*****

Adele took a call from Cassie later that same morning and was pleasantly surprised when Cassie asked if they could meet. Adele agreed and Cassie arrived at Adele's law firm thirty minutes later and was ushered into Adele's office.

Cassie was wearing her black pencil skirt with the kick-pleat, a pristine white satin blouse, nearly-nude fifteen denier hosiery and patent-leather black high heels. Adele couldn't help but admire her. Knowing that Cassie was also trans had played on Adele's conscience and she wondered if Cassie had the same thoughts about her.

When they were settled and Adele had served coffee they got down to business.

"I didn't expect to hear from you again," Adele smiled at Cassie.

Cassie smiled back.

"I know you told me to drop the investigation Adele but there were some elements to the kidnapping that just didn't make sense to me and it was an itch I had to scratch," Celia began.

"Such as?" Adele sipped her coffee.

"That video of Amanda Palmer fucking Oliver Randal in his office; didn't you ever wonder where the kidnappers got the video from?" Cassie asked.

Adele frowned. She hadn't.

"Amanda Palmer took it with her phone. She was going to blackmail Oliver Randal with it if her plan to sue him in court fell through," Adele replied.

"Yes I get it. But where did the kidnappers get it from?" Cassie touched Adele's hand lightly.

Adele paled.

"Steven Baker forensically examined Amanda's phone. He retrieved her call log and the incriminating texts and emails that Oliver Randal had sent her," Adele explained.

"And where is Steven Baker now?" Cassie asked.

"Fuck! He took two weeks' vacation when I tanked the case," Adele growled.

"That fuck! He had access to everything! He planted the software on my computer... the whatchamacallit!"

"The encrypted dropbox. He knew everything Adele. He not only kidnapped Kimberly and Alisha he was able to monitor the progress of the kidnapping from inside your firm," Cassie said.

"We found the hideout in a warehouse at Central City North. The dungeon was there and a room that looks like it was converted into a small flat where the girls were held. The kidnapping was very well planned and executed."

"That fucker! I want him chased down Cassie! Can you find him?" Adele was furious.

"We have one of the kidnappers Adele. His name is Joe Brady and he's no Rhodes Scholar. We ran the prints we found in the warehouse identified as him as a petty criminal with a couple of pinches for larceny. The idiot rented the warehouse and purchased the Ford Econoline in his own name," Cassie sniggered.

"The guy's shitting himself. Doesn't know if we're the FBI or the Mob and he's telling us everything. Steven Baker was the mastermind; he concocted the kidnapping and did all the planning and all of specialist IT stuff. Joe Brady was there for the grunt work and run-go-fetch. He's a stooge," Cassie smiled smugly.

"Adele I can try to find Steven Baker and trace the money but there's one other thing. Why didn't Kimberly identify Steven as her kidnapper? You said she worked closely with him on the case, that she documented the forensic evidence that Steven found on Amanda Palmer's phone. Even with a ski-mask she would have known it was Steven; she would have recognised his voice if nothing else," Cassie squeezed Adele's hand.

"I interviewed Alisha Common again too; girl on girl. I showed her a picture of Steven Baker and she told me something that the girls swore that they would never tell you. The girls had sex with their captors," Cassie squeezed Adele's hand.

"They were raped?" Adele cried.

"No that's not it Adele. Alisha felt guilty about it because the girls consented, she said that Kimberly encouraged her to comply and that Kimberly seemed a 'little too into it' to quote her. The kidnappers took off their masks during the sex and when I showed her his photo Alisha identified Steven Baker as the man who had sex with Kimberly," Cassie embraced Adele when she collapsed in her arms.

"Kimberly. My daughter faked her own kidnapping," Adele sobbed.

"Yes Adele and she and Steven Baker duped Joe Brady and Alisha Common into thinking it was real. It was sort of like insurance; having a witness and an accomplice who believed that the kidnapping of Kimberly was genuine," Cassie sighed.

"That sneaky little bitch! After all I've done for her; after all Celia has done for her!" Adele cried.

"Was there any change in Kimberly's behaviour prior to this?" Cassie asked.

"She's a young girl barely out of her teens so yes she was very self-centred. When she was younger she was kind and loving; she doted on her birthmother and nursed her through her cancer until she died and then she came to live with us and she was beautiful and engaging," Adele recollected.

"She worked hard at school and was generous with her friends. She bought Alisha home when they first met at UCLA. Alisha is a scholarship student and Kimberly used some of her trust fund money so that they could rent the apartment they share and live a comfortable lifestyle," Adele said.

"The trust fund!" Adele suddenly remembered.

"We did have a huge fight over the trust fund. Kimberly has three million dollars in her trust fund but she can't access the bulk of it until she turns thirty. Her birthmother Tammy wanted it that way to ensure that Kimberly got a good education and worked hard to get the things she wanted. She didn't want her daughter to be another trust fund kid who turned into a spoiled young adult living an idle life on investments."

"I hate to say it Adele but it seems that Kimberly just couldn't wait," Cassie stroked Adele's hair affectionately.

Adele broke their embrace and sat bold upright.

"I need to call Celia! I need to make sure Celia doesn't let Kimberly out of her sight until you and I go to Missionville and confront Kimberly!" Adele said with resolve.

"Cool your jets Adele. Where is Kimberly now?" Cassie asked.

"She's flying to Missionville Kentucky to spend the week with Celia," Adele replied.

"Well if she's in the air there is nothing we or she can do for a while. Let me get my team to make a few enquiries," Cassie said.

Cassie left Adele lying on her office couch; she was exhausted and emotional, flitting between bouts of sadness and anger. Cassie made a few calls and then she poured herself and Adele generous serves of bourbon whisky. She dimmed the lights and went back to the couch.

Adele made to get up and Cassie waved at her to keep lying down. Adele lifted her head and patted the couch. Cassie sat down and Adele put her head in Cassie's lap. Cassie held the drink so Adele could take a big sip and then put it on the table.

"You're so good to me Cassie," Adele sighed.

"Remember what I said to you at O'Malley's pub, Adele. We are very much the same. We've fought the same battles to be who we are, we suffered indignity and prejudice. We still do. There are men out there who hate us for what we are and plenty of women too," Cassie whispered.

"But we are strong and we are comfortable in our skin, and we are successful and powerful women. We have both overcome tragedy to become who we are. We are sisters Adele," Cassie mussed Adele's hair and smiled down at her.

Adele struggled to sit up and Cassie helped her. Adele leaned into Cassie taking comfort from her.

"Are you married? Are you with someone?" Adele reached for her drink and took a sink.

"Natalie Styles. We're not married but we've been together off and on for a long time. It's complicated," Cassie sighed and reached for own drink.

"Celia and I have a complicated relationship too. We're more alike than we thought," Adele chuckled and Cassie laughed too.

"I'm so confused I've lost track of time. What day is it Cassie?" Adele asked.

"It's Thursday Adele; why?" Cassie asked.

Adele leaned her face into the curtain of Cassie's hair and pressed her lips softly on Cassie's. Cassie remained motionless and at first Adele thought that she'd made a critical mistake.

Then Cassie's lips parted just a little and Adele put her arms around Cassie and kissed her harder. Cassie responded and wrapped her arms around Adele and opened her lips so Adele could explore her mouth with her tongue. The two women kicked off their high heels, stepped out of their skirts and removed their blouses and lay down on the couch locked in a passionate embrace.

There is no way to adequately describe the profound bliss and intense sensuality of two rampant penises caressing through the gossamer skein of silky-sheer pantyhose. The perception of two hard throbbing cocks pressing and rubbing against each other is delightful, and this is what Adele and Cassie experienced as they rutted against each other, tongues intertwined and legs locked.

Cassie lay under Adele, her chest heaving; her breath ragged as they kissed and caressed each other. Adele's cock felt thick and hot against her own engorged penis, her breasts were silky and supple, her nipples engorged. Cassie broke the kiss so she could suckle Adele's breasts and was delighted when she heard Adele gasp. Adele nursed Cassie's head, guiding her face to each of her breasts in turn, delighting in the ripples of pleasure that radiated from her nipples.

Adele eased Cassie's face away from her bosom so that she could reciprocate and she freed Cassie's breasts from her brassiere and sucked and nipped at her pink, rosy nipples. The two gorgeous trans women kissed and humped against each other moaning and gasping.

"It's been so long since I've been with another trans, I forgot how wonderful it is," Cassie sighed.

"So you've missed this then," Adele guided Cassie's hand down between her legs so that Cassie could take her cock in hand.

Cassie squeezed Adele's engorged phallus and slid out from under her, leaving Adele on the couch. She squatted on her knees and freed Adele's erection from the confines of her pantyhose and then lowered her face to it and engulfed it. Adele groaned and placed her hands on Cassie's head and guided her mouth up and down on her swollen appendage.

Cassie used her tongue and lips expertly on Adele's cock; it was a skill she hadn't practised for a while but Cassie was a master and she soon had Adele whimpering with desire. Cassie traced the pulsing veins in Adele's cock with her tongue and then tickled her fraenulum with the tip of her tongue and when Adele pushed at her face in frustration, she opened her mouth and engulfed Adele's phallus and used both her lips on Adele's shaft and her tongue on her glans.

"You better stop unless you want a mouth full of cum," Adele sighed, releasing her grip on Cassie's head.

Cassie climbed back on the couch, lay on her back and opened her legs wide.

"You know what to do Adele; I've wanted this for so long," Cassie sighed.

Adele wanted to fuck Cassie with her pantyhose still on. She loved the feel of nylon-clad legs rubbing together as she fucked. She made a little hole in the front of her own pantyhose and tore out a cock-sized hole in Cassie's pantyhose. Cassie lifted her bottom a little and shoved a pillow under the arch of her back while Adele lubricated her penis.

"Ready honey?" Adele nestled her glans in Cassie's puckered bud.

Cassie nodded and put her hands on Adele's shoulders.

Adele eased her cock inside Cassie's tight anus, stopping frequently to allow Cassie to accommodate her. Cassie grimaced a little but she encouraged Adele to keep pushing herself inside her until Adele's cock was buried up to the hilt.

"Nice?" Adele smiled down at her.

"Lovely. Now fuck me," Cassie smiled up at Adele.

Adele obliged and began to fuck Cassie with long slow stokes, increasing the pace when Cassie encouraged her. Before long Adele was driving her cock in and out of Cassie with energetic enthusiasm, enjoying the velvety feel of Cassie's tight anus. Cassie realised how much she had missed the feel of a steely cock inside her, especially when Adele's cock pressed on her prostate.

"I'm going to come Adele; I can't hold back," Cassie whimpered.

Adele wanted to kiss Cassie but she also wanted to see her come so she leaned back and gripped Cassie's thighs and fucked her hard, slamming her cock deep into Cassie's anus. Adele felt Cassie's anus tighten around her cock and begin to palpitate followed by a geyser of scalding semen erupting from her quivering penis. Adele swooned as she ejaculated deep inside Cassie and Cassie squealed with delight as she orgasmed and felt Adele's cock explode inside her anus.

Adele fell on Cassie and kissed her, Cassie's creamy issue squelched between their bellies. They lay wrapped in each other's embrace, kissing and caressing each other until their climaxes subsided.

After their lovemaking Adele and Celia felt little sheepish.

"I didn't make you do something you didn't want to do, did I?" Adele stroked Cassie's hair.

"Of course I wanted to Adele. I've wanted to since we first met but I try to keep my business and personal lives separate, I don't get intimate with my clients. You can lose your perspective if emotions get involved," Cassie mussed Adele's hair in return.

"But this case is different. It's emotional for you but on some level it's emotional for me too because of who you are... because of who we are," Cassie was interrupted by her phone.

She reached out and snatched the phone off the coffee table.

"I have to take this so why don't you use the bathroom and clean up and I'll let you know what my operatives have uncovered," Cassie said, pointing towards Adele's ensuite bathroom.

Adele changed her nylons, fixed her clothing and makeup and attended to her hair. When she emerged from the bathroom she looked the ever-professional lawyer.

"Kimberly never made her flight to Missionville. She and Steven Baker took an American Airlines flight to Honolulu," Cassie said, shaking her head.

"Find them Cassie. Find them and bring my daughter home. I don't care how long it takes or how much it costs," Adele said resolutely.

*****

Under the Compact of Free Association, U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter the Marshall Islands and they can stay indefinitely. A couple of bribes to immigration officials was all it took for Steven and Kimberly to enter the Republic of the Marshall Islands on their forged U.S. drivers licences.

There are two banks operating in RMI, the Bank of Guam and the Bank of Marshall Islands. The Bank of Guam complies with all U.S. banking legalities and administrative precedents whereas the Bank of Marshall Islands tends to turn a blind eye to these regulations in favour of large depositors. Steven Baker transferred all of the four million dollars ransom money into four separate investment accounts in the Bank of RMI. Steven and Kimberly took a ten-year lease on a small island in Majuro lagoon. Ekino Island is a small, white-beached, coral-fringed paradise with a substantially modernised colonial house and gardens surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Steven and Kimberly employed two local women to perform the domestic duties so that they could enjoy their paradise.

Steven purchased a Stabicraft 2150 fitted with two Yamaha F150 outboard motors which he had shipped in from Australia. This was their main means of transport around Majuro lagoon and could get them to Shoreline in Uliga where there were docking facilities for the boat and gave them access to the commercial area where there were shops, restaurants and bars, albeit not quite world standard. But when you live in paradise, five-star commercial outlets are not essential.

The counterfeiter who had forged their driver's licence was busy manufacturing false passports and once they had them in their possession, Kimberly and Steven could travel the world. It was a four hour flight west to Guam which was a hub into Asia or a four flight east to Honolulu where they could fly to anywhere in the USA and beyond.

Kimberly and Steven figured that once they made their initial outlays, they could maintain a luxurious, leisured lifestyle living on the remainder of the ransom money. Their stipend would be topped up by the balance of Kimberly's trust fund when she turned thirty. Adele had done such good job setting up the trust that only Kimberly or her children, if she ever had any, could access the fund.

Within three months of arriving in RMI Kimberly and Steven had insinuated themselves into the Expat community. Many U.S. citizens and Australian and New Zealand nationals with permanent residency lived in Majuro and many Asian families owned businesses on the atoll. The Marshall Islands and Majuro in particular is a cultural melting pot in the eastern belt of Micronesia. It is also surprisingly not very well known about, being off the tourist trail and of no real commercial consequence.

Kimberly lay on the pristine white sand of Ekino Island sunning herself and working on her already bronzed tan. Ehukai and Iwalani, the two 'house-Marys' were cleaning the house and preparing lunch; Steve would be back soon in the boat. He had gone into Uliga to attend to business and to do some shopping, they were getting low on beer.

She surveyed the small islets that ringed Majuro Lagoon: little palm tree strewn enclaves circling the pristine blue waters. Kimberly adored the lifestyle but was anxious for their passports to arrive so that she and Steve could take a long awaited holiday to Europe.

Kimberly heard the crunch of feet on sand and expected to see either Ehukai or Iwalani bringing her a drink and was surprised to see an attractive tall, long-legged woman wearing a black one-piece bathing suit and a colourful sarong approaching. Her black shoulder-length hair was professionally styled with subtle ruby highlights. She looked to be in her forties but she had a toned body and firm breasts. She sported tattoos on her upper arms, torso and thighs.

The woman smiled as she approached. She had a large straw basket slung over her shoulder and was swinging a pair of sandals from her left hand.

"Hi," the woman said as she came closer.

"Hi yourself. Do you know this is a private island?" Kimberly replied a little curtly.

"Oh shithouse mouse! I told the guy driving the boat that I wanted to go to Eneko Island. Is this not Eneko Island?" the woman looked troubled.

Eneko Island is one of Majuro's most beautiful and accessible beach getaways, owned by the Reimers family; they rent out the small rustic cottages on the island by the day or the week.

"Those guys sometimes get confused between Ekino and Eneko Islands, especially if their English isn't good. It's an honest mistake," Kimberly sat up on her beach towel.

"I'm sorry; I'll call Shoreline and get them to send me a boat," the woman rummaged in her bag to find her phone.

"Hey. Don't worry about it. We don't get that many visitors to our island so it's nice to have another ri-belle visit. Stay for lunch; my boyfriend will be back in our boat soon and he can take you to Eneko after," Kimberly smiled.

Ri-belle, pronounced ree-bellie, is Marshallese for white-skinned person.

"I feel like I'm intruding," the dark haired woman said.

"Nonsense; I'm Janet Williams," Kimberly Edwards said and held out her hand.

"I'm Kelsey Reka," Cassandra Rivers replied and shook Kimberly's hand.

"Come join me in the cabana, I'll get Ehukai and Iwalani to bring us some drinks and lay out lunch," Kimberly started to walk towards a bamboo cabana with a palm frond roof and beckoned Cassie to follow.

"Kelsey Reka, that's an unusual name," Kimberly smiled and she was beautiful.

Cassie realised why Adele adored her daughter.

"It's of German origin. My ancestors had a trading post here in the Marshall's in the eighteen hundreds and traded in copra. I'm a hopeless romantic when it comes to family history and I decided to finally come to RMI on holiday to see it for myself," Cassie said.

"It's a beautiful place," Kimberly smiled again.

"My boyfriend was a broker on Wall Street and made a fortune before the market crashed. Lucky for me he got out when he did and we decided to give up the rat-race and settle here," Kimberly recited their backstory by rote.

Iwalani brought the women two ice-cold XXXX Bitter beers. Despite the Republic's long association with the USA, the Queensland brewed ale is the Island's favourite beer.

"Those tattoos are interesting, especially the one you have there of a woman riding a motorbike," Kimberly pointed to the tattoo with words 'Biker Bitch' inked underneath it.

"Some would say I had misspent youth. I would say I've had an adventurous life," Cassie grinned.

"Yeah I get it. To a misspent youth," Kimberly proposed a toast and they raised their bottles, chinked them together and drank.

"Hey, here comes Johnathan now and he's motoring," Kimberly sometimes found it difficult to refer to Steven Baker by his new name Johnathan Drake.

The Stabicraft was hammering along at full throttle throwing out a large wake, bouncing over the wavelets. It barely slowed down as the driver cut the engine and the boat slid up the beach ending up halfway out of the water.

Steven Baker began sprinting towards the cabana screaming at the top of his lungs.

"He seems excited," Cassie casually sipped her beer.

"Something's got him riled that's for sure," Kimberly frowned.

"It's gone! Kimberly it's all gone! The money's gone!" the women heard him shout as he got close enough to hear.

Steven was panting and close to exhaustion by the time he got to the cabana.

He came to a sudden stop nearly falling over in the soft sand when he saw who was sitting with Kimberly.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" Steven was stunned.

"Hello Kimberly; your mothers send their regards," Cassie took a small silver automatic pistol out of her straw basket and put on the table within easy reach.

"Come and take a seat Steven; we have so much to talk about," Cassie smiled and waved him over.

"Who the fuck is she Steven?" Kimberly was still dumbfounded.

"She's Cassandra Rivers. Adele hired her to find you when I kidnapped you," Steven slid onto the bench beside Kimberly.

"And now I've found you," Cassie grinned.

"Steven isn't the only IT guru around; I have a couple of pretty good ones who work for me too. It took me a while to track you two down but when I did it didn't take long for my guys to find the money. They've just transferred it somewhere safe," Cassie took another sip of beer.

"Can I get another one of these before leave? They're delicious," Cassie waved her empty bottle at the house-Marys who were standing at a respectable distance, waiting to serve lunch.

"Where do you think we are going?" Kimberly said petulantly.

"Well you can stay here with your forged documents and no money and I can alert the appropriate authorities or you can come with me to Amata Kabua International Airport and board the private jet I've hired to take you home and explain yourself to Adele and Celia," Cassie took the ice-cold XXXX beer that Iwalani brought to her.

"What about Steven?" Kimberly said sullenly.

"What about Steven?" Cassie looked at him indifferently but she moved the pistol a little closer to her.

"My instructions are to bring you back. I have no instructions as to what to do with Steven," Cassie took another sip of beer.

"I won't go back without him," Kimberly snapped.

"Then I guess you're coming with us too Steve. If you want to that is?" Cassie smiled at Steven Baker who was still overwhelmed with the turn of events.

"Here comes our ride now," Cassie nodded at the two high-powered motorboats approaching the Island.

Even at this distance it was possible to see that the two occupants in each of the boats were big burly men.

Kimberly began to cry softly.

"What do you think Adele is going to say when I get home?" Kimberly whimpered.

"Oh I think Adele is going to be quite reasonable. It's Celia I'd be concerned about," Cassie finished her beer and slapped the bottle down on the table.

The End

Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this story. I have tried to make it as factual as possible but it is fiction. As usual I request that you leave your comments, concerns and criticisms. Feedback stimulates me and encourages me to hopefully be a better a writer.

PS a special prize for anyone who remembers where the name Kelsey Reka came from.

Michele Nylons, July 2020.