Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 George Douglas 22

   Jason was pissed off!  First of all he lost his virgin, and he had great
plans for that girl.  And then he saw his girl, Charlotte, talking to some
old dame.  He'd have to find out what she'd been saying.

   He watched from the window as Charlotte walked away from the woman, she
turned and seemed to follow where the woman went before turning back to
walk to his house.  When she was by the door he pulled it open.  He checked
to make sure that nobody had followed Charlotte to his door and then
dragged her inside.

   "Oww!  You're hurting me," Charlotte complained.

   "Hurting you?  You ain't felt anything yet!  Now what did that old bat
ask you?" Jason demanded.

   "She wanted to know if I'd seen her dog!  I told her I hadn't and then
she walked on.  I made sure she wasn't following me and then I came here!"
Jason thought for a moment and then released the girl.

   "Good thinking.  You don't want others to know about this do you." He
left her standing in the middle of the room as he walked round her.  "Yeah!
Nice.  You look like a young school girl like that."

   `I am a school girl!' Charlotte thought to herself.  Then she remembered
the words of the old woman - hold on she didn't sound that old!

   "Come on girl I want you in the next room.  It's all set up." Charlotte
was pulled from her thoughts as Jason opens the door to the other room, a
mattress was lying on the floor and there were video cameras surrounding
it.

   "Now I want you to undress to your knickers and then start to play with
yourself. . ." Jason started to tell her.  And then he detailed what else
she was going to do.  As she started to pull the jumper over her head she
felt tears forming in her eyes.

   -------

   "And you just left the poor girl there!" Sir Timothy was angry with
Clark.  "Why couldn't you have pulled her away?"

   "Do you think I didn't consider that?  Hell if I thought it would have
helped her I would have!  But I had to think about what would happen! 
Jason would have smelt a rat so large he'd have panicked.  He's already
lost one girl and if he thinks she spoken out then he's going to be on a
knife edge.  You saw how he looked around before he took Charlotte inside."

   Sir Timothy nodded.  He'd seen the same type of look on a hunted animal.
"I just don't like the idea of leaving a young girl with a man like that."

   Clark didn't answer, he didn't need to!  He'd already suffered in
silence as Su, Kathy and he came back from the park.  Neither wanted to
talk to him as both were condemning him for deserting Charlotte.  When the
car had arrived at the house Kathy had run from the car into the house. 
And Su had just gotten out without a word.  Although obviously she had
spoken to Sir Timothy as Clark was summoned to his office.

   "If there was any way I could safely remove her from that park I would
have done!" Clark said finally.

   Sir Timothy finally sat down at his desk.  "I suppose you're right. 
Well there's nothing we can do about it now.  Although I would suggest that
we try to rescue her as soon as possible, I'd suggest tonight."

   Clark looked at him, "How would you suggest that?  Send a couple of
bobbies around to pick her up?"

   Sir Timothy shook his head.  "No, I think that might be too much for
her. I was considering letting Kathy give her a phone call and inviting her
here."

   Clark looked blankly for a moment and then his face cleared.  "And I
suppose you'll have Jessica down for dinner as well?"

   Sir Timothy looked straight at the seal for a moment before saying, "You
know, I hadn't thought of that." He made a note on his PDA.  "Yes, that
would be fine.  We'll let the girls have their own dinner in their common
room, perhaps with Su with them as well."

   Jameson entered the room in response to Sir Timothy's PDA call.  "Yes,
Sir Timothy."

   "Jameson, would you kindly ask Miss Webb if she'll see me.  I would also
like Su to be with her," Sir Timothy said to him.

   "Certainly Sir Timothy." He took a sideways glance at Clark.  "May I
enquire if Detective Sergeant Clark will be remaining?"

   Sir Timothy hid his smirk.  "Yes Jameson.  I do understand that both Su
and Kathy are not too happy with him, but he is remaining."

   "Yes sir.  Shall I give the doctor any advance notice?" Jameson
delivered this with a straight face.

   "No, I don't think Mary should be disturbed by this.  I think Su will be
able to control her instincts," Sir Timothy said with a smile.

   "Very well sir.  I will inform them immediately." Jameson bowed and left
the room.

   "I could go if you want," Clark said uncomfortably

   "No, your reasons were correct.  I won't say they were right but they
were correct.  This is why you are going to be at the dinner with the
girls," Sir Timothy told him, "Think of it as a PR lesson."

   "Thanks!  I think," Clark said.

   A knock at the door showed that Kathy and Su had arrived.  Both men rose
from their seats as the two entered.  The two pointedly didn't look at
Clark as they greeted Sir Timothy and sat down.

   Sir Timothy and Clark both sat, and Sir Timothy started to speak.  "I
understand your feelings about this and I have discussed it with DS Clark
here.  However I can follow his reasoning behind his decision and I back it
up."

   "But Sir Timothy!  He let that poor girl enter that place without caring
about what was going to happen to her!" Su said angrily.

   "That's not true Su.  I did care!  You can't imagine what I was going
through when I gave you that order!" Clark said quietly.

   "But what if it was me, or Sharon or Cathy?" Kathy asked him.

   Clark looked at her and she could see the pain in his eyes.  "I'm sorry
Kathy, but I would have to do the same thing.  We have to let him think
that he's getting away with this, to put him at ease.  But the raid is
going ahead tomorrow.  We need to ensure that he's not disturbed."

   Kathy looked at him, "But what if Charlotte is there tomorrow.  What's
going to happen then?"

   Sir Timothy spoke up at that point.  "She won't be!  Because tonight she
is going to be here!" At Kathy's look he continued.  "I want you to phone
her up and ask her to dinner tonight, invite her for a . . .  what do you
call it.  Oh yes!  A sleepover."

   "But Sir Timothy.  I don't think her father would allow her to do that!"
Kathy said, "At least not if I ask her."

   Sir Timothy nodded his head, "Okay then, ask your mother to phone!"

   Kathy shook her head.  "Oh no, please don't because she'll ask why!  And
I haven't told my parents yet!"

   Sir Timothy rubbed his eyes.  With everything that had happened he
hadn't realised that it was only a few days since the girls had arrived in
the house with their parents.  So much had happened since then.

   "Do you want to tell them?  They do deserve to know," Sir Timothy asked
her softly.

   "I'm . . .  I'm scared!" Kathy confessed to him.  "They might not
understand and blame me!"

   Sir Timothy shook his head.  "I'm sure they won't, Kathy.  They'll
understand.  But do you want Jessica to be here when you do tell them?"

   Kathy thought for a moment and then nodded.  Sir Timothy picked up a
phone and dialled a number.  "Hello Jessica.  Yes I'm sorry to disturb you.
No, I'm not trying to persuade you.  It just that I have Kathy here and
she's going to be talking to her parents about her problem!  Yes, it is
necessary!  We may also have another patient for you.  The girl Charlotte!
I thought that might get you interested.  I'll have a car pick you up? 
Fine.  Thank you Jessica.  I'll see you soon." Sir Timothy put the phone
down and made a note in his PDA which gave a melodious bleep.

   "Jessica will be with us shortly," he said and then turned his attention
to Su and Kathy.  "Now then, as much as I'm aware of your feelings with
regards to this situation I want you to put them aside.  DS Clark has told
me that he feels just as bad about this as you both do.  But our ultimate
aim is to get Jason and anyone else he's working with behind bars."

   "But he never told us that!" Kathy said accusingly.

   "You both never gave me the chance.  I promise you I'm not the bad guy
here." Clark tried to defend himself.

   "I suppose it's because Charlotte has already been defiled that you do
not believe she can be treated even worse?" Su asked him.

   "God no Su.  It's not like that at all.  This bastard was going to sell
Kathy's virginity on the web.  He's capable of many other things.  Which is
why we've got to stop him, but on our terms.  It's got to be so airtight
that fog couldn't get out of it.  If we'd pulled Charlotte away there and
then he could have shut up shop, left the area and we'd never know where he
went.  We have to have you inside the house to stop him.  Anyone else would
be too scared of him to help us, even Charlotte," Clark tried to explain.

   Kathy's mouth went wide at his words.  She remembered what Charlotte had
said one day when they were together.  `You know Kathy, I've a good mind to
give up, kill myself off if it would get me away from him!' Kathy wasn't
sure if she meant it or not but there again . . .

   "Sir Timothy do you mind if I call Charlotte now?" she asked.  The tone
of her voice made Sir Timothy look sharply at her.

   "Are you sure you should Kathy, it might be upsetting for you," he said,
sounding kindly and concerned.

   "I think I might have to.  I think Charlotte may need help," she said.

   Sir Timothy handed her a mobile phone.  "Try this, it doesn't go through
the house system and anything you say will be private."

   Kathy thanked him and went to a corner of the room.  She dialled the
number that she'd memorised.

   -------------

   Charlotte was lying on her bed crying.  She felt alone and frightened.
She wanted to tell her father what Jason had been doing to her, but she was
scared.  She knew he had some tablets in the bathroom, she wasn't sure what
they were, but she knew that if she took enough of them it wouldn't matter.

   But she was too scared even to try that!  She sobbed again into her
pillow.  She'd tried phoning Kathy, but got no reply from her.  And Jason
had said that Kathy was taught a lesson and that she'd never be showing her
face in the town at all.  That was something else Jason had stolen from
her. Her friend!

   The ringing of the phone downstairs made her freeze.  It couldn't be
Jason again!  Not so soon.  She was still aching after the things he did
earlier!  Her dad called from downstairs.  It was a call for her, a girl.
Charlotte cringed.  She hoped it wasn't Rachael or Nicola; they're part of
Jason's set of girls like she was.  With dread she slowly walked down the
stairs to the phone.

   "Don't be on there too long!" her dad said.  "I've got some bets to
make." That was another thing.  Her dad was getting some money from
somewhere.  It didn't make any sense to her but he told her it was his
winnings.  He never used to gamble so much.

   She picked up the receiver dreading which voice she'd hear.  "H ...
hello?" she said.

   "Charlotte is that you?" said a voice that she didn't recognise for a
moment and then . . .

   "Kathy is that you?  How are you?  He said you'd gone!" She didn't need
to say Jason's name.  Both girls knew who HE was!

   "I'm still here!  Only I've moved for a bit.  Listen Charlotte you have
to come here for dinner and a sleepover!" Kathy told her

   "How?  There's school tomorrow!  Dad would shit bricks if I missed it!"
she said, quietly so that her father wouldn't hear her.

   "Don't worry about that.  Just tell him that you'll be going onto school
in the morning."

   "But I can't just skip school!" Charlotte tried to find excuses.

   "Like today?" That stopped her.  How did Kathy know about today?  Then
the words of that woman came back to her `please don't worry, Kathy says
courage!' "You were in the park today!  You weren't that old woman?"

   Kathy's laugh on the other end somehow made Charlotte cry again.  "Oh
Kathy!  You weren't that woman in the park were you?"

   Kathy understood the sound that Charlotte was making and quickly said,
"Charlotte!  I want you to come here.  I'll get my mummy to phone your dad
and get him to agree.  But even if he doesn't we'll be round to pick you
up, okay?"

   Charlotte was puzzled now but she quickly agreed to Kathy's plan and
hung up.  She went to her father.  "Dad, Kathy's asked if I could go to her
house for dinner today, she says I can stay overnight?"

   Her father looked up from the television and looked at her.  "What about
school?" He asked and then thought for a moment before saying , "Kathy? 
That kid?  Well I suppose so.  But you better not miss school." She ran
upstairs missing his final word, "again!"

   He looked to his computer in the corner of the room.  His friend Jason
was kind enough to sell it to him along with a web-site address.  Tonight
he wouldn't have to hide the pictures from his daughter.

   ----------------

   Kathy thanked Sir Timothy for the use of his phone.  "Why did you need
to contact Charlotte?" he asked her.

   Kathy bit her lip.  "It was something that she once said to me.  About
not being able to cope with things if they got worse.  I didn't want her to
do anything foolish." She looked at Sir Timothy.  "I think she was close,
she'd been told that I'd gone away and that was making her even lonelier. I
wish she could have come with us today."

   Sir Timothy just nodded.  He went to his PDA and entered a few commands.
He looked at Su and Clark.  "I want you both to dress up for this dinner,
it's going to be a fun affair, and you will enjoy yourselves while there.
And that's an order!" he said smiling to show that he wasn't really giving
an order.

   Clark nodded and got up.  He offered his hand to Su who graciously took
it.  She looked at him and shook her head slightly.  "I still do not agree
with what you said.  But as long as Charlotte is alright I will be
satisfied."

   ------

   Jessica found a car waiting for her outside her door.  `Sir Timothy's
organisation was certainly prompt' she thought to herself as the driver,
female!  Jessica noted, opened the door for her.

   "Good afternoon Doctor.  My name is Tammy," the driver identified
herself.  I have been informed that all necessary information is on the
seat in the car.  If you have any further questions I've been told that Sir
Timothy will be pleased to see you when we arrive."

   "Thank you Tammy," Jessica said as she entered the car.  Once the door
was closed behind her she found a small envelope on the seat beside her,
when she opened it there was a CD inside.  She looked at it for a moment
before she asked, "How do I use this?"

   Tammy glanced up into the mirror.  "I'm sorry Doctor the computer is on
your right hand side and the disk should auto-load."

   Jessica found the computer, a lap-top version.  and raised the lid.  She
switched it on an opened the CD drive, inserted the disk and closed it. 
There was the normal wait for the software to boot in.

   After a while the screen cleared and Sir Timothy's face appeared.  "Good
afternoon Mr.  Phelps!" He smiled, "You know I've always wanted to be able
to say that." then his face went serious.  "We may need your help with
Charlotte.  When surveying the park Charlotte was found to be `visiting'
Jason.  Our man on the spot decided to let her go ahead as we were not in a
position to arrest Jason." He held up his hand as if forestalling any
outburst that Jessica might have made.  "I understand if you're angry with
this.  It is the general feeling of everybody here.  The intention was good
- but then the road to hell etc., etc."

   Jessica was angry, how dare they treat a vulnerable young girl like
that! Whoever had decided that needed burning in oil!  She was determined
to speak to Sir Timothy about his organisation's ethics!

   She suddenly noticed that she was now watching a film.  "This is the
path leading to the lake in the park - the target location is that building
near the lake, it used to be a boat house but the parks department stopped
people using it some years ago, it's currently down as being used by the
park keeper for equipment and records.  What type of records is not clear!"
Then a young girl in school uniform appeared in the picture.  "This is one
of the target's victims.  As we were not equipped to make a rescue and
arrest I reluctantly allowed her to go ahead." The camera went behind a
tree and kept an eye on the young girl.  Jessica watched as a man opened
the door of the house and pulled the girl in, and then the head appeared
again looking around to make sure the coast was clear.

   Jessica made a note on a pad she always carried with her, and continued
to watch the film.  "The person making the film was able to talk to this
girl, Charlotte, only to quickly pass on a message - `don't worry - Kathy
says courage' Jessica frowned at that point, remembering what the previous
dialogue had said they might have been building up the poor girl's
confidence for no obvious reason.  She decided that she wanted to have a
word with the person in charge of that team.

   She continued watching the film and then there were some notes for her
to read.  She was engrossed in the reports and didn't notice that the car
had arrived at the house until Jameson opened the car door.

   "Good afternoon, Doctor," he said as she exited the car.

   "Good afternoon Jameson.  I would like to see Sir Timothy now if it's
possible." Although the tone of her voice said that she wanted to see him
now.

   "I believe Sir Timothy has anticipated your request.  If you'll
accompany me I'll take you to his office," Jameson said in his normal
unhurried meter of speaking.  Jessica waited for a moment in order to thank
Tammy for her driving.  Jessica prided herself that she did let people know
that they were appreciated.

   Jameson waited patiently until Jessica was ready and then led the way to
Sir Timothy's office.  Once she was there Jameson opened the door.  Jessica
was almost ready to moan at Sir Timothy when she noticed that Kathy was
there with two other people.

   "Ah Jessica, there you are.  Now you know Kathy, of course.  These are
her parents Frank and Nicola.  Frank, Nicola this is Dr.  Jessica.  She's
been looking after your daughter for a couple of days."

   Frank shook hands with Jessica but seemed puzzled, "I'm sorry Doctor, I
thought Mary was the doctor here."

   Jessica looked at Sir Timothy who didn't meet her eyes.  "Mary is the
medical doctor, my field is psychology." Frank almost dropped her hand and
his head whipped round to look at Kathy who was studying the floor closely
with her eyes.

   "And that, I think, is my cue to leave you four together," Sir Timothy
said as he left the room.

   "Why does Kathy need a psychologist, what has happened to her?" Nicola
said moving closer to her daughter.  Frank took up position beside Kathy so
that the girl was between both of her them.

   Jessica smiled to herself, but she schooled herself not to show this to
any of the three before her.  "I'm glad you're both protecting your
daughter.  She has been through a lot and needs your love and support."

   "But why?  What has happened to her here?" Frank demanded.

   "Oh dad, it wasn't anything here.  I've been safer here than I've been
at home," Kathy finally said.

   "But we haven't been hard on you have we love?" Frank asked Kathy
softly.

   "No dad.  You and mum have been the best ever.  It was him!  He was the
one that ruined my life!" Kathy started to cry

   Jessica noticed how the parents closed in on their daughter to support
her and nodded.  She now approached them and spoke in a low voice.  "Frank,
Nicola!  Kathy has a story to tell you.  I want you to hold from asking any
questions until she finishes.  I warn you that it will make you angry, but
remember none of this is Kathy's fault."

   Frank shot a glance at Jessica who just shook her head.  "Alright love,
you know we love you.  Now tell us all about it!" he gently said to Kathy.

   Kathy gulped a bit, trying to hold back the tears.  "It started a couple
of weeks ago, when I was going though the park . . ." she started.

   --------------------

   Charles Clark wasn't satisfied with his tie.  He couldn't understand it!
It's not as if it's a bowtie either.  He was trying for a Windsor knot but
it just hung there, defying him.  He pulled it apart again and tried once
more.  This time it seemed to remain as he wanted it to.  He'd had to be
satisfied with that.

   If he'd been going to a meeting at the station he wouldn't be so
nervous. There was something about that Cathy that bothered him.  And it
was rubbing off on Sharon!  How they were going to react when he appeared
he dreaded to think.

   He checked his jacket to make sure it was fit for the dinner that Sir
Timothy had indicated would be served.  Then he realised that there was
still over an hour before the dinner would be ready.  He sat down and tried
to steady his nerves.

   There was a light knock at his door.  "Come in." he called.  Cathy
entered the room.  Clark got up; he was going to be polite no matter how
the girl was going to moan at him.

   "I know why you did it, but you should have explained things properly to
both Su and Kathy," were the first words that Cathy said to him.

   This wasn't what he expected at all; he sat down heavily in his seat and
looked at the young girl regarding him.  "I . . .  I . . ." He started to
say but stopped.  "Cathy, you surprised me!" he finally said.  "I expected
you to be so annoyed with me that you were going to tell me not to bother
going to the dinner," he added.

   Cathy gave a small smile.  "Oh I wouldn't do that!" she said, "Because I
know why Sir Timothy wants you to be there."

   "And why is that?" Clark was interested to hear her reasoning.

   "It's obvious isn't it?" At his blank look she sighed in false
annoyance. "Well, Charlotte is going to be there, and you're going to
apologise to her!" Cathy finished.  As Clark's face started to cloud over
she added, "Well, you were the one who decided that she'd have to carry on
with that Jason, weren't you?"

   "Yes!  But you said you understood why I did it?" Clark asked mystified.

   "Yes, I understand why!  But Charlotte won't!  You're going to have to
explain it to her!" She smiled as she saw Clark's face drop.

   "That's going to be very difficult to do," Clark admitted.

   "Nobody said things were easy in this life," Cathy said wisely.  Clark
just stared at her.

   "Once in a while you say something that you shouldn't have any knowledge
of!  But you act as if you know exactly what you mean.  How do you do
that?" Clark asked her.

   Cathy shrugged.  "I donno!  It's as if something is whispering in my
ear, prompting me!"

   Clark smiled, she seem to take it seriously.  "So what is the something
prompting you to say at the moment?" he asked her.

   She cocked her head to one side and then looked at him.  "For one thing,
be honest with Charlotte, she's going to need a lot of help in the near
future.  And for another. . ." she paused.

   "Yes?  For another?" Clark prompted.

   "You need to change your tie!  That knot's atrocious!" she said smiling
and ran out of the room.

   Clark shook his head and then regarded the tie in a mirror.  She was
right, that knot was wrong!  He went to a wardrobe and found another tie,
this time there was no problem with the knot.  He paused for a few moments.
`There is definitely something about that girl!' he thought to himself.

   -----------------------

   Back in Sir Timothy's office Kathy had finished telling her parents
about Jason.  All of them were crying and Frank was hugging his daughter
close to him.

   "I'm sorry Kathy, but why didn't you tell either of us about it?  We
would have stopped him!" he told his daughter.

   "Because I thought I broke the law and you'd be mad at me.  I didn't
want the police to have to come to our house," Kathy gulped.

   "But Kathy, you didn't break the law, and we wouldn't have been mad at
you," Nicola said softly.  "All you had to do was to just say something."

   "I couldn't because after that first day I was too frightened, and then
after that second day I was too ashamed." Kathy told her.

   "Because of what this Jason had made you do?" Frank asked.

   But Kathy shook her head.  "Not really that!" she admitted.

   "Of what then?"

   Kathy started crying again, "You're going to hate me!" she said.  It
took both Frank and Nicola a few minutes to calm her before she was able to
speak again, "Well, Charlotte and I went back to her house.  I felt so
dirty after . . .  after . . ." She went quiet again.

   "It's alright Kathy we understand," Nicola said while holding onto her.

   "No you don't.  While we were together at her house . . .  She . . . 
she showed me how to make it feel good," she confessed.  Frank looked blank
but Nicola opened her mouth in surprise.

   "You mean she soothed you by touching your body," she quietly said to
Kathy.

   "You're not mad?" Kathy asked her mother, the tear still falling down
her cheeks.

   Nicola shook her head.  "No darling I'm not mad at you, I'm happy that
you found someone who was able to help you."

   "But now Charlotte's in pain and needs my help!" Kathy said and
explained what Charlotte had told her.  Nicola's face seemed to lighten to
a pale colour.

   "And you say Sir Timothy has arranged a dinner for her?" she asked.

   "Yes, I've phoned her up and asked her but I think it would be better if
someone . . ."

   "What's her phone number?" Nicola asked - Jessica was watching Nicola
closely, the family had forgotten she was in the room.  Nicola's reaction
wasn't what she expected.  Jessica handed Nicola her mobile phone and
watched as she dialled the number Kathy had given her.

   "Hello Mr.  Ferris?  I'm Kathy's mother. . .  Yes she did . . .  Oh
good. . .  We'll be along soon to pick her up . . .  Yes, we'll get her to
school tomorrow.  Good, yes we will, goodbye." And she hung up.  She handed
the phone back to Jessica with thanks and then turned to Kathy who was
still in Frank's arms.

   "Her father had already agreed, Charlotte is packing an overnight bag.
Now do you want to come with me?" Nicola asked Kathy who ran into her arms.

   "You don't mind Charlotte coming here?" she asked her mother.

   Nicola shook her head, "Of course not.  She been victimised just like
you have, she needs our help.  And more importantly she's your friend."

   Kathy then pulled away slightly.  "Mummy?  How are we going to pick her
up?  We haven't got a car here!"

   Nicola was at a loss as to how to answer the question so Jessica spoke
up.  "I'm sure if you asked Sir Timothy he'll be able to get you a car."

   Kathy smiled at her and pulled out the PDA that she'd been given. 
Nicola looked at it in surprise.  Kathy found the icon she needed and
touched it.  The PDA gave a small `ping' and was silent again.  The door to
the room opened and Jameson entered.

   "Yes Miss Kathy?" he asked.

   But it was Nicola who answered.  "Is it possible to ask Sir Timothy if
we could have a car to pick up Charlotte?"

   Jameson smiled at her.  "One has already been arranged; it will be
waiting outside when you're ready," he informed her.

   Kathy covered her mouth.  "Oh mummy, we can't go in one of these cars.
Charlotte's dad would think something was wrong if we arrive in one of
those."

   "That's already been though of, Miss Kathy.  The car is a normal one, so
that no-one will know," Jameson informed her.

   "Thank you Jameson," Kathy said relieved, and then she turned to Frank.
"Are you coming, daddy?" she asked.

   Frank shook his head.  "That's okay darling, I'll stay here so that
you'll have enough room in the car." Kathy beamed at him and took Nicola's
hand.  The two of them went through the door to the hallway.

   "Will there be anything else?" Jameson asked.

   Jessica shook her head.  "Not just yet Jameson.  But can you ensure that
nobody enters this room until we've finished," she asked him.

   Jameson nodded and left.  Frank looked at Jessica.  "What do you mean
until we finish?"

   Jessica looked at him in the eye.  "You need to talk about this," she
told him.

   "What's there to talk about?  My daughter's been molested by a stranger.
She's been blackmailed into having pictures taken of her.  She's been
involved with another girl!  And you tell me I need to talk about it?" He
shook his head.  "I don't want to talk I just want to get my hands on that
bastard and kill him."

   Jessica nodded.  "That's understandable.  He's hurt your daughter and
you want to hurt him."

   Frank shook his head, "Oh no.  I don't want to hurt him.  I want to make
sure that he can't do that again!  What can I do?" he sat down and put his
head in his hands.  "My poor girl; I should have stopped him!"

   Jessica sighed.  This was the reaction she expected; at least he waited
until Kathy was out of the room.

   "Frank.  You can't watch over her all the time.  This wasn't your fault!
It wasn't even Kathy's.  Jason's a predator, a spider spinning a web. 
Kathy's one of a long line of victims.  What she needs now is understanding
and comfort."

   "But why couldn't she have told us?  We would have understood and
stopped it." He was angry.  At himself, at Jason, at the whole world!

   "Children are scared of how adults react.  And for her age she's still a
child," Jessica said softly.

   "I know I've never really been at home for her.  It just difficult to be
there all the time," Frank started to say.

   "But nobody's blaming you for this.  Kathy was just in the wrong place.
If it wasn't her it would have been someone else's daughter.  At least she
was able to tell somebody about this.  If she'd kept it bottled in I
wouldn't like to say what would have happened," Jessica said.

   Frank looked at her.  "Why?  What might have happened?" he wanted to
know.

   Jessica looked away for a moment before speaking, "Sometimes the
feelings are too much and they can't be stopped.  The victim feels that she
cannot tell anyone about it and starts to get depressed."

   Frank just looked at her.  "But you can treat depression, can't you?" he
asked.

   Jessica nodded.  "Oh yes, it's not difficult to treat.  It's just
getting to them in time!  Otherwise they're beyond anyone's help.  Your
heard how Kathy was concerned for Charlotte.  It wasn't just because they
were friends.  She knew that Charlotte might try to find another way out."

   Frank realised what was being said.  "You mean she might have killed
herself?" Jessica didn't answer but just nodded her head.

   "But that's ridiculous.  It's not something that you'd do yourself in
for!" he said.

   "Yes, it is." Jessica said, "You'd be surprised at what will cause a
person to kill themselves.  It's part of my job to convince them that they
can get over it without giving up."

   "And are you successful?" Frank asked.

   "Mostly," Jessica replied thinking about the few that she had failed.

   Frank noticing her change in mood decided not to let her dwell on her
answer.  "So what can we do with Kathy?  It's going to be pointless
pretending that it didn't happen."

   Jessica pulled herself back from her thoughts.  "Well actually what
you've done so far has been the best thing for her." Frank looked at her
quizzically.  "You didn't reject her.  You comforted her and provided
yourselves to her to lean on.  Most importantly you supported her!  I've
known some parents go off the deep end at their children over the smallest
things only to find they've lost their child."

   "We had to.  She's our child and we should be there for her." Frank
tried to defend himself.

   "Of course she is.  And now she recognises that you love her for what
she is you should find that she's going to be more open with any problems
she might have.  I would ask you to be patient with her.  Her life has
altered and you'll have to be understanding about her," Jessica explained.

   "Yes, about that.  Her actions with Charlotte?  Were they normal?  I
mean she's not going to be a lesbian or anything like that?" Frank asked.

   "Why?  Does it disturb you?" Jessica countered.

   Frank thought about it for a few minutes before answering.  "I thought
it should do, but I'm not sure about that now.  But I was looking forward
to seeing my grandchildren in the years ahead."

   Jessica smiled at his answer.  "I wouldn't really worry about it just
yet.  She's young and has been through a bad experience with a man.  It's
natural for her to experiment and just as natural for her to find pleasure
with another female in the same situation.  Give her time and she'll soon
find her feet.  Only don't be surprised at her choice." She watched his
face and then she said.  "I'll leave you to your thoughts.  If you do find
you're having problems just give me a call." She handed him a card with her
telephone number on it.

   Then another thought struck Frank.  "How much do we owe for your
treatment?" he asked.

   Jessica smiled.  "Nothing, Sir Timothy is paying for my time, so don't
worry about that." She then left the room leaving a very thoughtful Frank
behind.

   ------------------

   Kathy looked at the car waiting for them; unlike The Organisation's cars
this one looked ordinary.  The driver opened the passenger doors for them
but Kathy and Nicola sat in the back.  The driver smiled and closed the
doors for them and returned to his seat.

   "Where to madam," he asked.  Kathy gave the address and the driver
nodded.

   As the two settled down in the seats Kathy looked at her mother. 
"Mummy? I haven't upset you have I?" she asked.

   Nicola looked at her daughter and hugged her.  "Of course not!  I'm
sorry that you couldn't tell us what was happening, but I do understand
why. Now we've got to try to help you with it."

   Kathy looked solemn and then she asked, "I'm not sorry about Charlotte
you know.  I mean about what we did."

   Nicola nodded to her, "I know.  I was watching you when you told us.  I
could see you were daring us to be shocked.  Well you've got a lot to learn
about your parents, you know."

   Although she was interested Kathy nevertheless carried on with what she
was trying to say.  "You do know there were times when we just played with
each other, not just because we were told to."

   Nicola just looked at her with a slight amusement.  "I gathered that! 
But I know why.  You wanted to erase the feeling of Jason touching you, and
Charlotte was better than he was." Kathy just looked at her mother.  "I
know.  Girls are better at that than boys; we know what feels good to us
and to use it on others."

   "But that doesn't explain why I feel the same about some people here!"
Kathy finally was able to say.

   "Oh?  Who?  Cathy?" Nicola guessed from the way that Kathy had been
glancing at her friend.

   "Well . . .  Yes, but also Su.  I find myself somehow drawn to her,"
Kathy confessed.

   "Cathy I can understand, she's your age and is very friendly.  Have you
tried to show her?" Nicola asked.

   "I haven't, I seem to be shy when she's near me.  Although we've slept
in the same bed - but nothing happened.  Honest!" she ended with a sudden
rush.

   "It's okay, if Cathy was going to respond she would have done.  What
have you done about Su?" Nicola was sounding interested.

   But Kathy shook her head.  "Nothing!  I mean I've tried to show her in
the shower but she hasn't done anything about it.  Just smiles and shakes
her head.  And then I get embarrassed"

   Nicola hugged her daughter again.  "She probably isn't interested in
children.  I wouldn't worry about it." Then she saw the face that Kathy
made.  "I'm sorry darling, but you are still my child and I can't help but
think of you like that.  But you are growing up before my eyes." And she
kissed Kathy's cheek.  Kathy felt tears on her skin and noticed that her
mother was crying.

   Kathy reached out and hugged her mother to her.  "Mummy please don't
cry, I didn't mean to hurt you."

   Nicola shook her head.  "It wasn't anything you did darling, it's me.  I
should have listened to you.  And now you've been . . .  it's not right. 
Not right at all.  I'm sorry Kathy darling, I failed you." And she started
to cry again.

   "But mummy, you've always been there for me.  I should have told you but
I was too scared.  And I didn't understand what he was doing at first."
Kathy tried to comfort Nicola.

   "I should have let you go to those lessons, maybe it wouldn't have
happened!" Nicola said.

   But Kathy shook her head.  "I don't think so mummy, I think he would
have done what he did even if I did know what he was doing.  I might have
been worse off!"

   The stopping of the car made them both look up.  They were outside
Charlotte's house.  Nicola realised that she didn't want to go to the house
in her current state and started to search for a tissue to wipe her eyes
with.  A box materialised in front of her, it was held by the driver.

   "I think you require these," he said as Nicola gratefully took a couple
of tissues and wiped her eyes.  She then dabbed at Kathy's eyes.

   "Thank you," she said to the driver and then realised something.  "Oh.
How are we going to explain about you?" she said out loud.

   The driver smiled.  "I wouldn't worry Mrs.  Webb.  The car has a private
hire plate on the back, anyone seeing it would think it's a taxi!"

   "My but your organisation seems to think of everything," Nicola said

   The driver smiled at that, "We do try," he said before getting out and
opening the door for Nicola.

   -------------

   Charlotte was nervous.  She had packed a bag and kept looking out of the
window to see if Kathy had arrived.  Her father kept looking from her to
the computer he'd managed to get and then back to her.  Somehow she didn't
like the looks he'd been giving her lately.  In fact, although she didn't
like to admit this to herself, they reminded her of the looks that HE'd
been giving her.

   The sound of the front door bell interrupted Charlotte's musings, and
then her father shouted up the stairs.  "Charlotte, Kathy's here!" She
picked up her suitcase and almost ran down the stairs in her haste to see
her friend.

   "It's nice of you to allow your daughter to visit us, Mr.  Ferris"
Kathy's mother was saying.

   Charlotte's father gave a smile.  "Not at all, Mrs.  Webb.  She's been
moping around the place for a few days.  It'll be good for her to have some
fun.  Don't forget she's got to get to school tomorrow."

   "Daddy!" Charlotte exclaimed, "I've got my uniform here all ready.  Now
don't worry," she told her father.

   "Alright love, have fun," were the parting words before Charlotte was
out of the door and walking with Kathy to the car.  The driver opened the
boot to allow Charlotte to put her bag away and then he opened the back
door for her and Kathy.

   Nicola also got into the back which left Charlotte sandwiched between
Kathy and Nicola.  She didn't know what to do.  She knew that she had to
keep quiet about Jason or he'd ensure that her pictures would be sent to
all her friends, but she needed to talk to Kathy but how could she with . .
.

   "So Charlotte, do you want to talk about this Jason?" Nicola asked,
breaking Charlotte out of her thoughts.

   Charlotte turned to look at Kathy.  "I've told mummy and daddy
everything, Charlotte, that's partly why you're here." Charlotte blushed as
she thought about the times in her bedroom.

   Nicola put her arms around the, now scared, girl.  "It's okay Charlotte,
we're not mad at either of you.  You're with friends." The relief showed
itself in the only way that it could.  Charlotte burst into tears.

   Kathy watched her friend in panic and then was relieved to see her
mother hugging her tightly.  Kathy joined in the hug.

   "It's alright Charlotte, let it out - you need to," Nicola gently
whispered to the girl as she felt the pent up tension force its way out of
the girl.  She looked toward the interior mirror of the car and saw the
driver was watching them.  He made a gesture as if to say `should I stop?'
to which Nicola shook her head.  The sooner they got back to the house the
better.

   After a few minutes Charlotte stopped crying but was still sniffling
away, "I'm sorry Mrs.  Webb.  It's just that I've . . .  I've."

   Nicola shushed her.  "I understand, you've been through a lot, more than
Kathy has.  But why didn't you tell you mother or your father?"

   Charlotte shook her head, "Mum went away when I was younger.  We don't
know where she is.  And Dad's been strange recently.  I can't talk to him.
He wouldn't understand.  There was no-one else I could have gone to!"

   "There was always the police." Nicola said softly

   But Charlotte shook her head.  "No . . .  I couldn't, not at first
because He told me that they would arrest me.  And now he's threatening to
send pictures of me to all my friends, he's told me he knows who they all
are!  I couldn't tell anyone!" She was close to tears now and Nicola knew
it.

   "Alright Charlotte, you can talk to me if you want!  Or there is someone
who has been helping Kathy, she wants to help you?  Would you let her?"
Nicola asked the girl gently.

   "I'm not sure.  What would He do if he found out about me telling?"
Charlotte said.

   "I wouldn't worry about Jason!" Kathy said "He's going to be sorted out
tomorrow!  The police are going to arrest him."

   "But they can't!  If they do he's going to send out all the pictures of
us!  That's what he threatened to do if we gave him away!  You've got to
stop them." Charlotte was crying now.

   "Charlotte, listen to me.  He won't have the chance to!  He's not going
to be able to get to his computer to do that.  Trust me on this!" Nicola
told her.  She looked up as the car entered the gates to the house.

   Charlotte looked around at the guards near the gates and the people
patrolling the grounds.  "Wow!  When did you move?" she asked Kathy.

   "We didn't.  Haven't you read the papers?  We've been pounded from our
home.  All because of what Dad was involved in." Kathy said.

   "The word is hounded not pounded, honestly Kathy, you've got to listen
to what people say and not what you think they say!" Nicola laughingly told
her daughter.

   "But what was it?" Charlotte said her curiosity overcoming her feelings.

   "I'll tell you indoors," Kathy said.  "You've got to meet the others!"

   They arrived at the doors of the house and Jameson was waiting on the
steps for them, he opened the door and helped Nicola step out of the car.

   "Who's he?" Charlotte whispered to Kathy who smiled.

   "That's Jameson, he's a goody.  You don't have to worry about him!"
Kathy told her.

   "But he reminds me so much of . . ." Charlotte started to say and then
Kathy broke in and said.

   "Yeah he does, but he's not anything like Jason." She pushed Charlotte
out of the car and then alighted herself.

   "Thank you Jameson," she said in an affected tone.

   Jameson smiled at her, "That's perfectly alright Miss Kathy; I take it
you will be showing Miss Charlotte to your common room?" Jameson asked.

   "You betcha . . .  I mean, yes I will." Kathy couldn't keep the style up
and started to laugh.  She grabbed hold of Charlotte and pulled her up the
steps to the hallway.  "Oh you're going to like it here.  Wait until you
see the bedroom."

   Charlotte's ears picked up when Kathy mentioned the bedroom; it had been
sometime since the two of them had been alone together.  "My suitcase! 
I've left it in the car," Charlotte quickly said.

   "Don't worry about it!  They'll bring it along.  That's one of the best
things about being here; it's just like a hotel!" Kathy said as she dragged
Charlotte along.  They arrived in the common room and Charlotte looked at
the three computers off to one side.  Ever since her father had managed to
get one he'd never let her use it.  And she so wanted to!

   "We do our school work on those," Kathy told her.

   "School work?  Don't you go to school now then?" Charlotte asked amazed

   "We do.  But Jameson does the lessons.  They're not that bad really,"
Kathy told her.

   "But how can you be near him, He does look so much like. . ." Charlotte
broke off as Kathy nodded.

   "I know, but when some men broke in here, he saved me so that's how I
know I can trust him." Kathy told her.  At Charlotte's puzzled look Kathy
explained about the raid, or at least the part she was aware of.

   "And he hasn't tried to . . .  you know?"

   "Nope!  Although Su says that he's not into girls." Kathy said smiling.

   "Who's Su?" Charlotte asked.

   "You met her earlier today, in the park!" Kathy said, the smile fading
from her face.

   "Not the old lady looking for her dog?" Charlotte said.  "'Cause she
told me not to worry.  I did wonder how she knew your name."

   "I was in the car park.  Su was wired for sound and vision," Kathy said.

   Charlotte was puzzled.  "But if you were there why didn't you stop me
from going to him."

   "I couldn't get out of the car.  That man Clark was in my way," Kathy
said angrily

   "Who is Clark, and why wouldn't he stop Jason from doing what he did?"
Charlotte asked her friend.

   "That would be me.  I'm Detective Sergeant Clark.  And I'm sorry,
Charlotte, for leaving you in his clutches.  I promise you that will be the
last time he ever does that to you," Clark said as he slipped into the
room.

   ------------------------------