Richie waited anxiously. Today they were coming. His favorite guests. He
had been serving them for as long as he could remember. They had been his
first guests years ago. They were the same couple that he had run into the
day he had been bought and the day he had been let out of Time Out.
Master smiled when he found Richie sitting by the door, staring out the window. "Are they here yet?" he asked with a smile.
"Not yet. But I saw a plane. Maybe it was them."
"Maybe. You just make sure you're not in anyone's way."
"Yes, Master."
Twenty minutes later, Richie saw a limousine pull up the driveway and stop at the front walk. George and Katherine Harris (two immortals Richie knew as Master George and Mistress Katherine) stepped out. With a huge smile Richie jumped to his feet and opened the door as soon as they made it to the porch.
"Oh, my little man," Mistress Katherine smiled at him touching his cheek.
"Hello, Mistress Katherine," Richie answered looking at his feet.
"Oh, when did my little man get so shy?" she teased.
"Take this," Master George said handing Richie a heavy bag. "Where is your master?"
"I'm right here, Mr. Harris," Master said coming around the corner. He paused to give Mistress Katherine a peck on the cheek and to tell Richie to put the bag down on his way to greet Master George. "Mr. Harris, I don't know why you insist on giving him those heavy things every time you come here. He's too small."
"Exactly, he needs more meat on him," Master George argued good-naturedly.
"I can do it, Master," Richie piped up. "It's not too big for me."
"Of course it is, don't be silly. Now," Master turned back to Master George. "I have all the arrangements made. Your usual room is prepared, your luggage is being brought in by a stronger boy, and your tea will be served on the terrace in an hour. Do you have any special requests for this visit?"
"I would like to speak to you about making a purchase. I don't suppose we could discuss it over tea?"
"Of course we can."
"Can I come, too?" Richie asked, before realizing his preprogrammed mistake. He knew it was wrong to speak out of turn, much less to make a frivolous request, but somehow Master had slipped it into his programming to do it anyway.
"Now, boy," Master said sternly looking at Richie. "What have I told you about speaking before spoken to?"
Richie immediately let go of Mistress Katherine's hand and dropped to the floor and bowed. "I'm sorry, Master. I was bad."
"Yes, you were. And what happens to bad boys?"
"They're punished."
"We'll discuss it later. Go to the Nursery."
"Yes, Master." Richie started to get up.
"Wait," Mistress Katherine stopped him gently. "There is no reason to punish him. I was going to insist he join us."
"Very well, there will be no punishment. But I want a word with you, baby boy, so to the Nursery with you."
"Yes, Master."
"And what do you say to Mrs. Harris?"
"Thank you, Mistress Katherine," Richie added giving her hand a kiss before going to his room.
Richie was kneeling by his bed when Master arrived. Master silently took a seat in the armchair that had been moved into the Nursery a year ago and Richie just as silently took his place at Master's feet with his head bowed.
"Well?"
"I was bad."
"Yes, you were."
"I'm sorry, Master."
"You should be."
"Am I going to be punished?"
"No. But I want you to tell me what you did wrong."
"I interrupted the grown-ups talking."
"And are you supposed to do that?"
"No, Master."
"Unless?"
"Unless it is very important and I can't find Mamma."
"That's right. Now, you are too little to remember that all the time, but try to."
"Yes, Master."
"Good. So are we clear?"
"Yes, Mast. Master, may I ask a question?"
"Yes."
"Why do I get to sleep in the Nursery and girl already went to be with the big kids?"
"Because you are still a baby. Babies sleep in nurseries."
"But she's not a baby any more and I was here before her."
"Girls grow faster than boys."
"How much faster?"
"It depends on the boy. And you are different."
"Different how?"
"You're too little to understand."
"When I'm bigger I will?"
"Yes."
"When will I be bigger?"
"You will know."
"How?"
"I will not let you become too big for your Nursery," Master promised.
"Master?"
"More questions?"
"One."
"Okay."
"Why don't the big kids like me?"
"Why do you think they don't like you?"
"They're mean to me."
"Have they been hurting you again?"
"Yesterday they all came to the window and made fun of me because I can't go outside except for the terrace."
"You know why you can't go out, don't you?"
"Because I'm just a baby and I can get hurt or sick or lost."
"That's right. The outside is very big and I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I know, Master."
"I'll tell you what, though. What do you say this weekend when Mr. and Mrs. Harris have left, we go for a walk when all the other children have to be inside?"
Richie grinned. "Can we?"
"Yes, and I'll have one of the children pack us a picnic."
"Really?"
"Anything for my special baby boy." Richie smiled and Master kissed the top of his head. "I want you to play in here until it is time for tea. Someone will come get you."
"Yes, Master."
Almost an hour later Mamma came to get Richie and take him to the terrace. Master George, Mistress Katherine, and Master all sat around a garden table drinking tea and going over various children that were for sale. Richie faltered for a second not sure whom he should go to. Usually he went straight to Master, but he was supposed to be serving his guests this week. Apparently he took too long to decide because Master ordered him to go to his mistress. Richie hurried and sat himself at her feet with a worried look on his face. That was the second time he had done something wrong that day.
"It's okay," Mistress Katherine assured him. She smiled down at him and broke of a piece of her teacake and feeding it to him. "Are you hungry?" she asked him softly. "Does your master not feed you?"
"Master feeds me," Richie told her just a quietly with a small grin. "But lunch was a long time ago. Before my nap."
"Oh, and it's a long time until dinner, too," she agreed with him.
The men continued to talk business while Mistress Katherine fed Richie little bits of cakes and ordered a house child to get him some milk. By the time the men had come to the agreement that the Harris' needed an immortal, not a mortal girl who could serve in the house, Richie was contentedly sitting with his head in Mistress Katherine's lap, basking in the warm sun, with his eyes closed. She absentmindedly played with his curls as she watched the children work in the garden.
"Don't you agree dear?" Master George asked putting his hand on her arm. She had been lost in her thoughts and jumped at the contact, which in turn caused Richie to jump and spill the cup sitting in front of him sending the contents oozing over the polished marble. He froze and stared in horror as the milk spread across the terrace.
"What is wrong with you today?" Master barked at him, jumping to his feet and storming over to him. Richie crouched on the ground and became as small as he could make himself. "That's three times in one day!"
"I'm sorry, Master! Please forgive me!" Richie begged.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with you!"
"It was an accident. Please, forgive me!"
"I will teach you not to be so clumsy. Go to the Nursery, right now!"
"Yes, Master."
"No!" Mistress Katherine cut in. "He was asleep. He had no control over what happened. I should have had the girl," she motioned to the girl who was cleaning the milk, "move the cup when I noticed he was asleep. Don't punish him. He's a baby!"
"He is my baby," Mater reminded her. "And he must learn to be more careful."
"I will speak with him. Please, do not punish him."
"He is our boy for the week," Master George added. "It is our authority to punish him or not."
"Very well. Boy, your guests have saved you this time. Next time you may not be so lucky. Be careful."
"I will, Master," Richie promised.
"Come with me my little man," Mistress Katherine urged him, offering her hand. "I'll take you where you can't make any mistakes." He looked up at her from his position on the ground. "Do you want to come to play with me while your master and Master George finish discussing business? We can bring in some toys." He nodded slightly and took her hand. They went into the room they had reserved and entertained each other.
. . . . . .
Conner groaned. All he wanted was a cup of coffee and of all the coffee shops in all of New York City he picked the one with another immortal in it.
"Conner MacLeod," he said stopping at the other immortal's table.
"Fascinating."
"And you are?"
"None of your concern. I have no interest of being aware of your existence after this moment."
"You sound confident."
"I've been around."
"Good for you."
Conner went to order his coffee. When he opened his wallet to pay for his drink Richie's picture fell out. He had forgotten that he hadn't taken it out yet. No one had had any news for years and he had stopped asking. But something told him to take this as a sign and ask the man. What would it hurt?
"Excuse me," he said stopping at the man's table again. "I'm looking for a boy."
"Aren't we all?"
"This boy," Conner clarified holding out the picture. "Have you seen him?"
The man took the photo and looked at it. "Cute kid. Did he run away?"
"He was kidnapped. He's like us, or could have been."
"He's dead."
"Thought I'd ask," Conner shrugged.
"Unless."
"Unless? Unless what?"
"How long ago was it?"
"Almost nine years. You saying he could be alive?"
"If he is, you won't like what you find."
. . . . . .
Duncan answered the phone. "MacLeod."
"Duncan."
"Conner?"
"You won't believe this."
"What?"
"I have a lead."
"For what?"
"Richie."
"What?! Where is he?"
"It's a real stretch. He may be there or he may not. It's been a long time and they may have sold him or killed him."
"Sold him? Where is he?"
"He may be at a place called The Manor. It's a popular brothel on the black market."
"Brothel?"
"Yes. It's a popular spot to shop for teenagers. It's part of a slavery ring, Duncan. If Richie isn't there now, he probably was. I found a man who used to hunt for the owner. He has people all over the world who hunt down good looking teenagers and take them to The Manor. They brainwash the kids and train them to be slaves."
"Slaves?"
"I'm going to make some calls to the man's contacts and try to get in."
"I'm going, too."
"Duncan, he's probably not there. I'll probably just end up empty handed."
"Conner, if he is there."
"He's been brainwashed."
"Even so, he'll respond to me before you."
"Duncan, don't get your hopes up. It's probably nothing."
"Then let me be there when we find out it's nothing."
"Okay. I have to make some calls. If we want in, we have to get someone to let us in."
"What?"
"We have to be grandfathered in as it were. Get a current client to get us in."
"Then make your calls."
They hung up.
It took Conner three days but finally he got in touch with a man named George Harris. He called Duncan and told him to be ready to leave in three weeks. It was the soonest they could get in. Conner told Duncan that Mr. Harris had reserved his favorite boy for them. Someone he called 'his little man.'
Master smiled when he found Richie sitting by the door, staring out the window. "Are they here yet?" he asked with a smile.
"Not yet. But I saw a plane. Maybe it was them."
"Maybe. You just make sure you're not in anyone's way."
"Yes, Master."
Twenty minutes later, Richie saw a limousine pull up the driveway and stop at the front walk. George and Katherine Harris (two immortals Richie knew as Master George and Mistress Katherine) stepped out. With a huge smile Richie jumped to his feet and opened the door as soon as they made it to the porch.
"Oh, my little man," Mistress Katherine smiled at him touching his cheek.
"Hello, Mistress Katherine," Richie answered looking at his feet.
"Oh, when did my little man get so shy?" she teased.
"Take this," Master George said handing Richie a heavy bag. "Where is your master?"
"I'm right here, Mr. Harris," Master said coming around the corner. He paused to give Mistress Katherine a peck on the cheek and to tell Richie to put the bag down on his way to greet Master George. "Mr. Harris, I don't know why you insist on giving him those heavy things every time you come here. He's too small."
"Exactly, he needs more meat on him," Master George argued good-naturedly.
"I can do it, Master," Richie piped up. "It's not too big for me."
"Of course it is, don't be silly. Now," Master turned back to Master George. "I have all the arrangements made. Your usual room is prepared, your luggage is being brought in by a stronger boy, and your tea will be served on the terrace in an hour. Do you have any special requests for this visit?"
"I would like to speak to you about making a purchase. I don't suppose we could discuss it over tea?"
"Of course we can."
"Can I come, too?" Richie asked, before realizing his preprogrammed mistake. He knew it was wrong to speak out of turn, much less to make a frivolous request, but somehow Master had slipped it into his programming to do it anyway.
"Now, boy," Master said sternly looking at Richie. "What have I told you about speaking before spoken to?"
Richie immediately let go of Mistress Katherine's hand and dropped to the floor and bowed. "I'm sorry, Master. I was bad."
"Yes, you were. And what happens to bad boys?"
"They're punished."
"We'll discuss it later. Go to the Nursery."
"Yes, Master." Richie started to get up.
"Wait," Mistress Katherine stopped him gently. "There is no reason to punish him. I was going to insist he join us."
"Very well, there will be no punishment. But I want a word with you, baby boy, so to the Nursery with you."
"Yes, Master."
"And what do you say to Mrs. Harris?"
"Thank you, Mistress Katherine," Richie added giving her hand a kiss before going to his room.
Richie was kneeling by his bed when Master arrived. Master silently took a seat in the armchair that had been moved into the Nursery a year ago and Richie just as silently took his place at Master's feet with his head bowed.
"Well?"
"I was bad."
"Yes, you were."
"I'm sorry, Master."
"You should be."
"Am I going to be punished?"
"No. But I want you to tell me what you did wrong."
"I interrupted the grown-ups talking."
"And are you supposed to do that?"
"No, Master."
"Unless?"
"Unless it is very important and I can't find Mamma."
"That's right. Now, you are too little to remember that all the time, but try to."
"Yes, Master."
"Good. So are we clear?"
"Yes, Mast. Master, may I ask a question?"
"Yes."
"Why do I get to sleep in the Nursery and girl already went to be with the big kids?"
"Because you are still a baby. Babies sleep in nurseries."
"But she's not a baby any more and I was here before her."
"Girls grow faster than boys."
"How much faster?"
"It depends on the boy. And you are different."
"Different how?"
"You're too little to understand."
"When I'm bigger I will?"
"Yes."
"When will I be bigger?"
"You will know."
"How?"
"I will not let you become too big for your Nursery," Master promised.
"Master?"
"More questions?"
"One."
"Okay."
"Why don't the big kids like me?"
"Why do you think they don't like you?"
"They're mean to me."
"Have they been hurting you again?"
"Yesterday they all came to the window and made fun of me because I can't go outside except for the terrace."
"You know why you can't go out, don't you?"
"Because I'm just a baby and I can get hurt or sick or lost."
"That's right. The outside is very big and I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I know, Master."
"I'll tell you what, though. What do you say this weekend when Mr. and Mrs. Harris have left, we go for a walk when all the other children have to be inside?"
Richie grinned. "Can we?"
"Yes, and I'll have one of the children pack us a picnic."
"Really?"
"Anything for my special baby boy." Richie smiled and Master kissed the top of his head. "I want you to play in here until it is time for tea. Someone will come get you."
"Yes, Master."
Almost an hour later Mamma came to get Richie and take him to the terrace. Master George, Mistress Katherine, and Master all sat around a garden table drinking tea and going over various children that were for sale. Richie faltered for a second not sure whom he should go to. Usually he went straight to Master, but he was supposed to be serving his guests this week. Apparently he took too long to decide because Master ordered him to go to his mistress. Richie hurried and sat himself at her feet with a worried look on his face. That was the second time he had done something wrong that day.
"It's okay," Mistress Katherine assured him. She smiled down at him and broke of a piece of her teacake and feeding it to him. "Are you hungry?" she asked him softly. "Does your master not feed you?"
"Master feeds me," Richie told her just a quietly with a small grin. "But lunch was a long time ago. Before my nap."
"Oh, and it's a long time until dinner, too," she agreed with him.
The men continued to talk business while Mistress Katherine fed Richie little bits of cakes and ordered a house child to get him some milk. By the time the men had come to the agreement that the Harris' needed an immortal, not a mortal girl who could serve in the house, Richie was contentedly sitting with his head in Mistress Katherine's lap, basking in the warm sun, with his eyes closed. She absentmindedly played with his curls as she watched the children work in the garden.
"Don't you agree dear?" Master George asked putting his hand on her arm. She had been lost in her thoughts and jumped at the contact, which in turn caused Richie to jump and spill the cup sitting in front of him sending the contents oozing over the polished marble. He froze and stared in horror as the milk spread across the terrace.
"What is wrong with you today?" Master barked at him, jumping to his feet and storming over to him. Richie crouched on the ground and became as small as he could make himself. "That's three times in one day!"
"I'm sorry, Master! Please forgive me!" Richie begged.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with you!"
"It was an accident. Please, forgive me!"
"I will teach you not to be so clumsy. Go to the Nursery, right now!"
"Yes, Master."
"No!" Mistress Katherine cut in. "He was asleep. He had no control over what happened. I should have had the girl," she motioned to the girl who was cleaning the milk, "move the cup when I noticed he was asleep. Don't punish him. He's a baby!"
"He is my baby," Mater reminded her. "And he must learn to be more careful."
"I will speak with him. Please, do not punish him."
"He is our boy for the week," Master George added. "It is our authority to punish him or not."
"Very well. Boy, your guests have saved you this time. Next time you may not be so lucky. Be careful."
"I will, Master," Richie promised.
"Come with me my little man," Mistress Katherine urged him, offering her hand. "I'll take you where you can't make any mistakes." He looked up at her from his position on the ground. "Do you want to come to play with me while your master and Master George finish discussing business? We can bring in some toys." He nodded slightly and took her hand. They went into the room they had reserved and entertained each other.
. . . . . .
Conner groaned. All he wanted was a cup of coffee and of all the coffee shops in all of New York City he picked the one with another immortal in it.
"Conner MacLeod," he said stopping at the other immortal's table.
"Fascinating."
"And you are?"
"None of your concern. I have no interest of being aware of your existence after this moment."
"You sound confident."
"I've been around."
"Good for you."
Conner went to order his coffee. When he opened his wallet to pay for his drink Richie's picture fell out. He had forgotten that he hadn't taken it out yet. No one had had any news for years and he had stopped asking. But something told him to take this as a sign and ask the man. What would it hurt?
"Excuse me," he said stopping at the man's table again. "I'm looking for a boy."
"Aren't we all?"
"This boy," Conner clarified holding out the picture. "Have you seen him?"
The man took the photo and looked at it. "Cute kid. Did he run away?"
"He was kidnapped. He's like us, or could have been."
"He's dead."
"Thought I'd ask," Conner shrugged.
"Unless."
"Unless? Unless what?"
"How long ago was it?"
"Almost nine years. You saying he could be alive?"
"If he is, you won't like what you find."
. . . . . .
Duncan answered the phone. "MacLeod."
"Duncan."
"Conner?"
"You won't believe this."
"What?"
"I have a lead."
"For what?"
"Richie."
"What?! Where is he?"
"It's a real stretch. He may be there or he may not. It's been a long time and they may have sold him or killed him."
"Sold him? Where is he?"
"He may be at a place called The Manor. It's a popular brothel on the black market."
"Brothel?"
"Yes. It's a popular spot to shop for teenagers. It's part of a slavery ring, Duncan. If Richie isn't there now, he probably was. I found a man who used to hunt for the owner. He has people all over the world who hunt down good looking teenagers and take them to The Manor. They brainwash the kids and train them to be slaves."
"Slaves?"
"I'm going to make some calls to the man's contacts and try to get in."
"I'm going, too."
"Duncan, he's probably not there. I'll probably just end up empty handed."
"Conner, if he is there."
"He's been brainwashed."
"Even so, he'll respond to me before you."
"Duncan, don't get your hopes up. It's probably nothing."
"Then let me be there when we find out it's nothing."
"Okay. I have to make some calls. If we want in, we have to get someone to let us in."
"What?"
"We have to be grandfathered in as it were. Get a current client to get us in."
"Then make your calls."
They hung up.
It took Conner three days but finally he got in touch with a man named George Harris. He called Duncan and told him to be ready to leave in three weeks. It was the soonest they could get in. Conner told Duncan that Mr. Harris had reserved his favorite boy for them. Someone he called 'his little man.'