It was about an hour later when the door to Hotch's cell opened again, this time revealing a young, dark-haired girl, wearing a cotton dress, standing in the doorway holding a small covered tray.
"Mistress said to give this to you," she said. When she bent over to place the tray on the floor Hotch could see a wizen man, dressed in overalls and a short sleeved shirt, standing guard behind her.
"She couldn't be bothered to come herself?" Hotch questioned sarcastically.
"Mistress is busy with a delivery of supplies that just arrived," the man informed him. "And, she thought you might appreciate getting something to eat."
The girl pushed the tray across the floor towards Hotch and then turned to leave. As Hotch watched, the door again closed and he could hear the lock being turned.
When he tried to stand up, Hotch discovered exactly how weak he was from lack of food as his knees began buckling underneath him. And then, when he bent down to retrieve the tray, he got dizzy. Gratefully, he uncovered the tray to discover a banana, a small bowl of rice, and another small bowl of what he thought were mangos. Hungrily, he began eating.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"So, 751, have you had a chance to think things over?" Mistress was again standing in the door of Hotch's cell.
"I have been thinking," he admitted. "And, I have decided that I have some questions."
"Which I will be glad to answer," she assured him.
"You said that I wouldn't be 'Presented with some dewy-eyed, innocent, underage young virgin to ravage', didn't you?" was the first question.
"That is correct," was the woman's reply. "What I have in mind for you will, hopefully, not go against your moral code."
"My moral code?" Hotch echoed hotly. "This entire situation goes against my moral code. However, since you are threatening my son and my friend's son, I question whether I have a choice."
"You always have a choice," Mistress pointed out. "And, that also is true for the women who will be sent to you. I will be pairing you with women who have chosen to have a third pregnancy – entirely their choice. And, if at any time during your encounter they change their mind, they are free to walk out. The door will be left open and they can leave at any time."
"What about me?" Hotch demanded. "Will I be free to leave?"
"I am sorry," Mistress told him. "But at this time, that part is non-negotiable. However, you will be free to speak with these women and ascertain for yourself that they are there of their own free will. I can promise you that."
"I'm not so sure I will be satisfied with that," Hotch replied. "How do I know they will be telling me the truth? You're threatening me. How can I be sure you aren't threatening them as well?"
"There is such as thing as trust," the woman replied thoughtfully. "And sometimes you just have to trust. Now, do you have any other questions?"
"I still need to think about this," Hotch replied. "Are you going to continue trying to starve me into submission?"
"You just got some food," Mistress pointed out as she stepped back into the hallway. "And, you do have water. However, as a show of good faith, I'll have some more food sent in for you."
"By the way," she added as she paused in the doorway. "Young Mister Jack's teacher this year is particularly pretty, isn't she? Her name's Julia Stafford, isn't it?"
And, with that, the woman was gone with the door securely locked behind her.