CHAPTER ELEVEN – MISSION
Jeanne Ellen had seen every classroom, every Jacuzzi and every public room at the spa. Vicky's tour was thorough and by the book. Stephanie was nowhere to be found. She was not in the classrooms, pool and wasn't seen at the cafeteria either during meals or in-between. That girl likes pampering, but she loves her food! Something's not right. Where the hell is she?
At 3 A.M. Jeanne Ellen began her own tour. During the day, she had checked for camera and lock placement and found the entire facility lacking in anything better than the basic security setup. Hector would be laughing his ass off if he saw this.
Slipping into Gwyn's office was a little dicey since it was in one of the few camera monitored hallways. A small fire set in one of the outdoor trash receptacles removed the receptionist/guard from his desk long enough for her to practice her best B&E skills.
She only needed a few minutes to upload the Trojan virus onto Gwyn's laptop. Silvio would be monitoring activity and snooping through files from his Miami office. Things went wrong ironically during the simplest part of her reconnoiter.
It made no sense. Security got tighter the farther away she went from the main buildings. The back of the property contained a large barn and some smaller outbuildings, none of which seemed to have any connection to the operation of the Hermitage Spa. The whole area was surrounded by a hidden and alarmed fence. Cameras were visible on the outside of all the buildings. There were roaming security details in 4x4 ATVs.
She started back to the main building and realized her mistake a minute before she was approached…infrared cameras the bane of all covert ops. Thinking quickly, she pulled out her cell phone and pretended to be fully absorbed in trying to make a connection.
"Just where the hell do you think you're going, missy?" Big, burly and bald, the security man had a hold of her arm and he wasn't in a good mood.
"Oh!" Jeanne Ellen jumped in mocked surprise. "You scared the shit out of me!"
"Answer his question, Jamila. Just what are you doing out here at this hour?" Gwyn's voice was cold and full of authority.
"Master Kendrick was very adamant that I report to him every twelve hours on my progress. I spoke to him this morning and was to call him this evening. Vicky and I were having such a good time today, and I was so tired I fell asleep across my bed and woke up a little while ago. I've been all over trying to find a cell phone connection. I can't find any bars…anywhere! I have let my Master down. I am going to be punished. He will be so angry!" Among her many talents, Jeanne Ellen was a great actress. She stood in front of Gwyn and the goon, shaking and in tears. The look of sheer terror in her eyes was totally believable.
Surprisingly, Gwyn looked at Jeanne Ellen with a hint of compassion. In Gwyn's mind all submissives were weak and therefore stupid. Submissives could not be capable of independent thought, let alone subversive plots. This was the reason Gwyn felt secure around her own. She didn't have to hide her agenda or actions in front of Vicky and the others because they simply would not understand what was going on. They only had to fear her, and this they did in spades. Stupid sub! Does she think her Master is going to be thrilled with a phone call at 4 AM! For getting me up at this ungodly hour, I should ask permission to beat her myself.
"There is no cell coverage in this area. It is for that reason we chose this location. We want our guests to be fully involved in their studies and relaxation, not bothered by the outside world and its Tweeting, texting and FaceBooking. Why didn't you ask to use the phone at the reception desk?"
"I didn't think that there would be anyone at the desk at this hour and I didn't want to use a phone to make a long distance call without permission. Oh my, it's much later than I thought." Jeanne Ellen looked at the time on her phone and up at Gwyn with a sad and helpless look. I hate playing the part of an idiot.
Gwyn looked at the guard. "No harm. No foul. I'll take her from here." Then addressing Jeanne Ellen she cooed, "Come little one, I'll take care of you and your problem."
She took Jeanne Ellen's hand and led her back to her office. "We don't want to disturb Master Kendrick in the middle of the night. I will smooth things out with him when we Skype him in the morning. Now, what can we do for the next few hours until the sun is up?" This job has some great perks and you, my dear, are going to be one of them.
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Jeanne Ellen was trying to concentrate on the Skype call that Gwyn was making to Master Kendrick. Putting the revulsion of the last few hours behind her was harder than she thought it would be. I don't mind some girl-on-girl action when I am on the top. And I want to select my bottom…and Gwyn would never be a choice…EVER! What a genuine asshole! And she sure needs a refresher course on technique. Hello, who's this?
Jeanne Ellen's reverie was suddenly broken as Master Kendrick appeared on the screen, and it wasn't Carlos. In fact she had never seen this man before and was running escape scenarios in her mind as Gwyn was explaining the reason for the call.
"…and so you see Master Kendrick, Jamila's failure to follow your instructions was entirely my fault. I ask leniency for her and forgiveness for me." Evidently the early morning tryst was more satisfying to Gwyn than it had been for Jeanne Ellen.
"Jamila has rarely disappointed me. I will take your kind words into consideration when administering her punishment, Lady Gwyn. Please put my little girl on now. I need to give her new instructions." Master Kendrick was in his 50s with a short graying beard and long, almost white hair. Even on the 17-inch laptop screen, he projected a commanding aura. He was, obviously, a man accustomed to being obeyed immediately and without question.
Gwyn moved aside allowing Jeanne Ellen to come into camera view. Instead of greeting this complete stranger with blank eyes, Master Kendrick smiled broadly at Jeanne Ellen. "Ah, my dear, you have had a trying night. Are you well? Have you been treated in the manner I requested?"
Who the hell is this? Damn you. Carlos, I know this mission was thrown together but geeze, I need to know who all the players are! "Yes, Master, Lady Gwyn and her staff have shown you great respect by treating me as an honored guest. I have learned much, but I am anxious to return to your side." This last sentence was a prearranged code to alert Ranger to danger and immediate exit help. I hope to hell this old man has been read-in on the code or I'm in some deep shit here.
"Plans have changed, my dear. I need you back at Casa del Curacao sooner than we had discussed. Flight arrangements have been made for you. Your flight leaves Newark at 3 o'clock. Do not miss it. Please, allow me to speak again with Lady Gwyn."
Well, who ever he is, he knows the drill. Carlos, we need to work on our
communication! With a "Yes Master", she bowed out of camera range and allowed Gwyn access.
"Lady Gwyn, a very important guest has been gracing my home. He is a Lord in the Community and has recently acquired property in upstate Pennsylvania. His relocation has understandably been kept to a need-to-know status. I have spoken to my good friend Salvatore Torello from New York City. I understand that you and he have contracted many business transactions. He is most pleased with the quality of your merchandise. When the question of acquisition of a unique commodity arose, he personally assured me that I could direct Lord Kane to you for his most special needs. May I trust Lord Kane's business requirements to your very capable hands?"
Nothing works better than dropping the name of one of the Hermitage's partners to get Gwyn's attention. Add to that a great deal of feeding her vanity and Gwyn was putty in Master Kendrick's hands. "Why certainly, Master Kendrick, any friend of Mr. Torello and your esteemed self would be treated with both courteous and quick action on my part and on the part of my staff. Please have Lord Kane contact me at his earliest convenience."
"Good. Good. He will be in the area in the next few days. Expect him any time as he is quite averse to announcing his travel plans. I'm sure you understand. I hope I have given you enough time to vet his background and you can quickly conduct business. He is not a patient man, as you will see." With his laugh still echoing on the line, Master Kendrick cut the connection and the screen went blank.
"Well, my dear Jamila, let's get you packed. You don't want to miss that flight and anger your Master more than he is." Gwyn addressed Jeanne Ellen with eyes aglow in the prospect of a new client and money in her pocket.
Jeanne Ellen left the Hermitage with more questions than answers. Evidently, there really IS a Master Kendrick on the island of Curacao. Evidently, Carlos not only knows this Kendrick, but can elicit major favors from him. Most irritating of all, there is going to be more to this operation and I am not going to be part of it! When this is all over, Carlos Manoso, I want 'top' for the whole night! You owe me!