3 comments/ 25173 views/ 15 favorites Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 01 By: dsoul Dark grey sky. A rumbled groan belched from within. Hard rain fell upon the world. Constance Loftus stood five feet away staring down at the open grave that was her husband's final resting place. She was dressed in black with a shawl over her face; her driver stood beside her holding an umbrella to her head. Rain drops splattered all around them. The ceremony had been over for some minutes now; most of the invitees had their umbrellas open hurrying towards the cemetery's gate in search of their vehicles. Not Constance. She remained where she was, standing. Her eyes gave forth not a drop of tears, yet in her heart she cried. She mourned and cried. There lay her husband, Emmett G. Loftus. Sixty-one years old, dead of heart attack. City magnate, industrialist, vain work; imperious to his staff, proud father and aloof husband. There was a smaller hole cut out for where his gravestone would stand. Constance's eyes followed the coffin, watched as it was lowered down to the earth's bosom. The rain made splattering drops on its pristine brown surface; never would it see the dawn of light anymore. And wasn't that just sad? So sad it was. A hand, light, came upon her shoulder. An old man's voice spoke to her—the reverend father. "Mrs. Loftus, please, the rain's getting heavier by the minute." Her head turned from her husband's grave to the sombre sky. "Yes, yes, it is so. Thank you, reverend. It was a most brilliant sermon." "Your husband will be missed, Mrs. Loftus. I will continue to pray for his soul." "Yes, thank you." She seemed for a moment at a loss at what to say, with whatever words to reply him with. Everything about her seemed resigned to the weather and the moment she was in. She knew he meant well, and she too had meant well about his sermon. Beyond that she couldn't care less. Ashes to ashes, as they say, yes, there is where her husband lay rested. Never ever more to return. She shook the reverend father's hand one last time before turning around to take her leave. Their limousine was the only vehicle remaining; everyone else had toddled off, as the saying goes. The driver opened the car door for her and she eased herself into the comfort of the vehicle while he came around to his side, closing back the umbrella and putting the car into gear and easing off out of the cemetery driveway. Constance's eyes followed the train of headstones on the sloppy fields of the cemetery. All of them looking like sentinel soldiers hovering in wait for a regimental call or something. She raised the shawl off her face, opened her handbag and rummaged for a handkerchief which he used to wipe her eyes clean. Goodbye, Emmett. See you in another life. Johnny would have loved to see you. She must have slept because when next she opened her eyes the limousine had come to a halt in front of her home. Someone tapped on the window glass from the other side. The driver's voice came through on the intercom: "We're here at Loftus Garden, ma'am." "Of course, Bill. Thank you." She replaced the shawl over her face then opened the door. Her top servant, Nigel, was there to welcome her. He had an umbrella over her head and walked alongside her up the lengthy wide steps that led into the monstrous Victorian-style mansion that was formerly her husband's throne. Loftus Garden. How the place seemed not to depress her than when he'd first brought her here thirteen years ago. Everything about her feelings for the place had changed and at the same time not everything about it had changed at all. The house remained a relic, a throwback to an age that's long faded from human existence. It was a symbol of man's zenith over others; a phallic extension, if one could see it that way. No one had been more acute at such forms of extension than her just departed husband. Several other house servants stood in parallel lines, all of them donned in black attire, from the chief housemaid to the lowly caretaker of the stables, all of them looking solemn and teary-eyed as she came up the stairs, shaking hands with each other them, accepting their condolences and heat-felt wishes at the departure of their employer. She noted the hesitancy in their eyes. Perhaps they wondered what would become of them now she was both lord and mistress of the manor. She stepped into the wide foyer of the building, and a pair of hands helped her out of her thick jacket and her hat. Up the stairs she went while Nigel dismissed everyone back to their former duties. She went in the direction of Johnny's bedroom, wondering if his fever was still raging on his skin. She made a mental note to call the doctor to come by later to check up on his again. Constance opened the double doors into his large bedroom and sighted his bed, but as she approached, the smile that had been on her lips died away when she realised his bed was empty. She called out his name as she went to look in his bathroom but he wasn't there either. There was an envelope on his reading table next to his desktop. It bore the word 'Mum' on it. She picked it up and took out the single sheet of paper inside. She sat herself on the bed. The sheet of paper fell from her hand to the carpeted floor. The tears that had earlier filled her eyes, the same ones that never seemed to pour forth, suddenly came alive and fell down her pale skin. "Johnny... Oh Johnny," she muttered as she cried. Outside the rain continued its downpour. ---------- Thaddeus Black lounged back in his chair with his hands behind his head and thought: "Arrogant ass!" at the man who sat across his desk from him wearing a pin-striped grey suit that looked as if it had been cut from glass. From the moment the man stepped into his office to when they'd shook hands and he'd opened his mouth to comment on the state of his office, Thad had summarised just about everything he could about him, neither of them pleasant. The man sat there talking to him, his eyes made surreptitious glances about his small offices and the way he wrinkled his nose, Thad reckoned the bastard couldn't wait to finish despatching whatever message he'd arrived here with so he could be out of this dump. A dump that undoubtedly he reckoned only a black man such as himself would inhabit. Such people Thad wished he'd met during his boxing days. Back when he seldom gave a shit about anyone and he relied on his fists to do much of any talking. He would have loved nothing but to take such pompous ingrate downstairs out in the alley and crush that uppity nose of his till he breathed through a gas pipe. How such moments he longed for those days. But those days were gone. Thaddeus Black had hung up his boxing gloves right after he'd finished his stint in the Marines, and now he ran his own detective agency. Boss, foot soldier and servant, all rolled into one ham. Business had been good and bad. He had some complains, and opportunities sunk down the drain. Good and bad all mixed into one. With what this ass had just laid before him, he was indecisive what to make of it: good or bad. He opted for bad. "Look, mister, I'm sorry but I don't think I'm your man." He sat forward in his chair, taking his hands off the back of his head, pulling his jacket forward. "I don't solve missing people's stuff. I haven't sunk so low to want to take that type of offer. Go find the local cops to help you out." The man seated across from him seem to stutter for loss of words. He raised his nose at him, his mind struggling to comprehend the audacity at being turned down. "But sir... I swear to you, this is of humble importance. The person whom I represent is very much inclined towards your handling this matter. It's very urgent that you do." "I'm not here to argue with you on that, Mr—" "Nigel," the man replied with smug stiffness. "Nigel Mavers, it is." "Whatever. Anyway, like I said, that's not my line of work, finding missing persons. Not exactly my speciality." "But I made credible enquiries that you'd be the right one for this." "That's a lie they sold you. Whoever it was that sent you to me is grossly mistaken. Try the police, they'll find whoever it is for you." "But sir, like I've already mentioned to you, the police mustn't be brought into this matter." The man ogled him with pained annoyance. Thad was enjoying himself seeing the way he now looked. "So you've told me, and I'm telling you there's nothing I can do to help." He stood up from his chair, his way of signalling that such conversation was over, and for Thad, it's been over ten minutes ago. "You can try other detective agencies, I'm sure you'll find one that'll be willing to take up your offer. Good day to you, sir." He offered a handshake, as if to say 'no hard feelings, asshole', but Nigel got up from his chair and glared at him for a moment before snapping about and leaving his office. He slammed his outer door with a loud bang; from where he stood, Thad could hear his footsteps going down the hall like thunder. He felt like laughing but in such cases no sign of mirth came to his lips. Just the thought that he'd lost another prospective client, thus money gone from his pocket. He went to the window that looked out the front of the building which was situated on B Street. From the second floor where he was, with the hot Tuesday sun beating down on his face, he waited for the man to exit the red-brick building. The man soon came out into the sun, putting on his hat and waiting for the traffic to ease up before scuttling across to the Sedan that was parked across the street. Thad took his face away from the window as the man got into the car and drove off. "Pompous son-of-a-bitch," he muttered before returning to his desk. ------ The advert in the Cape City Guardian read: WANTED: Efficient Secretary Age: 25 – 32yrs. Good-looking female Fluent in taking notes and dictation Apply in person at stated address below. Thaddeus couldn't help but laugh every time he flipped through the newspaper and saw his advert emblazoned in the miscellaneous section. He'd had the advert running for the past three days and although the applicants had been few, he reasoned they were bound to pick up soon. One vital detail he'd left out was the fact that he desired them to be white. White because he was tired of prospective clients turning around scared when they knock at his door and find him standing there to welcome them as if they expected a white Sam Spade instead. But aside from that, Thaddeus couldn't hide the fact that he loved white women. He enjoyed wining and dining them out just as much as he loved fucking them. Married ones are the best; they always had a husband to return home to rather than expecting much from him. Such was the mode one or two of his clients had seemed fit to settle their bill after he'd rendered services for them. He flipped over the pages and was deep in the sports section when there came a tap on his outer door. He took his feet off his table and leaned forward in his chair. There came the tap again, followed by someone, a woman, call out: "Excuse me, is anyone here?" Casting the newspaper aside, Thaddeus pulled his feet off his desk and stood up. "Just a minute," he hollered out. "Be right there with you." He pushed down his jacket and redressed his tie. He opened the top side drawer of his desk and reached inside for a handheld mirror and did a quick check on his features before throwing it back in and shutting the drawer. He cleared his throat before approaching his door. The woman tapped a third time just as he came and undid the outer door's lock and opened it for her. "Hello there," he said to her. "Sorry I was busy getting something done. Please, come in." "I didn't know if anyone was inside," she said as she stepped into the outer room first before entering his office. "I'm here in response to the advert I saw in the paper for a secretary's job. I hope I came to the right place." "You most certainly did," he gave her his most charming smile to wash off whatever worries she might have in her mind. Some women would be scared entering an office that's got a black man for a boss, and the ones that were brave enough to knock on his door, he always appealed courteous to. He gave her a seat while he sat half on his desk and scanned her thoroughly. She was a pretty-looking lady, looked somewhere in the region of twenty-three to twenty-seven, if he were to take a guess. Tall with a measure of ample frame with some thickness to her thigh; he noticed this the way she crossed one leg over the other. She had on a flower-type of dress, like she was fighting not to show off her beauty, but even that wasn't hiding the apparent bosom she was sporting. Her hair was dark blonde; her makeup subtle. Thaddeus didn't sport any ring on her finger, but sometimes you just never know. He started with introductions. "My name's Thaddeus Black, don't know if you noticed it on the outer door glass window when you knocked." "I did. I'm Sarah Longhand. Nice meeting you." She flashed her teeth at him as she shook his hand. "Longhand. That's a rather peculiar name you've got. How old are you, Sarah?" "I'm twenty-five," she said. He'd been close to nailing her age after all. "And you aren't married?" "I used to be. Being divorced the last three months." She needn't have answered that but it was a relief that she did. "Sorry to hear about that. Have you ever had any secretarial experiences before?" "Well, I've done some work at an elderly nursing home and I've taken a six-month secretarial study program, so I think I'm fully efficient and ready." She gave him her full smile. "Are you good at dictation, too?" She nodded. "Yes, I am. My shorthand speed is quite fast—" "No, no, you don't get me. I meant dick-tation. You've got a lovely pair of lips; I want to know how good you are with using them." She frowned her face in confusion. "Emm... I don't follow, sir." "Here's what I mean." He stood up from the table and she almost felt like jumping out of her seat as she watched with huge staring eyes as he pulled down his zipper, reached inside and fumbled for a second or two before whipping out his semi-erect black cock. "I hope you're not going to file a sexual assault charge for this, but I'd like you to see it firsthand so you get the idea of just what I'm talking about." Her hands gripped the handle of the chair and for a few seconds all she did was staring at his erection nodding its pre-cum-stained bulbous-shaped head towards turgidity. She looked like she wanted to bolt of out the room but her eyes remained fixated at his cock and wouldn't turn away from staring at it. Thad saw the look in her eyes and recognised what the look signified and smiled at himself. He loved it whenever he whipped out of prick and the ladies just seem to lose their voices at the sight of what he had between his legs. Though a few had actually bolted before he could say anything. One had even once thrown a smack at him. But for the many few, his cock was something to revel at. "Do you see what I mean now?" When she tried to speak, her words came out as a croak. Eventually she spoke in a near whisper: "Yes. Yes... I certainly do. But is this all part of the interview?" she looked up at him as she asked this. "Yes, it is. Depending on how well you perform. First I need to check your oral skills." He bent towards her and took her hands from the chair's arms and brought them to grip his cock. Her hands instinctively began stroking his shaft while her eyes remained glued to his prick. Her fingers could barely go round his foreskin. "My God, you're so big," she moaned. "Put those lips of yours to the microphone first, let's see." She brought her head forward; her breath came down on his cock a second before her lips did. ------ The phone on his desk suddenly started ringing. Thad glanced at it and cursed it. Just when he thought he wasn't going to have any business for today there goes the phone to put a damp on that. At the moment he had Sarah Longhand bent over his desk. Her hands stretched across his wide desk blotter to clutch the edges of the table and she was fighting not to squeal from the invasion of his cock in and out of her pussy and wasn't succeeding. Her initial screams had been so loud Thaddeus had gone and locked his door and pushed down the curtains just in case anyone else came knocking. Though he knew it would do nothing to prevent her voice from reaching down the corridor. But for now that was the least on his mind. He was busy luxuriating in the tight sweetness of her pussy when here comes whoever was at the other end of his desk phone attempting to spoil his day. "Auuhhh... Aggghhh... should I... do you want me to answer it?" Sarah half turned her head to ask him. The phone rang on with annoying persistence: BRNNNIIIINNGGG... BRRRRNNNIIIIGGGG! "Nah," he said, rubbing his hand over the roundness of her buttocks. "Let the motherfucker ring till it stops." He had her skirt pushed up over her arse with her panties hanging between her ankles. His hands grasped her waistline. He too had his pants and briefs down his legs and was rotating his waist while he ploughed her pussy with his condom-covered cock. He was fucking her in a gentle rhythm, not wanting to give it to her too hard not to hurt her. Sarah moaned through her gritted teeth; she wanted to reach a hand between her legs to finger her pussy, at least get a taste of just how much juice was running down her cunt. She couldn't recall how long he'd had her bent over his desk pounding her since she sucked on his cock and it felt like he'd been screwing her for almost an hour now. Thaddeus pulled her up from his desk and turned her around. His hands grabbed her face and his thrust his tongue into her mouth, felt it entwine with hers, and at the same time lifted her up on his desk. He reached for her panties and removed it from her legs and planted one of them over his elbow. He rubbed the head of his cock against her pussy entrance. Both of them exchanged breaths and she invariably held hers as he thrust the head of his cock back into her warmth. Sarah gasped. Her hands tightened on his arm and she cried out as he thrust inch after inch of his shaft into her like a sword cutting through the icing of a cake. The feeling was out of this plant. So tremendous was the pain and yet so incredible the ecstasy. His hands slipped under her arse cheeks and held her up while he drove his cock in and out of her. "Ohh God! So good!" she moaned. "Please... please tell me I'm going to get the job." He looked at her through a haze of sweat dropping down his eyes and he couldn't help but laugh. "Bitch, you already got the job!" He was on his way to cumming when his office phone started its annoying ringing again. BRRRRNNNIIINNNGGG! BBBRRRNNNNIINNGGG! "Ah shit! Ahh shit! That fucking phone!" Thaddeus felt his concentration breaking. He so much wanted to reach for the land phone and hurl it out his window. "Let me suck you," suggested Sarah between moans. "Please, let me suck you." Thad withdrew from her and she came off the desk to kneel before him. His cock dripped pussy juice over her face. She removed the condom wrapping from his cock and kissed the head before opening her mouth further to start sucking him. Thaddeus groaned through his teeth and managed to pick the phone from the handle before the sound annoyed him any further than he already was. "Yeah, hello," he grumbled into the mouthpiece. "Who's this?" A woman's voice came to the other end of the line. Clipped and well educated, he sensed almost at once. "Excuse me, am I speaking with Mr. Thaddeus Black?" "Speaking," he said. He glanced down at the sight of his new secretary polishing her formerly red-coated lips with his cock and gritted his teeth from the sensation she was giving him. "How may I help you today, miss?" Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 01 "You are a private detective, are you not?" He was seeing stars. He was at the precipice of exploding. His words came out heavy and forced. "Look... lady... Uhh... whoever you are... yes, I am a private eye. What can I do for you?" "I would like to make do with your services. If you wouldn't mind, I've sent a car to fetch you. I look forward to meeting you in person." "Very well, ma'am. Can't wait." He didn't know when he hung up the phone but that was what he did as he shut his eyes and gave a fit of groan as he filled Sarah's mouth with his cum. His load of cum was too much for her to capture with her lips and some of it splattered over her face and hair. Though she rubbed some of his cum over her lips and resumed sucking him. Thaddeus felt like an astronaut who'd just be let go into space and he had to rest against his desk for fear of crumbling on his feet. "Damn, girl!" he wiped sweat from his brow. "You're going to make a hot secretary." "I'm happy to hear that," she licked his sperm off her face, smiling. "That's more gratitude I ever got from my ex-husband." ---------- Thaddeus had enough time to take off his jacket and go into a small room across the corridor leading to his office which served as a urinary and a bathroom to clean himself off. Sarah went along with him to wash her face and hair and apply make-up back on her lips. She inquired if such was his usual mode of searching out anyone wanting to do secretarial work for him and Thaddeus replied yes, it was. She said she couldn't wait to begin actual work for him. Thaddeus told her he would make requirements to fix her with her own separate desk and chair. For the time being he gave her several of his files and told her to index and square them away and to report for real work the following morning at seven. He gave her a spare key to the office as well as his cell phone number should she want to reach him anytime. He as well took down hers and wrote down his home address for her which wasn't far away and told her she could drop by anytime. His hand was caressing her buttocks while he said this. She didn't need a shaman to get the hint. He was busy locking several papers away in his desk drawer when there came a knock on the outer door. Sarah left her chair and went to see who it was. It was a chauffeur asking for him. "Mr. Black?" the chauffeur came in and asked. "Yes, that's me," Thaddeus answered. "I was sent here by Ms. Constance Loftus to get you. I have a car waiting outside." ------ The drive from the downtown section of the city where his place of residence and livelihood was located to the outskirts of the city where the limo driver took him felt like a drive to another state. They left the city's environment completely, headed out into an upper-class suburban neighbourhood the likes he'd only heard of but never before until now entered. Thaddeus lounged in the backseat observing the tall elm trees and lined the large sidewalks, behind which were security-guarded gates that hid opulent mansions the likes would be found on an English countryside. He wound down the window the take in more of the sight. Even the air over here tasted different. So fresh and dirt-free. The roads were wide and few cars passed them along the way and Thad noticed they were all expensive machines. He admired the drink cabinet in the limo and were it not that he wasn't a spirit man, he would have been tempted to help himself to something. The driver spoke to him via the intercom: "Sir, we're almost there, at Loftus Garden." Thaddeus watched as the limo drove past a pair of tall white gate into a spacious uphill driveway that came to a stop in front of a splendid mansion that he reckoned could only be home to an Arab sheik or a royal prince. There was a man in a stiff black suit standing by the concrete stairs leading into the mansion and as the limo drew to a stop, the man approached and held the door open for him. "Welcome to Loftus Garden, sir," the man announced to Thaddeus Black as he stepped out of the limo and craned his head around while he adjusted his jacket and hat from the glare of the sun. The man closed the door behind him. "If you will please follow me." Thaddeus walked a step behind the man with his hands stuck in his pockets. His eyes turned around to look at the wide verdant valley that seemed to travel in the distance. He thought about the old history books he'd read back in college about slave plantations and wondered just how many black backs must have worked in such fields to keep it looking this green. The man ushered him through the wide doorway into the house and he perished the thought from his mind. He stepped into a large foyer and the man led him past a stairway and wide corridor into an adjoining parlour with windows looking out the western part of the compound. The man indicated for him to please feel comfortable and inquired if he would like something to drink. Thaddeus shook his head and watched the man turn around and leave. Thaddeus held his hat in his hand and walked back and for the room, admiring the furniture and classic wall paintings that decorated the walls. A crystal chandelier hovered above his head. The glare of the sun's rays entering through the windows gave the room a creamy outlook. He was admiring one of such paintings that stood alone on a far wall adjoined by large book shelves when someone spoke behind him. "That's a Matisse," said a tall, blonde-haired woman standing by the parlour entrance in a pair of plants and silk blouse. Her hair was tied in a bun behind her hair. Her eyes were blue and she possessed a pointed nose with wide lips. She had slim, curvaceous body and one look told Thaddeus she exercised regularly. She approached him. "It was one of my late husband's most treasured paintings, which was why he hung it separate from the others. It's going to be going on tour in the Smithsonian a fortnight from now." "Got to be worth a dime or two," Thaddeus remarked. She snorted. "A dime, you say? It's worth more than seven million." Thaddeus acted as if he wasn't impressed. He always hated it when rich people called out figures for him as if they meant everything else in life was cheap. For him, nothing was more expensive than pussy. And this was one rich, snotty pussy he was with. "My mistake then. For a nickel I'd flog it down at a yard sale for twenty-five bucks and change." She didn't know what to reply to this, not knowing if he was being serious or just plain cynical. She offered him her hand. "I'm Constance Loftus. We spoke on the phone earlier on." "Ms. Loftus, a pleasure to meet you," he shook her hand. "You mentioned something about a late husband." "Yes. Emmet Graham Loftus. Presumably you've heard of him?" Thaddeus shook his head. "I don't believe I do. I'm not a fan of the wealthy, Ms. Loftus. What was he into?" "A lot, I believe. Shipping, energy, and politicians, I suppose. The Mayor gave him the key to the city last year for his philanthropy efforts." "Really? I'm glad he didn't steal into my home while I was out of town last year," he grinned at her in humour, though she wasn't buying it. "Mr. Black, I assure you I'm not interested in your asinine sense of humour," her voice dropped a touch of cold at him and so too did her eyes. "It was a matter of utmost urgency that I looked you up. Nigel told me of how rude your manners were when he was at your office earlier today, and frankly I can see just what he meant." "Oh, so it was you who sent that grouch over to my office some hours ago. Well, I wasn't impressed by his manners either. So how about you cut through the chit-chat and get down to whatever it is you want me to help you with." "Didn't Nigel explain it all to you?" "I'd rather hear it all from you, if you would be so kind." She turned away from him. "It happened two days ago. I returned home from my husband's funeral and discovered my son, Jonathan, had run away. He left me a letter saying what he'd done. It wasn't the first time he was attempting such, and at first I thought he was playing and that he would come home. But the evening came and still no sign of him and nobody around had seen him leave the estate." "You said it happened two days ago. That's Monday, right?" "Yes," she answered. "Didn't you call the police?" "I did. The Sheriff of the county is—I'm sorry, was—a good friend of my husband. He knew how to be discreet. Unfortunately nothing so far has turned up. It was he who told me to hire a private detective to look into it, and that's why you're here." Thaddeus gathered up his thoughts before replying. "I appreciate your wanting me to take this case, Ms. Loftus, but like I mentioned to your man earlier, that's not the type of work I'm used to doing. Finding missing persons most times can be a heck of a burden, and I'm not getting any younger. You'd be better off letting the police find your boy for you." "And I too appreciate your advice in the matter, Mr. Black, but bringing the police into this is virtually out of the question. Aside from their trustworthiness, which I can't wholesomely agree, the last thing I'd want is have the media parading in front of my gate for an exclusive. Wherever the police go, the press is bound to follow." "Wouldn't that help in finding your boy a lot quicker? He's the son of a rich mom, wherever he is, he'd definitely bound to come rushing back home." Constance was about to say something but caught herself. Her features went from being calm and haughty to one of despondence and she turned her face away from the detective to gaze out the window close to her. "No, I just can't stand to have the press picking wind of such," she said, returning to look at him. "I'd much rather you take up this assignment. Pretend it's your son that's out there. Would you like for the media to plaster his face for the world to pick on?" "Well, Ms. Loftus, in the first place, I don't have any kids. Also, I'm black and where I'm from, CNN or ABC would think twice of coming down there to search for a missing child. If you're looking for sympathy, you're not going to get it that way." He fixed his hat back on his head. "I'm sorry if I wasted your time." He was about walking past her when she reached for his arm. Thaddeus saw the apparent sadness in her eyes; she was now looking vulnerable. Gone was the haughty look she'd had when she came in here and met him. "Mr. Black, I'm begging you, please. I'll pay you twice what you make in your normal cases, please just help me find my boy before anything bad happens to him out there." She took out a photo from her pocket and showed it to him. It was the smiling face of a kid staring back at him. "This was taken when he was seven. He's just a lost kid. I'm begging you." Thaddeus was touched by her words. He took the photo from her hand. "How old is he now?" "He turns fourteen next month." "Well then we better make sure he's around for it. He gave her back the photo. Would you mind showing me his room?" ------ She led the way up the stairs. Thaddeus held his hat in his hat and walked a couple of steps behind her to admire the way her hips seemed to glide up the stairs and her ass cheeks moved. This was one hot-looking lady, he thought to himself. Too bad she's a high society snob. He made a mental note to do some digging about her husband once he returned to his side of the world. Constance unlocked the door for him and both of them stepped in. She told him that she hadn't been in the room since the day he left and also only she held the key to the room and since then she'd kept it under lock. Thaddeus thought that was rather astute of her. He went to look in his closet, checking out the clothes that were there. "Did he by chance leave with anything else?" he asked her. "Ever done any inventory of his stuff?" She shook her head. "As far as I know, I don't think he left with anything. Much of his clothes are still there, but then I really wouldn't know. He could have hidden something. I'm really not sure." "It's all right, you had other stuff on your mind at the time. By the way, I'm sorry about your husband's passing." "Thank you," she said. He looked at his reading table, at his desktop computer and writing books and stuff that littered the table. There was there written note he'd left his mom. He picked it up and read it: "'Mother, I can't remain here anymore. I am leaving this time for real. Goodbye, Jonathan.' Does that sound like the sort of thing he would do?" "I wouldn't really know. This isn't the first time he's run away." "Other times did he ever leave behind a note?" She shook her head. "No. What are you getting at?" He didn't say at first. He walked to the window looking out the other side of the compound where the green valley lay. "If you could make a guess, how do you think he ran out of the house without anyone noticing?" "He knew the movement of the servants around the house, so he must have set his watch on them. What are you getting at?" "Nothing really, just thinking out loud. But has it ever occurred to you that maybe he had outside help?" She thought of it for a moment then nodded. "It's possible. But I did a headcount of everyone and no one was really missing." "Maybe no one had to be, and he probably wouldn't have been away from the house at the time. Whatever the case might be, for now, between you and I, let's assume your boy had some outside help. There's no way he could have left the compound without someone sighting him. It's a big estate, that I can tell, and I know there's no how I'd be able to run around without being spotted. Plus you've got security cameras, right?" "That's correct." "So let's assume that whoever this outside person was, he or she would have hidden your son somewhere out of plain sight, knowing that once you came back home and found him missing, you'd leave no stone unturned to find him. What better way to sneak the kid out than after you and the rest of your servants were out looking elsewhere. You get where I'm going with this?" "I do, I do indeed. Are you saying my son was kidnapped?" "It's possible, but let's not jump to conclusions just yet. It's been two days and if he'd been kidnapped, whoever it is that's got him would have written to you by now demanding money. Maybe the person's watching you right now, wanting to know whom you've been talking to. Anything's possible, Ms. Loftus. For now let's not panic about it. Go about your everyday business and do whatever you can to make it look like it's another ordinary day for you. If by chance the kidnapper gets in touch, you'll let me know right away. Tell me how many people have you got in this estate working for you?" She ran her fingers through her hair while she thought. "Let's see... fifteen... seventeen, yes, seventeen in the estate." "And your boy was in good terms with all of them?" "Everybody dotted on Jonathan. It's why I can't right now get it through my head that someone would want to harm him." "Like I said, it's mere speculation. Let's not jump into the conclusion until it happens. Now that I think about it, I can understand why you never wanted the police in on this. Hard to find anyone who wouldn't keep his trap shut in a police precinct. In the mean time, I'll do some checking of my own and see what I can dig up. If your son hasn't been kidnapped, then chances are that he's out there in world lost for reasons only he knows. That's another avenue we're going to have to explore sooner or later. For now, let's make do with what we've got on our hands." He took out his wallet from his back pocket and took out a business card from within. He took out a pen from his inner jacket pocket and scribbled a number on the back before giving the card to her. "That's my official card, office address and everything else. The number at the back is my cell number. You can reach me anytime. Also, I'll need from you a more current photo of your son, if possibly two. " "That I can do. Thank you very much, Mr. Black. Won't I need to give you some money, at least something that'll make your work seem less stressful?" "Usually I charge a thousand Dollars, plus five hundred expenses." "Money's not a problem for me. Matter of fact, I'm going to double your charge and retainer fee. And if there's any further expenses you might incur, I'd like you to leave with their receipt so I can reimburse you for them." "You're too kind, Ms. Loftus." "Please, it's Constance. And really, it's I who should be thanking you, Mr. Black. You've really saved me a burden worse than hell." "We'll find your son, Constance. And please, just call me Thad. Everyone does, except people I owe money to." Constance tried not to laugh at this statement and barely succeeded. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 02 Thaddeus boarded the limo once again to return him to the city though not to take him to his place of work but rather somewhere else. His actual destination was the city police station, to the county head department which oversaw all felonies, crimes and misdemeanours pouring in from all the surrounding counties. He would have preferred visiting the Sheriff of the rich neighbourhood county whom Constance told him she'd spoken with regarding her son's disappearance but didn't want to alarm anyone by going there. Wouldn't it just shock them to see a black man stepping into their precinct, a black man who's probably got no business walking in their neighbourhood and then be coming over asking questions about a missing rich woman's child. A private dick for that matter. Since venturing into this line of business one of the numerous mantras Thaddeus Black had formulated for himself with apparent realisation was that cops hate private snooping detectives almost as much as they despise criminals. Sometimes it was even hard to know which they hated the most. He had an old friend who worked the county head desk and knew that if there was any chance he could get a more reliable picture of what's happening in the rich woman's backyard, it would be from him. The limo dropped him a block away from the precinct building and he got off and walked the rest of the way, not wanting anyone thinking he'd just inherited a million bucks if they spotted the car he was in. He walked along their courtyard, past a number of boys in shinning blue before entering the quaint lobby. He knew his way around the building, having being here a couple of times and done some odd jobs for some off-duty cops, though it always paid to be courteous to the guy manning the lobby counter and making his enquiries from there as to the whereabouts of one Staff Sergeant Oliver. The duty officer told him to hold on and made a call. A couple of seconds was all it took for the officer to point him in the right direction. He made his way past a body of cops, all of them talking and pushing folks along. Sergeant Greg Oliver was a seasoned officer in his late forties who'd spent the last two years living the remainder of his cop life behind a desk. He was due to retire in a year's time and planned on spending the next years of his life fishing, being looked after and pampered by his second wife, and never mind about filling away misdemeanour duty report sheets and whatnot. It was through his second wife, Debbie, that Thaddeus and he had gotten acquainted. It was an experience most reassured by the officer and his wife. He was hovering outside his door waiting for the detective to show. Thaddeus found him and they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries before Greg invited him into his office. "How's the young missus taking care of you, my friend?" asked Thaddeus after the Sergeant offered him a chair. "Doing great, though she's still shinning like a million bucks compared to me," he grinned. "By the way, she wanted if I can get you to drop by this weekend for some fun, if you're available." "You know me, I'm always down for some fun." He smiled before getting down to his real reason for dropping by, explaining his need for total discretion. He presented his friend with one of the photos Constance had given him of her son Jonathan and he told him everything regarding the kid's disappearance since the day before. He as well mentioned the detail about the lady communicating with the county Sheriff; Greg knew where he was heading before he even hammered down on the nail. "You want to know if there's been any such traffic coming out of that county, is that it?" his friend asked. "You're always an astute fellow, Greg. I just want to know if things are still kept under wraps. The lady's the wife to one recently dead rich guy called Emmett Loftus." Greg sucked air through his teeth. "Emmett Loftus, the industrialist fellow, that same guy? Thaddeus, my boy, you've certainly been moving around big circles." "Hey, don't kid yourself. I barely know who the bastard was." His friend shook his head at him depreciatingly. "That's what you get for never reading the papers too often. Wow, if word on this gets out, it's going to make the front page headlines. Now I can see how worried you must be. Gimme a minute to check through what I've got. Do me a favour and go wait out in the lobby for me. I'll holler out to the Duty Officer to fetch you once I'm done." Thaddeus couldn't complain. He left his friend's office and went out and sat on a long bench next to a couple of measly-looking derelicts and washouts. Sleep was staring to knock on his door and he was just about starting to slip into a when he heard his voice being announced over the PA system that he was being sought by his friend. Thaddeus wiped sweat off his brow and got up and went in the direction of his friend's office. Greg was waiting for him outside but again led him into the office. "I've checked through my index system and so far everything coming from there is quiet," he said. "I don't know how the boys over there at that county are like. But if you want my advice I'll give it to you right here and now. Whatever you've got to do to find this kid, you've better hurry and get to it. This news is too big for it to sit quiet, and sooner or later, word is going to get out. Either from there or from down here. I'm not the only guy in here who reads the county files, and I know guys have got friends everywhere." "I reckon that's going to be what you'd say. How long do you think I've got?" His friend shrugged. "Forty-eight, is my guess. Least I can give you is seventy-two, and that's only if you're lucky. This is sensational stuff, and it won't be long before someone blabs. If not over there, then down here. Whatever it chances you've got of finding this lost lad, better hop to it starting now." "I was afraid you'd say something like that. God knows I hate the case already." "I'm even surprised you took it on. Though you hated missing persons. What got you to change your mind?" "The kid's mom gave me a sob story, that's what." Greg laughed. "I'm surprised you're still a sucker for sob stories." "I'm not. The wife sure made it look easy." "She hot-looking?" "Got legs like a thorough-bred," said Thaddeus. "Anyway, it's the least work I can find till something strong comes along. I'd better be on my way." He shook his friend's hand. "Extend my love to Linda." His friend smiled back. "As long as you don't forget to drop by in the weekend, I certainly will. Take care of yourself." "Always will." Thaddeus turned around and left. ------ He stepped out the doors of the station into the glare of the afternoon sun with the expectant thought that he knew where next to head out to. It was only after he'd taken a couple of steps and gotten back on the street pavement that he realised with chagrin that he didn't have a worthy clue at all as to where or what next to do. Such was the predicament of finding a missing person. In a city with a population of twenty million and counting, it was a horrendous task trying to spot a single individual from amongst them. Especially when the reason for the known person's disappearance evaded him. One other factor he had been mote to present to the rich woman was what if her son actually intended to stay gone? This wasn't the first disappearance case he'd been saddled with, and the last one had left him with such an impressionable scare the thought of picking up another had seemed like anathema to him. Until now. Yes, until now. Where next to turn to, Thad? You've got a forty-eight hours' deadline, and the clock's already ticking on you. What do you do next, homeboy? He reached into his jacket pocket and took out his little notebook. It was laden with addresses, names, lists, dotted messages and phone numbers. Some he remembered and some he couldn't recall ever penning them down. He went and stood beside a bus stop platform and flipped through the pages till he found the address he sorted. Less than a minute later, realising he was at the right bus stop terminal, a bus came careening towards the platform and he got into it along with other commuters and rode along. Just as he'd begun his search at the city police station, his next stop was at the main headquarters of the Hermit House, also known as the Missing Persons Station. Why anyone chose to refer to it as the Hermit House, he would never know. But it did served a viable purpose. There were numerous missing persons' stations and outhouses scattered across the city and their information was all channelled to the Hermit House. Much better doing the remainder of his checks there than hitting the stations one at a time, especially when he was at a loss as to what part of the city the kids must have disappeared to. First he would make his enquiries here and perhaps pray that he got a hint or something. His next bid would be to call the rich lady up and ask if she's got any relatives or anyone the kid might be familiar with living in the city. No kid takes off from home without a destination in mind. Not unless they want to run off and go live across the border in Mexico. The Hermit House building was an austere affair that resembled more of disused YMCA building than anything else. It was in terrible need of repaint, and why the city officials allowed it to stick out like a sore thumb amidst all the redeveloping plans it had initiated since the start of the decade was a mystery to him. A good thing about it was it served as a temporary residency for much of the city's lost and hopeless delinquents, much of whom poured through its open doors Mondays through to Sundays. Thaddeus walked through its doors, past a line of rejects standing in line to be catered to and went in search of Sister Agnes. Sister Agnes was an old woman in her mid-sixties who'd been caring for the lost and downtrodden since Christ gave up carpentry. Never married and never going to retire rich, she'd lived much of her life for and to the Hermit House, serving with as much distinction as a Staff Sergeant training a bunch of recruits to love war. Thaddeus had known her since he was a pup, and she was always welcoming to his visits, especially when it concerned missing persons. She took a walk with him around the back garden of the compound while he related to her the reason for his stopping by, having shown her a snapshot of the missing kid. Agnes had a sharp memory for remembering faces, whether they are strays of the world or just mere passers-by. She shook her head at the photograph and adjusted her reading glasses on her wrinkled face. "No, can't say I've seen such a handsome face as his around here," she said to Thaddeus in her typical craggy voice that sounded a lot like Desmond Tutu having a cold. "You know we get few kids comin' up in here. Most o' 'em just tend to drift away once they've gotten their loaf o' bread." "Was what I was thinking too, Aunt Agnes." For Thaddeus, she would always remain an Aunt to him. "Perhaps you could check through the outhouse records and see if maybe someone like him stopped by any of those places. It's just a haunch I have to go by." She looked at her watch. "We're not going to get the full figures until six. Another thing is depending if the kid is the type that would stay. But I'll have a look and let you know if anything turns up." "Thanks, Aunt." He planted a kiss on her cheek. "You really know how to make a kid happy." "Like I haven't heard that before. You tell Tibbins I'm still thinking about you, you hear?" "I hear you, Aunt. Got to go. You take care of yourself too, don't go working yourself to death like you always do." "Yeah, like I haven't heard that one before either." She waved at him as he left her standing in the middle of her garden. Thaddeus decided to walk half a block to the nearest subway station. He was at first unaware of being followed, and it wasn't until a group of young college kids bumped into him and he half turned to apologise that he spotted the lone man break to a stop across the street from him. He reduced his steps but still carried on like nothing was wrong. Every now and then he gave himself an excuse to admire a building block while at the same time turning to see how far off the lone man was from him. He didn't have time to turn and get a good look at him as he went down the stairs leading to the subway train. He stood by the platform looking about to spot the lone man but couldn't recognise him amongst the bystanders that were there. His train arrived and he stepped into it. It wasn't as the train was pulling away that he once again saw him, but the train had moved too fast for him to make out his face. ---------- There wasn't anyone following him when he arrived at his work building. He'd taken time to scan his movements on the street and didn't make out anyone acting suspicious. For all he knew it was another hot, sunny afternoon. People going about their business, cars honking their horns driving here and there, music pouring off the open doorways of papa-and-mama shops and 7-Elevens, nearly all the music coming out of them tend to be more ethnic than American. Brothers standing on street corners giving him the bleary eyes, drinking 40s, playing craps, shooting the breeze, waiting for the next hustle to come their way. Hubbies chasing after wives and wives in turn yelling their heads off at kids standing by the curb playing under water showers coming off drain pipes. Thaddeus listened to the sound his shoes made as he walked the curb. He was sweating under his clothes and he was grateful he could sight his building from where he stood. He went inside and almost immediately the air felt different. Up the stairs he went to his private eye door and knocked on it before opening it. Sarah was standing beside a filling cabinet putting away thick files when she turned and saw him enter. "Good afternoon," he said to her, and she replied him back. He took his hat off his head and ran his palm over his sweaty plate. "You familiarised yourself with those files yet?" "It's going to take me a while to get everything serialized. But give me a week, and I'll have it all connoted for you." "No problem, take your time. Don't have much work pouring in now, but with the latest I've got on hand, we just might make something out of it." He went past her into his inner office. She trailed behind him and waited for him to take off his jacket and drape it on the jacket stand beside his desk before saying anything. "Someone called your office line an hour ago," she pointed at the phone on his desk. "It was a woman. She said her name was Hilda Carmichael. She left her number and said she'd like you to give her a call as soon as you get in." "Did she give any reason why I should?" She shook her head. "Just said you should give her a call. Said that it's very urgent. I left it there on your desk." Thad picked up the paper with the woman's phone number and snorted. "If she's not a client, and I don't have any going by that name, she'll just have to wait." He unbuttoned his shirt and settled down in his chair, letting the cold air from the air-conditioner warm his wet chest and at the same thinking what next steps he ought to take with his present case. He didn't realise how tired he was as a minute later he slipped into a doze. He was awaken by the sound of his cell phone going off in his pocket. He groaned as he reached into his pocket and pulled it out. The thought of sleep went away for the moment when he saw who the caller was as he brought the phone to his ear. "Hello, Aunt Agnes," he said. "Hello, Thad," she spoke into his ear. "I went through the records as you asked me to, and I wasn't expecting to find anything this early for you, but something came up and I think it's got a little something to do with your missing child. Are you ready?" Thad sat forward and reached for a pen and writing pad, all attentive. "Go ahead, Aunt." "A bulletin coming from one of our branches over in District L said early this morning a kid walked in with a bruised arm. I asked them to send me the kid's information, whatever it was they got from him, and I'm looking at it right now. Said his name was Johnny Elwood. The snapshot they took of him matches a lot like the one you left with me." Thad was writing furiously. "That sounds great, Aunt. Is the kid still there at the branch?" "No, they said he sneaked out of the place a couple of hours ago. I'm sorry." "Not your fault, Aunt. If we'd known earlier enough, we might have had a chance. Was there any other information they left you with?" "Yes, the kids wrote down an address. Says here: Hilda Marcus Carmichael. 2001 Century Lane." Thad furrowed his brow and picked up the note his secretary had left him earlier. It was the same name. He thanked his Aunt and told her to keep in touch in case the kid ever returned then hung up. He dialled the number on the note paper and waited for someone to pick. He hadn't noticed his secretary standing by his doorway. She came forward as he waited for the line to pick. "Is there anything the matter?" she inquired. He looked up and smiled at her. "Oh no, Sarah. Thanks for answering that call that came earlier." "I was wondering if I can be of service in any other way." She had an expectant look in her eyes. "Anything at all," she stressed on the word 'anything'. The phone rang but no one answered it. "There's always something a good secretary can do. How about you get down here and find a means to calm my spirit." Sarah fell to her knees before him and unzipped his pants. Thaddeus redialled the number once again and listened to it ring while his secretary whipped out his black cock, which was semi-erect, and began milking the head of his prick with her lips. She made a mewling sound in her throat as she lapped her tongue up and down his shaft which had suddenly gotten erect in her mouth. "I can't tell you how much I've missed your private dick since you left," she murmured. Thaddeus was about replying her when the line in his ear came awake with the sound of a woman's voice speaking to him. "Yes, hello?" "Uhh ... hi there. Excuse me, am I speaking with a Ms. Hilda Carmichael?" "Yes, speaking?" "Good day to you, madam. We've never met before, but you called my office a while ago. My name's Thaddeus Black, and I'm—" "Oh yes, Mr. Black. Yes, I did call your office earlier on. How nice of you to return my call." "Right, well, I'm sorry I wasn't around at the time to take your call—" Thaddeus winced as he felt Sarah's teeth scraped his skin. She mouthed an apology and resumed sucking him. He was gradually finding it hard to listen to the excited words of the woman talking to him on the phone. "The reason I called you earlier was about this case of my missing nephew that you're handling. However I wish we'd gotten in touch sooner, it sure would have prevented a lot that's happened already." Thad squeezed his face, whether at concentrating on the woman's words on from the sublime sensation he was getting from surrendering to his secretary's lustful lips, he really couldn't tell. "Excuse me, ma'am, did you say nephew? Did I hear you correctly?" "Of course you heard me correctly," the woman called Hilda said to him with reproach in her voice as if taken offence at his question. "Mr. Black, Constance, the woman whose missing child you're searching for, happens to be my sister." "Okay. I'm sorry, Ms. Carmichael, that was an information I'm only now becoming aware of." "I wouldn't be surprised she never thought of mentioning it to you. Constance and I haven't been in touch with each other for a bit a while." He gazed down at his secretary. She too gazed back at her, her head bopping down on his crotch with her mouth engulfed with his black rod. Thad was hardly aware of himself groaning from her sucking exercise and it wasn't until Hilda on the phone called out to him that he realised he still stupidly held the phone close to his ear. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 02 "Err ... Mr. Black, is everything alright with you?" "Yes, yes ... everything's just fine. Ms. Carmichael, would it be alright if I paid you a visit later today?" "I very much hope you would. I left my home address with your secretary earlier, it's rather easy to find." "Yes, I've seen it. I will be there within the hour. Bye for now." Thaddeus quickly ended the conversation and slammed the phone down on his table. He couldn't have cared less if he was impolite with the way he cut the call, but at the moment he had a more pressing urge of fucking his secretary's wanton mouth. He pressed her head down on his crotch till her nose pressed against his pubic hair. When he figured she'd sucked him enough, he pulled her up to her feet and had her sit on top his table with her legs spread for him. She pushed her skirt back and presented him with the ripest pink pussy he'd feasted in a while, percolating with her wet juice upon which he lapped his tongue over and she hissed a languorous sigh. He lapped his tongue up and down her pussy once more before pressing his nose against her clit while he perused her lower gash with his lips. Sarah's sighed turned into lengthy moans and this time it was she who held and pressed Thad's head to remain between her legs while her hips pushed her vulva towards him, desiring for more of his tongue. Thaddeus fingered her pussy's inner sanctum at the same time flicked his tongue up and down the tiny bud that was her clitoris, sending shards of ecstatic daggers travelling up her spine and to her brain and back to her womb. Sarah clawed at the front of her blouse. She felt like she was burning inside her clothes, like everything about her was on fire and if she didn't get some air, she was going to turn to ashes any second soon. She tried to speak, but her words came out as moaning echoes. She tried to come down from the table and run to the nearest fire exit, but her boss, Thad, held her down on his table while he munched on her pussy. Her head fell back and she cried for God to hurry and come and rescue her at about the same time her body began to impressively shudder. Her fingers nearly ripped off the top buttons of her blouse and she let go a shrill scream that sounded like a helium balloon being let off into the sky. Her body shook all over and Thad had to press her down while she squirted her juice into his face. Still he kept his calm and remained licking his tongue over her as she gradually came back down to earth, still exhaling wild air from her lungs. Thaddeus stood up from his chair and first looked at his watch, took note of the time, knowing that he couldn't spare as much as he would have loved to fuck his secretary, still he could only but hurry. He didn't bother with undoing his pant's belt. His cock standing ramrod erect found the entrance to her pussy like a blind eye searching for a doorway and just a push was all it took for him to slid into her. Sarah's hands came around his shoulders while he grasped her ass cheeks underneath and began rocking with her steadily. He thrust his cock further into her. She screeched through her teeth, mumbled "Oh God! Oh God!" over and over while he had his way with her. Her pussy gripped his cock like a tight envelope and he too emitted a groan as he focused all his muscles upon her. He brought her down from the table and turned her around. She pressed her backside towards his and gave a sudden shout as he shoved the head of his meat into her and fucked her harder. He pulled her face back and ran his hands down her neckline while he nibbled on her earlobe. "Are you ... are you going to keep fucking me like this, boss?" she asked him over her shoulder. "Every day," he growled at the same time breathed into her ear. "Day and night, if possible. This is your second job." She leaned forward on his table and slammed her ass back at him, moaning high and low while he filled her up with his cock. She reached under skirt to fondle his scrotum between her legs; her hands came wet with her pussy juice. Thaddeus was nearing the moment of climax. He pulled out of her and she too turned around and fell to her knees before him and was jerking his cock at the same time taking the head of his cock into her mouth. Thad unleashed his load of cum like a jet fuel into her mouth and down her throat. Bits of it escaped through the side of her lips, still his secretary struggled to ingest much of his semen. "Go ahead and clean me up," he ordered her. "Snap to it, too. I've got to be places already." She was already at work licking the dripping cum from his prick while he reclined against his chair so as not to fall from being weak-kneed at her actions. She certainly was a keeper, this secretary of his was. 2001 Century Lane was a swank apartment building situated at the trendy Lower-West district of the city, where you've got wide-space parking garages, high and expensive shopping malls and just about everything else to carter to the wealthy or to put it more succinctly, the city's upper class citizenry. The sidewalks were clean and free from thrash or homeless wanderers. Even the air this side of the city, much like the area his client resided, tasted clean to his lips and nostrils. Thaddeus had taken his custom-made Cadillac Coupe DeVille out of the back garage where he'd left it and driven down to the part of the city where the woman lived. It being a high class building meant only one thing: here was another woman married to money, just like her sister. He was willing to bet that just like her sister, her husband too was well late in the ground. He had to drive half a block from the building to find an underground parking garage to leave his vehicle and then walk the length back to the glass doorway. He'd already called her to let her know he was on his way, thus the floor man was expecting him even before he uttered the woman's name. He gave him her apartment number and directed him to the elevator and told him which button to press before riding it. The elevator deposited him on the thirtieth floor. A short walk was all it took down the end of the wide corridor to his left and he was standing before the door with the number 2001 written in gold letters on it. He pressed the door bell and stood back as seconds later the door open and a young man with slick hair wearing a pair of shorts stared at him. He widened the door further as if to give Thad too a better look at himself while he continued sizing him up; he had a wine glass in his hand with some liquor in it. He had a perfect set of pectoral abs, looking like they'd been sculpted on his chest, so too were his arm muscles. His complexion was tan and the more he sized Thaddeus up, the more the chiselled feature of his lower lip curled into a sneer. Thad was wasting time staring at him. "You going to open the door and let me in, sunny, or you going to stand there and take a picture all day?" he said to him. The guy made like he wanted to a lunge at him. Thaddeus didn't move an inch. "Who the hell do you think you—" "Blondie, who's that?" a woman's voice called from behind the door. The sound of her voice drew the young man to a standstill like a dog about to play fetch. Thad felt like laughing. The door came further open and a woman's face appeared there. She was blonde, perfect blue eyes and had so much resemblance to Constance Loftus. She was wearing a pink bathrobe and her hair was tied in a bun above her head. She looked at Thaddeus, who in turn took of his hat and smiled cursorily at her. "Afternoon, Ms. Carmichael. I'm Thaddeus Black, whom you spoke on the phone with earlier on." "Oh yes, Mr. Black, how lovely it is to finally meet you," she shook his hand and told him to come inside. The young man was still glaring at him as he entered the apartment. Thaddeus paid him no mind, following the woman who led him into the monstrous apartment towards the living room. She was still talking as she offered him a seat, told her boy toy to fetch Thad a drink while she went and got changed. Thaddeus asked for mineral water and admired the woman's taste in her living room furniture decor while she was away. Blondie returned and dumped the mineral bottle on the table in front of his with a sneer still on his lips and disappeared from the room. Hilda returned minutes later looking fresh in a t-shirt that accentuated her tits and slack pants. She wasn't wearing any bra. Thad could make out the outline of her tits with her nipples pressing against the fabric. Was she wearing it for him or was this her normal afternoon type of wear, he asked himself. She crossed one long pair of leg over the other, extracted a gold case in which contained long sticks of cigarettes. She offered one to Thad but he declined. She stuck one to a cigarette holder and brought it to her lips and lit the end of it with a gold cigarette lighter. She blew a rich smoke into the air before turning to him, flashing her eye lashes at him as if she had something stuck in her eyes. Uppity-class bitch! ---------- Thad dropped his hat on the seat next to him, took out his black notebook and pen from inside her jacket and opened to a fresh page. He had his 'strictly business' face on to show the lady he had more pressing things on his mind than to admire the coating of her nails. "Over on the phone, Ms. Carmichael, you mentioned something about you being related to the missing kid's mother?" Hilda nodded her head, sucked on her cigarette and blew another cloud of smoke. "I'm surprised Constance never mentioned it to you. Then again, that probably was because she never figured her boy would scuttle halfway across the city to see his Aunt." She picked up an ashtray from a nearby coffee table and placed it beside her. "You're aware of her husband being deceased, aren't you?" "I am. You said her son, Johnny, was here with you yesterday?" Another nod of the head. "The doorman downstairs was the one who rang me up saying there was this kid wanting to see me. Naturally I couldn't think of anyone besides him who'd be that pressing, so when he mentioned Johnny's name to me, I had him sent up." "Do you recall the time this happened?" Thad was scribbling away. "It was late, because I'd just returned from seeing an opera—Mistress Giovanni, it was—I got home past nine-thirty. Sometime between a quarter to ten and ten o' clock, I think." Thaddeus looked up at her. "You're quite certain of the time?" "Yes, I am. I remember I wasn't yet out of my clothes when the doorman called. You can check with him when you're leaving." Thad made a note in his book to do just that. "Was there anything troubling about him when you saw him last night? How did he look to you?" She thought for a moment, held her burning cigarette insouciantly away from her face. "He seemed somewhat distraught. Worried, I would say, like he was frigid about something. I figured he was undergoing some trauma with his father dead that's all. I tried asking him what was wrong, but he wouldn't say." "Did it ever come to your mind that maybe he'd run off from home?" "To tell the truth," pause as she blew off another cloud of smoke. "The thought never occurred to me at the time. Even now as I think about it, I chide myself for never thinking about such. Really stupid of me." "You never called your sister to tell her where her son was too?" "To tell the truth, I thought she knew. I mean, why would he end up knocking at my door at that late hour if maybe she hadn't dropped him off to spend the night with me. It after all wasn't the first time such had happened. I was however going to give her a call first thing this morning. I left him in the spare bedroom down the passageway from mine, but when I went in there to check on him, he was gone." "Around what time was this?" "A little before six-thirty. I always wake up at six and I was making some breakfast and wanted to know if he too was up already. When I called downstairs, they told me they'd seen him leave, but figured everything was alright with him." "You never called the police?" She shook her head, tipped the head of her cigarette into the ashtray. "It was then I needed to speak with my sister to know what was really going on, so I gave her a call this morning. Unfortunately, her answer wasn't what I was expecting." Thad caught the dropped tone in her voice and stopped his scribbling. "Mind explaining that for me?" Hilda sucked on her cigarette before continuing. "She'll probably tell you more next time you bring the subject up with her, but I guess it doesn't hurt to clue you in first. Constance and I have never always had the best relationship most sisters are known to have. We've had our disagreements every now and then. She's always looked down on my," she paused to search out the right word, "flamboyant type of lifestyle, of I may use that word, and I too have always regarded her as too uptight and closet-minded for her own good. She can be so melodramatic sometimes." "You and her don't get along much?" "Not since I divorced my last husband," she said. Thad looked at her hand and didn't spot any rings there. She noticed where his gaze was going and smiled. "He was my second. So incompatible were we, he could barely keep up with me." "In bed or in social circles?" Thad meant it humorously. "Both, I think. Though he never would admit to it, his money did much of his talking for him. So glad he left me some when we split. I'm sorry if I'm being too vain." "Nothing to apologise, it's not my money. When you called your sister this morning, what was her reaction?" "Wouldn't you know, she flew into a rage when I told her Johnny had spent the night here and she lashed at me for not thinking of giving her a call last night. She didn't allow me much room to explain why I didn't. However she did say it was nice I didn't call the police and then told me she'd hired this detective out to look for him." "Was it she who gave you my number?" "Of course. How else would I have gotten your number?" That was something Thad was going to put before Constance the next time he went by to speak with her. He made a mental note of it. "When Johnny came by here, did he carry anything personal with him? Like a change of clothes or a bag?" Hilda drew her last smoke from her cigarette then crushed it in the ash tray. "Yes, he did have a knapsack bag with him, and yes, he did arrive with a fresh pair of clothes. Though as I didn't see him leave this morning I can't tell you what he was wearing." "What was he wearing when he arrived here last night? Can you try and remember that?" he asked the question solicitously, not wanting her to feel he was pressuring her with questions. "He was wearing a t-shirt with some rock and roll group's name on it, I forget which. That and a pair of blue jeans. I hope that will help." Thad wrote down everything. "Wouldn't know for now. I hope it won't be asking too much from you, but would you mind showing me the room where you kept him at?" "Sure. Come with me." She uncrossed her legs and stood up and led the way out the living room into a wide passageway and to the left. Thad's eyes went everywhere. He was hoping to see Blondie standing around; probably hiding somewhere or looking after his hair. Hilda walked to the last room at the end of the hall. She opened the door and allowed him to step inside. The room was typical with a large bed in the centre of it. There was a reading table and a closet. Thad went to look in the closet first. There wasn't anything in it. The bed still bore remnants that it had been slept on, though it had been hurriedly dressed back by whoever it was. "Do you know if he woke up late in the night and stepped out this room?" Thad asked her. "Maybe he was hungry late in the night and wanted to get something out your fridge?" "I really wouldn't know," said Hilda. She stood by the large window looking down at the surrounding houses. "Even now I'm trying to imagine what would make him run from home and can't think of an answer." "Were you at your brother in-Law's funeral? I'm sorry to be pock-nosing, just trying to gauge your relationship with your sis." "There's nothing to hide about me and my sister, even she might tell you that, though I'll bet much of the bad sheep story would be from me. No, I didn't attend his funeral, because I wasn't invited. Constance and Emmet stuck to themselves like glue. About the last time I was at that lofty mansion of theirs was three months ago. Even that ended rather badly." It was then she turned the questioning to him. "Tell me, do you do this for a real living?" "What do you mean?" he asked. "Nothing personal, but I always thought private detectives are stuff one only reads in dime novels. I've never really met one before. How long have you been doing it?" "Too long for me to think about quitting," replied Thad, smiling. "I tried seeing about being some rich woman's gigolo, but my face tends to scare the ladies away." "You're hilarious," she laughed as she walked over towards him. "No, I think you'd make for a terrific gigolo. Matter of fact, I've never before being with a black man. I hear you guys are rather strong and sturdy in bed." She ran her hand down his shirt. "That's just what I need. A sturdy man who can handle me in bed." "You don't need a man like me—you've got your boy toy out there to look after you." She snorted dismissively. "Blondie? He's a Calvin Kline model I picked out of a line-up two weeks ago. He's alright, but I'm willing to bet my last dime that he'd be nothing compared to what you've got underneath those clothes of yours." "Well, maybe when we're more comfortable and less stressed, I can see about putting your body to work." She licked her lips. "Why wait for that day to come, when we've got now?" she turned away from him, went and closed the door and turned the key in the lock then returned to him. "I've been feeling so fucking randy since I woke this morning. Whenever I wake up in the morning, the first thing I need is a stiff prick ready to fuck. Blondie hardly knows how to get it up in the morning, but I'll bet you are always stiff." He took her hand and brought it to his crotch. She gasped when she felt the erection pressing inside his pants. He saw the look in her eyes and smiled. "Stiff and solid as a rock, especially for white pussy." "Ohh, that's just my favourite type of toy." She played her hand, grasping his erection and tugging at it. "You're a rich slut, aren't you? Get down on your knees, bitch. Take that cock out of my pants and stick it in your mouth right now," he ordered her. His voice at once sounded guttural and hard. Hilda slid down to her knees slowly, never taking her smiling eyes from his. "I always love it when a man knows how to take control." She continued staring at him as her fingers fumbled the zipper of his pants, pulled it down then her hand disappeared inside. Thaddeus gasped when he felt her fingers curl around his meat then pulled it out into the open. Her eyes went agog when she took in the size of his purple-coated cock's head. "Take that cock and slap your cheeks with it," he snapped at her. Hilda, with both hands wrapped around his shaft, did as he told her to. She kept eye contact with him while she rubbed pre-cum from his cock against her cheeks, grinning at him while she did. She brought the head of his cock to her mouth and gave it a quick kiss. Thaddeus slapped the side of her head, his features staring at her with a mean countenance. "Bitch, did I tell you to suck my cock yet?" he growled at her. "Obey my words before you do anything else." Hilda at once became apologetic, flustered by his unexpected reaction. "I'm sorry ... I'm sorry, I thought—" "Shut the fuck up and open that pretty rich girl's mouth of yours," he barked at her while his erection stretched before her face acting like half of an uncompleted bridge between his waistline and her face. "Open your mouth now!" Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 02 Hilda knelt before him erect and widened her mouth as instructed. Thad inched forward and the smooth tip of his cock slipped between her stretched lips and came to rest on the wet surface that was her tongue. Her mouth remained open for him as he then began slipping his back and forth in her mouth, barely touching her teeth. Her mouth hung open in readiness while her eyes looked up at him in anticipation of what instruction he would divulge next. She looked like a school girl before her class master. Such was a pressing fantasy of hers she'd always wanted to re-enact with anyone able to withstand her sex drive. Finally it seemed she'd found herself a worthy partner. "That's a good white girl," Thaddeus muttered. "Now I want you to slowly close your lips down on my cock, and I want you to suck it as hard and as good as you could." Almost as if she was waiting for the command prompt, Hilda clamped her lips down on his cock and started sucking him. Steam of glistening saliva seeped from the sides of her mouth while she lubricated his shaft with her lips. She inched forward and brought her hands to his waistline, drawing him further closer while she bobbed her head down on him. Thad could barely make out the sight of half his cock slipping into her mouth. The sound of wet sucking noises floated out of her lips, punctuated by intermittent mewling coming from within her throat. Thad couldn't stop himself from groaning. She was sucking him so hard and her lips were wrapped tight around his shaft like she wanted to tear his cock out of the rest of him. "Damn! Bitch, you sure know how to suck a cock!" he groaned. She looked up at him and laughed wildly. "It's one of the few things I was ever good at," she said while she stroked his cock. "Mind telling me the other stuff you're good at?" "Fucking!" she answered with glee. She stroked his cock inches from her face, spat a gob of saliva at it and went on stroking it then thrust it back into her mouth, pressing her nose towards his pubic region as she consumed more of him. Thaddeus freed himself from the constraints of his jacket and shirt and had to push her away from him to take off the remainder of his clothes. Hilda got up and followed his example, hurrying out of her clothes while her eyes remained glued at his thick erection dripping with her saliva. Neither of them noticed at first the door inching open behind them and Blondie watching them. He closed it back when they were done discarding their clothes about the room and then jumping on the bed. Thad lay flat on the bed and grabbed Hilda by the back of her head and forced her face to his cock. She went in the direction he pulled her to, her mouth coming open to swallow his cock once more. She sucked him voraciously, down his balls, before pulling off. Thaddeus grasped her ass cheeks and slipped his finger into her wet crevice while she went on sucking him. "Alright, bitch! Get up on that dick! Get up on it!" he slapped her ass. Hilda crossed one long pair of leg across his thigh and sat on top his waist. Her hand dove between her thighs and stroked his cock before searching for her pussy's entrance then sticking it inside. Thad, he too caught in the moment, pistoned his cock with a smooth thrust high up into her pussy. Hilda threw her head back and gave an animal-like groan as he rammed his cock into her. She came forward and almost at once started riding him hard. She kissed him savagely, her tongue swam in the river of his mouth while her ass cheeks bounced and grounded on his shaft. Her pussy made a wet sluicing type of sound as she slammed her buttocks hard on him. Cum juice dribbled down her inner crevice, further lubricating his cock as his thickness filled her hole. Hilda screamed with unabashed joy as she rode him; her face contorted in pain and ecstasy. Her tits bounced and slapped Thaddeus' face. He too emitted his own groaning sound and his hands grasped her ass cheeks and widened them apart while his legs formed a 'V' shape as he pistoned her cock as hard as he could in and out of her. Hilda was loving every minute of it. She too rocked her ass down on him, from side to side, and back and forth. She sat up on him and grabbed bits of her hair, wanting to tear them off from their roots from the massive pounding she was receiving. Her lips espoused curse words and expletives at him. "Awwhhh ... Ohh fuck! That's some good fucking black cock!" Thad pulled her face down to his, snarling at her. "You love that black cock, don't you, you rich slut bitch!" "Awwhh yes!" she whimpered. "I'm loving it so fucking much!" "You're gonna be loving black cocks by the time I'm done with your pussy and ass!" "Ohh fuck my pussy! Fuck my ass too! Fuck every fucking hole in me!" Thaddeus pushed her off him and had her bent forward sticking her ass up in the air. He locked her with his thighs and buried his cock into her pussy. What came out of her pussy was a sluicing fart that drew as he pulled his cock out and then slammed it back inside her. Hilda gasped and bit down on the sheets as he fucked her deep. Thad's back was to the door, thus he didn't observe the door inching open once again and Blondie taking snapshots of both of them with his iPhone. He closed the door carefully once more and spied at them through the key hole. He had his cock in his hand and was stroking himself, wishing he could go in and become part of the action. Except the mistress had told him earlier on that he was never to get such ideas in his head whenever he caught her getting busy with anyone else. Only to take photos if he possibly could. By now Hilda had just her face resting on the bed while the rest of her body hung in the air as Thaddeus half lifted her up from the bed, still thrusting his cock with every heaving grunt he could muster, wanting to tear her pussy apart. Hilda too was delirious with excitement to even care. She always enjoyed rough sex, the rougher the better for her. Since Thad began pounding her she had lost count of her climaxing and that was something that rarely happened to her. Most men she ate them for lunch, breakfast and dinner when it came to fucking. Thad just didn't seem ready to quit just yet. She was grasping her tits with one hand while her head rested on the other. She took her hand off her tits and massage her pussy as well as cup his balls which kept slapping against her each time he drove his hammer into her. This was a bout of fucking she wasn't going to forget too soon and already she was starting to regret what she would inevitably do to repay him. "Ohh, please ... I want you on top!" she moaned and whimpered at the same time. "I want you on top of me!" Thad let go of her, letting her slump to the bed. He ran his arm across his brow, wiping off thick pools of sweat before coming down on the bed. She was still catching her breath when he spun her over, pushed her legs apart and thrust the head of his cock between her succulent pussy lips. "Agghh!" she cried from the apparent hurt his cock's girth had as it forced its way into her. Her legs kicked up with instinct and she rode him with her hips even as he slammed his full weight down on her. "Cum for me, darling! Ohhh, cum for me!" Thaddeus alternated his instances while still punishing her pussy, riding her at the same time pounding her hard with each thrust he could manage. Hilda's pussy grasped him tight, unwilling to let go. The door behind them inched open once again and Blondie took more photos at the same time video-taped their rocking against each other. Hilda's head banged against the bed's headboard. The bed's headboard too banged against the wall. Thad's arms crawled under her shoulders and grasped her tight; his breath groaned frantically against her ear. "Where you want me to cum, bitch?" he asked amidst grunts. "Say where!" "In me!" cried out Hilda, her arms too tightened around him and so too did her legs over his calves while they rocked each other to energetic frenzy. "I want you to cum in me!" She practically screamed the last statement into his ear and Thad too felt himself approaching the moment. He bit down on the pillow under her head and his body tensed as he unleashed his family seed deep into her. Hilda grunted along with him as she felt each spurt of cum he had seep like a jet inside her. When he was finally done, he rolled off from her, groaning. Minutes later when his breathing felt better, he rose from the bed and asked her where her bathroom was. She told him where outside the door. By that time Blondie had already disappeared back in her bedroom and was even then uploading the photos and video into a laptop on her dressing table while Thaddeus sauntered into the bathroom along the passageway to shower. He was still busy soaping himself when the door opened and in walked Hilda joining him. Water too cascaded down on her while she hugged him to herself, pressing the side of her face against his chest. "My God, you were so incredible," she murmured. "I've never before had sex that good." "I told you I was going to give you something you wouldn't forget." "No, I doubt I ever will this one." He took up a sponge and soaped both of them together while she continued resting her head on his chest. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 03 They finished their bath and drying themselves then returned to the room for their clothes. "Do you have any other plans for the day?" she asked him while she wore back her blouse. Thad tucked his shirt in his pants before answering: "Besides heading out in search of a missing kid, I guess my schedule's already booked for the day." "Ohhh, but why? I'm going to be horny in the next couple of minutes and I need you to fuck me again like you just did. You didn't fuck my ass, remember?" "I'll be back next time, and then I'll fuck both holes, and any other hole you've got to give. I know sluts like you have got many. Besides, you've got your boy-toy to handle where I stopped at." She groaned. "He won't measure up to you in that department. Please, won't you at least stay for an hour or two? I'm reluctant to let you go." "I'll give you a call later, I promise. Right now, work comes first before pussy." He finished wearing on his clothes and she walked with him to the living room for him to collect his hat. He stopped when she opened her door for him to exit. "One thing I wanted to ask you," he turned to ask her. "That thing you said about the last time you were at your sister's place three months ago, whatever was it about anyway?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "That's got nothing to do with you finding her boy. Or are you simply curious and want to know why?" "Yes, I am curious to want to know why." She smiled at him, leaned forward and kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear: "I'll tell you about it then next time you're ready to fuck me." He tipped his hat at her and turned around and walked away. She stood by her doorway and watched him enter the elevator in the middle of the corridor. Her smile immediately melted away as she closed the door. --------------- How time flies rather fast when you're having fun. The afternoon was giving way for early evening when Thaddeus left the apartment building and began walking towards the garage where he'd left his car. His mind wandered back at the taste of the rich woman's pussy. He sure would have loved to go another round with her. Damn this blasted missing kid's case! He was going to have to make a note later on once he was done with this never to take on anything that involved missing kids. Missing or runaway spouses, those were jobs he reckon he could handle, but no kids. Especially rich, snot-nosed brats who couldn't learn to live with their rich folks an instead want to make like Huckleberry Finn and think being lost in the city was a fun day at a park. So engrossed he was in his fantasies he failed to notice the black car parked across the street with the occupant behind the wheel watching him. Thad went into the parking garage building and drove out two minutes later with his Coupe DeVille. The man in the car took out a cell phone and spoke a few words into it while he waited for Thaddeus to pull out of the garage. When he did, he waited till he'd driven two blocks from him before following. Thad's mental facility was back at work while he drove. He ran through his mind much of what Constance's sister had related to him, most especially her discordant relationship with her sibling. There was a lot of similarity between both women: both of them beautiful and formerly married to men of money, both of having uppity haughtiness and they're both a lovely, hot-looking pair of blondes. Always good fucking a pair of blondes. He'd done it before, except the previous ones hadn't been sisters and neither were they a pair of rich sluts either. With the dissimilarities, it goes the other way: one's a stuck-up and the other's an open-minded slut. Either way they were both hiding something from him. He couldn't put his finger on it ... just a notion his sixth sense was knocking at. Something else had jumped into his mind all the time he chatted with Hilda. It kind of baffled him now as he ruminated on it and it almost warranted him to run back to her apartment and enquire about it. Then again, best leave it for next time he ran into her. That's if the thought of fucking that pussy didn't nag at his brain first. Thad was halfway towards his office when he took out his cell phone, contemplating whether to give his client a call right now to let her know how far he'd gone with his enquiries or wait till afterwards. He needed for bothered, seconds later his phone started ringing. It was her calling. "Hello," he said into the mouthpiece. "I was just about getting ready to call you." "I just received a letter," Constance spoke immediately. Her voice sounded rushed and worried. "It's about my son." "Slow down a minute, Constance." Thaddeus got off the street and pulled over to the curb. The car that was following him drove past him without slowing down. The driver glanced out his tinted window and noted Thad was on the phone as his vehicle cruised past him. "First of all who's the letter from?" Thad asked her. "Has it got an address behind the envelope?" "No, no, it's got no address on it. I have no idea who it's from. But they have my boy. And they want ... they want a ransom!" Thad told her he was on his way and disconnected the line. He put his car back into gear and turned his car around. ------ Thad was careful not to surpass the speed limit even though he was burning rubber to get to the Loftus Estate. That she had received a ransom letter wasn't of that much surprise to him. What nagged at his mind was why had it come now and not before. Just when he thought he was getting somewhere with the direction the case was going, now, here it was taking an unexpected turn. The journey with the limo had felt like a day before he arrived at his client's place. He was able to cut it short driving with his machine. There were one or two old and younger folks strolling about the area, some on them jugging along the curb. Several of them turned their heads at the sight of his vehicle blowing horsepower engine, breaking the serene quietude of the environment for a moment, as he hurled past them. He came to a stop in front of the large gates of Loftus Garden and spoke his purpose of business into the security camera before it clanked open automatically for him to drive inside. There was a familiar figure standing in front of the house waiting for him. It wasn't until he drew nearer that he recognised the unwelcoming feature that was the rich woman's butler glaring at him and at his hot rod as he drew to a stop beside him. A good thing no valet showed up to park his car for him. Thaddeus too gave him a stony outlook as he stepped out of his car and came up the stairs to meet him. "I'm here to see the lady of the house," he said rather brusquely to the butler, feeling it was the right tone of voice to use on him. "The madam will see you right away," the glare remained on Nigel's face as he turned around and led the private detective into the house. Thad took off his hat as he entered the house. Instead of heading in the direction of the parlour where he'd been led the last time he was here, Nigel led him past a wide corridor and then another till they arrived at a back door which led to the large backyard of the compound. The verdant countryside seemed to undulate further with a forest acting as a border to it. Constance stood under the shadow of a tree next to a swinging tire tube which hung off one of the tree's branches. The butler opened the back door for Thad to go out and join her. She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, black riding pants and boots with her back towards him. When she heard his footsteps approach she turned around. A look of relief lit up in her eyes when she saw it was him; her face seemed wet; Thad realised she had been crying. Probably for a long time. "Thaddeus," she sniffled. "How good of you to come at such short notice." Thad took out his handkerchief and gave it to her. She thanked him for it and dabbed at her eyes with it. "I hope it wasn't much trouble getting here so quickly." He shrugged. "Traffic was lousy but I'm still on the job, it really was no bother. Besides, I was about to give you a call before you did. How're you feeling?" "Pretty down I must say. I've been spending too much time in my son's room upstairs, worried about Johnny's present whereabouts, wondering whether he's eaten or if at all he's safe. Just thinking about him is driving me crazy. This morning I thought I should try and take my mind off him since I have you searching for him, and go out for a ride on of one my horses. I got back an hour later and one of my maids came hurrying towards me with this letter he just found in the letter box." She handed him the envelope with the letter inside. "I'm sorry if I opened it before you got here. It probably might have held some clues to whoever it is that's got my boy." "It's no problem," he said, taking the envelope from her. "Aside from yourself, have you shown its contents to anyone else?" She shook her head. "I read it a couple of times and then called you right away." The envelope was plain white and bore no address on the back or stamps. Whoever it was had deposited it inside her mailbox and ran like hell before anyone could notice. Thad had noticed the sight of the estate's mailbox and knew the security camera ought to have captured sight of the perpetrator ... unless whoever it was knew of the outside security camera and waited for it to make its cycle turn and then done his job and gotten out of sight quick. And there weren't any neighbours residing across so no one would have noticed the individual. Too fucking bad. There was a single piece of paper inside and the words writing on it were bold captioned words taken off newspapers or magazines most likely. Whoever it was must have watched a lot of CSI movies or such. It was either the work of an amateur or one making out to be a pro. Thad had to contain to snigger that felt like rising to his lips for his client's sake while he read through the stated words. YOUR BOY IS SAFE AND TAKEN CARE OF. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HIM AGAIN, WAIT BY THE PHONE. —ANONYMOUS The words were simple, neat, and straight to the point. The work of someone not wanting to waste words ... as if he knew too much might give him away. This wasn't the first ransom note he'd seen since he got deep in his detective work. Some deeply threatening and others downright ludicrous, but they all carried the same language—demand for money. There's always some scum out there in the city wanting to reap where they never sowed. Whether it was for real or just someone wanting to take advantage of a distraught woman, Thad couldn't figure it out. Not yet at least. He held the letter up above his head and looked at it as if expecting to find some clue the author of the note had unknowingly left behind. Not finding anything he read the note once again the tucked it back into the envelope. Constance looked at him anxiously, expecting some answer. "Aside from calling me, you're sure you haven't called anyone else to let them know of this?" "No, I swear, I haven't." "And you haven't received any call from the kidnapper? None at all?" She shook her head again. "It said there to wait by the phone and since then I've been waiting." "He never mentioned what phone he was going to call you with," Thad said this more as a realisation than a question. Constance too caught the measure of his words. "No," she thought at first, then boldly: "No, he didn't. But I'm guessing whoever it is would call through the house line." "Either way, whoever it is has probably being in your home before to realise that, wouldn't you think so? Perhaps now we can firmly rule that it's someone working for you." "Yes, it is possible. Either that or someone my husband knew. I wouldn't really know." "Interesting," Thad slapped the letter on his palm in thought. "Tell me, that former letter, the one your son wrote and left you before he ran off, do you still have it?" "Yes, it's upstairs in my bedroom," she said. "I'd to take another look at it if you don't mind. Something about this one here that's got me thinking." They strolled back towards the house. Thaddeus could make out Nigel's features watching both of them from the back window. As they got closer he retreated from the window out of sight. When they stepped inside he asked if she was feeling alright now. Constance conferred with him for a moment before leaving them together. Nigel, still giving Thad the evil look, led him to the parlour to wait. Constance retuned minutes later with her son's letter in her hand. Thaddeus was admiring another one of her husband's collected paintings which hung on the west wall when she approached him. The painting was a gloomy affair, very unsettling to look at. "That's a Goya," she remarked. "I forget the name. Never a favourite of mine." "Your husband really liked classic art." "Emmet loved anything artistic. He was always giving so much to art galleries and workshops. I only wish I had enough touch to inherit it from him. Here's the letter." "Thanks," he said, taking it from her. "You don't like this one, then why keep it around?" She slumped down on a chair and sighed with tiredness in her voice. "I don't know. Sometimes I still feel my late husband's spirit lurking around the house, coming over here to stare at his precious paintings and never leaving. I guess I haven't come around to making up my mind on what to do with it. There's a lot around that'll be going towards charity, I haven't gotten to inventorying them yet. Right now I wish for nothing but for this present nightmare to be over with." Thaddeus sat on a chair across from her, placing his hat on his knee while he looked at her son's letter then at the ransom note, his face screwed in concentration. "It's early for me to put my money on it, but I won't be surprised if the fellow who wrote this ransom letter is the same bloke who wrote your son's." Constance sat forward. "How can you be so sure?" "Quite simple really. I took Creative Writing lessons from an old friend of mine long time ago. Just a hobby of mine I indulge in whenever I can't think of anything better to do with myself. Anyway, one thing I always remembered him saying is that you can change your handwriting, you can change your words any which way you want. One thing that you're going to find hard to change is style. Whoever this person is has left his style signature here with his choice of words. There's no way your son could have left this behind for you." "But you don't have definitive assurance regarding that." He nodded. "True, I don't. And I'm probably just reaching here, but I've always assumed that a kid wanting to run off would want to write a whole length of paragraph than leave a note that's this concise. And you said it yourself that he's run away before but never left a note explaining why. Don't you find that completely odd?" Constance was about to comment that yes she really did find it rather odd when there came a knock on the door. Both of them turned their heads at the sight of Nigel entering the room holding a cell phone in his hand. "A phone call for you, madam," he said, handing it to her and then leaving the room. The number on the screen was an unknown. Constance pressed the phone to her ear and turned to face the windows looking out the front of the compound. Thaddeus stood up as well and listened to her talk to whoever was on the other end of the line. The conversation didn't last long before she dropped the phone from her ear and returned to her chair, a fearful look lit up her face. Thad went to sit next to her. "It was the kidnapper," she said. "He said if I want to see my kid back, I should bring two million Dollars by ten o'clock to some place I've never heard of before. He said he would text me the address soon. He said I shouldn't call the cops or try letting anyone else know that he's got my kid. If he sees anyone suspicious, he said I'll never see my son again." Tears fell from her eyes and she lowered her face and sniffled. Thad felt really sad for the woman. He took her hands into his and gave her a reassuring look. "We're never going to let that happen, you hear me? Nothing's ever going to happen to your boy. We're going to get Johnny back, no matter what." She nodded, getting some strength from his words. He was so confident about everything and she fell in complicit trust to him. "The guy on the phone, did you by chance recognise his voice?" She shook her head, wiped tears from her eyes. "His voice sounded kind of guttural and raspy. Like it was mechanical or something." Thad nodded like he expected this sort of trick. "Probably had a device over the mouthpiece to mask the sound of his voice. Clever. Did he let you speak to Johnny?" "He did, it was the first thing I head. He said, 'hi mom', and then that was it. The kidnapper's voice came on after that and he was talking pretty fast. Oh God, please give me strength. I'm so confused right now," She cried with despair. "No, no, don't be. That's what he wants you to feel. He wants you confused and hurt and weak, so you won't know how to think things through. We're making progress here. Right now at least we know someone's holding your boy, which means he's probably taking good care of him. He's not lost in the city as we earlier thought. But still I wonder ..." Constance looked at him through hazy eyes. "Wonder what?" Thaddeus's thoughts returned to the present. He shook his head. "Nothing, nothing, I was just thinking crazily. Can you raise the amount he asked for?" She shook her head. "Not within the time that he gave me, no. Much of my husband's assets haven't been cleared by the bank, and they're going to want to know why if I gave them a call." "But can you get something close to it?" She thought for a moment, "I think so ... maybe a million, but it'll take at least two to three hours—" "Good. See if you can do that. When the time comes, I'll be the one who'll go in your place. Whoever it is probably won't be expecting me, or else he'd have mentioned that to you." "Forgive my saying this, but don't you think that might be putting my child into any danger? If he's expecting me and instead sees you ... I'm worried that things might go wrong." "Things always can go wrong, but in this case I don't think so, Ms. Loftus. This person, whoever he is, wouldn't want to risk the chance of meeting with you, since it's obvious he's come in contact with you before. Either way, let me be responsible for that. I know this might sounds strange and scary to you, but I want you to be strong and to trust me on this. Nothing's going to go wrong and I'll be there to make sure nothing terrible befalls your boy. Can you do that for me?" She nodded. "Yes, yes, I think I can." "Good. That's all I wanted to hear." He was about leaving when he stopped as he recalled something. "By the way, your sister called me. Hilda Carmichael." "Oh really?" she again wiped tears from her eyes. Thad thought he sensed the tone of her voice drop an inch or two. "What did you two talk about?" "She told me that Johnny had stayed the night at her place, and also that you weren't that happy when she called you earlier on." "How thoughtful of her to mention that bit to you," she remarked. "She knows how protective I am of my son, and how worried I was that he ran off. It wasn't his first time, and when last time it happened, I specifically expected she would call me first thing at least to calm my nerves. But no, she had to wait till he'd left her apartment. And now I've got some demented kidnapper out there holding him for ransom, so yes, I wasn't in the least bit of a happy mood when she called. It's a good thing she didn't decide now to call, or else I'd probably drive all the way to her apartment and gouge her eyes out." Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 03 Thaddeus couldn't help but laugh. "That I would really love to see." "Do you have any siblings, detective?" "A couple of sisters and brothers here and there, most of whom I barely hear from except when they call asking for money. But there's some I keep in steady touch with, and if you must ask, I haven't gouged any of their eyes out. Not yet at least." Constance laughed, her shoulders shook with mirth at Thaddeus's humour. "If you keep making me laugh like this it's not going to seem like I'm having a bad day anymore." "You're not really having a bad day, Constance. Day's going to come when you'll look back on this whole affair with a smile. The good thing is we're lucky no one else aside from us knows about this. Even now we've got to move with time, because according to the time I spent at the police headquarters in the city, we've got a matter of hours before this case explodes in our face and the press troop down here with lights, cameras and microphones to make a public spectacle of what you're going through." She became concerned again. "Are you sure of that? But the police chief here promised that no one's ever going to find out? I even called him before you got here and he assured me everything's calm." "I've never worked as a cop before and that's something I thank the good Lord for, Constance. I've got no scruples against the cops of this quiet spot of land to think that they aren't honest cats, but one thing I've come to know about police precincts no matter what is they're a beehive of constant chatter and it's keeping secrets there from not getting spilled. A lot of press guys liaise with cops on a daily basis for whatever juicy news they've got on their plate. A little grease of the palm and soon enough, someone's going to tattle." Constance's phone emitted a beeping sound. She looked at it and saw that she'd just received a text message. She opened it and true enough it contained the address to where the kidnapper wanted her to be at. "'Warehouse 15, off Piedmont Drive, across from the Southbound Pier'," she read the text out for Thaddeus. "'10:00 p.m. Come alone.'" "That's very kind of them," Thaddeus remarked. "Setting the venue at the one place a rich woman like yourself would want to be spotted at." "What are we going to do?" she asked him. "We stick to what we intend on doing. You see if you can raise a million or anything close to whatever the kidnapper wants. Once you've got it, give me a call. I need to head on back home to get my head sorted out." "I'll call you if by any chance they call again," she said to him as she escorted him out of the house. "Yes, do that but don't you worry, Constance. Your boy's safe, and we're going to get through this no matter what." "Just as long as no harm comes to him," she said to him as he unlocked his car door. "As long as I'm on the job, nothing will." She came closer and hugged him. Her body pressed against his and for a moment he was tempted to wrap his arm around her and continue to hold her against him while he inhaled the sweet smell of her perfume and hair. "Thank you," she murmured. "Thank you very much for all what you're doing for me." "Not a problem, Constance." He said as she let go of him and tipped his hat at her before sliding into his car. "Stay in touch. And if he should call again, say yes to whatever he wants, just don't act scare, okay?" "I won't," she said and waved at him as he started his car and drove off. Another pair of eyes wanted him exit the Loftus mansion. The man dialled a number on a cell phone and spoke into it while Thaddeus gunned his Coupe DeVille engine out of the compound, headed back to the city. --------------- Thaddeus's mind was in a whirl as he drove back to the office. His thoughts were divided in threes. The kidnapper: whoever he was, where was he kidding the boy—if really he had the boy—where in the city could he be right now? Then there was the boy, Johnny: the kid definitely had someone rooting for him in his aid to run away, of that he was certain. The question is why. To spite his mother perhaps. But that wouldn't be it at all. It couldn't be molestation. His mother didn't look the sort who would want to hurt her kid ... but then again, no one really does look the part. And last was Constance, the kid's pretty mom. Such a hot number she is. The way she'd made his body tingle with longing when she hugged him. The fucking sweet smell of her hair ... he could just picture her naked before his eyes right now. She was such a prim model of a woman, nothing comparable to her sister. He was beginning to want her in the worse way. There was a black jeep parked in front of his office building when he arrived there. He recognised whom it belonged to right away and drove past it to park in front. The driver of the jeep honked his horn at him as he stepped out of his Coupe, and he waved a hand as he came to the passenger door and opened it and got inside. His eardrums were assaulted with banging hip-hop music as he settled into the car and turned to shake hands with the man by the wheel. He was wearing a white sports jacket, matching pants and a white kangaroo hat with a thin cigar on his lips. He and Thaddeus were old friends who went way back, expect he'd found himself a quirky lifestyle that suited his way of life the likes that Thad never would understand. His hand worked the knob of the car's system playing, lowering the volume of the music playing. "Hiya, my brother," said his friend, Zeke Darren, known by his street moniker as Pimp Zee. "Been a while since any brother caught sight of your ass around." "I'm doing just fine working my ass off under the sun, Zeke," replied Thaddeus. "How's the pimping business going on for you?" Zeke took off the cigar from his lips and wound down his window and threw it out. "Ain't got no complaints, you know me. I'm always out for young bloods. I've got some new bitches in the backseat I need to welcome into the harem." He turned his head to the backseat and Thad did too. There were two gorgeous women seated in the back. One was white and the other Latino, both of them wearing tight-fitting evening dresses that hugged every curve of their body, including their tits which were straining to be free from their busty cleavage. Pimp Zee introduced the women to him as Myra and Cochita. Both women smiled and said hello to Thaddeus. "Damn, Zeke," he turned to look at his friend who grinned back at him. "Where did you find them hoes?" His friend winked at him. "That's pimping game for you, brother. I've got their hubbies on a short leash while I put the women to work for my paper. There's a groove going on at Westside Greenland Park, and the boys are just dying for some fresh meat. I could send some over to you if you want. All you need to do is just holler." "You still keep in touch with the old ones?" "Hell yeah, I do. I've got women all over town who love to get fucked and want to get fucked. My site keeps getting hits from husbands wanting their wives to work the streets, and that's exactly what I do: I put their pussies, mouths and asses to work. You can have Myra here," he indicated at the white woman in the backseat. "She hasn't been with a brother before, and her old man was just happy to lean her to me for the week. She can cook, clean, and fucks like a wild stallion, I tell you." Thaddeus considered it for a moment but the thought of what lay ahead for him dissuaded him from accepting the offer, which really was regretful. He sure could do with some pussy right now. "Some other time, Zeke," he said. Pimp Zee looked at him curiously. "You sure about that? Better think again before it's too late. I know where your crib's at. I can always drop by to pick her up whenever you're done with her." "I've got too much potatoes cooking in the kitchen and no time to stir the soup. Thanks, but another time. Really." "You're sure?" "Yeah, I'm sure." "Alright man. Too bad though. You work hard too much. You need to chill once in a while. It's been a long time since we shot hoops, you know." "Once I'm done with what I've got on ground, I'll do just that. You take it easy, Pimp." They shook hands again before Thaddeus alighted from the jeep and watched his friend drive away while he went into his office building. ------ There wasn't much else for him to do at the office, and the sky outside his window was starting to get dark. He dismissed Sarah for the day, told her to return tomorrow morning by which time they would work out a pay package for her. She gave him a kiss, told him if he desired her anytime in the evening he was free to give her a call. He told her he would keep that in mind. She blew him a kiss as she left the office. He remained in his chair listening to the echo of her shoes as she went and rode the elevator out of the building. He unlocked one of his drawers and took out a brown case that was inside. He opened the case and inside it was a .45 pistol with three spare magazines beside it. He closed the case back and began putting stuff that cluttered his desk away for the day. When he was done, carried the case with him and switched off the light before leaving the office, locking the door behind him. It was a quarter past six when he stepped out of his office building and went into his car and drove to his home which wasn't far from there. He parked his car behind the apartment building then went around to the front. He was checking his mail box when the apartment door to the house above his came open and there stood his neighbour, Artie Whitford. He was a disgruntled man in his mid-forties. Thaddeus hissed to himself the moment he saw him. He was the last person he wanted to see to further ruin his day. "Hey there, Thad. You're just the man I wanted to see." He came down the short flight of stairs to meet him. Thaddeus took out the few mails in his box then closed the lid, grumbling under his breath at the sight of his neighbour at the same time waved his hand at him in a dismissive gesture while he made for his front door. "The answer is no, Artie. I don't care whatever job you've got for me, the answer I'm giving you right now is n-o, and that spells no." "Come on, Thad, you ain't even heard what it is I want from you. Stop blowing me so easily." "The hell I shouldn't," he turned around and confronted him. "You owe me money from the last assignment you asked me to do for you, and that's really upsetting. Time after time I've knocked on your door but you keep hiding from me, expecting me to chase you about like I haven't got better things to do." "I'm sorry about that last dough that I owe you, Thad. Look ... I've got the money right here with me, I swear, I've really got it. I'll double it even." He reached a hand into his pants pocket and took out a wad of bills. He peeled off a couple of hundreds and gave them to Thad who counted them first before being assured they were complete. "Alright, that part's settled then, seeing how late you came with the dough. But the answer's still no, whatever it is you want me to do for you next." He turned around to unlock his front door. "It's about the wife, Thad," moaned Artie. "It's Erica. That bitch is just killing me day by day." Thad turned around to look at him. it wasn't the first time his neighbour complained to him of his wife, and it wouldn't be the last. "What's the matter this time, Artie?" "That's the problem, Thad. I just don't fucking know. I mean, I barely understand her anymore. I've got a funny feeling she's two-timing me. Yeah, my nose tells me that, but I can't say for real. She's been acting sort of distant lately. Coming back home late from work, which is so unlike her. Sometimes I swear I can hear her making phone calls, talking in whispers and whenever I ask her what's up, she makes like I didn't even say anything. Anytime I try wanting to speak frankly with her about it, she just blows me off like I don't exist." "Hey, she's your wife, you married her. That's your problem." "I know, I know. I just need your help, brother. I'm running out of my wits trying to figure out what to do. A lot of times when I return home there's a cold meal waiting for me in the fridge. I feel like a fucking stranger in my own fucking pad. Man, that ain't right." "All of that and you think she's sleeping around? Sounds like you're getting paranoid for no reason." "Maybe I am, and maybe I'm not. It's like an itch crawling up my spine and I really need to fix it. I really need to know, Thad, that's what I want you to do, to help me find out if the bitch is fucking around or not." "There's nothing I can do right now for you, Artie. I've got other pressing work on my hands right now, I don't know if I can spare you the time." "Please, Thad, I'm begging you here. I'll double your figure, whatever it is you want, just find it in your heart to help me with this problem." Thad thought about it, shook his head in indecision. "I'll have to think about it and get back at you later on it, Artie. For now just go on back to your apartment and leave me in peace." His neighbour looked at him expectantly. "You'll think about it? Oh thank you, Thad. Please, just get at me whenever you're ready and feeling up to it. I feel happy already." "Yeah, yeah, I heard you, Artie, now go bother someone else and leave me alone. I'll talk to you later." He unlocked his door and stepped into his home, leaving his neighbour to his own devices. ------ He required a couple of things, starting first with a hot shower, something to eat, an hour's rest, and time to think of something else to do. These requirements came to him in the exact sequence as he locked his door behind him and stepped further into his two-room cosy apartment heading towards his bedroom. He dropped the box with the gun inside on the bed and took off his clothes then went into the bathroom. Minutes later he came out freshly showered and dried up, he wore on a bathrobe then went into the kitchen and made himself a sandwich. Not satisfied, he made himself another and poured milk into a glass and drank half of it before returning to his bedroom. He carried the gun case with him to the living room. He switched on the TV and settled on the long sofa to watch a sports channel while he opened the case and looked into his gun. He emptied the bullets in one of the magazines one at a time and then reloaded them again. He didn't bother taking it apart to clean it thoroughly; he would do that when he had enough spare time. Done with the gun, he lay across on the sofa and relaxed his head on a couch pillow on the arm rest. He emptied his thoughts of everything that had happened to him since the day began and shut his eyes to see about getting some sleep. He had himself a weird dream. He was in his Coupe DeVille racing down a dark highway at midnight having himself a good time and he wasn't alone in the car. Seated beside him in the passenger seat was Constance. She wore a blazing burgundy dress and matching high heels and her lipstick too matched her dress. She had a brazen look about her, nothing resembling the damsel with the runaway child. She leaned over towards him. She slid her tongue into his ear, making him shiver all over, and slid her hand across his headrest while the other massaged the bulge in his jeans. "I'd like to hear how this thing blows," she murmured seductively in his ear. She caressed his arm holding onto the steering wheel and then her fingers slid past his hand to stamp her palm on the car horn: 'Honk! Honk! Honk! ... ' The sound of the car horn reverberated like a loud drum in his ear and seconds later when his eyes twitched open he was still hearing the sound loud and clear. His living room came into focus before his eyes and he realised the car horn he was listening to was actually the sound of his doorbell ringing. He muttered a groan as he swung his legs to the ground, rubbing the back of his thumbs against his eyes. He rose from the sofa, stretched his arms and yawned before shuffling towards the door. The doorbell was pressed once more when he unlocked the door and opened it. It was a woman standing there, blonde-haired, dimpled cheeks and a sultry smile. It took a couple of seconds for Thaddeus to recall her face—the white woman in Pimp Zee's backseat jeep. "Good evening," Myra said to him. "Pimp Zee dropped me off a few seconds ago. He said you might want company." "I told him I didn't want any," he said. "He insisted you will. And I too could use some company." She rolled her tongue over her lips. Thad swore to himself while he ogled her features. Damn you, Zeke. You just won't ever take no for an answer, would you? "Well, are you going to let me in, or you still trying to make up your mind?" she said to him in a voice that didn't express anything insulting. "Yeah, sure, come in," Thad made way for her to enter his home then closed back the door. He turned around to face her; she stood there expectantly as if waiting for him to make a move. "You're very beautiful, Myra. Looking really hot in that outfit too," he said to her. She smiled. "Thanks. I'm always proud of my assets." "I'll bet you do. But look, I've had me a busy day and I've still got much work to do, so I don't know if I have time to do anything with you right now." "I can always wait till whenever you return," she said to him. "Zee told me that until you're done with me, I am yours." "How nice of him," he led her to the sofa, asked if he could get her anything but she said she was just fine. She sat facing him and crossed one leg over his thigh and wiggled her high heel for him. "Do you like my lovely foot-ware?" she purred. "Zee got it for me at a clothing shop at Canal Street." "I'll bet," Thad observed. He was caressing her leg, rubbing his hand from her calves up to her thigh. Myra reclined herself further on the sofa and brought her other leg upon his thigh. "I'll bet you wax these legs often." She giggled. "Every chance I get. My husband likes them that way. He as well shaves my pussy for me and does my nails. He pampers me a lot, but he's never allowed to fuck me anymore." "You've been pampered way too much and don't want to anymore. You want to be spanked and punished by someone with a rough pair of hands." "Oh yeah," she said, pushing herself closer to him. "That's exactly what I always wanted. My darling husband loves it that way. One night, Zee fucked me in the backseat of his jeep right outside our house. My husband was standing by the door to welcome me. He laid me on the couch and ate my pussy that Zee had just pumped his load in. it was really exciting when I came a second time over his face." Thaddeus felt himself growing rock hard listening to her talk. He was about to say something when he stopped as he heard the ringing sound of his phone coming from the bedroom where he had left it. He excused himself from Myra and went into the bedroom. He picked the phone up from the bed where he'd left it lying on his clothes and saw that it Constance calling. Myra had followed him into the bedroom and with the phone to his ear. She pushed him to fall back on the bed. His eyes remained on her as he spoke into the mouthpiece. "Hello, Constance," he said. He sat up on the bed and watched Myra begin to striptease type of dance for him. "Hi, Thad. Just want to let you know I've gotten the money, at least the much that I could get." "Okay. How much did you get?" Myra's skirt rode up her thighs while she moved her hips before him. She pulled down the shoulder straps of her top, exposing her tits for him. They were a perfect set of 36DD, with matching tan lines. Thad muttered a gasp at the sight of her. Blood pumped straight into his cock, making it hard and erect like a rocket about to launch itself out of Houston. Myra smiled at the intoxication she was giving him. She fell to her knees before him and loosened his bathrobe. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 03 Constance was talking into his ear: "I was able to get a million and three. It wasn't easy talking it through with my friend at the bank, especially with my late husband's property value not yet cleared from probate." Thaddeus murmured accent to this while he watched the dame wrap her hand around his cock and lowered her head to be sucking him. He couldn't believe this was the third time today he was getting blown while on the phone. He hoped this wasn't turning into an unusual habit for him. "Did you ... did you mention to your friend at the bank what the money was meant for?" "He wanted to know, but I told him it was for something serious, nothing more." "That was good thinking on your part. The fewer people know about this the better." "Another thing," she said. "The kidnapper called again. Wanted to make sure again if I was going to make it. I didn't tell him about you, I simply told him I would." Thad removed the phone from his ear and muttered a gasp from Myra swallowing his balls and rolling them between her tongue. He brought a hand on her head, forced her to keep on with what she was doing while he returned the phone to his ear. "Are you still at your mansion?" he asked. "Yes, I'm still here. I returned from the bank almost an hour ago. When will you be coming down here?" "About an hour from now. I've got some things to take care of down here, then I'll come running over." "Okay. Please hurry. I kind of feel a lot safer with you around." "Don't worry, Constance, I'll be there. Everything's going to work out fine." "I hope. Well, I'll see you when you get here." "Yes, you will. I'll call you to let you know when I'm coming." "Please do that. Bye for now." "Bye then." The call ended. Myra still had a mouthful of his cock gazed up at him. She held the base of his cock and pulled her mouth around the curved crown of his prick then in a flash dipped her head downward to swallow more of him. Thaddeus rose from the bed and let his robe slip off his arms to the floor. He held her head in his hands and proceeded to fuck her mouth, watching his cock slip in and out of her enclosed lips. Bits of saliva dribbled down the sides of her mouth and she muttered slurping sounds while he punished her like this. Myra had to relax her jaw muscles to allow his cock's thickness to slip all the way to her throat. Thaddeus pulled her up to her feet and shared a long, passionate kiss with her. His hands pushed the hem of her skirt up to her waistline and grasped her naked flesh underneath. He bent her over on his bed and inserted two fingers into her cunt and finger-fucked her roughly. her cunt juice merged with his fingers and she spasmed like one out of control. Myra's cries went into overdrive as he kept drilled her pussy with his fingers, bending his head to lap her cunt juice from her labia then continuing again. It was hard for her to concentrate the exquisite pleasure shooting stars through her. She shut her eyes and could hear herself wailing to an orgasm that shook every bit of her anatomy. She was out of breath by the time he slapped her ass cheek then let her fall face-forward on the bed. Her hair covered her face, she was still gasping for breath when she felt his shadow fall upon her. She felt something wet and strong slip between her ass cheeks, going for a home-run. Her hands grasped the bed sheets and she raised her head off the bed, her body tensed, and murmured a cry as she felt the head of his pulsing rod strike a home-run inside her. Thaddeus withdrew his cock halfway from her then thrust it back inside, sending another thunder bolt coursing through her body. Thad went on slamming down on her like this, loving the way her cries reflecting the feel of his shaft fucking her. He too gasped from the way her pussy muscles squeezed his cock each time he gave her the dick. Their bout of fucking was hard and frantic; Myra could barely hear herself breath. "Awwhh ... Ughhh ... you're so ... your cock's so fucking big!" she cried over her shoulder. "Going to give you a little taste of it for now," he grunted. "Let you get used to it while I tear that pussy up." "Ohhh ... fuck me, master," she turned her head towards him. Her face contorted as if lost in a surreal dream of ecstasy. "Tear my pussy up!" Thad stood up and positioned her in doggy-style position on his bed and went on tearing her up from behind. His cock slipped in and out of her pussy coated with her cum juice each time. He went on slow motion, expanding the walls of her pussy to take in more of him, after which he increased his speed. He grabbed her arms and pulled her back hard, hitting her wet snatch all the way. Myra swung her head side to side, her lush hair flew in a dervish, unable to stem down the cries that escaped her lips. Thad pulled her backward towards him, nearly ripping her dress off her body, her ass pressed against his waistline, the size of his cock filling her inside, driving sparks from her cervix all the way to her heart. He let go of her. Myra fell forward but kept slamming her ass back at him, wanting more of his cock. She made her ass cheeks bounce each time she felt his cock slip halfway out of her. The fulfilment of his cock triggered another wave of orgasm inside her and again she fell flat on the bed, his cock slipping out of her. Thaddeus had been at the threshold of cumming before she pulled away from him. He went around to the other side of the bed and got up on it. He turned her over on her back. Myra was gasping and muttering unintelligent words to herself; bits of her hair stuck to her sweat-coated face. Thad grabbed a handful of her hair and brought her face towards his cock. Myra's lips came open and she sucked his cock until she felt his shaft expand in her mouth. "Keep sucking it!" Thaddeus demanded, feeling himself about to explode. He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth as the moment came upon him. "Arrghhhh ... shit!" Myra kept bobbing her head even as wad after wad of cum filled her mouth like a rampaging wave of water, all of it going down her gullet all the way to her stomach. How good it felt whenever she got to experienced such exquisite moments. She ran the head of his cock over her face, his semen mixing with the sweat on her face. "Your ass ain't going anywhere tonight," he told her. "I figured you would say that, master," she murmured, still sucking his cock as gradually it grew flaccid. She slumped on the bed and felt her hand over the just expanded hole that was her cunt still pulsing with heat. ------ He hit the shower once again to drive the recent sweat away. Myra took off her clothes and lay on his bed asleep while he dried himself then looked into his closet and took out a fresh pair of work clothes. He took down a leather holster from a hidden corner of the closet, wiped it clean with a rag before struggling to put it on. He'd never been comfortable wearing it, never liking the way the straps clung to his armpit, and it was a good thing he only stepped out of on a mission with his gun only when he knew it was more than necessary. He completed his makeover wearing his jacket and hat and went over and kissed sleeping Myra on the cheek before leaving her alone in the bedroom. In the living room he picked up his gun from the case and slipped it into the holster then walked out of the house. It was past dusk when he started his car and drove out of his neighbourhood. While he drove, he called Constance to let her know he was on his way. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 04 Thaddeus was having a hard time steeling his mind from the eerie desire his body was giving him. For some reason his erection was having a hard time dying down inside his pants. Each time he changed gear and floored his engine, he felt his cock nod its head surreptitiously up and down as if he had a lizard struck in his crotch. His mind conjured up weird pictures, things he reckoned would kill the sex urge his body was responding to ... but one image kept breaking through the fabric of his other assorted mind pictures. Constance Loftus. His thoughts conjured a vivid picture of her standing at her bedroom window gazing out towards the driveway that snaked across the compound from the main gate down to the front driveway. She had on a silk evening dress and nothing else, parted to reveal her nakedness. The look on her face was that of a longing desire. It made him step on his gas pedal harder though still obeying the speed limit as he headed in the direction of her home. He got there a little past eight-thirty. He didn't need to say anything to the security this time for the gate came open even before he slowed down for it. Bright lamps lit the driveway as he approached the majestic abode. It was the sight of Nigel again standing like a stiff brick in his butler outfit wearing white hand gloves that shrunk his penis back to its hiding place. He stepped out of his car and he and the butler eyed each other for a moment, neither of them liking what the other saw. "You always stand outside to greet her lady's house guests, Nigel, or is it that your ass can't think of anything else better to do?" Nigel took the snide comment with a perfunctory smile, but it did little to dim the baleful look in his eyes that seemed to want to stab Thaddeus like a pair of daggers. "It appears to be my esteemed duty not just for Madame Constance but even for her departed husband as well. Please follow me, she has been expecting you." They walked up the stairs with neither person saying a word. In the foyer another servant appeared to take his jacket from him while Nigel led Thaddeus to the large dining room. "The Madame will be with you shortly," he said. "For the sake of myself and everyone else, I hope you do nothing stupid that might jeopardize the life of young master Johnny. You will have more to answer to if you do." "Really? And whatever makes you think I would want to jeopardize the life of a little kid?" "Because I know your type," Nigel's voice grated at him, his eyes didn't appear to smile while he spoke. "You're either leading the Madame down a false track to nowhere, wanting to swindle money off from her. You're nothing but a pathetic excuse for a private detective. One of these days, you're definitely going to get your comeuppance, I assure you." "That's a pretty harsh tone of voice you've got there, Nigel. I never suspected you had such in you. How about you clue me into something," Thad had his arms behind his back, though his body was ready for whatever. "The morning the kid ran away, where was your butlery ass at?" Nigel glared at him, startled at first by his question and he seemed to stutter for a moment while he fought back his temper. "Really, detective, you do indeed have a nerve to ask me such an insipid question. But if you insist, then I'll tell you. I was attending pressing matters that involved taking care of and over-looking the working staff of Loftus Garden, as well as every intimate detail regarding its upkeep. Ask anyone around and they'll tell you." "You use a lot of fancy words there, Nigel. You must really come from a long lost pedigree of snobbery." Nigel left the doorway and came to a stop before Thaddeus, his features flush with anger. "My life and my resume is every bit as impeccable than you would ever thing. I will not be insulted, not will I ever be denigrated by your sarcasm and deplorable wit, detective. Mark my words, you will someday get what's coming to you." "Oh really," Thaddeus's voice remained calm, though his body tensed under his clothes. "Why the long wait for that day to come. Why not go ahead and give it to me right now." Three seconds of eternity passed between them before the dining room door opened and in walked Constance Loftus, looking casual yet elegant for the evening in jeans and a white turtleneck sweater. The lights in the room seemed to add brilliant colour to her hair. Nigel turned to see her entrance and in an instant the anger on his face melted away and back came the plain outlook that attached to his workplace. "Good evening, Madame Loftus," he gave her a deferential bow. "Dinner will be served in a few minutes." "Thank you, Nigel. We'll be here," she said to him. Nigel approached the room's door and stepped out leaving them alone. Constance drew herself a seat and indicated Thad to take one beside her which he did, dropping his hat on the table. "I kept the money in a bag upstairs. Once you're ready, I'll give it to you. I'm glad you called before you got here," she said. "I was upstairs in my son's room, trying to think of reasons for me not to cry anymore. I'm sorry, I just can't stop worrying." "Nothing wrong being a mother who worries," said Thad. "Tell me something, this butler you have here, Nigel. How well do you know him?" "I've known Nigel for as long as I've been ... I'm sorry, was married to my husband. He's been his chief butler for as long as I can remember. He's very efficient and really knows how to run things. I doubt if I would be able to keep this mansion going if it weren't for him." "Do you trust him?" he asked the question with a straight face. "I probably should, shouldn't I? Or is there something you're thinking?" He shook his head. "Not really, just wanting to get a feel about how well you know him that's all." "I can say I know him well enough to know of him. He keeps to himself a lot; even most of the servants find him impenetrable. I guess I find him that way too sometimes." "Did he get along with your boy?" "Oh yes, everyone got along fine with Johnny, same with him. I'm still finding it hard believing that anyone close to me might be the same person that's holding him." The door came open and several servants walked into the room carrying trays and plates which they laid on the table before both of them. ------ An hour later Thad sat in the living room waiting for Constance to return. He checked his watch. It was a little past nine. He reckoned he could make it to the site where the kidnapper wanted to meet give or take thirty minutes or thereabouts. He was weighing his options of how he figured the exchange might go down when Constance returned carrying a bag with her. She came and dropped it on the couch and sat beside it. "It's all in there," she pushed a lock of hair from her face. "A million and three. I don't even want to think about where it's going and to whom." Thad unzipped the mouth of the bag and looked inside. He took out a bundle and looked at it before dropping it back and zipping the bag. "I'd best be off now, Constance." He made to get up, putting his hat back on his head and so too did she. "I'm coming with you," she said. Thaddeus looked at her, saw the determined look in her face and knew there was nothing he would say that would dissuade her from such. "You sure you want to do that?" "Yes, I do." She said it with such force as if he was going to talk her out of it. "No problem. But first, you're going to need a black jacket to wear." She smiled; her eyes seemed to say 'thank you' to him. "I won't be a minute." "I'll be outside waiting." Thaddeus passed Nigel along the way as he stepped out of the house and went down the steps to his car. He threw the bag into the backseat and stood by the passenger door waiting. Constance came down the steps some minutes later wearing a jacket over her white turtleneck. Thad felt the stirring return to his groin but it went away as she approached him. He opened the door for her and after she had settled in went around to his side of the vehicle, started the car and drove off. Nigel stood there by the door and watched them drive off. His thoughts were as cold as the night's wind. ------------ The drive towards Southbound Pier was a long one. Neither of them spoke along the way; they were too wired for that. They made sideways glances at each other, as if to reassure that they were attempting such together. The night moved past them like a dream. The city outlook took a change for the worse as they drove into Southbound Pier. It was a seedy section of the city. Decades ago it had been one of the city's thriving ports, but a lot of government cutbacks and labour union strikes had forced much of the businesses that once had thrived around it to close up and move elsewhere, leaving hundreds of abandoned and crumbled real-estate the city was yet to do anything about. Lots of warehouses and empty cinderblock buildings. Along the nightmarish streets walked the homeless and destitute. On every street corner, brooding eyes turned to glance their way and Thaddeus told Constance to wound up her glass while his eyes scanned the streets for any lurking predators, here of which he knew they were many. They got lost twice because much of the road signs had long been knocked down before they came upon Piedmont Drive. The street was littered with filth and there were broken bits of concrete everywhere. There was a nameless street leading off it at the northern end. Thaddeus slowed his car as he came upon it; he noticed that its street sign had long been trampled down. The street bore a collection of warehouses, empty from the looks of it and all foreboding, looking like something out of a gravedigger's worse nightmare. Even Constance was nervous about the whole thing. Thaddeus was able to make out Warehouse 15 which had its number etched above its wide open doorway the inside of which was dark as hell. The windows on the top floor were all broken and they seemed to stare down at them like empty eye sockets. Thaddeus too was unsettled about everything and reckoned they were being watched by the kidnapper already. There was no turning back now. He drove into the warehouse and killed his engine and switched off the lights. He turned on the inner light and took out his 45. semi-auto, did a quick check on it once more before returning it to its holster. He reached into the glove compartment and took out first a torch and then a small black case that he opened, in which lay a Beretta Bobcat 21A pocket pistol. He slid the cartridges on it, did a cursory check on the slide, then undid the button of his shirt sleeve and slid the gun in till it hid from view. She looked at him stunned and surprised by his actions but too numb to say anything. He reached behind for the bag of money, unzipped it and scooped out bundles of the money and dropped them on Constance's lap. "What're you doing?" she said to him quietly. He put a finger to his lips. "Later I'll explain," he said. He looked at the remainder inside the bag, satisfied with it, he zipped it back the opened his door. "Stay here," he said to her in a tight, low voice. "Keep the doors locked and don't ever come out no matter what you hear. I'll be back soon." He made to get out the door. She reached for him arm; he turned to look at her, saw the scared look on her face. "Be careful," she whispered. He nodded then jumped out the car and closed his door and locked it. The AC unit was on to cool the inside. Constance threw the bundles of leftover money in the backseat and then turned off the inner light, plunging the car and everything else around her into darkness and watched Thaddeus make his way with the torch in his hand up a flight of stairs at the left wall section of the warehouse. Her eyes remained on him till his light disappeared from view. The tremor in her heart was aching her; she thought she could even hear her heart skipping beats. ------ The stairwell was strewn with all sorts of dirty and the walls ... Thaddeus didn't even want to trust his clothes coming in contact with the grimness that coated the walls. He held the bag up to prevent the little pistol hidden in his shirt from falling out. The stairs creaked under his feet as he made his way up to the top floor. There was a door at the end of the stairwell. The handle was covered with rust as he pushed it open and the door gave a loud creaking sound like something opening to a catacomb as it hit the opposite end of the wall. Thaddeus stepped into a wide, dark and empty room. To the far left and right of him broken glass windows looked out the front and back of the complex. There was a similar door at the opposite end of the room. He took a couple of steps inside then the room, shinning his torch everywhere. "That's close enough," a voice in the dark said to him. Thaddeus drew to a halt. The owner of the voice stepped out of the shadow for him to see. The man wore leather outfit and a fetish-leather head mask over his face. He wore hand gloves and his right hand carried a torch aimed at Thaddeus while he left held a pistol also aimed at him. He dropped the bag on the floor and raised his hands inches from his body, pointing his torch at the ceiling. His was bent at an angle so the Beretta now rested at his elbow. He only prayed the man didn't shine the light at him to notice the apparent bulge in his wrist. "I was expecting the woman," the man spoke in a curt manner. "You her delivery man?" Thaddeus nodded. "You could say that." "My, my, she must really find you interesting enough to make you her errand boy." Thaddeus didn't know if the man was being serious or sarcastic. He decided to file it away for later. "I've got money. All I want is the kid." "How much is in the bag, errand boy?" "A million." "I don't like that. I told her two, not one." "She mentioned that, but it's going to take a while for her to get that amount from the bank. This was all she could get at the moment." "Are you speaking for her, errand boy?" "No. I'm just telling you the way it is. Look, she's in a lot of distress right now and she really wants her son back. She's too scared to come to a place like this or else you'd be hearing it from her yourself." The kidnapper looked at him, not saying anything. Then: "Are you packing, errand boy?" Thaddeus nodded. "Let's see it then. Take it out slowly," he aimed his gun directly at his forehead. "Wouldn't want for this to go off." Thaddeus transferred the torch to his right hand which contained the hidden pistol and reached his hand into his jacket, took his gun out its holster slowly and presented it by the handle for the man to see. "Throw it towards me," he said. Thaddeus did as told and threw the gun towards his feet. The man picked up his gun and slid it into his leather pants. "Now for the bag, kick it over here as well." "First let me see the kid," said Thaddeus. "Don't play fucking games with me, errand boy. I ain't here playing and I ain't got time to waste. I'm gonna say this one last time, kick the bag over here. I won't ask again." "Okay, man, no need for us to get any hostile in here." Thaddeus sighed as if in resignation. He already knew it would come to this. He did as the man ordered and kicked the money bag towards him. The man fell to his knee and placed the torch on the floor beside his feet. Still aiming his gun at Thad, he unzipped the bag and reached inside. The way his hand felt around the bundle of money Thaddeus could tell he wasn't happy. "Son-of-a-bitch!" the kidnapper yelled at him, getting to his feet and pointing his gun at his head. "That don't look like no million in there!" Thaddeus pretended to be apologetic. "Well, look, I'm sorry, pal. I took out the rest of the money before I came up here. If you want it, I can run downstairs and get it for you, no sweat. Just show me the kid first, let me see that you've got him and then I'll go back and get the rest of your money. What do you say?" The kidnapper advanced towards him still pointing the gun at his head. Thaddeus noticed the anger behind the man's mask and knew his finger was only an inch from pulling on the trigger. "You stupid shit! The fuck type of game do you think you're playing with me." The man yanked at his shirt collar and pressed the mouth of his gun at Thad's cheek. Thaddeus caught the air that came off the man's lips; it smelled of onions. "Listen here you fucking black bastard, fucking errand boy" the man yelled at him. "You're one second away from me blowing off your dumb motherfucking nigger skull. I ain't here playing with your fucking ass. I ask the question again, where's the rest of the money?" the man screamed the last line at him. Thad fought to keep calm even though his heart was racing, knowing it won't be long before something drastic happened. "Hey, look, mister, I've already done told you. I'll go downstairs right now and get you your fucking money, alright. Just let me see the kid first, let me know he's still alive, and then the whole money's yours. I won't even need to split it with you." The kidnapper screamed and then slammed the butt of his gun on Thaddeus. Thad was expecting something but the blow took him unawares and he fell to his knee. Still he was lucky he felt his gun at the base of his wrist; his torch was still in his hand. The kidnapper was gasping heavily, stood beside him and pressed his gun against his forehead. "You want to see the kid? No problem, I'll let you see the kid," there came the sound of the gun click. "In hell." Thaddeus felt the kidnapper's finger pressed against the trigger. He held his breath. ------ The sound of the gun shot was loud and deafening and Constance heard it loud and clear even with the car's windows blocking everything else from her. The sound of the gunshot made her jump in her seat and she gasped from the sound. Fear gripped her like a shroud. In her mind's eye she saw the bullet from the gun piercing Thaddeus's skin and the fear automatically doubled in her chest. She fumbled for the door's handle with shaky pair of hands in the dark. Her hands searched for a moment before they unlocked the door's mechanism and she wanted to jump out the car but something forcefully held her back and she was scared that someone was hidden in the backseat choking her. Fighting a wave of panic, she realised she was still glued to the seat by the car's safety belt. Her hands fought with the clapse and when it came off she nearly stumbled out the car and fell to the ground. She stood there in the dark looking here and there, her lips gasped with fear but she couldn't dare herself to move. Then came multiple gun shots and she jumped this time for real. Using the light of the car for a guide, she left the door open and went in the direction of the staircase where Thaddeus had disappeared from her earlier. Oh my God, I pray he's not dead! ------ The kidnapper said to him as he clicked his gun to his head, "You want to see the kid? No problem, I'll let you see the kid. In hell." "That's just too bad then," Thaddeus muttered. Tightening his grip on his torch he swung it from the ground and two things happened. The metal of the torch hit the kidnapper's gun from his head at the same time he shone the torch's light direct to his face. The man wasn't prepared for Thad's reflex and he cried out from the pain as the torch almost knocked his gun out his hand. His finger depressed the trigger and his gun went off, firing into the far wall behind the detective. Thad didn't wait for him to recover. He threw the torch aside and shook his wrist and felt his pocket pistol slip halfway out his shirt to his hand. He saw the kidnapper getting back to firing his gun again. Thaddeus lunged himself at him and together they hit the pane of broken windows, breaking some shards of glass that were still there. Both men struggled with each other like combatants at a tug-of-war bout. Each man held the other's gun hand while they fought each other for space. The kidnapper shoved his shoulder at Thaddeus. He caught the blow but was grateful the hurt was mild compared to the former. Growling at him, Thaddeus let go of the man's gun-held arm for only an instant, enough for him to swing at fist at him. He boxed the side of the kidnapper's ear, heard the man yell from the pain. He was about taking another swing at him when the man shifted backward and drove his knee into the side of his abdomen. It caught Thaddeus off balance and he skidded to the floor, landing on his torch. His gun fell from his hand and clattered a short distance from him. The kidnapper made a break for it. Thaddeus heard the sound of the man's footsteps running away from him and he was at first afraid, thinking that maybe the man was going for another hidden weapon he stashed somewhere. He scrambled for his Beretta and took aim in the direction he was running and fired once, then twice. The sound of the gun shot echoed like a thunderclap in the room and the brief flash of light lit the room enough for him to see the man vanish behind the door at the far end of the room. Picking up his torch, he gave chase. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 04 Thaddeus stood by the side of the doorway and listened to the man's fading footsteps. He aimed both torch and gun in front of him and saw a similar staircase like the one he'd climbed from the other way and exercising caution and haste at the same time, he bounded down the stairs. He got to the end of the stairs and once again pressed himself against the wall and listened to the sound of his gasping breath, his drumming heart, and that of the kidnapper's footsteps still running in the distance. He came out the side of the doorway and ran down a narrow corridor. His torch led him through one dark hallway after another while his gun was pointed in front of him. Too late he heard what sounded like a motorcycle bike roaring to life. Thaddeus increased his running. He almost took a wrong turn and fell into a decrepit hole had it not been for his torch which alerted him to it in time. He found a side doorway and ran through it and came out into a courtyard. He saw the kidnapper racing away on a bike. Thaddeus took aim but the man had already taken a turn out of sight before he could shoot. He took down his gun and listened to the fading sound of the man's bike. He brought his hand to the side of his head where the man had hit him with the gun. He winced as his hand came away with blood. It wouldn't have done any good anyway; he knew he would meet him again. Next time he was definitely sure to repay the bastard for bruising his skin. One way or another, he would. He slide the hammer of his gun back to safety and turned around and went back into the building the same way he'd come. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 05 They were back in the city now. Constance felt glad seeing the bright city lights once again compared to the gloom they'd left behind. She brought her hand to her mouth as she gave a yawn. Her eyes were growing heavy with sleep and she didn't feel like making the long journey back to the mansion now. "Is it alright if I crash at your place tonight?" she asked Thaddeus. Thad turned to look at her, saw the open, tired look in her eyes and for a moment didn't know what to make of it. He fumbled at first. "You wouldn't mind crashing at a low-income, bachelor pad like mine?" "Is that your way of saying no to me?" "Well, not really. Sure, why not? You're more than welcome. Oh shit!" She became alert. "What? Something wrong?" Something was indeed wrong, thought Thaddeus. He'd just remembered sleeping Myra whom he'd left back at his apartment. How was he going to manage with both of them? But the fear didn't last long and he was laughing once again. "No, nothing's wrong," he smiled at her then returned his gaze to his driving. "Everything's just fine. You feeling hungry? We can stop someplace to grab a bite or two." "Nah," she shook her head and gave another yawning fit. "I just need a bed and a pillow right now. The rest can wait till morning. Unless you want to get something to eat yourself." "No, I'm good. My place then." He took a left turn and headed in the right direction towards his home. ------ Thaddeus pulled into his apartment driveway thirty minutes later and drove towards the back section where he then parked it and turned off the engine. He came around to the backseat and helped Constance to gather up the leftover bundles of money into the bag before the left the car for his front door. Everyone was locked up inside their individual homes, though he thought he could hear distinct shouting voices coming from that of his neighbour, Arite. A good thing it was only themselves they were bothering. Thad slid his key into his door lock and let himself and his client into his home. Constance was about saying something as she entered his living room when suddenly she stopped. Thad finished locking the door and turned around and saw what made her so. The TV set was on and Myra sat on a couch with her legs folded under her like an Indian eating cereal off from a bowl when they entered. She got up from the chair and came over and embraced Thaddeus as if not seeing Constance standing there beside him. Thad felt embarrassed but struggled not to let it show; he especially didn't want to see the strong look that was apparent in Constance's eyes. "Hi there," Myra said to him. "You've been gone so long, and I was hungry. I hope you don't mind my helping myself to your kitchen." "No, of course not," said Thad. "Besides, you were sleeping before I left. By the way, Myra, this is Constance. Constance, meet Myra." He couldn't bring himself to say anything else. Both women faced each other and shook hands and said hello, though from the look in each other's eyes, their friendliness wasn't amiable. Thaddeus led Constance to the bedroom to shower and change while Myra remained watching what was on TV. Thad handed Constance a fresh pair of towel and pointed where the bathroom was out in the corridor. "So, who's she?" she enquired. "A friend," he said, which was about the simplest answer he could think of while he took off his jacket and hung it along with his hat on a nail hanging off his wardrobe. "Just a friend for the night," he added. "Hmmm, I'll bet," was all Constance replied. She took the towel with her and went into the bathroom, giving Thad enough opportunity to change into a pyjama pants and t-shirt. He took his pocket pistol out of the money bag before stowing that away in the closet. Myra appeared at the doorway. Thaddeus opined correctly that she wasn't going to give him a hard time for bringing another woman to his home; wasn't like they were married after all. He told her they were going to sleep in the living room. He took out a folding bed from an alcove next to his bedroom and two pillows while Myra helped him with the spare bed sheet and blanket. They moved the centre table aside and were fixing their bed in the middle of the room when Constance stepped out of the shower. In the bedroom, Thad gave her a clean shirt to wear and shorts too and told her where he would be. They muttered goodnight to each other, although it sounded rather awkward for both of them. Constance had more that she wanted to say, but the fear of letting go held back her pride. Thad left the bedroom for her, closing the door behind him. ************ Constance couldn't sleep. Her head kept tossing from one end of the pillow to the other. The dream she had was vivid and held her mind in a suffocating choke-hold. In it they were back at the dark warehouse room, this time the kidnapper had his gun pressed to her son's head. Thad and she stood before him, powerless to do anything. The kidnapper saw that the money was short, asked her to choose who he should kill first—her boy, or Thad. Before she could say anything, his gun went off. Constance shot up from the bed, screaming. She abruptly caught herself to crease when she realised her was awake. Her hand fumbled shakily for the bedside lamp and switched it on. The room resembled nothing like hers; she didn't know whether to feel homely about it or depressed. Her throat felt parched. She swung her legs off from the bed and went and opened the door. Immediately she did that, she overheard gasping sounds coming from the living room down the corridor; the kitchen was beyond it. Instead of continuing towards that direction, she stopped at the door leading into the living room and placed her ear to it. There were grunting as well as moaning sounds, very unmistakable what they were. She inched the door open and took a peak. The sleep vanished from her eyes at what she saw. Myra had her face pressed against the sofa's seat, her lips exclaiming loud moans while Thad fucked her from behind. He grasped her buttocks with one hand, repeatedly smacking it, while the other grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her face up from the sofa. The look of hurt and lust was etched on her face as he continued slamming at her. Thad's features were squeezed into a grimace as he hunched over her, burying his cock hard against her flesh, muttering wild grunts while he banged against her. Myra too pushed her ass back against him, wanting him to fuck her harder. Constance's mouth fell open at the sight of their activity. She pressed her face between the door's opening, hoping they won't discover her presence. Right away she sensed a yearning come upon her. She could feel her nipples hardening inside the shirt she was wearing and as she dipped a hand down south between her legs she could perceive some wetness revealing itself to her. She bit on her lower lip and sighed deeply as she inserted a finger into her pussy. It had been a long time since her pussy felt the presence of a man's cock; so preoccupied she had been moaning her late husband to think of indulging herself in such like her sister. It no wonder they could barely stand each other. Myra kept screaming for Thad to fuck her harder; the sound and look of bodies clashing was like two warriors going at each other. It excited Constance even more watching and listening to the woman's whimpering lust. It had been a while since last time she got fucked like that. How she wished that was her in the woman's place. Thad was still grunting like an animal when gradually he pulled himself up to his feet, pulling Myra along. He had her bent forward, her hands grasping the fabric of the sofa's seat while her ass remained facing him. His cock slipped out of her. Quickly he grabbed hold of his meat and thrust it back into her. Myra tightened her face in ecstasy and squealed once again as he grabbed her by the waistline and resumed pounding her like she was nothing at all. "Awhhh ... Awwhhh, fuck! Ohhh fuck me! Fuck that pussy!" her cries went around the room, driving both of them wild with animalistic lust. Her hair waved everywhere in a dervish fan. "Gimme all your cum! Ahhh ... I want all of your black cum!" Constance was unaware of the moaning sounds issuing from her lips and the fact that the door she'd been hiding behind from was now partially open enough to reveal her presence. It was the sound of her voice that made Thad turn his head towards her direction and their eyes met. Constance, realising she'd been found out, muttered a gasp of surprise and scuttled away from the open doorway. Myra realising Thad had slowed his pace turned towards where his eyes where and saw the open door. She too realised someone had been spying on them and almost immediately began to laugh. "Looks like she too wants to have a taste but is kind of shy to admit it," she crackled. Thad turned to her and slapped her bum, making her howl. "Shut the fuck up, bitch!" he resumed fucking her with pounding fury this time like he wanted to tear her pussy up. Myra was having the time of her life, having climaxed twice already. She was going for gold with a third time. She shut her eyes as the inevitable rush of lust coursed through her, making her body shudder all over. "Awwhhhh shit! Awwhhhh ... I'm coming! I'm coming!" her cries turned into a shriek as her body spasmed from the onslaught. Thad too couldn't contain his own excitement any longer as he held her in a firm grip and felt his cock explode a torrent of cum inside her. He continued to hold onto her as more and more he poured semen deep inside her womb. He pulled her up and turned her head towards his and thrust his tongue into her mouth, caressing her tits while he did. His cock gradually grew soft inside her till it pulled out of her, dripping cum on her thigh. Myra sat on the sofa facing him and proceeded to clean his cock with her mouth. He ran his fingers through her hair while she did her work. "Oh my God," she moaned while she sucked on his balls one after the other. "I've never been so well fucked like I just have." She looked up at him, stroking his cock inches from her face. "Are you going to give her a taste too?" "Myra, shut up," he said. She crackled with laughter once again and resumed sucking his cock. Thad remained with her in the living room for a while, letting his body re-energise itself while she curled on the bed, wrapped the blanket over her naked self. Feeling he was strong enough, he got up and went to his bedroom's door. He knocked on it tentatively and waited. All that came back was silence. His hand reached for the door handle, turned it and eased the door open. The bedroom was dark, though bright yellow light filtered from outside the window, enough to make out the outline of someone hiding under the sheets on the bed. Thad approached the figure. It was Constance and she had her back towards him. Already she knew he was in the room with her. "Thad?" she called out his name. "It's me, Constance," he replied. "I was watching you," she said. "I know. I saw you too." "I didn't mean to hide." She turned around on the bed to face him. "I had a nightmare and couldn't sleep." "Maybe I can help you with that." He came towards the bed. Constance moved back to give him room, pulling back the thick blanket for him to enter. Thad settled into the bed. He noticed Constance's body turning rigid on him. "I don't know, Thad. I don't ... I don't know if I can go with it." Thad understood what she meant and wasn't going to take her against her wishes. She was much too beautiful and delicate for him to vent his urges on her, even though he dearly would have done so. Except in such cases it was best to play the gentleman. "I'm not going to touch you," he said to her. "I'm just going to lie here next to you while you go to sleep. I promise that's all I'm going to do." "You sure about that? You're not going to have any temptations later on?" "I won't if you don't," he answered. Constance calmed down after he said that and she drew herself towards him. She laid her head on his shoulder while her arm went around to his neck. The breath of her nose ruffled the hairs on his chest. Thad luxuriated in the presence of her warmth; surprisingly he couldn't feel his cock coming alive at all. Her lips kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Thad," she whispered. "Thanks for everything." ************ Thad was halfway asleep when he thought he felt someone kissing his lips. Thinking it was a dream like the last memorable one he'd had, he paid it no mind, except the kissing feat persisted. His eyes came groggily awake in the dark and there was Constance leaning over him, pelting him with kisses. Thad felt himself respond almost immediately to her passion, opening his lips to enable her tongue room to dance and swirl and connect with his. He pushed back the blanket from their body to enable them much freedom. Their lips by now were smacking against each other's; his hand caressed her thigh, grabbed her leg and pulled her over to be on top of him. Constance came over and straddled him. She held his face in her hands, no missing a bit of his lips as she kept on their passionate kissing. Thad ran his hands over her body, feeling over her arms, up her shoulders, and down once again over her thighs. Constance ran her hands over Thad's arms and chest. She knew what she was doing was wrong, except she couldn't help herself. The sight of watching Thad fuck that woman in his living room had opened an old wound she always thought she had shut out from the world. A flood now was pouring from that room like breakaway water from a dam and she couldn't hold the tide back any longer. She reached down Thad's waist and cupped his semi-erect prick in her hand. Feeling the heat it produced, the way it throbbed in her hand, as if though some uncanny magnetic force, she too could feel her pussy coming alive. Her pussy wanted to get a taste of that black cock, and nothing was going to stop that from happening tonight. She came off him on the bed, still stroking his cock in her hand, feeling its masculinity course through her hand. She found his cock in the dark and was gulping on it seconds later. Thad stretched across to the other side of the bed and searched for the switch to the bedside lamp and switched it on, flooding the room with light. Constance blinked her eyes from the light but that didn't stop her from still sucking him. She was having problem taking much of his cock into her mouth; his size was unlike any she'd had before. She could only slurp her tongue up and down his shaft and apply her lips to the crown head of his prick while her hands stroked his foreskin. She would stop to run her tongue over the aperture slit on his cock, her eyes making contact with his. Thad saw the wanting in her eyes; it was the same in his too. "Come up here," he said to her. Constance left go of his cock reluctantly and slid upward to meet him. Their lips met once again in another frantic kiss and this time Thad turned her over to be on her backside. He helped her out of the shirt she was wearing and gummed his mouth to one of her breasts while his hand played with the other. Constance writhed and groaned under him, her hand caressed his arms and shoulder as he pulled on her nipple with his teeth like a pair of pliers working to uproot a nail, sending shivers of lust and unbridled passion to spread all over her body. His face came between her legs; the soft growth of pubic hair rubbed against his chin as his lips fondled the entrance to her labia region. His hands slid under her legs and pressed her down as his tongue slid into her wet entrance. Constance kicked her feet into the air and beat them down on the bed, moaning at the same time struggling to be free but unable to as Thad held her down with half of his strength, pressing her legs far back over her head and pushing her tush up to meet his face. He flicked his tongue up and down on the tiny bud that was her clit. Sometimes he sucked on it then lapped his tongue on her pussy juice which was flowing out of her like milk. Evidently she bucked her legs against him. Her hips pushed her pussy upward to capture more of his tongue. Thad turned her over on the bed till her face was pressing down on the pillow and raised her buttocks upward and pressed his face between her ass cheeks, lapping his tongue up and down her pussy slit. Her moaning cries rose in length to a higher note; her hips pushed her ass further backward against his face. She didn't want him to stop what he was doing to her ever at all. He slid on top of her, nibbled on her ear lobe, wrapped one arm around her while his other grasped his erection and rubbed it against her pussy's entrance. She too moved her buttocks against his cock and muttered a sigh when it punctured through. Thad held her up and grunted as he thrust more inches of his cock into her. Her pussy was tight, almost virgin, he thought. He wiggled his cock in and out gently, letting her get used to his girth. All the while Constance remained tensed, her cries echoed under him. To her it felt like the first time of having sex all over again. The feeling ... the sensation ... how much she had longed for it and missed it, and now here it was again. Her body had finally found what it had wanted for so long. It wretched itself off her control and listened only to the moans of her lust. Thad gasped from the tightness of her pussy muscles as they squeezed his cock. He inched more of it inside her and kept at a steady pace as she got used to him. On and on he thrust his rod inside her, feeling it move deeper and deeper into her succulent wet cave. Constance shut her eyes, her breath caught in her throat and for a second or two she thought she felt the world stop as a pulsing roar of thunder coursed through her, shaking her body all over. She dug her head into the bed sheet, still feeling the throb of Thad's cock fuck her pussy. It had been an even longer time since last time she experienced such a heart-splitting orgasm. Thad pulled out of her and waited for she to recover, thinking that maybe he might have gone too far and hurt her from the way she lay there gasping. He lay next to her, ran his hand over her sweaty body, listening to the rise and fall of her breathing. She reached a hand towards him and pulled his body closer till they were breathing at each other's face. "My God," she muttered. "I can't believe I waited so long for that." He didn't say anything except plant a kiss on her lips. "I'll bet you planned for this to happen all along," she said to him. "I imagined this happening," he answered. "But I never planned it." "I always knew it would happen. I just never thought it would happen like this. Watching you fuck that woman ... I just couldn't control my wanting you anymore." "What's scaring you then?" "What scares me is that I'm afraid. I don't know what this will look like in the morning. I don't know what this might change between us." "We don't need to call it anything, if that's what you're afraid of. It's just for tonight." She snuggled against him. "Hmmm, is that what you tell all the other ladies you've slept with?" "That's not a question you should be asking." "I'm sorry. How about I ask another that isn't more pressing. Are you married, Thad?" "Nope," he said. "Never had before." "When I saw the woman, that was the first thing that came to my mind. I was scared that she might throw a fit. I'll bet you've slept with all your other past clients." "Not really," he lied. "You're the first." "I hope it stays that way for a while." She reached down his legs and grasped his cock. "My God, you're still hard. You didn't cum?" "No, but don't worry about it. Go to sleep." Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 05 She wrapped her arm and leg over him while her head used his chest for a pillow. Thad spread the blanket over their body. Everything around them was quiet and still. "Thad?" she whispered his name. "Yes?" "Thank you for understanding." "It's no problem." "I'm still worried about Johnny. He's still out there." "We'll find him. Trust me. Go to sleep now." And she did. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 06 Sunlight streaming past his window, the music of birds chirping in the tree branches, the crunching roar of car tires speeding along the street. The persistent BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEP! of what sounded to him like an alarm clock. Thaddeus's eyes blinked themselves open seconds before he realised he ought not to. He turned over on his back, his arm stretched towards the alarm clock and slammed on the button that shut off its noise. The room wasn't that quiet anymore. He remained on the bed for a couple of seconds before stretching his arms and yawning. He turned his head to his left and saw the sleeping form that was Constance Loftus curled on her side. He knew last night hadn't been a dream, still his heart bounded with euphoria at the sight of her lying beside him. As quiet as he could he slipped off the bed. He wore on a pair of shorts and t-shirt and quietly opened the door and slipped out of the room. The living room was empty except for the bed he'd shared with Myra. She'd left a note for him on the table. The note read: I ENJOYED MY TIME WITH YOU YESTERDAY AND HOPE TO MAKE MORE. CALL ME ANYTIME. KISSES, MYRA. Underneath the words she'd left her cell number for him. Thad folded the note and pocketed it; he wasn't going to lose it just yet. He went into the bathroom and first pulled off the band-aid to check his wound. It was nothing but a minor scare now, thank God. He jumped into the shower and had a bath, minutes later walked with light feet into the bedroom so as not to awaken his guest and wore back his clothes of last night then returned to the living room to arrange the furniture as well as get rid of the fold-out bed and return it to the alcove room. Done with all that, he went into the kitchen and brewed himself some tea. A minute later his door bell rang. His first thought was that Myra had forgotten something and returned for it. When he went and peeped through the eye-hole in the door, he sighed to himself before undoing the door's lock. The woman who stood there leaning against his doorway was beautiful, although at that moment she looked like something a truck had run over. She had wavy auburn hair, thick pair of hazel eyes and wide lips. She was wearing a tank top that lifted a pair of jugs that would water any ogling man's eyes and cut-off jeans shorts. Erica Whitford was a damn hot-looking cougar, and wasn't abashed to look it. Looking at her, it was hard to imagine that she was in her early-forties; her body was as supple and well curved as any woman with a perfect hour glass type of shape. Back in her late teens and early twenties, she had been a Las Vegas showgirl, whereas Artie had been a Navy Lieutenant on leave. Erica had months ago related to Thaddeus her first meeting with Artie once when they'd been feeling each other up. She had been a dancer who'd just broken up with her ex-boyfriend/pimp, whereas Artie had just said goodbye to a five-year marriage and was in Vegas in search of solace and company. They had met over drinks one night Artie and several of his buddies had made attempts to hit on her and some of her colleagues whom she'd been out in town with. They'd had a couple of drinks, exchanged phone numbers and called each other night after night. Three weeks later Artie had proposed and she had accepted and that was that. Thad had long realised Artie wasn't bold enough to keep a woman like Erica in chains and that she could eat him raw whenever she chose to if ever he attempted keeping her under his wings. She and Thad had fucked a couple of times and he knew the only reason she often sneaked over to spend time with him was because she loved the way he gave her 'the dick', which was his specialty. Too had he wasn't expecting her today, not when he had important company lying in bed. "Hiya, Thad," she jumped into his arms and wrapped hers around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips while Thaddeus struggled to be free of her. "Gaddamn it, Erica," he spoke with annoyance and cast an eye upstairs at her door. She knew where his eyes were going and giggled at his embarrassment. "You're going to get me in trouble one of these days." "Don't be nervous, Thad. Artie's off to work and I'm home alone and horny." "Good for you," he said, closing the door behind her. "You're horny, whereas I'm hungry. The fuck do you keep acting like a slut for, Erica? One of these days, Artie's going to find out, and guess how pissed he's going to be when that happens." "Oh please. Don't you worry about Artie, he's never going to find out. He's too concerned about me to be worried about you fucking me." "Just listen to yourself. Is that all you've got to think of this morning? Ain't you got nothing better to do that thinking of fucking?" "Well, I did think of painting my nails," she pouted. "And I got them done. But now, all I've got weighting on my mind is the taste of your cock in my mouth." She grabbed his crotch and fondled his prick. "Oh yeah, a black cock like none other. I keep telling my friends about you, Thad, and some of them seriously want to meet with you." "The fuck would you want to go about gossiping about me with a bunch of semi-retired sluts?" "Oh come off that, will you. I thought you'd be even pleased that I'm putting a good word out there." "Sorry, Erica. I've got better things to do that work my way as a gigolo to your rich bitches you call friends." He walked to his kitchen to check on the water he'd left on the stove. Erica followed him. "Artie's been complaining about you. He says you've been spending a lot of late hours and wanted if I could talk some sense into you." She snorted. "Artie can be such a pisser sometimes. I figured he'd come talking to you. I got stuck in traffic yesterday and got home a bit late and he was up waiting for me. Didn't waste to screaming his head off, talking about me being late, about me fucking this and that, like he never knew." "You've got to keep things in check, Erica. Not saying you can't have your fun, but this is your man we're talking about. Besides, you know Artie's got himself a weak mind. If you two break up right now, I doubt he'll be able to find descent sleep for the twenty years." "Artie's always been an easily excited type of guy. That's not my fault." "I never said anything about it being your fault. Just saying you should keep things on a down-low." "Don't get me wrong, Thad. I love Artie, I really do. But I hate it when he keeps trying to bud into my life, like I do the same with his. Besides, Artie knows very well the type of work that I do." "Really? And do share with me, exactly what type of work that is?" "Why Thad, I organise parties," she said primly. "Rich, decadent, swinging parties for rich people with big pockets who want all the dirty stuff their money can afford but are too afraid to ask. I'm not the real party organiser though—my boss lady handles much of everything. I'm just a cog in the wheel and I get to mingle with some of these folks and see whatever favours I can get from them." Thad was listening to her while he made himself a cup of tea. He sipped his tea, nodding at the right moments while at the same time telling himself not to take any of her words too seriously. "Sounds like the type of job fit only for a secretary," he said dismissively. "Come on, Thad. A girl's got to make a living and have some fun too. No need for you to sweat my game." "I ain't the one here sweating your game, Erica. Just don't want you getting corrupted by it all. You can have all the fun and games you want, just know that Artie loves you, and it'd break his heart, and mine, to know that you don't." "I know that, Thad, and I'm not going to break his heart. He's going to have to break mine first, and I'm not ever going to let him." she smiled as she came towards him, her voice turned silky. "So, how about you and I get back to talking about us. I've got a new pair of spandex outfit I've been wanting to put on just for you." Her hand went back to his crotch; she slid her tongue over her lips. "You've been keeping me wanting this your cock all week, Thad. I don't like that." "Not now, Erica. Got some office work I need to handle. How about I give you a call later." He took her hand and pulled her along into the living room. Erica grumbled as he opened the front door for her. "Not fair, Thad," she stumped her feet on his outside carpet. Her arms around his neck as if in desperation while she whined like a petulant child. "For God's sake, I need you right now. Or didn't you hear me, Thad? I'm fucking horny!" "I can fucking see that, Erica," he enunciated his words at the same time extricated her arms from his neck. "And like I told you, now just isn't a good time for me, seriously it ain't. Look, I'll make it up to you later, okay? Just trying and give me between now and the afternoon." His hand slid over her backside and grabbed her ass and gave it a good squeeze. "I know you've been wanting me, and I too have been wanting you. Now just ain't good for me." "So you've told me time and time again before. I keep wondering why you're dodging me." "Not dodging you, girl. Just got some serious work on my plate right now, but we'll see how well things turn out later." "I'll hold you on that. You promise to give me a call later?" "Hell yeah, I promise—Oh darn! Just remember I've only got Artie's cell number and not yours." She reached a hand into the side pocket of her jeans and took out a silver-coated business card. It had her name and the words 'CLUB EROS De VENUS' stencilled above it, along with a logo that looked like something out of an Ancient Greek painting. Her number was etched underneath. "That the club you belong to?" he asked as he turned the card over in his hand. "Yes. I'd still like for you to come be a part of it." "What's Eros? Some crazy love portion?" "No. He was a god of Ancient Greek. God of Lust. Go figure," she kissed his cheek. "I'll be expecting your call. Don't keep me waiting." Thad stood there and watched her shake her ass from side to side as she returned up the stairs back into her apartment, waving at him before she disappeared inside. Thaddeus closed his door and went to see about his important guest. Constance was just getting up from bed when he came in. She had the blanket covering her body and when she saw him a bit of indecision ran through her face whether to let down the blanket or hide her nakedness as if he hadn't already felt her through her body last night. "Good morning," he said to her. "Glad to see you're awake." "Morning," she smiled and let the blanket fall from her body, letting him have all the eyeful of her that he wanted. She got up from the bed and stretched. "I was wondering if you were coming to wake me up." "Sorry, you never asked for a wake-up call," he came and wrapped his arm around her. "But now that I'm here, consider yourself awake." He kissed her. "What about your friend from last night? What was her name again?" "Err ... I can't remember. Besides, you're here and she isn't. Look, I didn't mean for you to see what you saw last night—" "Don't worry about it. I'll take it out of the compensation money I owe you. Right now, I'm famished." "Come with me then, let's fix you up something. But first, let's get you something to wear. Wouldn't want my neighbours spying through my window and wondering who's the fine-looking lady I've got in here with me." He discarded the former pair he'd given her last night and riffled through his cabinet for another pair of shorts and another shirt for her to wear. This time she didn't ask him to turn around for her. They went into the kitchen and he made some scrambled eggs for her and while he was making another fresh pot of tea, she went into the living room and turned on the TV set, flicking for the local news channel. Had she known what she was going to find, she never would have turned it on. While the newscaster spoke, a photo of her son appeared beside his head with the words MISSING written in bold letters under his photo. To say that Constance was aghast was an understatement. She searched around then found the TV's remote and increased the volume. Thad heard the sound of the news from the kitchen and came to the doorway about to enquire about it. The smile that was on his face melted away as he too saw the photo of Constance's son, Johnny on the TV screen with the newscaster speaking to their face. "... son of the late millionaire industrialist and foremost philanthropist, Emmet Gerald Loftus has been declared missing for the past two and a half days. These are the late words we're receiving from an anonymous source which has just been verified by the city police and the state county department. For now, no comment has been said from the Loftus estate, and the late industrialist's widow, Constance Loftus, isn't yet available for comment ..." The picture behind the newscaster dissolved to show a mob of reporters and cameramen, all of them looking excited as they set up camp in front of Loftus Garden, most of them training their long camera lens through the walls of the gate into the compound. The newscaster was still chattering when Constance aimed the remote at the TV and turned it off. She turned to face him, a look of horror on her face as she tried comprehending all what they'd just heard on the news. "My God, this can't be happening. How did they know? Who told them?" she looked at Thad as if expecting him for an answer. Thad looked at her and saw the look in her eyes that spoke of guilt and complicity. "It's my fault this is happening," she remarked as if to herself. "If I'd gone home last night ... if maybe I'd done what that kidnapper asked, none of this would be happening." "That's nonsense, and you know it," said Thaddeus approaching her. "You didn't leak this story out to the press and neither did I, so stop blaming yourself for it." "Oh but I can, Thad," her eyes and her voice sparked with anger at him. "If you'd only given that man the money, maybe none of this would have happened." "It wouldn't have made any difference, Constance," he snapped. "The bastard never had your boy, didn't I tell you that?" "Yes, you did," she stabbed a finger at his chest. "You're also supposed to be out there finding him, instead of standing here talking ... Ughh! What am I even doing here? I have to go home." She pushed past him, left him standing there holding her cup of tea in his hand while she went in the direction of the bedroom. He sipped the tea and with the TV remote in hand, turned it on and watched a re-run of the news. Constance appeared minutes later having hurriedly worn back her clothes and shoes. The angry disposition still lit her face. "You want that I call you a cab?" he asked. "No, don't bother, I'll get one myself." Thad was hurt by her tone of voice but made no show of it. He reached for her arm as she was about walking past him. "Constance, wait." "Please, Thad, let go. I've got a lot of things to do." She pulled her arm from his, not bringing herself to look at him. "I'll send you a cheque later to cover up for everything you've done so far." She opened his front door and stepped out into the sunlight. Thad stood by his doorway and watched her cross to the other side of the street. A taxi passed by. She stopped it and got in and then it drove off. Thad retreated back into his world and closed his front door. --------------- He was back to his lonely self. Thaddeus went and slumped down on the couch feeling the earlier buoyancy he'd woken up with dissipate from him. He felt like a teen back in the ring early in his career when he was learning the ropes trying not to wound up with a broken nose or anything much worse. He felt like he'd just being through a bout of combination jabs followed by a total KO. One minute he'd been happy, it had felt like a lovely morning, a chance not to think of anything else except the warm pleasurable feel of lying next to a beautiful woman/client. Not up to an hour after that it had all come crashing down on him, all because some dumb idiot of a cop, whoever the bastard was, had finally spilled the beans of her missing kid. He sat there deliberating over everything and raised his head a minute later when he thought he heard a ringing sound coming from his bedroom. He rushed in there and saw it was his phone; it was his Sergeant friend, Greg, calling. "Yo, Thad, what gives?" his friend spoke into his ear after he'd answered his call. "I'm watching Fox News right now and I see your client's got her name and that of her kid splattered all over. I thought you'd have this case solved and nailed by now?" "I don't know, Greg. Looks like someone in uniform beat me to it." "It's a pisser, I know. I'm sorry it all went to hell for you." "Nothing to be sorry about, my friend. How's the activity like on your end?" "You won't believe it, but nearly the entire building's gone crazy with reporters since, all of them swarming around right and left, all of them trying to get any leads on the missing Loftus kid. Hard to know who must have tattled over here, everybody's just shook up about it. I hear the Mayor will be dropping down here around noon." "Just like that," Thad snorted cynically. "You would think the ass wipe would get his butt any faster down here if it had been some poor black woman's kid that had been missing." "Hey, I despise politics more than the next man, but that's just the way it is, Thad." "Yeah, I know. The shit's really hit the fan on this one." "Well, look on the bright side—there's no mention of you on the news. That's a good thing knowing you're in the clear. The boy's mom is going to get to talking though, now that it's everywhere." "It is and it isn't, Greg. I promised finding her boy soon and I failed on that. Wherever that kid is, there's going to be a lot of crazies out there searching for him too. Anyway, I've got some checking up to do. I'll holler at you later." "You take it easy, friend. Let me know if you need anything." "Will do, Greg. And thanks." He hung up the phone, threw it over his head and fell on his back on the bed and covered his face with his hands, feeling lost than ever before. He hated it when such things happened, of not being in control of the outcome of things. He could imagine the hurt Constance must be passing through right now, seeing that this was the one moment she never wished to come about, and neither did he. Pretty soon the cops will be interviewing her and she'll probably let on about her hiring him to find her kid, and what's going to happen next? The cops are going to be badgering on him, wanting to know everything he knew, most especially about the guy who'd demanded a ransom last night. Thaddeus's hands came off his face as something jolted him—the ransom! Constance had left in a hurry and forgotten about the money. He left the bed and went to open the closet. The money bag remained where he'd left it last night. He took it out and brought it to the bed and zipped it open. The bundles of money lay scattered inside along with his pocket pistol and the tape recorder. He took both of these out and rewound the tape inside the player then pressed PLAY. There came the kid's voice, straight and short, most likely something he'd read that had been placed in front of him by the kidnapper or whoever he was. "Hi mom ... I'm doing alright ..." It was followed by a hissing sound signalling the end of the recording. The hissing went on for more than a minute of the tape Thaddeus was about to press the STOP button when some strange noise began to play out. At first he couldn't make it out. It sounded like someone sobbing, then the kid's voice whispering to himself. Thad increased the tape's volume to catch the words. It sounded like the kid was singing himself a sort of lullaby. At first he confused the words for something else, but after rewinding and playing it back a couple more times did. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 06 "Johnny ... Johnny ... find me ... Johnny ... find me ..." That was the end of it. Thaddeus played the tape once again and still it was the same words. He wrote them down on a jotter pad. He tapped his pen against his head while he sat on his bed trying to figure out the boy's cryptic message ... if really that was what it was. Him muttering his name over and over again just didn't make any sense to him. He wrote the boy's full name on the centre of the jotter: JOHNNY LOFTUS, and continued tapping the end of the pen against his head. Unable to come up with anything rational, he slapped the pen on the jotter and got up. He might as well get on with his life now he'd lost the client and just about anything that was bound to come out of it. Suddenly he wished he could return to his bed and fall back asleep. ------ He didn't drive straight to the office but instead went to the city's grand central train station. He rented out a locker box and deposited the bag of money inside of it. He had checked to make sure he wasn't being followed before he arrived there. He reckoned that once the media storm over Constance had gone down, provided it enabled the search for her child easy, he would then give the money back to her. Right now the best thing would be to stay away from her if he could possibly afford it. As he walked out of the large terminal hall of the station, he saw a TV screen over which they were retelling the story about her missing son. Thaddeus hurried his footsteps out of the building, not wishing to suffer more. He got into his car and screeched out of the parking lot. He slapped his hand on the steering wheel, cursing whoever it was that had tipped off the press. Someone sure wanted to see her in misery. He missed her. He hated admitting it to himself but as he drove away from the train station heading in the direction of his office, he couldn't stop telling himself how much he really did. Seldom had a woman gotten to him like her. She was so yearning with want and care, strong and yet vulnerable. How a beautiful woman like her ever ended up getting hitched to an old rich fart that was her late husband he would never understand. Thaddeus got to his office almost a half hour later. The sun's heat was building and the air choked from it. There was a red Ferrari parked in front of his office building, the windows tinted. He paid it no mind as he still had his thoughts running through the message left in the tape player even as he went up to his office door. Sarah was in there waiting for him, looking prim and lovely in a purple blouse and black skirt. She was typing out some stationary and she stopped what she was doing and came around to hug him. "Good morning, boss," she said with a smile that seemed to say more. "No need for formalities here, Sarah. Call me Thad. It's much easier to say than sir." He took off his jacket and hung it on a coat rack beside the door. "Any messages before I arrived?" "The caretaker dropped by an hour ago and left a bill for you. I dropped it on your desk. Also, you've got a visitor." She indicated at his office. "We didn't have a spare seat, so I told her to wait in your office. Sorry." "Who's the visitor?" "The same lady who called yesterday," she said it in a low voice. Thaddeus thanks her then approached his door. Hilda sat in the only chair facing his desk; her handbag rested on his desk and she was smoking a cigarette when he opened the door into his office. She turned around and saw it was him and smiled. The smile lit up her face like Dolce Vita. "You promised giving me a call," she said as he walked past her to get to his chair. "I waited by the phone and never got a word from you." "Like I told you, work comes first before pussy. I still was going to cal you though," he said as he settled into his chair. "You were? When exactly?" she puffed on her cigarette and blew smoke into the air. "I was lonely and bored yesterday evening. All I thought about was your black cock fucking me. I got to take my depression upon my ten-inch dildo. I've been fucking it all through last night." "What about your pet boyfriend, Blondie? He would make a good substitute." She snorted and tipped ash from her cigarette into an ash tray she'd found on his desk. "Blondie. The boy's got his nose buried deep in cocaine, sometimes he can barely get it up." "You mentioned that he's a model. How about going out and fetching yourself a new one. Or even better, call an all-male escort service. I know a lot of brothers who'd love to make meat of your body." "I'm not that kind of girl," she sucked on her cigarette. "I might be a slut, but I'm never the type that humps every cock she sees. Besides, if it's black men I want, I can get them plenty. I don't want any other brother, I only want you." "Yeah? Why me? Prior to yesterday our paths have never crossed before and probably never would if it weren't for your sister's problem I'm solving." "Yes, that I know. Should we call it fate? I really wouldn't know. You intrigue me, and that's not something that comes easily for me. Most men like to brag about what the money, the number of women they've laid in bed, the priceless stuff they have, whatever recent conquests they've done or how much they're worth, but really they don't know how to take charge. They don't know how to really handle a woman in bed. But with you, you're just everything in a man I've always wanted to have." "Not like one of your boy toys?" She laughed. "No, never like any one of them. If this were a jungle, you'd be having them for dinner. You've got the heart and soul of a Neanderthal warrior—please, that's not an insult, but a compliment." "Whatever it is, I'm honoured." "It's not often I get to meet a man like yourself, detective. Even now I'm jealous about the fact that my sister found you first before I did. Normally she's the shy type." "Maybe you can take that up with her next time you sit down with her. Now, how about you cut through the chit-chat and tell me what really you came here for?" Her features clouded at this, but only for a moment. "Are you still handing my sister's case?" "As long as she keeps footing my bill. Why do you ask?" "Oh, nothing really. just wondering now that it's all over the news and the cops wanting to take it up seriously that maybe I could make some special use of your service." "Service for what?" "Escort," she blew her last smoke then crushed her cigarette in the ash tray. "Excuse me?" "There's a party I'm hosting. A sort of decadent but high-class party. Discreet to the max, and erotic to the nth level, lots of women and plenty of cocktail. Anyone that's to be invited there needs to have a partner along, or invite someone. I'd like to invite you." "Sorry. I've got better things to do than attend a party, Hilda." "Oh come on," she stood up from her chair and approached his. "You've been working on finding my missing cousin too hard, Thaddeus. I can see it on your face that you haven't been sleeping too well." She plopped down on his thigh and brought her arms around his neck. "I can tell Constance hasn't been treating you nicely. She can be shallow when it comes to such things. That's something you know I'd love to do for you. Just do me this small favour and come to my party." She inched her face towards his, her voice turned sultry. "If you say yes, I promise to tell you that question you asked me last time before you left my apartment." Thaddeus raised his hand to her blouse. His fingers became busy undoing the top buttons; Hilda made no attempt at stopping him. "Remind me what that question was. I seem to have forgotten already." "You asked me about what made me fall out with my sister and why I haven't visited her in a while. Do you remember now?" His hand slid into her blouse to cup her right breast. "Yes, I seem to remember now. The memory's coming back at me. Go on then, tell me why?" She muttered a sigh as his hand squeezed and fondled her breasts; her hand rubbed against his shoulder. "Ohhh ... I can't wait to get you in bed again. Your cock is all I need." "Yeah, I'll bet you've been wanting it so badly, haven't you? You're such a dirty slut that wants to me turned into a black cock whore. You want to be my bitch, don't you, Hilda?" "Oh yes," she replied. "I want to be your bitch. I want to be your bitch, your fuck slut, your whore ... I want to be everything that's dirty." "Then tell me, bitch, why aren't you all happy with your sister?" Thaddeus goaded her by squeezing her nipple, drawing a soft cry from her as she pressed her body against his. His cock was straining inside his pants but he knew now wasn't the time to whip it out into action. "That's a question I wanted to ask you last time we met but forgot. Tell me how come you aren't that sad about your sister's boy missing." She looked at him, the animated look that was in her eyes started clearing off. "Whatever makes you think I'm not sad?" "You don't look it, Hilda. Or rather, you didn't look it the last time we spoke. And from the looks of things, I'll bet there was some nasty stuff that went on between Constance and you, and maybe her late husband, Emmet, that's got you riled up about them. A part of you wants to tell me, while another part of you wants to keep dicking me around, wanting me to tear your pussy another warm hole before you'll get to talking." She threw her head back and crackled. "Maybe you're right. There are a lot of things I do want to tell you. But I'd prefer showing it to you than merely telling you. Promise me you'll be my escort at the party. Tell me yes, and I'll show you lots of things. Things my sister would never like for you to see." She leaned forward and spoke into his ear as if divulging a secret. "I know you like her. I can tell from the way you mention her name. I'll bet you want to fuck her. Maybe you have already—I don't know. But I know you'd want to see what's between those legs of hers, don't you?" "Wrong, Hilda," he said to her. "I don't want to fuck your sister—she's a pay-check to me, nothing more. It's you I want to fuck. Remember I promised screwing your ass when we meet again. I still want to do that. Tell me when's this so-called party of yours happening?" "Tonight," she said, and then pulled herself up from his thigh. She straightened her blouse and skirt as she went and picked up her handbag, reached a hand inside and took out a small silver-coloured envelope. "The address is inside," he gave the envelope to him. "The card will get you past the gate. There's a password too. Be there by ten. I'll be expecting you, and maybe someone else too will be." "Someone like who?" "I'll let you wonder on that. But seriously, I'd really love for you to be there." "If maybe I decide to come to this shin-ding, what should a brother wear?" "Put on a suit. Black." She slung her handbag over her shoulder, blew him a kiss then turned around, swishing her butt for him, and left his office. She said goodbye to his secretary as she walked out the door. Sarah came over and stuck her head through his door. "Everything alright?" she asked. "Sure, Sarah, everything's just fine. Has she left?" "Yes, she has. I was listening in; I thought you and her were going to get into some hanky-panky." "Only hanky-panky I want to do in the office would be with you, Sarah," he said. "Thank you. Maybe if you ever decide to have another woman involved, I'd like to join in," she smiled at him before closing back his door. Thaddeus opened the envelope and took out a gold-plated card. It bore the same name as that which his neighbour's wife had earlier given to him: CLUB EROS De VENUS. Inside the envelope was a business card. On one side was written an address; on the other was a single word: FIGARO. hHe sat back in his chair contemplating the password at the same time his mind was racing like a NASCAR rally trying to figure out what actually Hilda's purpose of visit and her relationship with his case was about. His eyes left the card and roamed his desk. They landed on the jotter pad upon which he'd scribbled a name. He picked the jotter up and looked at the name he'd written: Johnny Elwood. Johnny Elwood. Johnny Loftus. "Johnny ... Johnny ... find me ... Johnny ... find me ..." A light was beginning to come alive in his head. He picked up his phone and made a call. ------ He was back at his apartment building two hours later. He'd told Sarah when to leave and drawn out a payment plan for as well. The office didn't seem to rhyme with his vibe anymore. Truth be told, he needed some pussy, and he knew just the right place to find a quick one. He had called Erica, glad to know she was still at home, and told her he was coming back. She sat by her window reading a novel at the same time looking out for him. She saw him drive into the apartment compound and waited till he'd entered his home before throwing away her book, checking herself in a wall mirror to see if her halter top that she was wearing looked fine on her before leaving her home and rushing down the stairs to knock on his door. Thad opened his front door and led her inside then locked back the door. Erica took charge of the moment. She pushed Thad against the far wall and pressed a finger to her lips. "Don't talk," she said with lust and excitement brimming in her eyes. "Just fuck me." Their lips met in a kiss, lips parted and tongues swirled and danced and smacked against each other while their hands went busy groping and caressing each other's limps. Her hands undid his shirt buttons and nearly ripped them off him impatiently. Thaddeus took charge, grabbed her arm and spurned her around and pressed her instead against the wall. His hands undid the buttons of her cut-off jeans shorts and pushed it down her thighs in one deft motion. A dense bush formed a triangle over her crotch; she had two rings protruding off her clit. They remained like that for a while, kissing at the same time getting each other off their clothes; they ejaculated moans as they drove their tongue into each other's throat. Such was how Erica loved having sex and Thaddeus always knew how she liked and wanted it—rough and hard. "Come on, let's get these damn clothes off you!" Erica growled lasciviously as she helped Thaddeus undo his belt buckle and thus free his pants. His cock was already pressing through the fabric and it inhaled a breath of fresh air once he stepped out of his briefs. He lifted Erica into the air. Her feet dangled behind him while his thick prick stood ramrod with blood pumping into it and the veins popping out. Erica's lips were locked unto his even as she reached a hand downward, grasped his cock and inserted it into the appropriate hole it was meant to go into. Her pussy was already wet as Thaddeus felt the head slip inside her. Within seconds he was bouncing her up and down his tent pole while she held unto his tight, made whimpering sounds into his ear while he fucked her standing up. She roamed her butt cheeks over his cock and squeezed her pussy muscles which got a groaning response from him. He carried her past the furniture into the corridor and from there into his bedroom where he then dropped her on the bed. He held her legs apart and she howled as he buried his face between her crotch. His tongue lapped over the silver ring studs that decorated her clit. He pulled at them with his lips while his tongue roamed over her cum-dripping orifice. Erica threw her head either way. Her body shuddered and she gave a panting whimper as he kept sucking her pussy; over and over she moaned and told him not to stop. Thaddeus raised his head from between her legs and ran his tongue over his lips, licking her pussy juice that stained his lover face. "There's something I want to ask you, Erica?" he said to her while still running his tongue up and down her nectar-tasting cunt. "I want to know about your club. What goes on in there?" Erica was caught in the web of ecstatic rapture his tongue and lips were weaving over here and for a moment muttered unintelligible words that were lost with her moaning voice. Thaddeus pulled his face away from her and she whined when she realised he was no longer pleasuring her. "Oh no, no, no!" she beat her palm on the bed petulantly. "Don't stop! I don't want you to stop!" He held his shaft in his hand and stroked it while he twitched her pussy's labia lips with his fingers. "Do you want to feel this dick, Erica?" Her hazel pair of eyes glimmered at the sight of his cock like diamonds; her lips drooled in time with her incensed breathing. She was rubbing at her clit furiously. "Oh yeah. I want your cock. Gimme your fucking cock!" Thaddeus beat his cock against the studs of her clit, rubbing it against her entrance. Erica gave a shrill cry from it all and she couldn't stop begging him. "Oh please ... gimme that prick. Stop teasing me, Thad." "You want me to stop?" he growled at her. "Then tell me what the fuck goes on at your fucking club, bitch!" "FUCKING IS WHAT GOES ON!" she screamed at him. "It's a fucking club for fucking yuppie and upper-class people. They meet, they share themselves out to anyone who wants to fuck them and watch others getting fucked." Thaddeus pushed the crowned head of his prick into her pussy's wet entrance; Erica held her breath from it. But he stopped there and once again she pleaded for him to end her misery. "Is it sort of like a swinger's type of place?" he asked. Erica cried out in panicked frustration. "Oh God, yes! Yes! Yes! That's what it fucking is." She reached up and grabbed his waistline to pull him down on her. "Please, enough already. FUCK ME NOW, YOU BLACK BASTARD!" Without further ado, Thaddeus did just that. He thrust his cock all the way inside her. Erica fell her head back. Her legs shot above his back and her arms pulled his weight down on herself. "Oh Gosh! Oh Gosh!" she cried beneath him, whipping her head from side to side while she did. She hadn't been so well filled in a while. Her virgina sent back clusters of signals travelling up her spine and bloodstream to her brain, wantonly telling her how much her pussy had missed the taste of feel of Thaddeus's cock. Without even thinking of it, her hips already were responding to him. They undulated under him, wanting to push more and more of his prick into her as father as it would go. Thaddeus pulled back from her, he too moaning from the satisfying warmth of her cunt and then drove his prick back into her harder than the last time. Erica exploded with a grunt. Her legs locked over his backside and urged him to keep pounding her virgina like that. Thaddeus kept slamming her harder and harder, each time driving his prick into her cunt like on beating down on the head of a nail with a hammer. He was sending her high into the stratosphere where she always wanted to go. "Auuuggghhh! Auugggghhh!" she grunted breathlessly. Her face contorted into a picture of hurt and pain. But it was a pain most desired. She half pulled herself up and frantically licked her tongue over his earlobe, nearly biting it. "Fuck this pussy, Thaddeus Black," she moaned. "Fuck my pussy like you've always loved to fuck it." "Oh yeah, I'm gonna fuck this pussy alright," he grunted back as he repeatedly slammed his shaft down on her. "Gonna fuck it like I always do!" "Oh yessss! Ohhh yessss!" she threw her head back in ecstatic delight while her fingers racked his back and her hips continued to groove against him. Thaddeus, after a while, rolled over on his back, pulling her along. Erica balanced herself on one knee and with the other propelled her buttocks down on him. Now was her turn to slammed her ass cheeks down on him, burying his cock deeper inside her. She came to rest on her hunches and Thaddeus wedged her ass cheeks with his hands and went on pumping his hips higher, driving his prick harder and harder inside her. Erica beat her palm on his chest and howled for more. Her moaning fit sounded tortured as she received more pounding from him. She fell on her knees and grounded her ass down on his hips, riding him like a demented horse. Thaddeus pulled her towards him and slapped his hands on her ass cheeks, compelling her to ride him harder. His slipped his finger into her puckered asshole and finger-fucked her like that while she went on riding him. Erica announced that she was about to cum. Thaddeus once again rolled over to be on top of her and brought his hand down between her ass cheeks, still fingering her asshole while his hips dug into her and his prick kept on fucking her pussy. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 06 Erica gave an ear-splitting cry as her body shook and shuddered to climax. Seconds later Thaddeus joined her too. Her arms held onto him and her legs locked over his back and he grunted into her ear as he felt his balls increase their size and then seconds later discharged the first influx of semen deep into her womb. Erica kept on moving her hips, panting into his ear as his cock kept on offloading their sensuous burden inside her. It was a good thing she was on the pill. The last thing she wanted was discovering she was pregnant and knowing the baby wasn't Artie's. Her arms let go of him and she lay on the bed catching her breath as Thaddeus rolled off her. He too was breathing heavy and his face and torso was coated with sweat. Erica turned to her side and cuddled over him, kissing his chin. "I wish I'd met you back when I was in Vegas," she murmured. "We could have had so much fun till now." "You probably would have given me a cardiac arrest by then." She laughed. "No way would I have done that to you, babe." "I know," he replied, reaching a hand over to fondle her breasts. "I know." They fell quiet for a moment, neither of them said anything, then she asked: "Why the interest in my club, by the way?" "You guys are having a meet today, right?" She looked at him, surprised. "How did you know that?" "A little bird dropped by my window after you left and told me." He turned on his side to look at her. "I want you to tell me as much about the club that you could. Just the part you can tell." Erica thought for a moment, and then a mischievous smile lighted upon her face. "If I do tell you, I'll be breaking protocol. We're never supposed to talk about the club to outsiders, not unless someone's granted you membership. But let's say I did want to tell you about the club, what then are you going to do for me?" "What is it you'd want?" "That you'll keep fucking me whenever we can?" "First of all, you're going to promise to stop giving your man a hard time. Will you do that?" She nodded. "I will." "Okay then, you've got me," he kissed her lips. "Now start talking." Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 07 The time was eight fifty-five in the evening when Thaddeus drew back his shirt sleeve to look at his watch. Erica had divulged as much about her club's party rituals. The distance to the address on the card was going to be a long one, nearly at the city limits. It was best he left an hour early to arrive there at the hour Hilda had given him; the party, Erica told him, wouldn't begin until then. Thaddeus had worn his only black suit with matching tie and coat and after four attempts had finally found himself a cab willing to take him there, though for an exorbitant price. Thaddeus still thought it was a foolish waste of time. He should be out there following on the fragment of lead he'd gotten regarding the missing kid's whereabouts instead of undertaking this night mission. He unarguably cursed himself for indulging in his whims. It wasn't like he didn't have a choice. A sixth sense simply told him there was more to the case he had in his hands to know that something murky existed between Constance and her sister Hilda. Whether or not it was responsible for her son being missing, he couldn't arrive at a conclusion yet. But it was there, too glaring to be unmistakable. The bright lights of the city slid past the cab's windows, somehow they enticed him to return home where he figured he ought to be. He took out the envelope Hilda had given him and once again looked at the card that bore the club's password. FIGARO. Didn't sound like anything he'd heard before. Erica told him the patrons of the club preferred anonymous discretion. He would be given something to wear over his eyes to prevent anyone knowing him and him too of anyone that was there. He got a feeling however that one person there already would sniff him out easily. Hilda. He reclined in the backseat and half dozed while the taxi drove along heading towards the main highway that would further lead to the turnpike and from there out of the city limits. It was like driving towards Loftus Garden, except this trip, he knew, was going to be even longer a journey than that one. On the news the chief of police had declared that the cops in the city were directing their resources towards looking into the matter of her missing son; nothing had been said about her giving a statement about it, and the press people weren't sure if to take the news any serious than it ought to be or drop it and move on to something else. Whoever it was that had made it known to them had undoubtedly overplayed his hand, Thaddeus thought to himself. He asked himself why did he even bothering. The way she had spoken to him before she left his pad made it known that it was final between them. He didn't need to be continuing with the case anymore. Or was he even really still on the case as he presumed he was? His eyes deepened into a light sleep. When next he opened his eyes Thaddeus couldn't recognise where he was. For a moment he thought he was lost and that the driver was taking him down a road he could never recall ever been through before. He asked the man if they were still on the right track; the driver reassured him that they were. Thaddeus returned to his seat and marvelled at the sight of the tall elm trees that lined the sides of the road, looking more like guarding sentinels. Ahead, the lights of the taxi followed the snake-like route of the road which seemed to lead further into nowhere. There were no lights around or sign of any homes. Where they still in the city? Then came a pair of lamp lights as they went round a fork in the road and the lights led towards a castle-like gate. The taxi drew to a stop in front of the gate which bore the street's name and house number as that which was written on the address Hilda had given him. Thaddeus stepped out of the cab and settled the bill then watched the taxi turn around and its red lights disappeared from view as it drove back whence it came from. Thaddeus approached the gate and saw two men standing there in dark coats with a car idling beside them. Neither said anything to him though their eyes never left him. Behind them a driveway led further into the compound. "Good evening," said Thaddeus. "Good evening, sir," one of the men replied in a guttural voice that sounded European. "Are you here for the festivities or are you lost?" "I'm here for the festivities." "Good. May we know the password?" the other man asked. He too sounded European. "Figaro," answered Thaddeus. "Very well, sir," the first man replied. Instantly the gate swung open for him. Thaddeus stepped into the compound. The other man opened a car door for Thaddeus. "Please," he indicated. "The car will take you to the house. Have a wonderful evening." Thaddeus slipped into the car. The man closed the door and the car drove off. The interior of the car was dark; he couldn't make out the driver because of the glass divider between them. The car rolled on smoothly along the driveway which went in a circular route around a concrete building block. It went past a second gate where two other men in long coats stood watch and then Thaddeus was able to make out the majestic building that stood at the far end of the driveway. It resembled that of the Loftus Garden except by all standards this was much bigger, much opulent in gothic style and design. A pair of Greek columns lined the front of the structure, looking like something leading into the Acropolis; bright lights illuminated the compound with dazzling display. The front of the driveway was lined with limos, Aston Martins and other exotic type of four wheels. Thaddeus's car pulled in front of the building and someone opened the door for him. The man asked for his invitation envelope, of which Thaddeus gave to him. The man then gave him a black mask to wear and bid him welcome. Thaddeus went up the stairs and a door opened for him and he went inside. He stepped into a wide foyer that looked more like a vintage cloakroom. There were other men in long coats standing there and all of them wore masks just like he did. There were several couples standing there, handing their coats and jackets to the men who stowed them away in hidden closets and then another one of the men ushered them through another doorway. One of the men helped Thaddeus of his coat and gave him a room key, on the fob was the number five. He indicated towards the doorway where the other couple had gone into. Thaddeus went in that direction, slipping the key into his pocket. It was a lengthy corridor and were it not for the fixated lights on either side of the wall it looked like something that led down towards a cavern. Thaddeus followed the couple in front of him, the woman wore a lovely evening dress while the man wore a tux and like him they both wore different facial masks. At the end was a lone man also in a mask who opened a door for them. The room was large and awash with lights from numerous chandeliers. Thaddeus moved aside from the doorway and ran his eyes everywhere, trying to take adequate note of it. The walls were covered with flowing maroon curtains with tall columns interspacing the room. At the far end of the room was a raised dais with a podium though at the moment on one stood there. Soft music piped into the room through hidden speakers. There were couch chairs scattered about and everywhere people stood or sat together in groups or singles, men and women, making conversation and drinking from wine glasses. Some of the women wore spandex outfits and knee-length boots. Some of the women were young and others middle-aged, though he couldn't tell from the masks they were all wearing. As he sauntered amongst them, picking up a glass of champagne from roving naked damsels carrying glass trays, he sensed some of them turning to ogle him. One or two of them he spied talking to their mates glanced at him over their men's shoulder as they danced to the music and gave him a wink. One of the women was bold enough to approach him in his tracks. She wore a black beret under a short-cropped red head with a net blouse that revealed her ample cleavage with erect nipples jutting through with spandex short skirt and she was wearing a mask that looked like it was made out of fish scales. She muttered hello to him and took his wine glass from his hand and sipped from it then gave it back to him. Her hand went to his crotch and felt for his erection. Thaddeus in turn grasped one of her tits and pinched her nipples. She seemed to enjoy it. "Such a handsome black man you are. I can't wait to have you," she leaned towards him and whispered into his ear before moving along past him. Thaddeus's eyes followed her romp as it bounced away from him. She turned around and smiled at him before turning to speak with some other company of female friends. Thaddeus realised only too late that he was the only black man in the room. He looked here and there and didn't spot any other like him. He picked another wine glass and several couples hovered by him and made light conversation, nothing revealing about whom they were or what they did in the outside world. Thaddeus looked here and there and couldn't spot anyone he knew, not even Erica, if actually she was here which he figured she was. "I thought it was you," a woman's hand came over his shoulder. He turned around and looked at the blonde-haired beauty wearing a cut-out purple outfit that hid little of her naked figure. Thaddeus recognised her right away from the sound of her voice and that smile coating her fiery red lips. "I'm glad you came," she stretched herself to kiss his cheek. "Wouldn't have missed it, Hilda," he said. She placed a finger to his lips and shook her head. "No names here," she said. "I'll look for you after you've settled in." She made to leave him but he grabbed her arm. "You brought me here for a reason, Hilda. What was it?" "All in good time, darling," she murmured before walking away. "All in good time. Enjoy the evening for now." The evening went on until sometime later the music changed to that of a booming bass. The lights went dim and a spotlight showered down on the podium which showed an older man flanked either side by two naked beauties. "And now, my lovelies, the moment that we've all been awaiting for has come. The usherettes will move amongst you and if you'll be so kind as to drop memorise your room numbers before dropping keys in their hats, then we can really get down to having some fun." A roar of handclaps went round the room and wolf-like whistles upon his announcement. Thaddeus took out the key he'd earlier been given and looked at the number again. A naked woman roamed towards him holding a long hat before her, so did several others strolling amongst the crowd that was in the room. Thaddeus watched other men throw their room key into the hat and when it got to his turn he too did the same. When the women returned to the podium with their hats filled with keys, then the master of ceremony went on again. "Now we have all keys in hand. If all you gentlemen will kindly follow the stairs to your respective rooms and await your visitors." He indicated where the stairs where. Erica had explained this ritual to him. The men were each given a room key with a designated number on it which they then dropped in a hat. The wives later went around and selected whichever key they picked and would spend the next hour with whoever was in the room before leaving for another. Usually the ladies that attended were much in number and sometimes the men were lucky to two or more of them at once. Some of the women were known to connive with others towards getting whichever man they fancied. It was allowed. Not all the men participated though. For those who weren't so inclined to, they preferred to watch instead. Thaddeus noticed the women separated from their men who went in the direction of the stairs; he too followed suit. He got to the first floor, saw the numbers indicated on the doors and when he found door number five, he tried the handle and went inside. The door swung close behind him and locked itself automatically. It was a simple room with a bed and several chairs inside. The right side of the room was a large mirror which took on the length of the wall; it had a curtain above it. Thaddeus looked at his reflection and loosened his tie, knowing it was a see-through mirror like the type in police interrogating rooms. He was bound to expect an audience at whatever was going to happen in here. He took off his jacket and draped it on one of the chairs then sat at the foot of the bed with his hands clasped together waiting for what next was bound to happen. He didn't have to wait too long. There came a sound of the door's lock turning and then it came open and two women entered the room, one of them was the one who had accosted him earlier with the beret still on her head. The other was an Asian wearing white corset, white garter belt and stockings and matching high heels. She was average height, foundling tits with a midriff that was starting to sag; her dark hair reached down a couple of inches from her waistline. The door closed behind them as both women stood before Thaddeus. The redhead pulled Thad to his feet by grabbing the end of his tie. "Hey there, big boy," she flicked her tongue salaciously at him. "I told you I was going to have you on for later." The Asian's hands were working on undoing his shirt buttons. "Let's get him out of these clothes. I hope he's packing." "Oh, I know he's packing. Never fucked a black man who wasn't. A good thing we tipped Florence to get us his key before any other slut could have him." Thaddeus stood there while both women fought over his clothes. The Asian merged her lips with his while she undid his tie from his shirt while the redhead was busy undoing his belt buckle. His cock was struggling to be free inside. Her hand soon reached inside for it and brought it out to feel the air before she enclosed her lips around its budding head. Thaddeus decided then to take the rein of the affair rather than leave it up to the women. He pushed the redhead back and freed himself from the constrains of his clothes; the women too did the same to their own outfit and in seconds they stood before him naked. He lifted the Asian into the air till she sat on his face. The redhead went on sucking and stroking his cock into her mouth while the Asian beauty rolled her ass over his face as his tongue slipped in and out of her pussy. She wedged herself against the roof, moaning from his spirited mouth attack. It was a struggle for Thaddeus to balance her weight on his shoulders and continue to eat out her pussy while maintaining calm over the sensation of the redhead sucking his cock. Behind the see-through window inside a dark room, several of the club's patrons, middle-aged and older white men all wearing their face masks and sipping wine from their glass watched the ongoing spectacle happening in the room. Two of the men there knew the women who were in the room with the black man, as they were the women's individual husbands. There was silence in the room except for the sound of their breathing, though once in a while it was punctuated by the men unzipping their pants and stroking their cocks and sometimes cheering on the live performance they were watching. Thaddeus lowered the Asian on the bed. He too came and lay beside her and she once again sat on his face, letting him continue to feast on her pussy while she attacked his cock along with the redhead. Both women alternated between swallowing his testicles and sucking his shaft, moaning in their throats while they did. The redhead removed her blouse and rubbed his cock between her tits. The women shared a smooching kiss while his prick dangled between their chin. The Asian ground her ass cheeks over his face and she soared into a moaning frenzy as he nibbled lecherously on her clit, making her cum so quick. The sweet smell of her pussy juice seeped down on his face. She rolled off him to the side, gasping. The redhead slipped a condom over his cock them she herself slid on top of him, her skirt rode up her ass. Thad's cock felt the obstruction of her thong panties. He pushed it to the side and she reached a hand between her legs, took his cock and guided it into her pussy's entrance. She moaned as his cock's head slipped inside of her and moaned even louder when he thrust his hips and pushed more of his shaft inside her. Her arms cradled his head. Their lips kissed frantically as she began moving her ass up and down on his shaft. His cock slid in and out of her pussy easily and he gasped from the glistening feel it gave him. The mechanics of their persistent fucking took over. He held her up and slammed his hips up against the bottom of her ass cheeks, driving his cock harder and harder inside her. Her tits swung over his face like pendulums. He grabbed a nipple like one grabbing a tight rope and bit on it. Her cries were high-pitched and her body moving in tandem with his was relentless. "Ohhh ... how I love black cocks," she moaned into his ear, running her tongue up and down his cheek like one licking an ice cream. "Aaahhhh, your cock ... so good! It feels so good inside me!" The Asian knelt behind her, cupping his testicles while the redhead bounced her buttocks on his prick. Thaddeus paused and his hands grasped the redhead's ass cheeks and his cock fell out, the Asian woman sucked his cock and licked the redhead's gaping hole before inserting his cock back into it. Later Thad pushed the redhead unceremoniously to the side and grabbed the Asian's hand and pulled her towards him. He changed position with her lying before him while he was between her legs. Her pussy was hairy and looked small. Her fingers opened her labia walls for him and she screeched when he thrust his cock into her pink canal. Behind the mirror, the Asian woman's husband tightened his hand on his cock while stroking it as he saw the look of hurt and lust appear on his wife's face. From inbuilt speakers they could all hear the sound of her moaning voice as she begged the black man to fuck her hard. This spurred the men into a mouth-watering frenzy as they all inched closer towards the glass mirror, not wanting to miss the sight of the man's cock delving in and out of her cunt. From the way she wrapped her arms and legs around him and the up and down movement of his buttocks, they knew he was giving her exactly what she wanted. Thaddeus did cum momentarily afterwards and both women went on kissing and eating out each other's pussy while his cock came back with more power later. He saw the torn pack of condom the redhead had dropped on the floor and he wore another over his shaft. The redhead was on top of her colleague with her hands grasping her friend's ass cheeks from underneath, slurping her tongue on her pussy while her colleague too did the same. Thad came behind the redhead and she gasped when he plugged her pussy. He slapped her buttocks roughly and snapped at her to shut the fuck up and take his dick. The redhead whimpered continuously while he pistoned in and out of her, she too moved her butt backwards to capture more of his cock. The Asian bitch sucked on his testicles and Thaddeus offered her his cock to lap her friend's cum off his shaft then returned it back into the redhead's pussy. There was a hidden video camera filming their proceedings which connected to a TV screen inside the dark room where the other men watched from. They marvelled at the stamina of the black man; some made mental note of getting his details later on so they could invite him over to their respective homes to apply the same treatment to their wives in private. Thaddeus slapped the redhead one last time then pushed her aside and proceeded to fuck the Asian's mouth. The redhead jumped onto of him and balanced her legs over his shoulders, gasping as he sucked and munched on her wet pussy while the Asian continued sucking him. The redhead had climaxed already and she screamed aloud when Thad made her cum once again. He lay on the bed and both women took turns riding his cock, both of them joshing each other even when they came down from him, pulled the condom off his shaft and studiously sucked him one after the other. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 07 Thaddeus held the redhead's face to his cock and came inside her mouth. Much of his semen dribbled off her mouth. She turned towards her friend and shared his cum with her. Inside the other room, several of the men who'd been stroking their cocks they too ejaculated on their pants. ------ Thaddeus lay on the bed weak and tired while the redhead and Asian chick fawned over him. Both women gushed at his manliness and told of how tonight had been special with him fucking them. One of them unearthed a business card and both women scribbled their phone numbers on the card, told him to give them each a call. They gave him a parting kiss before gathering up their clothes along with their face masks and left him in the room. His eyes were closed though he couldn't tell for how long he remained there alone in the room before the door came open again. Hilda entered the room; she had a small handbag on her arm and she wasn't any longer wearing any face masks. Thaddeus raised himself on his elbows as she came up on the bed, her hand reaching for the flaccid black snake that was his cock. "So glad I finally found you in here," she said before lowering her head on his cock. "I've been checking through most of the rooms looking out for you. I'll bet you've been keeping other wives satisfied all this time. It's my turn now." She stroked his cock and swirled her tongue over the cap of his prick, willing him to become once again erect. "Come on, Hilda, let's leave that for later," he tried pushing her away from his cock. "You brought me here for a reason, what was it?" "Constance is here," she said. "Right now." That got Thad's attention. "Where?" She looked at the wall mirror and Thaddeus followed where her eyes went. "I thought it would be nice having her watch us. Though she wasn't around to see you play with the other women. She's just as well intrigued at what you can do. I told her about our other escapade at my apartment and she wanted to see it to believe. Took some convincing but I managed to persuade her to come along." Her hand was still busy stroking his shaft to semi-erection; pre-cum oozed out of the tiny slit on the knobbed head. "I don't believe you," he said. "Have her come over if she's really in there." Hilda smiled at the wall mirror. "Did you hear that, Constance? He wants to see you in person. Why don't you be a darling and come join us." She resumed sucking his cock. Thad fought to stay erect for her but was doing a poor job of it. The door came open minutes later and a tall blonde figure stepped quietly into the room. She wore a leather skirt and blouse and a pair of high heels. The blouse looked tight on her figure, the way her breasts seemed to squeeze against each other pushing out her cleavage. Her hair was tied in a bun behind her head. She removed the mask that covered her eyes. It was Constance. --------------- Hilda was in charge of the situation. She motioned her sister to occupy one of the chairs and watch. Constance switched her eyes back and forth between her and Thaddeus. There was no emotion in her eyes; to Thad, she looked as though her mind was elsewhere whereas her body was in the room with them. There was listlessness to the way she moved. "Is she high or something?" he asked Hillary. Hilary pulled her mouth off from his cock to answer him. "No, she ain't. Probably just shocked at seeing you here with me after I'd shown her those photographs of you and me." "What photographs?" "The ones my former boy-toy Blondie took of us fucking at my apartment. I had him take snapshots of us so in case I could use them for leverage. Constance nearly freaked out when she saw that it was you, but when I told her how strong and vibrant you were in the sack, I guess she just had to see things for herself. Didn't you, Constance?" Constance didn't say anything. She did rise from the chair however and approached the bed but made no inclination at coming to join Thad. Hilda stood up from the bed and began hurriedly taking off her clothes. She was clearly enjoying the moment. "Constance, why don't you come here and suck on Thaddeus's cock for a while. I'd love to see the two of you together. It sure would look nice to have Thad fuck us both right here and now." "Enough of this, Hilda," said Constance, finally bringing some light to her formerly vacant face. "You've had your fun. I'm not playing your games anymore." "Oh really? And why wouldn't you, when you've done it once before. Or how else did little Johnny come into this world if it weren't through such." Thaddeus looked at both sisters who now stood either side of the bed with him in their midst. Constance looked at her sister with a dumb expression on her face like she had just been slapped. "That was a long time ago," Constance murmured. "Not so long enough to make you think I'd forget the circumstances that led to it now did you," her sister fired back with spite this time. "You think I don't recall how unhappy you were, you and Emmet. Both of you desired something but didn't know how to confront it, how to admit to it until I stepped in and admitted it to both of you. How I got you both into this club and made the two of you happy once again." Constance turned her face away, holding back tears that were apparent in her eyes. "Please, Hilda ... there's no need to go back there." "Oh, but yes there is, sister," Hilda went to her and spurn her around to face her. Constance's eyes were already watering with tears. "You owe me a lot, Constance. You've owed me for so long. That's why you've treated me like a pariah all these years, turned your back from me whenever I needed your help—" "You wanted too much, Hilda," cried Constance. "A mere pittance to what you got from Emmet dearest before he hit the ground, wouldn't you agree?" "Enough!" Thaddeus's voice cracked through their loud talk. Both sisters turned to look at him. He was now wearing his briefs. He spoke to Constance. "Go put on some clothes, you and I are going for a ride tonight." "No!" Hilda made to stop him. "I didn't tell you to wear back your clothes. You're not going anywhere, not until I see fuck her." "That ain't happening now, bitch," he snapped at her. "You're going to have to say goodbye to your fantasy for now." He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the bed and twisted her arm behind her back, making Hilda howl from the pain. "Ouww! Stop! Stop!" she slapped her hand on the bed and struggled to free herself from his grasp, but Thaddeus had her pinned down she couldn't move an inch. "Shut up!" Thad yelled at her. "You stop your squirming or I'm going to twist this arm of yours off your shoulder like a chicken wing. Believe me, I've had practise." He turned to Constance who stood there immobile, shocked at what was being done to her sister. Thaddeus felt the urge to walk over to her and slap that listless look off her face. It was a struggle not to snap at her. "The hell you still standing there for? Go get your clothes on and get back here, pronto!" That jolted Constance back to reality. She opened the door and scurried out of it; it locked back after she left. Thad kept pinning Hilda under him. He saw her handbag lying across the floor from the bed. He stretched his leg towards its handle and pulled it towards him. Hilda kept gasping under him; he slapped her ass cheek hard and told her to be quiet. He picked up the handbag and unzipped it and turned its contents upside down, letting them fall beside his feet. The contents were typical women stuff—eye liners, lipstick gloss, cell phone ... but one of them wasn't. It was a small pistol. He picked it up, checked its chamber and saw that it was loaded. He brought it to her face so she saw what he'd found. "You planning on using this on either of us before the evening was over?" he asked her. "It's for protection," she grunted. "I carry it with me wherever I go, you bastard." "I'll believe you on one condition, Hilda. Where's Blondie right now?" At that moment the door came open and Constance entered. She had on a pair of jeans with the top yet unbuttoned, and was struggling to wear a black sweater over her bra when she came in and joined them; she had loosened her hair. Thad gave her sister's arm another jerk, making her cry out. "Ahhh ... fuck you, Thaddeus, you black motherfucker!" Hilda spat. "You're wasting my time, Hilda. I ask once again, and you'd better answer this time, or else you're going to be a one-armed gal from now on. Where's your boyfriend Blondie? The same bastard you had pretend to kidnap your sister's kid. He's around here somewhere, isn't he? I know he's waiting to get another crack at me since last time we met. Where is he?" She sputtered a round of cough before finally opening up. "He's downstairs ... he's downstairs, at the parking lot. He's waiting for you, waiting for you to leave." "Oh my God," moaned Constance. "Oh my God, Hilda, what in God's name—" "It's not my fault," said Hilda. "I can't talk the bastard out of harming Thaddeus. He's been mad about him since last night." "How do you plan on alerting him to my leaving?" Thaddeus asked. "He's got a gun, that I know. You're not exactly going to walk me out of here in case he might mistake you for me." "No. I was going to call him with my cell phone." Constance came over and picked up her sister's phone. "What's his name or number?" "Check if the name Blondie's there," Thad said to her. She scrolled through and nodded that the name was. Thaddeus returned to Hilda. "It was he that told you to invite me over to this little shin-ding spot of yours, wasn't he?" "Uhhh ... he wanted me to invite you, but so too did I. I swear I never wanted things to go down like this. I've tried talking him out of it but the stupid son-of-a-bitch won't listen to me anymore." "Oh but he'll listen to me all right," said Thaddeus. "Once I'm done with him that is." He indicated at Constance to give him her sister's clothes. He tore her blouse in half and fashioned a rope out of it and used it to bound Hilda's arms behind her back. He pulled off the bed sheets from under her and ripped off half of it and used that to bind her legs. Constance went to the see-through mirror and pulled the curtain shades over it, disconnecting anyone from seeing what they were up to. Thad held onto the gun and went on wearing his clothes. He didn't bother about his tie; he wrapped it around his right hand, thinking it just might come in handy. He pocketed Hilda's gun and he and Constance left the room with her sister lying on her face on the bed, her arms and legs tied behind her back, making muffled grunts that no one would hear at least for the next couple of hours. Thaddeus was hopping they would be long gone from the compound by then. But first he had one significant obstacle to take care of. That bastard Blondie needed taking care of. ------ They walked down the corridor past several couples on the way smiling at each other, looking like they'd just had themselves a good time. Several lonely wives did stop him along the way wanting to get a piece of him. Constance came into play and fended them off, telling them she had first dibs. The mansion was very large and every corridor had doors that led to somewhere. Constance had been here before though she told him she hadn't investigated the place thoroughly to know where all the exits where. A couple of times they got lost. Once they walked into a large room where an orgy was ongoing. Lots of naked women and naked men on joined beds with three camera men hovering around the room filming everything. Music played and disco lights roamed the naked bodies on the bed as everyone got busy fucking each other. Thad and Constance excused themselves and went towards the back side of the building. After a couple more wrong corridor turns they found one. Thad opened the door and was immediately assaulted by a strong cold breeze that blew at him. For a moment he wondered if winter had arrived so sudden. They went down a flight of stairs and then took stopped to take their bearings. "Which direction, Constance?" he asked her. "The parking garage is over at the south-west end," she pointed towards a long square-like building, the front which was awash with bright lights. From where they stood they could make out rows of parked limousines and other exotic cars all leading into the parking garage. "There are usually too many cars and not enough space to contain them inside, so they leave the late comers outside." "Would the guards be suspicious about us leaving early?" "I don't think so. A lot of couples leave and some are still on their way here. They carry on till early morning." They began walking towards that direction. "If I'm guessing correctly, Blondie would be waiting for us outside the building. We're going to have to circle around it and catch him off guard." "Why don't I call him with Hilda's phone and pretend to be her?" she asked. Thad shook his head. "Too risky. He might recognise that it's not her speaking. Also, they might have worked up a code we don't know of. It's better this way." They got to the building and went around it. There wasn't anyone about—obviously since this was a private bash, neither of the guests would want to take their chauffeurs along fearing too many would know what went on in such places. They walked with light steps around to the other side. When they got there, Thaddeus stopped and peaked around the corner. True enough, Blondie was resting his back against the hood of a car wearing a leather outfit, smoking a cigarette. The same outfit he'd worn last time they sparred. Thaddeus turned to Constance and told her to remain quiet. He held the gun in his left hand, safety still on, and crouched down and moved in the direction of their assailant. He hid behind the vehicles and moved between them, never losing focus of his assailant who stood less than ten feet from him, unaware of his presence. Thaddeus inched forward till he was crouched less than three feet from him at the other side of the vehicle he was reclining on with his back towards him. Thad steeled himself for what was about to happen. Blondie brought his cigarette to his lips and took a puff from it. It was at that moment Thaddeus shot to his feet and aimed the gun at him. Thaddeus made a low whistle. Blondie turned towards his direction, his cigarette fell from his lips when he saw the gun and also who was pointing it at him. Thaddeus couldn't help but smile at him. He noticed the bruised colouration on the side of his cheek where he'd punched him last night. "I hope you didn't get that bruise from falling down the stairs, sunny boy. Move your ass this way; stick your hands out so I can see them." Blondie raised his arms away from his body and moved in the direction Thad indicated him to follow. He sensed the young man was about to make a move on him—he was expecting such to happen. Blondie reached for his arm that held the gun, but before he could get a grip, Thaddeus, who'd already balled his right fist with his tie wrapped around it like a glove, struck at Blondie's jaw. There was a sound of crunching bone and Blondie cried out momentarily then hit his body against the side of a parked car before crumbling to the ground. Constance left her hiding place and rushed over to see what had happened. She was relieved when she saw Thaddeus struggling to drag her would-be kidnapper towards the side of the garage building. "He's unconscious," Thad explained to her. "We'll leave him here to sleep it off. By tomorrow he'll be running for the hills." He searched through Blondie's pockets, took out the gun that was hidden there and pocketed it. He took out his wallet as well before reclining him against the garage wall. "Why do you mean by he'll be running for the hills?" asked Constance. "He had nothing to do with Johnny being missing." "That's where you're wrong," Thad rose to his feet. "He had everything to do with it. He's your sister's accomplice, though not the other half of it. By this time tomorrow, you're going to tell the cops about him and they'll be looking for him. But right now, we need to go get you your boy. Where's your car?" ------ The two men were still at the main gate when Thaddeus and Constance drove out of the compound; neither of them suspected anything. Thaddeus drove while Constance gave him road directions as they made their way through the long, quiet road till they found themselves out on the turnpike heading towards the city. Neither of them said anything for a while. Constance looked out her window, the wind blew her hair behind her and every now and then she reached a hand up and pushed them away from her face. Thaddeus kept glancing at her every now and then. As they got closer to the city, he figured it was time he got some answers. "So," he began, "are you going to tell me about it?" She turned away from the window to look at him. There was a benign look in her eyes; she had certainly been through a lot for one night. "Tell you what?" "Stop playing games with me, Constance. You know what I'm talking about. I can piece everything together, but if you ever want to come clean about everything, now's the time. I want to know everything." He turned to look at her, his face stern and serious. "And I mean everything." Constance didn't say anything. She stared out the window; lights from vehicles lit her features with a somnolent pallor. "Hilda would take much credit for everything," she said with a tired voice. "She's always smart at taking credit for things that pass her way. I once used to be one of those usherettes at that club, but that was until I met Emmet. This was a year before Johnny was born. A business friend invited him to the club. He was very unhappy at the time. We hit it off easily and somehow he kept dogging me to go out with him. Naturally I wouldn't, except I couldn't resist his charms. And Hilda to kept pushing me towards him. We dated. He fell in love with me quite easily. I guess he needed someone to take the place of the previous wife. Anyway, I too fell in love with him and within months we were married. He spoiled me a lot, and he loved me too much. It was a perfect life for both of us." "Your sister wasn't too keen and happy about it, was she?" "Not the way she envisioned it to be. Hilda never expected me to fall in love with Emmet. She wanted to get at his money and I wouldn't let that happen. I tried to push myself away from her, away from her lifestyle, but then something happened that drove me back to her." She fell silent for a moment. Thad decided to help her out. "Your man had a trouble with getting it up, right?" Constance snapped her eyes at him, a look of bright anger lit her features. But just as they'd come, immediately the look left her face and the sadness returned. She nodded her head. "Emmet always nagged about wanting a child, he was stubborn about it. We went to a private doctor and ... well, he was devastated when the results came back and it stated his sperm count was weak. He cried so hard about it, and it practically weakened me too. Such a loving a man he was, yet he could never have that which he most wanted in the world—a child. The thought of adoption was the last thing he wanted. We used to make love often, but after that day our love-making grinded to a stop. He started going off on business trips, leaving me home a lot of time, ignoring me. We quarrelled about it but we couldn't find our way around it. Then Hilda came up with a solution, she always good at such. She optioned that Emmet should become a cuckold and have me screw some other guy. Someone strong enough to do what Emmet can't do in bed." "How did your man take it?" She shrugged. "Emmet was sceptical about it. He didn't like the idea at first, thinking that maybe the guy would want to steal me away from him. But I talked him through it, and even introduced him to the man. He's only choice was that we never do anything without him there to watch, and that we never do it at Loftus Garden. We chose a hotel instead and we tried to be as discreet as we possibly could. Every time we met, he fucked me and Emmet got his kicks from watching and our relationship became tight once again. Such was how I got pregnant." Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 07 "Johnny Elwood," said Thad. Constance looked at him shocked and surprised and speechless. "That's the guy's name right?" She mumbled at first, then began to speak straight. "Actually it's John, that's his name. He gave me Johnny, though he made us promise to use his name. Emmet opted to name him Johnny. He was like an uncle to Johnny; we always invited him during Johnny's birthdays. We kept this as our little secret, Emmet and I. We were happy about it." "When did it all go to hell?" "When Hilda came back into the picture," she said. "There's two things Hilda loves the most—sex and money. She was always running out of boyfriends and older men to stay with, and a lot of times her way of life left her broke. She came back to hitting me for money. I gave her some, but when she started asking for more, I fended her off. We had a loud row the last time she came by Loftus Garden three months ago. She said she was going to get back at me somehow. I never took her words serious because that's how she often is whenever she doesn't get her way. In any case, I had Emmet at the time and I felt strong with him around. I just never foresaw him being dead weeks later." She was sniffling, wiping tears off her eyes. Thad reached into his jacket and took out his handkerchief and gave it to her. She thanked him for it and gave a nervous laugh. "You're being way too kind to me, Thaddeus, even with all the bullshit I've given you." "I've got a tough skin, don't fret about it. Besides, I promised getting you your son, and that's what I'm doing. That's where we're going to right now. Your son's been with his uncle all this while." She was again surprised. "How ... how do you know that?" "It was in that tape recorder we got from Blondie last night when he dropped it. The way I see it, they were holding your son, wanting to use him to fleece money off from you, but somehow he ran off. That was why your sister never called you right away to let you know she had Johnny. They recorded your son's voice on tape, but somehow he slipped from their grasp and ran away, went to a food and homeless shelter over in District L. He had a bruised arm at the time. Your son left us a sort of message in the tape recorder, maybe by accident, I don't know really. Anyway, I called a buddy of mine at the police department and he checked through the city phone records and gave me five addresses of a John Elwood. I went by the addresses one at a time this afternoon. One of them happens to be our man, I think." "Oh my God," she gasped. "I never knew where John lived." "Seriously, you don't know where he lives?" She shook her head. "No, I really don't. Emmet made me never that. He was worried that John and I might start something serious behind his back. I guessed he was paranoid about losing me for someone he paid only to fuck me." "Was there money involved?" "Nothing that much, more like a stipend, sort of. More like a parting gift. But if I didn't know, then how come Johnny knew?" "That's what I thought before I arrived at the club this evening. This whole thing wasn't just about your sister and Blondie. It's why I said that he wasn't the other half of it. There was someone else pulling the strings. Don't you get it? It's the reason how your son went missing. He had help. Someone was using him to get to you." "But ... who?" "That we'll know for sure, soon enough. Your sister and Blondie panicked after Johnny fled the scene. They didn't know where to find him, which means she too knew nothing about John. That was when she called you, wanting to know what you knew, and then when you mentioned my name to her and she reckoned she could use me as some type of leverage when she wanted. My guess is she and Blondie couldn't come to an agreement as to meeting you for the ransom, but he went along with it. Only thing was they never expected things would go down the way it did with me showing up instead of you. Hilda wanted to still see if she could pull your strings, which was why she invited you to the club tonight, knowing I would be there as well. Her goal wasn't always about getting your money. All she wanted was to be able to control you." Constance weighted everything in her mind. She reclined her head on her arm, dabbed tears from her eyes. "I can't wait for this night to be over." Thad grinned at her. "It almost is," he said. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 08 It was past midnight on Green Street, across from Biloxi Avenue. Down here the bars and mamas and papas's shops were still open, spewing out the nightshift customers. It wasn't the sort of friendly neighbourhood cops enjoyed patrolling. Thaddeus parked the car a block from the red brick apartment building where he'd found the actual John Elwood he soughed. Earlier in the day he'd arrived here pretending to be a city councilman and had pressed the neighbours about Elwood and found out as little he could about him. Though what he did before his world connected him with the Loftus, he would never know. Thaddeus had Hilda's gun in his jacket pocket as he and Constance approached the building; he'd left Blondie's behind in the car. Constance was a bit nervous and her eyes kept darting around the neighbourhood as if afraid someone dangerous might accost them. No one did. Few people passed them on the street; hardly anyone looked at them as odd. They entered the building and Thaddeus pointed at the mail box slot that belonged to John Elwood which as well bore his apartment number. They went up the stairs to the third floor and stopped at his door. Constance stood behind as Thad knocked on the door. His other hand was in his jacket pocket cradling the gun. No answer came. He knocked again and still nothing. His hand tried the door handle and it came open for him. The interior of the room was dark as he and Constance stepped inside and went into the living room. Suddenly a lamp light came on. There was the body of a man lying face down on the floor. There came a whimpered sound. Thaddeus and Constance froze as there heard a gun click, their heads turned towards the direction of the sound. Both of them looked with surprise and disbelief at who was in the room with them. Nigel Mavers, Emmet Loftus's eminent butler, dressed in black, sat on a sofa beside Johnny whose arms and legs were tied in front of him and a gag wrapped around his mouth from which he made grunting sounds. Nigel looked at them with bitterness in his eyes. In his hand was a gun that was aimed at them. "I've been expecting you all evening," he said to Thad. "I'm glad we can finally put everything to an end now." Thaddeus stood there in the living room not moving an inch. Constance couldn't believe her eyes. "Nigel? But why?" Nigel glared at Constance with cold malice. "Why? You dare to ask why? The way you flaunted yourself with this black man," he indicated at the unconscious form that was Johnny. "You think all those months I never knew what was going on in that house. You running out in the evening playing slut while Emmet, your late beloved husband, my former boss, played cuckold to your whims. How you rubbished his household, turned it from what it once was and perpetuated its walls with your atrocious filth. Pathetic and disgusting. Then you went and had the nerve to get pregnant, bearing him someone else's child yet masking it to be his. I've waited all these years to tell you just how I feel about you and your worthlessness, and that's why I made all this happen. Except I couldn't do it, not with my boss still alive. The last thing I wanted to do was soil his name. So I waited and bided my time, saw his illness progress and knew it wouldn't be long. I got to talking with your sister. Apparently she too had a bone to pick with you, and that was how it went." "It was you who talked my son into running away?" The butler stood up. "Johnny and I had gotten close over the years, closer than you ever could think. He too knew things weren't straight between you and Emmet. I merely guided him into knowing who his real father was. He was going to run away without my help, except I help him down. I told him to wait for the right moment, that I'll connect him with someone who'll take him to meet with his real dad. That's where your sister and that incompetent boyfriend of hers fucked up and then the kid ran away. A good thing though I already knew where Elwood here lived. I didn't want to come down right away. I needed you and your detective preoccupied elsewhere. That's why I tipped the cops about your kid missing. I was going to dispatch him before anyone knew what was going on. Too bad I couldn't count on your sister either to hold you down." "Always knew something was fishy about you, Nigel," admitted Thad. "What I want to know is why. It's not for money, is it?" Nigel hissed. "Don't dare stand there and insult me. If it's money, I've got more than enough salted away. No, it was never about money. It was about making things right. Keeping the scum in their place and never having them mingle with the clean. My former boss was a good man who deserved better than being married to this thrash whore. And you, detective, for budding into what never concerned you. Her sister's boyfriend should have gotten rid of you when he had the chance. I was pretty furious when he let you get the better of him." "I'd be careful how you point that thing, Nigel," Thad indicated at his gun. "You don't have a silencer to that. It's going to make a loud noise in here if you pull the trigger." Nigel grinned and picked up a couch pillow. "I've got an even better idea. Both of you start walking behind you towards the bedroom. We'll settle everything in there." "You're never going to get away with it." "We'll see," Nigel said grimly. "And even if I won't, least I'll be happy you won't be around to see it. Now move." Thaddeus positioned Constance in front of him and they began shuffling down the corridor towards the open door that was the bedroom ahead of them with Nigel a few steps behind. Thad felt the gun pressing against his pocket; he hadn't forgotten about it. As they stepped through the open door of the bedroom, Thaddeus, without clear thought, pushed Constance hard to the right side of the room away from Nigel's clear path while he dove to the left. Constance gave a sudden shout and nearly collided her head on the floor. A gun shot rang out and hit the far wall. Thaddeus dove his hand into his pocket for the gun almost the same time he fell on the floor and half turned to face the doorway. Nigel appeared there seconds later and trained his gun at him. Thaddeus felt an explosion seconds before he realised he had fired his gun from inside his pocket. There was smoke curling out the end of his jacket pocket and it was then he noticed the shocked, dismayed look on Nigel's face. He was leaning against the doorway, clutching his chest; the couch pillow dropped from his hand. He tried to say something but coughed out a mouthful of blood. Constance held her head in her hands and she was screaming out loud as his gun fell from his hand and then he fell forward into the room. Thaddeus approached him and turned him over. There was a puncture wound a little above his chest where he had shot it and blood was oozing out of it. He left the butler and went to Constance's aid. He pulled her into his arms and fought to calm her down; he turned her face away from the sight of her dead servant. "It's okay, Constance, it's okay." She was shaking in his arms. He whispered words into her ear and didn't let go of her. He kept on patting her back gently even as she gradually began to calm down. "It's all right. He's not going to hurt us. Not anymore." He helped her up and together they walked past Nigel's body and returned to the living room. Thad helped Johnny out of his bounds and stood back as he reunited with his mother, both of them crying in each other's arms. The sound of the gun shots had already awakened the folks in the apartment and neighbourhood. Someone had placed a call to the police. Even as Thaddeus stood over the unconscious form of John Elwood, he could hear the sirens wailing in the distance. ------ More than an hour later and the scene outside the apartment building still hadn't calmed down. Ambulances arrived to cart away the corpse. John Elwood was soon revived. He had a pronounced bump on his forehead and a deep cut on his arm due to some struggle he'd had with the dead butler; he rode with the ambulance too, but not before he hugged Constance and shook hands with Thad for arriving at the nick of time. A night crew press van arrived at the scene less than a half hour after the cops had and coupled with the growing crowd of onlookers out on the street, it turned the neighbourhood into a bedlam of noise and movement. Thaddeus came and rescued Constance and Johnny from the influx of surrounding cameras and pressmen sticking mikes at their faces. He led them towards a cop's car and pleaded with the lead detective to escort her home. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said to her. She held onto his arm as he was about turning away. "Will there be much trouble for you?" He shook his head. "I don't think so. The cops are going to grill me pretty hard over everything, which means I won't be getting much sleep between today and tomorrow. They're going to want to talk to you, though I've already told the lead cops to let you go for now. Go get yourself some sleep." "Goodbye, mister," her son Johnny waved at him as the car began to move. "Bye, kid," Thad waved back. The policeman behind the wheel turned on his siren to clear the road of people that blocked his path. Several pressmen ran after them taking camera shots. Constance and Johnny looked through the back window at Thaddeus who stood remained where he was watching them go before the crowd once again blanketed him from view. ********** Four days later. Thaddeus was in his office sometime in the afternoon going over some paperwork when Sarah stuck her head through his door and made a noise. He looked up at her and mouthed, 'what?' "There's a lady here to see you," she said before opening the door for his guest to enter. Thaddeus dropped the papers he had in his hand and stood up as Constance strolled into his office. She was looking smart and hot in a snappy high-neck cream blouse and jacket with a skirt to match, with a handbag on her shoulder. Her blonde hair matched the brightness of her smile as she approached his desk with cat-like grace. Thaddeus couldn't help feeling a stirring in his crotch as she came and kissed his cheek. "Nice to see you again, Thad," she said. "Always nice seeing you, Constance. You're looking mighty fine today." "I've been basking in warm happiness since that night you found my son. How about you? How's everything been for you?" They sat down across from each other. "I'm doing great," he said. "The cops weren't all that happy knowing that I was on the case way ahead of them, but that's a chill pill they'll have to swallow. Though it's not going to win me much friends with them. Plus, I ruined a good jacket that night." "I'm sorry about that. It's my fault, I should have mentioned it to them that day I left your place and returned home." "I'm glad you didn't, or else they'd have been pounding on my door later that afternoon. How's Johnny by the way?" "He's doing great. Still a bit shaken up over everything. He told me how Nigel had been feeding him nonsense about myself and Emmet, and how Nigel sneaked him out of the house. I never knew he was capable of such." "There was no way you could have known, Constance. Don't blame yourself about it." "Hopefully I won't. Anyway, I brought something for you," she delved into her handbag and took out a check slip. "This is for everything you've done for me, and an added plus for returning that money bag." Thaddeus took the check and looked at it. His eyebrows went up as he read the five-digit numbers scribbled on it. "Constance, I don't know if I can accept this. This is way too much what you owe me." "Enough to buy you ten more jackets," she quipped. "I don't need that much jacket." "Whatever, consider it an added bonus," she said. "You got my son back, you stopped me from getting ripped off by my sister and her boyfriend, and then you stopped my butler from doing something terrible to my son ... I owe you a lot more. Please accept that check; I'll be really sad if you don't." Thaddeus thought for a moment, then said: "Maybe there is something you can do that'll make me accept it." "Name it," she said. "Anything." He did. ********** Back at his apartment, Thaddeus lay on his bed naked except for the pair of briefs he had on. He made like he was sleeping. There came a knock on his door and he told whoever it was to come in. The door creaked open and in walked Constance, wearing her half-cup bra, garter belt and thigh high stockings with high heels and a smile, looking like hot-stepping sex siren. She climbed up on the bed before him. In her hand were two pairs of handcuffs taken from Thaddeus's office drawer. She waved them for him to see. "Are you ready to be tied up, mister?" she cooed. "It's going to be just you and I from now to midnight." Thaddeus smiled. "Did I ever tell you something my old man said to me once?" "Do tell." "He said, 'son, never you believe what them preachers say. When the Devil comes to you, she's going to be wearing high heels.' I guess that's what you are right now." She came down to her knees and grazed her face against his briefs, over the bulge that appeared under it. She took his left hand and clasped a handcuff over it and locked the other end to the side of the bed post and did the same to his right hand. Thaddeus was now virtually her prisoner. She slid her tongue into his mouth and they kissed hard and deep. She came down from his, grabbed the sides of his briefs and pulled it down his waistline; his cock shot out from it, erect and pulsing with life. She stroked it then took it into her mouth. She gave his rod a long pull before popping her mouth off it, then swallowed it once again. Her mouth made slurping sounds and she moaned to herself while she sucked him. Thaddeus moaned from the reaction. He pumped his pelvis up to shoot more of his prick into her mouth. She spat on his cock and stroked it some more while she pressed her face on his balls, lapping each sac with her tongue. Soon her lover face glistened with her saliva and his pre-cum as she alternated between sucking his cock and swallowing his balls. She delved a hand into her panties and fingered her wet clit. Constance stopped then crawled over him. She reached a hand behind her back and freed her tits from her bra and cast the bra aside. She held her breasts before his face and brought his head forward to her chest. Thaddeus sucked on her soft flesh, mashed his lips on her tits and squeezed his lips on her nibbles, making her moan with lust. She caressed his head and frantically kissed his earlobe while she pressed herself against him. "I want your cock now," she moaned. "I want it now so bad." She came off the bed and took off her panties before climbing back on top of him. His cock beat against the back of buttocks. She reached down between her legs for it and guided it into her cunt's entrance. Thaddeus almost felt like cumming when his prick's head penetrated her tight hole. Constance relaxed her virginal muscles as she lowered herself further down on him. She moaned as she did this and when she'd settled down on him, raised herself once again and came down hard on his impalement. She did this until her cunt had gotten wide enough from his girth and thus proceeded to ride him. Her face was a mask of hurt and pain and pleasure as she brought her hands on her chest and grooved her ass back and forth faster and faster. The gasping increased and so too did her whimpering moaned. She alternated between riding him and bouncing her buttocks on him, slamming down hard on his pelvis. The bed shook under their weight and activity, their moans filled the room like music. Thaddeus, unable to move his arms, could only enjoy the show. The eyes went from the glazed look in Constance's eyes to the vibrant bouncing of her tits. She fell forward over him, her hair coming down on his face. She swept her hair back, grabbed his face and kissed him passionately. "Ohh God ... you're so deed! Awwgggghhh ... fuck! I love you! I fucking love you!" "You want me fucking you more and more?" he grunted. "Oh yes! Oh yes! You and no other!" Her tits pressed and bounced against his face. Thad caught either one with his mouth and bit down on her nipple. Constance sat up on the bed and held onto him while her ass went up and down his shaft. She wished they'd set up a camera at the end of the room that would videotape the sight off her buttocks going down on him; she really would love to see that. She remained impaled on him as she turned three-sixty on him in reverse mode, now having her ass faced him. She leaned forward and grabbed hold of his legs while her ass cheeks bounced up and down on him. Thaddeus loved the sight of her ass, the sight of her pussy juice pouring down his shaft. Had his hands not been handcuffed to the bed he would have given them a smack. He kept on moving his pelvis against her. Constance played with her pussy and she fell back on him when she felt the rush of her climax. Thaddeus too was about to cum. She was aware of it and bounced her ass harder on him. Thad felt himself let go, pumping copious semen juice straight into her. Constance felt her body shudder and she too cried out from it, but remained on top of him, feeling his juice seep into her, filling her up. When finally he was done and his cock began to shrink inside her, she came down from him and sucked his cock clean. She got the cuff keys and released him from his temporary prison then cuddled in his arms. They took warmth in the silence and moment. "I wish it would be like this always," she murmured against his chest. "I wish the same too," he said. Outside, the outlook of the day gradually turned to early evening. Still they remained as they were holding each other, wishing they would remain that way till the end of the world came and went. Constance didn't feel like returning home. She remained with him till the following morning. ************* Five days later after the news of her missing son had faded into history, Thaddeus drove Constance and Johnny in his Coupe DeVille to the airport. She was leaving Paris. They arrived at the airport an hour before her plane was to be boarded. Thad sat with her and they made light conversation while they waited; Johnny went into a dispensary shop to get an ice cream. Constance turned her immediate concern to Thaddeus. "I wish you were coming with me," she said. "Nothing I wouldn't love to do other than that," he replied. "Then why can't I talk you into doing it." "Because we're from different worlds, Constance. Your world wouldn't fit into mine, likewise mine wouldn't fit in with yours. I thought we discussed this last night." "We did," she sighed, pulled her hair from her face. "I just wish I could talk you into it." He took her hand and held it in his, feeling his fingers over hers. "Life sometimes isn't always the way it should be, but that don't mean it should be any different. You need time to heal. Take my advice: head out to Paris, and wherever else you want to go, spend time with your boy, talk and listen to him. When you return, I'll be here waiting." She looked at him with deep longing. "Do you really mean that? Will you really be waiting?" "In the flesh," he said. She looked away at the milling crowd around them. "You know the cops still haven't found Blondie. I'm scared for you, Thad." "I can handle myself. If the bastard dares show his face around my 'hood, I'll crack his skull and leave him bleeding by the sidewalk. But he'd never going to show. He'll have to be very dumb to think of that." "All the more reason why I want you to come to Paris with me. We could be together, just you and me." "I've got my work to do here, Constance," he soothed her. Introducing Thaddeus Black Ch. 08 "To hell with your work, I've got money. You'll never have to work or suffer anymore." He pulled her face towards his and kissed her. "Maybe when you return, we'll talk more on that. For now, bond with your son." Johnny returned with two chocolate and vanilla ice cream cones in his hand. He gave one to his mother and the other to Thad. Half a minute later they announced via the PA system the boarding of her flight. Constance hugged him with teary eyes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for everything, Thad," she sniffled on his shoulder. "I won't ever forget you. I'll call you always." "I know you will," he said, hugging her back before eventually letting her go. He shook hands with Johnny and told him to take care of his mom and always to be a good boy. Johnny replied that he would. He waved at them as they went with the onrushing crowd and they too waved back. He returned to the parking lot, held onto his hat as a strong gust of wind threatened to blow it off him and went into his car, start it then drove off back towards the city. He drove to his apartment. His front door was partly opened. He entered cautiously, cursed himself for always forgetting to take his gun with him. There was nobody in the living room. He closed the front door quietly then advanced towards the bedroom. A familiar figure lay there reading a book from his library collection. As he entered the room, the woman looked up from the book in her hand and smiled at him. "Hiya, Thad," said Erica, closing the book in her hand. "I was wondering when you were going to show up." She came down from the bed and approached him, coming to wrap her arms around his neck. She was wearing a summer t-shirt and shorts. "I've been lonely upstairs and dying for when you'd return home." ------------------ THADDEUS BLACK will return in "Devil Owns the Night".