by Ann Raina
"Gee, that's a surprise, isn't it? Did you look at yourself in the mirror lately? You're the brother of Hulk!" She was surprised to find him smiling. It quickly vanished, but at least he seemed to understand. "I won't risk anything. So if you don't mind… Are you right or left-handed?"
"Don't say--"
"Right or left?"
"Left."
"Put your right hand in the cuff."
"Kyra!"
"Ms. Jennings for you."
"Don't exaggerate it!"
"Do it or piss your pants."
"You're one tough bitch," he mumbled, but searched the chain to shackle himself.
"One more insult, Julian, and you live through tomorrow with a gag. I've got some nice specialties. You wouldn't believe how many shops sell this stuff." He looked positively disgusted at the thought. "Now, do you think you can keep your mouth shut or shall I help?"
"I'll be quiet."
"Good. That's an improvement." She waited for him to show her his right hand tethered then opened the ankle cuff and showed him the way to the bathroom. He noticed his toiletries on a shelf and lifted his brows in acknowledgment. She closed the door. The lower bathroom had been emptied of all devices that might be used as a weapon. She had been thorough with that so unless he ripped the sink out of the wall he would only have his toothbrush, comb and toothpaste to use. The razor was locked away as were scissors and file. She busied herself in the living room until he finished.
"Listen, Ms. Jennings, I expected something else and I think you did, too. So…"
"I won't lead any discussions with you, Julian," she cut him short. "Back into the kitchen." The anger seemed a living beast within him, lurking through his eyes. Oh, yes, his eyes conveyed enough without adding another word and she was careful to stay out of reach of his left arm when she followed him into the kitchen.
"I don't want to be shackled the whole time! I'm worse off than in prison here!"
"Then you can go back." Her voice was cold. "You can always choose to spend your time in prison." Julian wiped his face and waited for her to change the cuffs again. "I put a bucket at the counter, in case of an emergency at night."
"Great." He sat down. "Why not exchange me for someone you're not afraid of?"
Kyra wanted to say that she liked challenges. She could have added that her father's whining over the phone forbade such a decision, but she would not share that information. And there was more to it. Exchanging Julian would mean that she agreed with her dad and admitted weakness. It would mean that his decision was better than hers. She simply could not do that.
For better or for worse she had always insisted on making her own decisions. She wanted control of every part of her life and it had been tough to find out that not every situation could be controlled, no matter how hard she tried. She had lost Uncle William to lung cancer and she had broken up with her boyfriend Chris to regain freedom. Both events had left her with the imprint of being unable to change situations for the better. She had cried over losing her uncle and she had been down for weeks after the breakup with her boyfriend. She had recovered, but she had left behind a piece of certainty and self-confidence. She wanted it back. Taking in a prisoner and changing him for the better was just one part of it.
* * * *
Kyra drove the car to her firm. Julian was safely seated in the back. She had made it crystal clear she would not budge and he had put on the blindfold and shackled his hands and feet before she had allowed him out of the kitchen. His reluctance had burst into anger and she had needed all of her strength to make him comply. "Are you all right?" she asked over the sound of the radio.
"You told me to chain my hands behind my back! So, no, I'm not all right! It hurts. And why the blindfold? Was taking away my freedom not enough? I don't understand you."
"You don't need to." Kyra took a deep breath. Julian had been very reluctant. He had gone through the procedure to use the bathroom and he had dressed without trying to get close to her, but he had almost freaked out when she had ordered him to be blindfolded for the road. Oliver's voice was in her head again--to control a person taller and stronger than yourself you have to take away his ability to read you. To understand and predict you. Being without sight leaves him without insight. It was so true. Kyra realized that most of her cognition was based on her eyes. What she could not see she could not judge. Leaving him blind for some time might give her the advantage of remaining unreadable and therefore more in control over him.
Sabrina Durnham, her secretary, a woman in her mid thirties with blondish hair styled in a bun, awaited Kyra at the parking lot. She wore more makeup than was good for her and the gray dress with white lapels did not really suit her. On high heels she was taller than Kyra, but she needed training in moving gracefully. "Good morning, Kyra," she greeted cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?"
"Couldn't be better." Kyra slammed the door shut and put her sunglasses up her brow. She shouldered her handbag and pulled the jacket straight beneath the straps. "Is everything prepared? Everybody knows he's coming?"
"Everything was done as you ordered." She frowned, but could not see the man through the tinted glass. "You should know that the staff is a bit nervous, Kyra. We hope he will be peaceful. I mean, that's what most of them said."
"I understand." Kyra opened the passenger door. Behind her Sabrina took a loud, deep breath. She opened the seatbelt and took off the blindfold. Julian squinted. It was another warm and sunny day and his eyes needed a moment to adjust. "Get out." She waited until he stood before her, blinking into the bright light. He rolled his shoulders, quickly assessing the surroundings, even looking up to the roof. Sabrina had a hiccup suddenly and took two stumbling steps backward. Kyra smiled and found Julian smiling, too. "I'll take off the shackles now and hope you won't misuse the freedom."
"I'm not in for a fight," he said quietly. "I'm glad I get something to do."
Kyra crossed her fingers that this would be true. With the chains stowed in a pouch on the side of the belt, she led him into the shop. Her heart beat hard and fast. This was the test. If he worked, fine, if he did not, she would have to take measures to change that. One part of her was confident while the other almost made her pee her pants. Work had already started and many men and women looked up to see the prisoner. There was caution and anxiety, but also open anger on some faces. The looks did not suppress Kyra's apprehension.
"It's bigger than I thought," Julian confided, taking in the lofty hall and the many machines. The shop was brimming with activity and the musty smell of paper and the acid of glue were in the air. A fine dust rose from the cutting machines.
"My uncle founded this business back in 2004. People still need cards and stuff, even though E-mails have replaced some of them. We've got quite a collection. But we also produce and ship stationary of every kind."
"I'm impressed. How many people do you employ?"
"Fifty." That triggered a surprised glance from Julian. "What's that look? Can't you imagine a woman running another business other than a nails studio or hairdresser's?"
Robert Ashby, the shop manager, greeted her and Julian, showing a confident smile. "I'm Ashby, I'm here to show you where you gonna work."
"I'm Julian. Glad to meet you."
The man looked down at the manager, but that did not intimidate Ashby. He had been in the business from the start. He had known Kyra's uncle well enough to go fishing with him on weekends and he was the soul of the business now. For more than fifteen years the stout man had handled workers and suppliers with the same firm hand. He was known to be strict and precise and always proved that he was first to fulfill that demand. "Fine, Julian, come with me. If you don't mind, Ms. Jennings?"
The formality had been rehearsed as well as the reception and Kyra was satisfied that it went well. She nodded to Ashby. "Take him with you. Show him around and make sure he finds the cafeteria as well."
Ashby laughed and patted Julian's shoulder. "Yeah, right, you look like you need a bite."<
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"Wouldn't be bad, yes."
They left Kyra standing in the center of the shop. She took a deep breath.
Sabrina stood behind her. "He's a…very tall guy," she whispered as if he could hear her.
Kyra turned.
Sabrina was wide-eyed and wonderstruck. "And you…I mean, you don't have a basement, do you? Where do you lock him up?"
Is everybody thinking this man is hard to handle? Kyra shouldered her handbag and set forth for her office. She was so glad no one had been present in the morning in her kitchen. She had felt like quarreling with a tiger. "No, I haven't. What's the first appointment for today?"
Sabrina had to chase her to tell her the day's schedule, but she did not ask for further information about the convict.
At the end of the fourth day, Sabrina announced "Your last customer just canceled."
Though Bithrell had worked without trouble, she was still jumpy. She dropped her pen, exhaled and her angry glance hit her secretary.
"Sorry, Kyra, should I have knocked before?"
"No. It's all right. I'm…uh, I'm a bit nervous."
Sabrina cocked her head. "Might I add rattled, tense and twitchy to that list?" She came in and closed the door behind her.
"Is it that obvious?" She sighed, signed the last paper and put it in the envelope.
"If you don't mind, yes. But you don't need to worry. Take a look. He's up to his ears in work and nobody's complaining. I guess or Ashby would have been here."
"Yes, you're right." Kyra stood, put away her reading glasses and joined Sabrina at the large, wall high window, which overlooked the hall. To her right was the packing area. Julian was easy to spot. He piled up boxes to be loaded into a truck. He had worked the whole day with just a break at noon. It was not the first time she watched him, but she would not admit that to Sabrina. It was true, she was jumpy because Julian might pick a fight and it would be her fault if one of her workers came to harm. That was the weak spot of the contract with the city. If anything happened to civilians Kyra Jennings would be questioned if she had not taken proper precautions.
"He's one strong fellow. Did you see? Kevin needs another man to get this extra large box on the container." Sabrina ogled her boss. "He's strong as a bull. Did you make the choice?"
"No." Kyra tore her glance away from Julian's back. "The prison office just called and told me they got someone for me."
"If someone's qualified you are." Her boss frowned. Sabrina shrugged. "After all, you were a police officer."
"Only for three years."
"Yes, but still. I wouldn't take that fellow into my firm if I had one. You're really brave."
"Is it bravery to give someone a chance? I'm against putting someone to prison. You've seen it, don't you? There's more criminal activity inside the prisons than outside. It's ridiculous. You think you take someone away from the street, but instead you just give him higher grounds to continue his business. I think it's the best to keep them separated."
"You mean it's like with the gangs? If you meet one member on the street you're fairly safe, but don't meet them in a bunch."
"Right what I said. I hope this program will work better than its predecessors. After all, all those convicts are first offenders. Those with a long list are not allowed."
"And his crime was?"
"Drug dealing. He was caught when he met with a supplier."
"Oh."
"Yeah, I think he got--"
"No, that was not the oh I meant. Look." Sabrina pointed down the hall.
"Shit!" Kyra was out of the office in a flash and down the stairs even faster. She heard the shouts and hard knuckles meeting flesh and bone before she could see the fight. Kevin punched Julian's chin, taking a blow a moment later. "Stop! Stop fighting!" Ashby was already there and parted the opponents. "Are you nuts, both of you?" She pushed Julian to one side and Kevin to the other. There had not been a fight in the firm in all these years, Kyra knew.
"Who started it?" Ashby kept Kevin back with all he had.
"He made fun of me." Kevin wiped blood off his mouth. He was strong enough built to take some punches and still stand. Ashby's eyes were wide. "And when I didn't take the bait, he hit me."
"You bet!" Julian shouted from the other side. Kyra's hand was on his arm. He knew she felt the tension of his muscles and smelled the sweat. She would not hold him, even if she put all of her body in front of him. It was like trying to stop a hurricane with a wish. "And who dropped the box on my foot?"
"It was an accident, you fucker!"
"That won't lead anywhere," Kyra decided. "Julian, on your knees. Day's over. I take you back."
"Don't…" Julian stepped back, but when he saw Kyra's angry glare he thought better of it. Her threat to send him back to prison if he misbehaved still lingered. Kevin sneered at him when he went on his knees. "It's not necessary. I won't smash his head." But his argument was lost and he was shackled again.
"Get up." Kyra nodded to Ashby. "See that Kevin's taken care of. And you--" She faced Kevin, who stopped sneering immediately--"I want to see you in my office tomorrow morning." Her angry look made it clear she would not discuss anything right now. She led Julian through the rows of workers. Everybody had seen the fight. They stabbed Julian with their eyes, they wanted him out and to never return.
Sabrina brought her employer's handbag to the car, worried and also frightened. The show of force had left her shaking. "Are you okay, Kyra? You sure you want to take him back to your…home?"
"I'm sure, believe me." Kyra instructed her to find out the truth behind Kevin's accusation. Her voice dropped to an urgent whisper. "I need to know who started the fight. If it was Bithrell he has to go back. I don't need a troublemaker in my business."
"But, Kyra, think of it. Would anyone accuse Kevin? No. They would rather see the convict go to hell instead of accusing him."
Kyra thought a moment about that then nodded slowly. "Still, try to find out. Maybe there were others in the packing area before and they've heard something."
"Would you like my advice?"
"If it doesn't include dropping Bithrell on the spot, yes."
"Then you might drop the whole matter. Boys will be boys. They have to get along somehow."
"That's your great experience talking, right?"
Sabrina wiggled her brows. "Now, let's say I've had enough boyfriends in my life to know that they're all the same on some issues. One is if they want to fight to find out who's bigger, badder or whatever, you won't stop them. They just have to do it. Cave rule or whatever. Goodbye." She went back to the shop.
Kyra drove the Cherokee on the highway. She glanced in the rearview mirror. Julian was blindfolded again, but beneath it blood dripped from his nose and lips and a bruise showed on his chin. Kevin had been violent enough to draw blood. She had not known that he could do this. So was it truly a boy thing or did Julian the trigger to violence?
CHAPTER 3
"I can't allow him to start fighting people," Kyra explained after briefly reporting the situation at her firm to Oliver.
Interrupted from an evening session with his boyfriend he had quickly thrown a yellow kimono over his outfit. He lifted his hands and, when he realized he still wore the light brown leather gloves, took them off. "I understand perfectly well. You want to let him know this shall not happen again."
"It must not happen again! If he's violent I can't take him into my firm! I don't want him to fight every worker just because some stupid accident happens."
"Got it." Oliver's hands gestured to calm her. "I've got something on my mind, which would…" He glimpsed into the car. "Give you time to clean him up a bit, too."
"Fine." Kyra ran a hand through her hair. "Darn," she mumbled, "I don't want to quit during the first week!"
"You won't. He'll learn. You're fine."
"I'm not fine! Hell…are those Roman sandals or something on your feet?"
"Yes." He sounded confident and amused. "I just bought them. Do you lik
e them?"
"They don't go with the kimono."
"Don't be so critical. You know, I had something in mind for tonight. You could join after…we taught your little rascal."
"No, I think, I pass."
"Sorry to hear that. I'll tell my friend of the delay." Oliver went back to his house.
Kyra opened the car. "You made a mess today."
"I didn't!" He bent forward as much as the seatbelt allowed. "He started it and just wants to blame me!"
"Whatever. I'll not let this slide, Julian. If you want to stay, you follow the rules." He fell silent, licking blood off his lips. "I'll take care of that in a moment. And I warn you that I won't give you many chances, you hear me?"
"I hear you. What are we waiting for? Your friend?"
"Friend?"
"He was there five days ago when we arrived."
"How…?"
Julian smiled through the tension. "He's quiet, but not that quiet. If you ask me he's older than you or me, slightly overweight and…gay." Kyra was speechless and his smile deepened. "How I know? I heard him breathe while you undressed me."
She remained silent. Is it common among criminals to be so trained?
"He's coming back."
Kyra did not need to turn as she had heard him, too. Oliver was all happiness and waved her to bring Julian.
"What's happening, Ms. Jennings? What does he have to do with it?"
"You need a lesson, Julian."
"Oh." Julian did not protest when he was taken into the garage. He tensed and his breathing got shallow, but he did not struggle.
"Lie down."
Now he stalled. "Why? What are you going to do with me?"
"Do what I say!" she shouted in his ear and, at that same moment, pressed him down on the examination chair and bound his upper body to the backrest. He could have fought. Maybe he was too startled, but the moment was quickly over.
"What's…"
Oliver opened the chains and took off Julian's shoes, pants and underwear without delay. Kyra noticed his eagerness. Well, it'a my fault he missed some fun time with his boyfriend. So how can I blame him for haste?
