Tug Of Law (Bernadette Mackenna Cases Book 4)

by D. R. Bailey

  “Fuck!” said Imogen.

  “It’s OK, I’m over it. Just, well, happy memories and sad ones too. That’s life, isn’t it? So, you see, I can see me in Carole, the young person I was then. I don’t want to hurt her either.”

  “But I’m sure you won’t do that.” Imogen smiled.

  “No, but will she?”

  The question hung there as Olivia sipped a little more of her tea.

  “I thought I could never love again,” said Bernadette, “But Eve came into my life, and she has helped to heal me.”

  “You see that’s what I need, an Eve,” Olivia chuckled.

  “You don’t think Carole?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Eve is younger than me by around ten years.”

  “Interesting,” Olivia acknowledged. “You two seem happy together, and I can see she loves you.”

  Olivia had seen them together at Eve’s opening night for her gallery show. She had brought Carole, and Bernadette had thought they seemed good together.

  “You can’t swim if you don’t get into the water,” Imogen said suddenly.

  “Ah, yes, you are, of course right, I know.” Olivia drained her cup. “Anyway, I’ve got to get back to the station, and get this show on the road as regards the bad boys down at Balik Transport. We’ll see what’s what. If I wanted to, say, interview your client, would you let me?”

  “One or both of us would have to be present but, in principle, yes,” Bernadette replied.

  “Great. Well, I’ll make tracks. Thanks for lunch.”

  Olivia got up and spontaneously both Bernadette and Imogen gave her a hug. Olivia smiled and strolled off down the street to find her car.

  “Wow, I wasn’t expecting that,” said Imogen.

  “Now we know a bit more about the real Olivia,” said Bernadette.

  “Goes to show you never can tell.”

  “No, no you can’t. Let’s hope her investigations can reveal something to help us.”

  “Yes, it would be good.”

  “I think we should focus on getting over the London early next week, don’t you? See if you can set up a meeting with some of those refugees, if you can. Also, maybe it’s worth meeting with the opposition to parlay perhaps?” Bernadette moved on to their case.

  “Really? You think?”

  “I don’t know, but it might help to find out why they are going for Callum so hard. See if we can squeeze some information out of them.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Why not? Let’s walk into the lion’s den, are we not witches?” Bernadette laughed.

  “Well, we are bitches, I know that much and lesbian bitches to boot.”

  “The best kind.”

  They both giggled.

  “What about Andrew?” said Imogen, “Shall we ask him about the PA?”

  “Hmm, it’s Friday afternoon, he might be mellow, let’s rattle his cage,” Bernadette agreed.

  “Sounds like fun.”

  ✽✽✽

  When they returned to the office, they decide to tackle Andrew on the subject of getting another PA. Andrew looked up when they entered his office. He was wearing a shirt with faint pinstripes and no tie. His desk was covered in files and papers and he had been typing at nineteen to the dozen.

  “Ah, what’s this?” he said, “A delegation?”

  “Of sorts.” Bernadette smiled sliding into a seat.

  “I see, and to what do I owe the pleasure of two lovely barristers at once?” Andrew quipped.

  “We want to ask you something,” Imogen replied sitting down next to Bernadette.

  “I didn’t assume you had come here for an amiable chat. Chance would be a fine thing.”

  “Oh, come on, Andrew, you’re always busy, you don’t want us coming down here gossiping,” Bernadette laughed.

  “Well true, but occasionally it might be nice,” Andrew said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “We will remember that next time and remind you of it when you kick us out for disturbing you. Anyway, there’s the weekly meeting for news.”

  The weekly meeting was held on Thursday afternoons usually and chaired by Bernadette. It was an informal affair with snacks and non-alcoholic drinks where everyone shared what they were working on.

  “You know me too well,” Andrew replied, “So anyway why have you come to disturb my peace of mind?”

  “That’s more like it.” Bernadette smiled.

  “We want to talk PA’s,” said Imogen.

  “PA’s?” Andrew looked puzzled. “What about PA’s?”

  “We would like to get another one to back up Alison,” said Bernadette coming to the point.

  “Another PA?” Andrew looked aghast. “Surely you can’t be serious?”

  “Oh, come, Andrew, it’s not that strange a question, is it?” said Imogen.

  “Don’t mind him, darling, he always reacts like this,” Bernadette chuckled.

  “I do not!” said Andrew indignantly.

  “And then you always deny it,” she continued remorselessly.

  Andrew let out a big sigh. “Alright, fine. Explain why you feel you need another PA.”

  “OK, well, the workload we are generating is a lot for one person. Alison has done quite a bit of overtime recently to keep up,” Bernadette began.

  “For which she has been paid,” Andrew put in.

  “Yes, but work life balance, Andrew, it’s not good for staff.”

  “I work long hours.”

  “You are a business partner and it’s different, you earn considerably more than she does. You have a vested interest in the firm. She has her salary albeit with overtime.”

  Bernadette felt strongly about not taking advantage of staff. Many firms did so and as a result, had some very unhappy individuals working for them. Bernadette’s staff liked working for her, not least because she was very fair, and cared about them.

  “Alright, I take your point. But even so, is there really enough work for two people?”

  “Imogen is beginning to take a caseload, not the big cases. We work those together, but she’s taking on minor ones and winning some of them mark you. So now Alison is doing work for me and for her. Before Imogen was taking some of the load because she was working on cases with me. That’s not what’s happening now, and my plan is to ease Imogen into taking on more on a gradual basis,” Bernadette explained.

  “Hmm, and how do you feel about it, Imogen?”

  “I agree, and I feel bad putting too much pressure on Alison, it’s not fair,” Imogen said sincerely.

  “Right, well, I understand. I’m not opposed to it, if the cost is justified, and I’m all about saving money where we can.”

  “If that’s what you want, I can suggest one way…” Bernadette began.

  “No, if it’s what I think you’re going to say, then no!” said Andrew firmly.

  Bernadette smiled. She had played her trump card, Juanita who had not justified her salary the entire time she had been working for the firm.

  “It was just going to be a suggestion,” she said innocently.

  “Don’t even start about Juanita,” he said severely.

  “My lips are sealed.” She made a zipping motion with her finger across her lips.

  “Now you are mocking me.”

  “I’m just teasing you, Andrew.”

  “That’s exactly what Jessica says. You Irish women are all the same!”

  “And you love us.” Bernadette smiled.

  “That’s as it may be!”

  “So,” Bernadette returned to the point, “What about another PA?”

  Andrew regarded her for a moment, and then like a man acknowledging the inevitable, he said, “Fine, I’ll do the figures and we’ll see.”

  “Thank you, Andrew, you are a darling as always.”

  “Oh, yes, flattery gets you everywhere you think!”

  “Irish women?” Imogen laugh
ed.

  “Exactly, now buzz off the pair of you, I’ve got hundreds of things to do, and even more now you’ve started up with this PA farrago.”

  Bernadette laughed too, blew him and kiss and they breezed out of his room.

  “He’ll agree to it,” she said confidently as they got themselves a coffee.

  “Really?”

  “Oh yes, that’s code for him saying yes. If he was going to refuse it then he would have argued until the cows come home.”

  “And has he?” said Imogen as they walked up the stairs.

  “He has but not very often. Something he feels strongly about he will.”

  They stood together on the landing.

  “And did he win?”

  “Oh no, are you mad? Of course, he didn’t win, but it just took longer to wear him down,” Bernadette laughed.

  “Poor Andrew, we must be the bane of his life,” Imogen said laughing.

  “He loves it, never think he doesn’t. But he’s a man, and he doesn’t like to let us think we can wrap him around our fingers.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  “Feminine wiles, work every time.”

  ✽✽✽

  The case papers had arrived late in the day, evidently, Shane had put a rocket under whoever was responsible for not having sent them. Callum had been released and was now back at his father’s home. These were all things for Monday, Bernadette reflected as she drove home. It had been a good week, and now she was about to make it even better by fulfilling her fiancée’s craving for a Shibari session. These had to be done right, and Bernadette had introduced more ritual into it in the form of being very assertive to Eve. Eve would assume a submissive demeanour once their game began, but Bernadette knew she enjoyed every minute of it. There were times when the tables were turned, and Eve became the dominant one in a different game they also played. This evening, however, was all about Eve, and primarily for Eve.

  When she arrived home, she kicked off her shoes as usual and hung up her jacket. This was a thing she did every day, and then later she would put them away. Eve came sashaying into the hallway. Bernadette noticed she was wearing a satin robe which left nothing to the imagination, and high see-through mules. She found this instantly arousing as Eve snaked her arms around her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. It was long and steamy. It was all Bernadette could do to stop her hands from wandering under that tantalising robe. But she did not, as the Shibari session would never, otherwise, take place.

  “Mmm, hi beautiful,” Bernadette said as Eve gently bit her lip.

  “Hi.” Eve’s voice was husky, and she certainly seemed in the mood for something. “Are you hungry?”

  Bernadette certainly was, although eating was starting to be the last thing on her mind. “I am a little, are you?”

  “Mmm hmm, let’s eat first, shall we?”

  “First?”

  “Before anything you might have got planned,” Eve said shooting her a saucy look.

  “It depends, did you behave yourself today?” Bernadette asked knowing this was expected of her.

  “No,” said Eve in a tone of defiance.

  “In that case, I’ve got plenty planned for you, my girl,” Bernadette told her severely.

  “Oh well… shall we have dinner then?” Eve said with a happy smile.

  Bernadette followed her into the dining room where the table was laid. She sat down and Eve brought her a plate of sausages, mash and peas with onion gravy. She poured Bernadette a glass of Pinot Noir, and then brought her own plate and took a seat herself.

  “Delicious, one of my favourites,” said Bernadette appreciatively, cutting into a sausage.

  “They are from the local butcher. He doesn’t put any additives in or much filler.”

  “They are delicious, my darling,” said Bernadette having consumed a mouthful.

  “So, how was the hearing, did you manage to get bail?” Eve asked, pushing some mash and peas onto her fork.

  “We did, well, Imogen did…” Bernadette related the events of the day to Eve’s delight, in between mouthfuls. She talked about Olivia, and also Andrew’s reluctant surrender to them wanting a new PA.

  “You always get your way, my darling,” said Eve, finishing up her food.

  “I do, but so do you, in fact, more than I do.”

  “Oh, you! That’s not true.” Eve pouted.

  “You’ve got me completely besotted and you know it,” Bernadette laughed.

  “But not tonight, hmm?” Eve said in a voice now filled with expectation.

  “Yes, you are right,” Bernadette took her cue, “I’m very tired of your disobedience, darling, and it’s time you faced some consequences for your actions. Don’t you think?”

  She made her voice stern because she knew Eve liked it.

  “Yes.” Eve nodded.

  “Yes, what?” Bernadette raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Ms Mackenna.”

  “Better, now go upstairs, and sit on the bed and wait for me there.”

  Eve didn’t move, Bernadette knew this was deliberate.

  “I said, now!”

  “Yes, Ms Mackenna,” said Eve and left her chair with alacrity. Bernadette listened to her padding upstairs with satisfaction. She promised herself to make it a good session for Eve’s sake and went to get the list off the fridge.

  When she arrived in the bedroom, Eve was sitting up straight on the bed with her hands folded in her lap.

  “I am glad to see you did as you were told,” said Bernadette.

  “Yes, Ms Mackenna,” said Eve meekly.

  “I’m going to get ready now, so close your eyes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so!”

  Eve closed her eyes, and Bernadette removed her clothing. She had recently purchased a leather corset which pushed up her breasts and formed a very satisfying cleavage. She put on a favourite pair of red stiletto mules and then stood in front of Eve holding the list.

  “Open,” she said quietly.

  Eve did so and her eyes roved over Bernadette appreciatively.

  “Now then, Ms White. Your behaviour has been exceptionally bad. You have been spending money on frivolous things, you misbehaved at my office by seducing me, you kissed D’Arcy in the most brazen fashion in front of me, and you’ve been naughty while I’ve been at work I’m sure,” said Bernadette sternly.

  “I have, yes.” Eve nodded.

  “Is that my rabbit on the floor?” Bernadette said spying the object which had strategically been left on there by Eve.

  “Yes, I used it today.”

  “You are very bad, extremely bad, my girl. What do you think should happen to you?”

  “Consequences…” Eve said quietly.

  “What did you say? Speak louder!” Bernadette let loose her assertive side now, exactly as her fiancée wanted it.

  “I said, consequences, Ms Mackenna.”

  “Good, and that’s exactly what you are going to get. Now strip off that robe and lie down on the bed on your back.”

  Eve did so, while Bernadette retrieved the rope they used for their sessions from the cupboard. She began to tie her fiancée’s arms above her head, to the railings of the headboard.

  “Oh… God… oh…” Eve gasped already aroused by this activity.

  “This is what you get for misbehaving,” said Bernadette binding her arms intricately down towards her shoulders, and then lacing the rope around Eve’s torso and around her breasts. She made sure it was tight and had become quite expert in what she was doing. She had watched many videos in order to become proficient and she had also, by now, had a lot of practice.

  Eve gasped as the rope bound her more and more tightly and she felt more constricted. Once she had finished Bernadette looked down at her with satisfaction.

  “Are you going… to fuck me… Ms Mackenna?” said Eve biting her lip again in an incredibly arousing fashion.

&nbs
p; “If you ask me nicely,” Bernadette said softly bending down so her lips were millimetres from Eve’s.

  “Are you going to fuck me? Please, Ms Mackenna.”

  “Do you want me to?” Bernadette whispered.

  “Oh, yes, oh God, yes, please… please fuck me… please…” Eve said her voice throbbing with the emotion driven by the intensity of the sensations from her bindings.

  “Yes, I am going to fuck you, Ms White.”

  Bernadette moved away, and put on a strap on dildo, she knew Eve loved this. Then she knelt between Eve’s legs and slid it gently in.

  “Oh… God… fuck… oh… my God…” Eve gasped as Bernadette began to thrust, looking into her eyes.

  “Fuck… oh… please… harder… please… harder…” Eve pleaded as Bernadette picked up the pace and thrust harder, deeper, and listened with pleasure to Eve’s gasps as each thrust went deeper.

  “Oh… oh… fuck… oh… oh… fuck… fuck… fuck… ohh.”

  Bernadette knew Eve was close and suddenly she pulled out, and quickly replace the strap on with her tongue. She had barely flicked more than three times when Eve climaxed with a loud scream.

  “Oh… ah… ah… my God… ah… ahh… ah… ahh.” Eve cried out and her body tensed against the bonds feeding back more pleasurable sensations to her.

  It took some time for the spasms of her orgasm to subside, and for Eve to relax.

  “Oh,” said Eve softly, “Oh, my darling, oh, my darling.”

  Bernadette leant down and kissed her softly, deeply. She retrieved the camera Eve used for photographing her sessions and took some pictures for Eve. Then she sat beside her and looked down lovingly at her.

  “Have you learned your lesson, Ms White?” She smiled.

  “I think so,” said Eve smiling back.

  “Only think so? Let’s see if we can make that a bit more definite, shall we?” said Bernadette mendaciously, she leant down and retrieved the rabbit.

  “Are you going to?” said Eve looking at it wildly, “Are you…”

  “Oh yes, I am,” said Bernadette turning it on.

  “I don’t think I can take it, please, honey… I…”

  “It’s not for you,” said Bernadette sitting up on the bed and straddling her girlfriend, “It’s for me… oh… oh… fuck… oh my God… oh… oh… oh… Jesus… ahh… ahh.”