Chapter 11
Paula Le Grande smiled as she said goodnight to the Fletchers, the last couple to leave her party. It had been a wonderful party, and her only regret was that Julia couldn't have been here to enjoy it with her, She'd been a little apprehensive at first, wondering just how it would go. She couldn't be too miserable, even though it had been three weeks... nearly four since she'd last seen her son. But these people would understand why she couldn't just go into mourning, these were wealthy people who realized that life must go on. Still, she didn't try to show she was having too good of a time. After all, it was only last week that she sup-posedly dropped the money off in a remote spot for the kidnappers and there hadn't been any word. This was the time to really expect the worst.
The people, mostly old friends from her days with Harold, were fairly straight, but once the party got rolling, they got into their cups and got as loose as straight folks can. Paula felt a little remote about seeing these people now. How did she ever fit in with them? Even Bobbi, who was out of town, was straight.
The party didn't really turn out to be a rip- snorter, but that would have been improper under the circumstances, and these people were well known for propriety. Paula viewed this as a farewell party to these old friends, for she'd outgrown them. Oh, they really didn't bother her that much-they were the perfect people to invite to a wake, which in effect is what this was. Of course, she didn't tell anyone. No she was perfect, she recalled as she closed the doors on the last guests, excused herself and let them out. She should have been an actress with the way the people would come up to her and offer her their sympathy in dealing with her 'current problem.' She wouldn't let them dwell on it too long. She showed the proper grief, then told them that this party was to take her mind off it.
"Life goes on," was a cliche she used at least a dozen times, and as there were a dozen guests that figured out just right.
But the real success of the party was Petite. And to think how she and Julia had fooled the cops... the world. With all that publicity, and Peter returns right to her very apartment building. Of course, the doorman would have a hard time recognizing him in that dress, those high heels, that wig, the make-up, the pseudo-fur coat.
Anita had accompanied Peter-Petite into the building and up to the door. While Paula would liked to have seen Julia, she knew it would have been impossible to tear herself away from her once she saw her. There would be time enough for all that later.
As soon as Anita left, she inspected Peter thoroughly, amazed at the changes. He was docile, so dainty, so very... girlish.
She made no references to being his-her mother, merely giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Julia instructed you as just what you'll be doing?"
"Yes, madame." The voice was so authentic, she was amazed at what her friend could do. It was a miracle, that's what it was.
Showing Petite to her room, which was right next to his old room (she had to keep appearances up) she told the maid to change into her outfit. Julia went into the kitchen to arrange the snacks she'd made herself, having discharged her staff so as not to arouse their suspicions. Petite could serve the snacks and drinks. She was positively thrilled with the transformation, but she didn't want to let on too much to Petite.
When Petite appeared in the kitchen, now wearing her short, black French maid's costume, it startled Paula momentarily. She looked every inch a woman in high heels, her nose and the cute little dress with the ruffles all over it. And that lacy apron, and the cap! The brown bobbed wig made it all so complete.
Paula watched Petite with satisfaction from the corner of her eye that night, making sure that the maid was not only doing her job correctly, but that the guests weren't questioning her too closely. It was a fulfilling experience to witness, knowing something as daring was going on. Only one man gave Paula a scare when, after offering his sympathy about Peter, told her that the maid looked familiar. But when he said the name of a movie star that he thought Petite resembled, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Peter, looking through Petite's mask remembered some of the people vaguely, but as if through a fog he couldn't get through. It was nice not to have to talk on and on with them like he'd had to do, secure in the role he had now adopted.
After everyone had left, Paula told her that she could clean up the mess in the morning, that she now wanted her to come to the bedroom with her. Petite followed behind the woman, coming to a stop when she was ordered to do so. The woman took a long riding crop from a drawer and held it in her hands.
"Petite, I am very pleased with your service.
However, as I'm sure Julia told you, you will have to be punished whenever you do anything wrong. Just so you understand me from the start, I'm going to give you a few cuts of the riding crop to serve as a tiny example of what you'll be receiving from me if you fail to obey me. Now drop your drawers and pull your dress up."
Without a word, Petite did as she'd been ordered, slipping her panties down and bending over, her dress hiked above her backside, presenting a tempting target to Paula. A shiver of anticipation ran through her body, but she didn't utter a sound until the crop fell across her buttock cleft with a sharp snap.
Petite endured five cuts of the cruel whip, sobbing quietly as she received them, but offering no resistance. Then she pointed towards her crotch, slipping her panties off and hiking up her dress. She was pleased to see that Petite had learned the silent command well.
The girl knelt in front of Paula and began to lap at the matted hair of the crotch. Paula held onto the riding crop, threatening to strike if the least thing wasn't to her satisfaction, but she didn't have to use it. She was amazed to see the transformation in her son, who lapped steadily at her clit.
Peter-Petite too was amazed at the difference in the old Paula and the new Paula, the late model carrying on in a lascivious manner that would have appalled the earlier version. But just as Petite had really begun to eat the lollypop, a sharp knock came at the door.
"Who is it?" Paula yelled in an annoyed voice.
"Police, open up!"
Paula froze in her tracks, her face going white as she dropped the riding crop onto the floor. She hesitated, thinking of going towards the door, for she didn't know how to run. But the police, guns drawn, saved her a decision, kicking the door off the jams. There were several uniformed men, along with plainclothesmen, as well as a police woman.
"We've got them," the man in charge said. "You the only ones here?"
"How dare you," Paula began, trying to intimidate them as her custom. "Do you realize who I am? You might get away with this with ordinary citizens, but I am Paula Le Grande.
"Save it Mrs. Le Grande," he said, throwing up an arm. "You're under arrest for kidnapping and accessory to murder. I'll read you your rights... " he went on and read them, despite Paula's attempt to interrupt. It was clear that she was in a state of shock.
Meanwhile, the policewoman examined the ring in her boy-girls scrotum, establishing the identity. Petite, having not been ordered to do anything had remained kneeling, the ring in plain view.
"Shocking," the policewoman said. "We'd better get an ambulance and take this one to Bellview," she told a uniformed officer, taking a quick look at Peter-Petite's general state, the glazed eyes staring at hers like a child.
"You see, Mrs. Le Grande, there's this doctor who was running an abortion mill, over in Jersey is where it was. Well, we just happen to make a raid there, a charge concerning the abortion laws. Well, what do you think we find but a girl's body. He held out for a week and a half, up until the time they charged him with first degree murder. Well, then he says he didn't kill the girl, that he'd been given the body to dispose of. By the time he's finished talking, we've got quite a sensational story. And it'll hold up in court.
Petite wondered where all her friends had gone. The people in the suits had put her into this big ambulance and taken her on a ride. She wondered where she was going now, and wished they'd play the siren and the big light. She hoped she'd make new friends there. People had been so good to her.