Chapter 11

The phone awakened Joy. It was Bart calling from Italy.

"I tried to get you twice last night." he said.

"I went to a show," Joy lied. "I was bored with staying at the hotel." She hesitated. "When will you be back."

"No more than a week. I promise," he said. "About Monday if everything turns out right."

They talked for a few minutes more, before Bart said, goodbye and hung up.

Joy dropped the receiver back in its cradle. A tremulous laugh caught in her throat. She had told Bart she was bored. If he knew the truth. If he knew how much she had enjoyed the previous night in the arms of his daughter. A tremble shook her as the memory of Janine came alive. And tonight, she would be seeing her again. Janine had asked her to come.

The truth was, Janine had ordered it, an order Joy knew she dare not refuse. Antagonizing Janine was not the way to save herself with Bart. Somehow, she had to convince Janine not to tell her father.

It was after eight when she arrived at Janine's studio loft. Laughter greeted her ears as she paused to knock. Then, before she did knock, the door flew open and Janine embraced her.

"Saw your cab pull up from the window, Darling. Come on in and join the party."

Joy had no choice as Janine hooked her arm and pulled her inside.

"This is Joy," Janine announced to the three girls. Then she made the introductions.

Carla was a tall redhead, beautiful, but in a hard sort of way. Paula was almost tiny, except for breasts that seemed too large, jutting breasts that threatened the halter she was wearing. The third girl was Roberta.

For some reason, Joy took an instant dislike to Roberta. A cigarette dangled from full un-painted lips. Her hair was a nondescript mousy brown and cut short. Perhaps it was her eyes that bothered Joy the most. Black-brown, they were piercing and, at the moment, caressing and undressing Joy.

"You better have a drink and catch up," Janine said. "We've already started." She thrust a filled glass of some cheap wine in Joy's hand.

Joy accepted the drink. She was conscious of eyes staring at her. And she had a feeling this party might be one she'd live to regret.

Carla put a record on a small record player and announced she felt like dancing. She started to sway seductively to the music.

Whirling around the room, Carla started to shed her clothes. In a matter of minutes, she was naked except for a bra and panties.

"Carla used to dance at the Folies Bergere," Janine whispered in Joy's ear. "She's really good."

Joy grudgingly had to admit it was true. The girls flashing hips and thighs were poetry.

The admiration died as Carla flung aside her bra and swung into Roberta's arms. The two women danced together thigh hugging thigh.

Joy watched as the girls made love. Carla had the most unbelievable breasts, full, firm, the nipples a glossy red.

Suddenly, Joy knew why the buds were so red and gleaming. Carla had applied lipstick to the nipples. She shot a quick glance at the other girls. Mouths were strained, eyes shining. They were enjoying the orgy.

The piece on the record player ended with a coarse grind of the needle.

Janine put on another record. "Let's all dance," she laughed. As she said it, she took Carla from Roberta.

Joy wasn't prepared as Roberta turned suddenly and caught her in her arms.

"You're as lovely as Janine, Darling," she whispered in Joy's ear.

Joy felt the pressure of strong thighs against her. She winced as Roberta's hands pinched her buttocks. They felt like a man's, rough and unkind. Shame burned through the pores of Joy's body. She tried to push Roberta away. The woman had a man's strength, imprisoning her.

Looking around wildly for Janine, she discovered Janine was having her own fun, fondling Carla's breasts.

Finally, as the piece came to an end, Joy managed to escape.

Disgust came in waves. She felt dirty from the grinding rubbing dance with Roberta. She could still feel the hurt of the pinching hands.

"You and I can have some fun together, Darling," Roberta was saying.

Joy looked at her. "I'm not your type," she said, coldly. "Leave me alone."

Roberta grinned. "I can wait, Dearie." She reached over and pinched Joy's breast, giving it a hard twist.

Joy bit her hp to hold back the sharp scream the pain evoked.

"Don't mind Roberta, she gets carried away," Janine said, at Joy's elbow.

Joy faced her. "I think I better be going," she said.

"Going? Darling, you just got here. I've told the girls how wonderful you are. I'm not going to let you disappoint them. We're going to do a show."

"What?"

Janine's voice lowered almost to a whisper. Her tone, though, was harsh. "You're going to make love to me. Remember Bart. I still can tell him." Then, she laughed and kissed Joy. Her fingers bit into Joy's breasts.

"Please," Joy pleaded. "I ... I can't."

"You can and will." Janine stepped back. In a louder voice, she said, "Undress me, Joy."

Joy stared at her, not wanting to believe the command. But the look in Janine's eyes, the warning was enough to know she had to do as she was told. Janine's mouth was twisted in a sneering smile.

As Joy just stood there, unable to move, Janine reached and caught her fingers in Joy's blouse, ripping it off, tearing away her bra with it.

"I said undress me," she ordered again.

Joy managed a look at the other three girls. They were laughing, enjoying her discomfort, whetting their appetites for what was, apparently, all planned.

With a little cry, Joy started undoing the knot of Janine's blouse. Janine helped, wiggling free of it. Her breasts sprung free.

Joy startled. Janine was wearing lipstick on the nipples, too. The perfume of the lipstick assailed Joy's nostrils. With nerveless fingers that held no feeling, she started to ease Janine's denims down her sleek legs.

Janine was laughing. Joy looked up at her face. There was no mercy in the eyes.

"Now love me. Show my friends how good you are," Janine commanded.

Joy couldn't move. Fear gripped her. Somewhere in the haze of despair, she could hear the sharp intake of breath from the other girls.

"I said love me," Janine cried. Her hands caught Joy's auburn hair and forced her, guided her down.

She heard Janine's wild moans of ecstasy, then everything went black.

How long it was, she had no way of knowing. An awareness brought consciousness back. Roberta's leering face was close. She could feel rough hands caressing her breasts. More hands pawed at her thighs and legs.

Joy realized she was naked. And she could see die girls more clearly now. They were all stripped nude. Screams started low in her throat and slowly erupted.

She tried to get up. Hands pushed her back. She tried to fight. It only seemed to incite her opponents more. Warm lips, hands that seemed numbered in the hundreds flagellated her into submission. Through the haze, Joy was aware of Janine's high pitched laugh.

It went on and on, in nightmarish sequence. At times, Joy passed out, only to be revived by some new revulsion. Lips used her flesh as if she was something being bid for on the auction block. Nothing was private. It was all so crazy.

Time held no meaning. When it ended, Joy had no way of knowing. When she came to, after the last in a series of faints, she found herself alone on a bed.

Every inch of her skin crawled, ached with fatigue.

"You did well, Darling. The girls liked your performance."

Joy twisted her head. Janine was at the side of the bed, grinning down at her.

"Why? Oh God, why?" Joy whimpered.

"We like a girl who fights, Darling. It's the kicks, like a guy raping a woman. You showed lots of fight."

"I ... I don't understand. Why me?"

"Because I wanted you down to my level. Maybe now, you won't think you can despise me."

"Despise you? You think that after ... after last night?" Joy sobbed.

"Last night was only another night to me. I've had a dozen women as good as you are. Making love to you was only a diversion."

"A a diversion?"

"Just that. I hate my father. There's no way I can get at him, but I could have you. Watching you suffer tonight, I saw him suffering. Now, whenever he takes you to bed, you'll remember me. He won't know, but you will. And it won't ever be the same for him."

Joy stared at her. Janine was crazy. In her warped mind, she really did believe she was getting even with her father. Joy had a wild urge to laugh. It was all so unbelievable. She wondered if this was some kind of strange retribution. Unconsciously, the laugh did come, bubbling hysterically from her throat.

A hard slap pushed aside the hysteria. Joy felt the weight of Janine's body pressing her into the bed.

Twisting, she tried to escape the cruel hands. It was no use. Janine, in her craze, was capable of anything. Joy realized it and succumbed to the kiss that bruised her lips. The pain became bearable. Joy forced her body to feel nothing. The ache wasn't there, she told herself. Janine wasn't loving her. It was nothing.

Janine had accused her of despising. Well, now, she did. It was more than that. Now, it was a deep hate and disgust.

Finally, it was over. Joy felt the weight of Janine's body leave. Through half closed eyes, she stared at her attacker. She forced a laugh.

"Are you finally satisfied?"

Janine smiled, the smile hp deep. Her eyes were cold.

"You're an amateur. Joy. Go back to men. Go back to my old man. Get the Hell out of here."

It took an effort, but Joy managed to get to her feet. Her body was afire with ache. Every inch of her flesh crawled with pain. Without looking again at Janine, she walked into the front room.

Joy dressed quickly. There was only one button left on her blouse. The zipper of her skirt stuck a minute before she could get it up.

Janine appeared in the doorway. Her lips were twisted in a sneer. "If you need some pins, I have some," she said.

"I can manage." Joy looked at her, searched the face. The loveliness was gone now. She wondered how she could have thought of Janine as lovely. "What is it you really want?" she asked. "Money? So you won't tell Bart about all this?"

Janine laughed. "I've had what I wanted Darling. Worried? I'm going to let you stay that way. I'll let you wonder if I'm going to tell Bart."

Just then, Carla came in. She looked at Joy and smiled. "I see our little pigeon has recovered," she said.

Joy hesitated a moment, then ran past the red-haired girl and out the door. Reaching the street, she kept running until she saw a cab. It was only after she was in the cab and headed back to the hotel, that she regained some semblance of control.

Joy spent a frantic week. She didn't leave the hotel suite. Whenever someone knocked at the door, she was afraid it would be Janine. She couldn't believe Janine would let her alone, and worse, not tell Bart.

And there were no calls from Bart. Then, on Friday, the hotel manager knocked. He handed Joy an envelope when she opened the door.

"Mr. McLane sent a letter authorizing me to give you this, Madame," he said.

Joy accepted the envelope and closed the door. She stared at it. A frown creased her face. She had a feeling something was wrong. After hesitating a minute, she ripped the flap and then gasped. The envelope contained five thousand dollars.

The next morning, Bart called. "Did the hotel manager give you an envelope?" he asked before he said anything else.

"Yes. I opened it. It's money. Bart, what does this all mean? What's it about?"

"You'll know when you get back to the States. You can use the money from the envelope. Pay the hotel."

"You you're not coming back here? Where will I meet you?"

"You won't. Now, listen carefully. Take the train and the boat back to London. When you get there, catch a plane for Montreal."

"Montreal? Bart, what's wrong?" For a moment, Joy thought about Janine. But Bart was in Italy. He couldn't know.

"You'll understand when you get back to the States. It'll be in the papers. There's a subpoena out. They want me to testify before the Grand Jury."

"I don't understand."

"I know. There's no time to explain. Just do as you're told. I don't want you mixed up in this. Now, when you get to Montreal, take a bus to New York."

If it's what you want, Bart. I still don't understand, though. This subpoena. Shouldn't you go back to New York, too?"

"I can't afford to, not right now. My chances wouldn't be worth a dime."

"Is it something to do with Maratti?" Joy wanted to know.

There was a pause at the other end of the line. Joy could hear the intake of Bart's breath.

"It does concern him. They want information I can supply." There was another sharp pause. "None of this concerns you. Just do as I've told you. I'm going to be on the move for awhile. When I get settled, I'll get in contact and let you know where you can meet me."

"I could come with you, Bart." Joy felt guilty. He sounded concerned over her welfare. After Janine, she wondered if she was worth it.

"No I'm going to be moving around a lot. Fact is I'm leaving in an hour for Spain. I don't know where I'll go after that. You've got it straight. London first, then Montreal."

"Yes, whatever you say, Bart."

"It might be awhile, but I'll get in touch with you as soon as I can. Goodbye."

Joy hung up. She felt tears scald her eyes but she couldn't cry. She felt terribly lonely.