Melody Starr:

Chapter 3

Ray Marsh was not a wholly handsome man, with his lanky, gangly build, wispy brown hair and lackluster gray eyes, but he had a winning personality and a go get 'em style that earned him many friends. It was also that trait that made him a successful businessman. First it was the string of dry-cleaning stores, then the online shops, and of course the nightclub, Cosmic Chaos. And now, thanks to the timely input of an overly anxious and enthusiastic supporter, Ray was ensured a seat in the state Senate.

He sauntered past the bar where his partner Audra busily oversaw the smooth operating of the club. It was an extremely busy night as the house band Drowning Freedom was about to unveil its new lead singer.
"Hey, Ray!," called out Audra, "aren't you gonna stick around for the show? The new girl, Satine, is a knockout singer and a real beauty to boot."
"Don't have time for that," said Ray, stopping briefly to check out the crowd. "I need to go down to the office for a few."
When he said "down to the office", Audra knew exactly what he meant because she's been down there before. It really wasn't the 'office' but a room hidden away deep in the cellar. The only access was a secret door known only to Audra, Ray, and someone else. That 'someone else' was presently occupied but would make an appearance upstairs to check out the 'new' talent.

°°°°°°

"Oooh...Charmaine! Ummm..."
Nydessa, stripped down to her black patent leather thong, laid on the bed as Charmaine gave the girl a 'reward'. They were a tangle of beautiful bodies, arms and long legs, blonde on blonde, mouths touching and teasing special places. Charmaine, totally nude, attacked Nydessa's shaven vaginal lips, spreading them just so to expose the engorged clitoris. Her tongue licked that clit as if it was the tastiest ice cream treat. And it was creamy, moist, and oh-so luscious.
Nydessa screamed in her orgasm, thrashing about under Charmaine's relentless tongue and teeth. Her mistress nibbled the exposed glans, sending Nydessa into a never-ending twitching fit of desire. Dessie tried to reciprocate, but what Charmaine was doing felt so good.

Dessie, as her family and friends called her, was extremely grateful Charmaine took her in. She, a Ohio native, was a runaway, just sixteen, and eking out a barebones existence. The girl had some serious issues at home and, on a cold January night, hopped a bus for the West Coast.
But things happened along the way, such as getting most of her money stolen before she barely got past Chicago. So she was forced to settle there, with very little money and no prospects of employment. Nydessa made her living through panhandling and petty theft. She had no family, no friends to turn to in this strange city. She entertained a notion that she could sing, thus gaining a job in one of the many night spots, but since she was only sixteen, that idea went out the window.
Nydessa nearly turned to hooking to support herself or, if she had the courage, earn enough for bus fare home. Not that she was overly anxious to return home, not with her father and new stepmom badgering her on nearly every aspect of her life. Nydessa didn't want to talk about her home life; to her it was that painful.

Enter Charmaine Shade, a woman who Nydessa met on an El ride downtown. Charmaine, enchanted by Dessie's beauty, quick wit, and other talents, offered the girl a job. Nydessa didn't question this job – she was to be a gopher for all practical purposes. She didn't even know exactly what kind of business Charmaine was in. But Charmaine paid Nydessa well, bought her the nicest, sexiest clothes, took her on many trips across the country and even abroad. It had now been slightly more than four years since, and Nydessa didn't want to look back. Charmaine was not just her boss, but her lover.
That was one sticking point with her folks: they never quite got used to their daughter's "coming out" as a lesbian. But what did it matter now? Nydessa hadn't heard from her folks since she left home, and she wanted to keep it that way.
Actually Nydessa didn't "love" Charmaine as much as she adored and worshipped the woman. She just liked to sleep with her mistress, do her biding. As long as she kept her mistress satisfied, did as she was told, Nydessa could look forward to many more years of comfort. But, in the back of her mind, Nydessa wanted more. Sure, she was grateful to Charmaine, but she feared her mistress' reaction if she voiced, "I want out."

°°°°°°

They laid spent on the bed. Nydessa so much wanted Charmaine to cuddle her afterwards, but such close affection never came. It was, as always, great sex, but Dessie felt something was missing. She continued to lie there on the bed as her mistress got up and hastily dressed. The red light above the door announcing visitors flashed wildly.
"Get dressed!," Charmaine roughly ordered, "And be quick about it!"

Nydessa did as told then exited into the bathroom to dress. In a way, she began to hate what she'd become: a sugar mama's plaything. Behind the bathroom's closed door, she quickly bathed, toweled off, then donned the skintight black spandex pants and black satin bustier. Slipping on the high-heeled shoes, Nydessa then tip-toed to the door, pressing her ear against it, listening to snatches of conversation.
"Ray," said Charmaine, "you really should announce your visits in advance. I was busy..."
Nydessa tried not to giggle. "She was busy all right." Opening the door just a bit, she could see Ray Marsh and Charmaine in conference. She knew all about "Dark Horse" and her mistress' dark designs on the upcoming elections.

"Charmaine," said Ray, sipping on the white wine his 'supporter' poured for him, "the rally was a success. Already I have more commitments from enthusiastic supporters. And the poll numbers are jumping through the roof! I tell you, the election is in the bag. Ol' Jacobs still has no idea how 'that non-descript, no political experience Marsh' all the sudden won over so many voters."
"And," rejoined Charmaine, resplendent in her tight silver lame catsuit, "don't forget that it was I who made it all possible. You see, Ray, when you approached me those few days after McCormack won the primary, I had to do something."
Ray smiled broadly, saying, "And your little scheme worked like a charm. I could visualize Marty McCormack brushing off that little 'bug', only to find out it was a mechanical device that delivered a potent toxin..."
Charmaine, sitting back in her plush red velvet chair, chuckled wickedly as she said, "To make it look as if he suffered a major heart attack. I thank John Eiger for that little gem. The medical examiner never caught the toxin as the stuff left McCormack's body long before they could perform the autopsy. Now, Ray..."

The conversation then went on with Charmaine giving Ray further instruction concerning the upcoming election. Nydessa was shocked! Never had Charmaine actually killed someone before. Oh, she knew all about that Metacorps agent, Taylor, who came to uncover the mystery behind Marsh's sudden rise in popularity. But Charmaine only ordered the hit after she discovered Taylor was indeed a spy.
A sick feeling came over Nydessa. No longer did she want to be party to another killing. No, no more, she thought. Although Charmaine was good to her and was the best lover she ever had, Nydessa felt it was time to move on. However, her mistress had another job for her to perform.
Nydessa, still concealed behind the partially open bathroom door, continued to eavesdrop on Charmaine and Ray's conversation.

"So," said her mistress to Ray, "how is business tonight?"
"Full house. The band finally got a new lead singer, so it should be a good show and crowd pleaser. At least that's what Audra told me."
Charmaine steepled her long well-manicured fingers, wondering who this 'new singer' could be. "And who is this new girl?"
Ray finished his wine and replied, "Audra said her name was Satine Noire. Can you beat that for a stage name?" He laughed briefly then continued, "Don't worry. I got the audio-visual equipment all rigged with a double dose of 'Dark Horse'. Seeing the subliminals worked like magic this past summer, no telling how many more new converts I could garner tonight. With this new singer, and if she's as good as Audra says, we could be looking at a clean sweep next month."

From where she stood, Nydessa could tell Charmaine was quite pleased with the way things were turning out. Dessie, by virtue of being Charmaine's lackey and well as lover, knew all about her mistress' scheme.
Charmaine got hold "Dark Horse" through John Eiger, an elderly eccentric who Nydessa met only one time. Charmaine had Eiger rebuild the club's A-V system and implanting those potent subliminals within. His work was so ingenious! Every song, every visual image, patched through the club's system was rife with subliminal messages so strong that even a casual viewer or listener couldn't resist the effects. Even Nydessa, whose excursions upstairs were rare, nearly succumbed to the potent messages. Thank goodness she never bothered to register to vote or else she would wholeheartedly bubble in Ray Marsh's space on that ballot.

Once Eiger performed his duty, the man mysteriously disappeared. Nydessa wondered if Charmaine had him 'eliminated' as if she didn't want any loose ends about. If, as Charmaine feared, Eiger was captured by government agencies, he could be forced to reveal his information concerning "Dark Horse" and its role in the upcoming elections.

Shaking her head, Nydessa hung back as Ray and Charmaine wrapped their business. He wasn't gone long before Charmaine called, "Nydessa, come here. I have a job for you."
Like an obedient servant, Nydessa emerged from the bathroom and quickly came before her mistress.
"Yes, ma'am," came the loyal response.
"I want you to go upstairs. Check out the band's new singer. If she is who she says she is, then all the better. But, if she looks the least bit suspicious, I want you to keep an eye on her. She may be a Metacorps agent, and I can't afford any more snooping."

As much as Nydessa loved her occasional trips to the club, she dreaded this latest job. She began to hate the fact that she would be, once again, a party to murder. Already she ratted on Taylor and saw what happened to that lady. If this Satine Noire is indeed an undercover secret agent, Dessie shuddered to think what just may befall this woman. Charmaine was getting desperate, and she would protect the outcome of her pet project with whatever means necessary, even if it meant to kill any and all 'roadblocks'.
"And, Nydessa," Charmaine said before her lackey departed, "if you can, talk to this woman, pump her for all the information you can get."

Nydessa silently obeyed then went out the door, up the long stairway to the upper floor, then through the secret door that separated Charmaine's lair from the club's backstage.

°°°°°°

He came home only to find her gone. He had hoped that he and she would have a quiet evening of a good meal and insightful conversation. After all, he never quite approved of his girl being a Metacorps agent.
Kenton "Kent" Phillips, a handsome man of thirty-two, ran his fingers through his thick auburn hair as he profoundly worried about his girlfriend.
"Melody!," he called out as soon as he entered the apartment. No response and Kent surmised that she might have gone shopping or was working late. No, not working as preparing a manuscript for submission, but as working that 'other' job for which Kent had no stomach.
True, he believed what Melody did for a living was dangerous in the extreme, and he told her so when she revealed months ago that she was indeed a secret agent for hire. He wanted to commit, she didn't, simple as that. Kent had hoped that tonight would at least clear the air on some pertinent issues, but seeing that Melody was the holdout, he decided to give her one more chance. But all that changed the moment he saw the note tacked on the refrigerator door.
Going to the kitchen for a beer, he saw the note, read it, then realized Melody would never give in to a lifetime commitment. In that note read, in part:

Dear Kent,
By the time you read this, I'll be knee-deep in a new mission. Do NOT try to contact me as I can't reveal where I am or my cover. It is that delicate, and I cannot go into detail. We'll talk once this case is wrapped. But I think you know the outcome of this already doomed relationship.

Melody

The phone went off, causing Kent to drop what he was doing. When he answered it was one of his college buddies. Apparently this friend was in town and wanted to take in the club scene.
"Hello? Oh, Gary...Hi! I'm good, and yourself? Great! Are you in town? For how long? Clubbing? Tonight? OK, I guess I can go. There's that Cosmic Chaos club...quite popular...Yeah, rock and roll...house band...mostly '80's and '90's covers but they're good. OK, I'll meet you there around nine."

Kent Phillips, whose life up until now was a mere preface, was about to take a plunge into the unthinkable, and not just discover the true identity of Drowning Freedom's new lead vocalist.

To be continued...Go to part 4

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