The Diaries of Ayesha

Because I truly needed her. I needed someone to be with. Gone was the brittle shell that protected me from feelings and pain. I was totally exposed to her and she knew it, knew it as well as Mistress Minx did.

She slid my semierect cock into her wetness and I felt her move slowly up and down on it with little cries of pleasure.

"Yes Michael, you give me pleasure. Mistress Minx may not have use for this aspect of you, but I do. I want your passions, your desires, and even your lust. Does that surprise you?" she asked.

"Yes Mistress," I panted feeling her clamp her muscles around my cock, milking it.

"Our Mistress controls her passions, but I do not. You will learn that. When I desire you, you will know it, never doubt that," she purred.

"Yes Mistress," I grunted feeling the building orgasm in me. I fought the urge to take her in my arms and hold her against me, to kiss her. I wanted to touch her and she smiled down at me.

"Hold me Michael, take me in your arms and love me as I love you," she said.

I held her against me and then without thinking rolled over on top of her, still thrusting into her.

"Yes Michael, you can make love to me from on top. Show me your passion," she said with a moan.

I kissed her and nibbled her ears and she wrapped her legs around me holding me in her and thrusting against me.

"Cum for me Michael. I want to feel it inside me," she demanded.

I couldn't help myself, I came inside her with a cry of pleasure and pain, echoed by her own cry of joy. I was happy and ashamed at the same time.

"What's wrong?" Mistress Miriam asked sensing my distress.

"I feel funny about this," I said uncertainly.

"In what way?" she said holding me close to her.

"I'm not sure that the Mistress would approve," I said carefully.

"Michael, I am your Mistress right now, and I approve. You are sworn to the service of Ay'esha and this is how I want you to serve. And you know quite well the last thing that she would want is for you to isolate yourself and hide."

I laid there thinking of her words and struggled with the feeling of disloyalty and finally surrendered to her wisdom.

A week went by, and the New Year passed with no word from anybody, and a more or less constant barrage of phone calls from Wallace Dawes as to where his daughter was.

"Michael, I'm getting tired of your excuses. I want to know where she is right now!" he finally demanded.

"I have no bloody idea where she is," I snapped." I haven't heard from her since Christmas. And I am trying to locate her through the Embassy as well as a few other sources over there, but you and I both know the whole country is in a state of chaos."

"I'm going to contact the British Embassy as well Michael. She is still a British citizen you know."

"As you have never failed to remind me," I retorted. "Good day sir."

I sat at my desk and simmered for a few minutes and then decided to bite at least one particular bullet.

"Dawes residence," a proper voice answered.

"Wendolyn Dawes please. Michael Forbin calling," I instructed.

There was only a short delay before Mistress Minx's mother came on the line.

"Wallace is very upset about Minkin's absence from the Bank. I expected you would have called before this."

"I need to tell you before I say anything to Wallace," I admitted." She's missing and presumed dead in Lebanon. Now I don't believe it for a minute, but that's the assumption right now."

There was a short intake of breath and a sigh.

"How did it happen?" she asked in a tightly controlled tone.

I hesitated before answering, thinking of the best way to phrase it

"Your daughter and a friend were in the vicinity of an attack on a terrorist group. Some bodies were found, but haven't been identified yet. I've been told it will take some time to establish an exact identity," I explained calmly.

"But you don't think she's dead?" she insisted.

"I can't tell you why I don't, but no. I think she's alive somewhere, perhaps as a hostage, but she isn't dead."

"I need to know anything you learn as soon as you learn it Michael. I have my own sources from many years ago that might prove useful," she ordered.

"Yes Ma'am. I'll give you all the information I learn," crossing my fingers over the verb tense. I wasn't sure what I could tell her from earlier, but I knew I had to come up with something.

"I'll do what I can to keep my husband out of your way. If she is dead, I'll tell him myself," she said firmly.

"No Ma'am. She's my wife and I'll take the responsibility, "I replied. "Just don't lose faith in either of us."

"I won't. I'll expect to hear from you as soon as you know anything."

I hung up the phone glumly. As soon as I knew anything indeed. I was like Moses when the lights went out: in the flippin' dark.

The second week went by even more slowly than the first and then I got a phone call from Susan and orders for Mistress Miriam and I to come to the Rancho that night.

"Did they identify the bodies?" I asked tightly. "Was it her."

"Michael, I don't propose to talk about it on a nonsecure line. I want you and Miriam here tonight and be ready to travel to Germany."

"Yes Mother," I said with a hint of sarcasm that earned me a rebuke.

"Manners Michael. I expect your obedience and service just as much as Anna did. I expect the best from you and I will have it, or I will instruct Mistress Miriam to put your ass on a hook and hang you out to dry. Is that totally clear?" she said coldly.

"Yes Mother!", I said with considerable more respect than the first time.

"Good. Tia will pick up Mistress Miriam and yourself, then transport you to the Rancho."

She hung up leaving me one more in the position of having to ask for time off work again.

"Let me understand this carefully. We are still picking up the pieces from the Y2K changeover and you want a leave of absence?" The HR director, Mrs. Cabazon, objected.

"Yes. There is some family business I need to attend to that requires me to leave the country for some time," I said calmly.

She picked up the file folder in front of her and opened it.

"You realize that you have used up all your vacation and sick time. If you take a leave it will be an unpaid one," she said looking at me smugly.

"I believe I have the right to family leave in case of death or illness. In this case," I said thinking quickly," illness. My mother in law is ill and Mr. Dawes has asked me to come help with her needs. My wife is already flying to her side and I'm scheduled to meet her there."

Mrs. Cabazon set the folder back down and reached for the telephone.

"Let me just call and check on her for you," she said with a knowing smile.

I sat there waiting for the call to go through, hoping that Wendolyn wasn't available for the telephone.

"Yes, this is Cecilia Cabazon calling for Mrs. Dawes. May I speak to her please?" Mrs. Cabazon said, and then put the call on speakerphone.

"One moment please," the housemaid said and there was a silence, then it was broken by a coughing fit.

"Wendolyn Dawes here," her voice rasped hoarsely. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you Mrs. Dawes. Your son in law was just telling me you were ill," she said concerned.

There was a short pause before Wendolyn spoke again.

"Yes, it’s really very bad. I do hope that he will be able to come soon," she said.

"Yes we were just discussing the matter of his leave. I’m sure he’ll be there as soon as he can," Mrs. Cabazon said and then after expressing her best wishes hung up.

I just sat there marveling at my good luck although lamenting Wendolyn’s bad luck at being ill while Mrs. Cabazon signed my leave papers.

"Take all the time you need. The job will still be here," she said rising from her chair.

I thanked her and then fled back to my little cubical in the MIS department and called Wendolyn myself.

This time when she answered she sounded perfectly normal.

"I expect you’ve heard something," she said before I could ask any questions.

"Uh, yeah. I’m supposed to fly to Germany probably tonight. I haven’t got all the details yet. Are you all right? You sounded terrible on the phone," I said unsettled.

"I’m fine. I just had a biscuit go down the wrong way when your HR person called. I thought there might be something going on like this, especially the way she phrased things."

"Well I am a member of the salaried classes Ma’am, and I do have superiors to report to. It was much easier when I worked for Minkin directly. I could just go if I needed to," I said relieved that she was all right.

"When she gets back, perhaps we can address that problem again. Assuming you want to continue working and don’t become a gentleman of leisure living on your wife’s money," she teased.

"Like Wallace would allow that? Surely you jest. No, I expect to continue working for a living. Just not here if She’s not here."

"Did you learn anything at all?" she queried.

"All I was told is to be ready to travel to Germany. So, I go. Sine die."

"This is all very mysterious sounding Michael. I won’t ask, so don’t tell. If you need anything while you are in Germany, call me," she offered.

"I will. And thanks again for letting me do this myself," I said.

"One of your favorite authors once said ‘When the need arises – and it does – you must be able to shoot your own dog. Don’t farm it out – that doesn’t make it nicer it makes it worse’. This really isn’t any different," Wendolyn said sagely.

She was right of course.

When Tia arrived to pick me up, Mistress Miriam already had my travel bag packed for me and in the car.

"I thought it would save time," she said as Tia pulled out of the garage.

"Were you this efficient with the Mistress?" I asked doing a quick check of the bag.

"Of course. Did Susan tell you anything when she called?"

"She wouldn’t discuss it on the phone. Did she tell you anything? I know the lines at the house are secure," I asked.

"No, just directed me to be ready to go to Germany."

During the rest of the ride to the Rancho we refrained from speculating and instead turned back to the continuing issue of Justin Hopper and the INS, who Miriam informed me, had made another visit.

"And what pray tell did the little weasel want this time?" I said lightly.

"He wanted to know where the Mistress was, how long she’d be gone, would I be staying in the house."

"And you told him?"

She smiled evilly.

"I told him that it was none of his fucking business if I was staying or not and as to the rest of it, talk to you."

"Rude, crude and abusive. Perfect approach to him for right now. We can apologize later, but right now, he’s a problem we don’t need."

"Well if she is dead, it does solve the problem."

I looked at her and shook my head.

"Thank you for your support."

Typically and annoyingly, I was once again not permitted to see the exact route to the Rancho, although I’d made the trip enough times to make a good guess at the location.

Not that I would mind you, but there were times when I really wanted to know.

Mistress Miriam followed tradition and policy by taking me into the Rancho hooded and leashed and didn’t remove the hood until we were in Mistress Minx’s rooms where I found Dr. Ruth and Susan already waiting for us.

"Kneel Michael," Susan instructed, and I lowered myself into the position of respect and waited expectantly.

Dr. Ruth raised her eyebrows at my obedience and then turned her attention to Mistress Miriam.

"I see that you have taken Michael well in hand Miriam. I haven't seen him that obedient in a long time."

Mistress Miriam reached out and stroked my head.

"He's been on his best behavior since the night we returned home," Mistress Miriam said.

Susan nodded.

"That will make this easier. It seems there is a problem with the autopsies. The bodies are too badly burned to make a good identification. Without it, the military won't release the remains."

Before I could say anything, Dr. Ruth continued smoothly.

"I have a student at the school who is very talented in biology and chemistry. She's not a Daughter, although I think someday she may well be asked. Susan and I want you both to escort her to Germany to run a DNA test. Just one thing. We need a sample of Minkin's DNA or a relative's to match against."

I started to speak and then waited, remembering that in this place, I must observe protocol, especially now.

"Michael, can you arrange that?" Dr. Ruth continued.

I thought about it and then nodded.

"Yes Ma'am. I should be able to get a sample from her mother for a match. She is aware of the situation, although not of Ay'esha's relationship to it," I answered confidently.

"On whose authority did you tell her anything at all?" Susan snapped.

"My own," I said taken aback by her hostility." Her absence has been noticed at work as well as by her family. Her father is having inquiries made through the British Embassy about her disappearance. I felt telling her mother that she was missing and presumed dead to be a better option than having governmental interference. I think you know her mother can deal with her father better than I can."

"Having met Wallace socially, I would tend to agree," Dr. Ruth confirmed. " Good. You can meet my student in London. Her name is Saphra Markiewicz. Just remember she's not cleared for Ay'esha business Michael. I know it's going to be hard to work under those circumstances, but do the best you can."

"I understand," I agreed.

"I hope you do," Susan said with a hard look." I personally know how lax you can be from a security standpoint, and while it hasn’t been a major problem, since most people consider Ay’esha fictional, you have to guard against it. If Grace hadn’t felt it necessary for you to be present, I would have sent someone in your place. She does feel though that if you are there at the identification, you will be more likely to accept the results."

I waited before asking permission to speak freely and was surprised that she granted it under the circumstances.

"I take it you think she’s dead and I’m nuts, is that about the size of it, Mother of Many?" I asked as calmly as I could.

"Stripped of your sarcasm, yes. I doubt she’s still alive personally, however without proof, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt at this point," was her honest reply.

"And that is my point. There is no positive proof of her death. Just a couple of unidentified bodies. I know I’m repeating myself again, but there is the old Chinese proverb…"

"Spare us the fortune cookie please," Susan said with a wave of her hand.

"As you wish," I said casting my eyes down again.

"Miriam, make sure you keep tight control on him during this assignment," Susan warned her. "Tia will drive you to the local airfield where Mistress Jazmyne will fly you to Germany. I’ll call ahead so she is aware of the need to stop in London to pick up a sample from Mistress Minx’s mother. I'll make reservations for the three of you in Kaiserslautern and there will be a car at the airport. Mistress Majima will meet you at London City Airport with all of the details."

"I understand Mother. And don’t worry. I do know exactly how to keep Michael in line," Mistress Miriam assured her.

It was on that note that Mistress Miriam rehooded me and led me out of the room.

We were most of the way to the airport when she unhooded me and handed me a cup of coffee with a look of apology.

"There are times when I wish I hadn't opened my mouth about Ay'esha to Susan," I said after a quick sip.

"I'm sure there are times that she feels the same way about it. I don't think she expected to become the Mother of Many ever, let alone under these circumstances. She's really not a Daughter and probably won't even accept it totally. But she does know how to do a job and run things efficiently," Mistress Miriam countered.

"I just miss Anna. Losing her and Mistress Minx at the same time is almost too much to deal with. Hell, even losing Lydia hurts in some ways. Did you ever read the a book about Robin Hood?" I asked.

"No, I didn't even know there was one. I've seen the movies though."

"If you read the book, Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham actually had a relationship for many years and when the Sheriff was killed Robin Hood mourned at losing an enemy who was in some ways a friend," I explained." Think of Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. The one would be lost without the other."

"I'd never thought of it that way."

"Anna was better to me in many ways than my own mother. She did understand me, and accepted me, screw ups and all. Even when I made errors, she never blamed me when it truly wasn't my fault. She always treated me with respect even in training," I continued, letting my feelings flow, knowing that I would be unable to concentrate on the mission if I didn't say something.

"Anna was the same way with me. Even knowing I was a female slave, she still didn't make me feel like I was different. Mistress Minx brought me to the Rancho after I was already trained. She wanted me to learn more, encourage the Domme side of me," Mistress Miriam agreed with a little smile." Of course I never expected to be where I am today."

"And if we could have known, would we have changed it?" I added as the limo slowed and turned into the road leading to the airfield.

I was impressed to find a Grumman Gulfstream V waiting for us, engines spooling up as Tia stopped the car next to the steps.

"All out," Tia said as a man came down the steps and opened the door for Mistress Miriam.

"Mistress Miriam, I'm Timothy and I'll be one of the people serving you on this flight," he said reaching in to take her travel bag.

"Thank you Timothy," Mistress Miriam said, obviously flattered.

I was left to deal with my own bags and followed them up the steps to the cabin where I was directed to sit down in the rear of the aircraft while Timothy made sure that Mistress Miriam was comfortable and strapped in securely.

I fended for myself as he came back and sat down in the seat across from me, giving me a good chance to look at him.

He was blond, well built, and frankly a pretty nice looking guy. Of course compared to him I felt intimidated, but reminded myself that I had my own special gifts.

Yeah right.

Mistress Jazmyne came into the cabin from the flight deck, nodded briefly in my direction and confirmed the hatch was secure, then returned to her position forward.

"This is your captain speaking. Our flight time to London is approximately ten hours and we'll be flying at an altitude of roughly 41,000 feet. I'll let you know when you can move around the cabin," her voice said through the intercom.

The engines ramped up to full, we started moving forward and moments later were airborne.

The trip to London passed slowly, more slowly than usual as I was confined to the rear of the cabin for the whole trip and had to watch as Timothy took care of Mistress Miriam's needs. I was fed and watered at least, but I did have to sit in the back.

Timothy inquiring as to the lack of a collar around my neck didn't enhance my mood.

"I am serving Mistress Miriam right now by her claim on me. She'll put the collar on me when she's ready," I said tightly.

"My Mistress wouldn't think of leaving me uncollared," he said as he turned back towards the front of the cabin.

"And I'm sure your Mistress wipes your ass for you too." I thought snidely and then tried to relax enough to sleep.

I was awakened by Mistress Miriam's hand on my face.

"Michael, we're flying over the North Pole. Don't you want to see it?", she asked.

I opened my eyes and looked out over the cool white expanses and though how lucky I was to be above it and not on it.

"Thank you for waking me Mistress," I said softly.

"Michael, don't let Timothy get to you," she said. "I noticed your reaction. He's very new and hasn't learned how to be modest about his service. Mistress Jazmyne says he is really very talented."

"I'm sure he is, but I am capable of taking care of you. He just rubs me the wrong way."

"I know that, but please try and be polite anyway. After all, you are a role model for some of these new subs and while I can see right through that image you project, some others can't. You wouldn't want the Mistress being embarrassed."

"No Mistress. I guess the eager puppy thing is getting to me," I admitted.

"And you are just an old dog," she smiled." I'll try and arrange for you to sit forward on the next leg of the trip. Incidentally, after we get to London, take a look in the aft compartment behind where you're sitting. You might find it interesting."

I glanced behind me at the bulkhead door and looked back at her curiously.

She just walked away leaving me wondering what was behind the green door.

It was sundown in London when we touched down at City Airport, a small commuter field in East London and taxied off the runway, halting inside a small hanger where Mistress Majima stood waiting next to a limo, it's motor idling.

Timothy led the way off the plane carrying Mistress Miriam’s bag as well as my own after she spoke to him about it, and loaded them into the trunk of the waiting car.

"Good evening Mistress Miriam," Mistress Majima offered. "Congratulations on your ascension to the Daughterhood."

"And thank you. I’m still getting used to it," Mistress Miriam said hugging her.

Mistress Majima turned her attention back to me after returning the hug and to my surprise shook my hand.

"It is nice to see you again. I hope the marks didn’t last too long after our last encounter," she said kindly, a rather shocking change from her usual demeanor with me.

" A bit longer than usual, but I think that was because of the bruises I’d gotten from riding that foolish cow. And I did have it coming," I admitted.

I should explain for those of you coming in late that Mistress Majima and I have never been close and frankly she’s threatened to kick my ass more than a few times. She did finally get her chance and while I didn’t get hit that many times, I did get hit well.

I still haven’t learned to mind my sense of humor around her however, so the list of infractions just keeps growing.

"Dr. Ruth ordered me to pick you both up and take you to meet with Saphra before going on to Germany. I have the rest of the information about your trip here," Mistress Majima explained as we got in the car and handing Mistress Miriam a sealed package.

"What about Mistress Jazmyne?" I asked as we pulled out of the hanger.

"She and her pet usually stay aboard the aircraft. The aft stateroom is very comfortable as well as interesting," she said with a hint of amusement." That way you can take off early tomorrow morning."

It was a long ride in terms of time through the early evening London traffic until we pulled to a stop in front of an old Edwardian house on Parklands Road according to the street sign.

"Since Saphra isn't aware of Ay'esha, Dr. Ruth felt it would be better to have you stay here rather than the house on Cherry Tree Lane," Mistress Majima explained as I unloaded the bags from the car.

"I've never been there. The last time the Mistress and I stayed in London, we stayed at a hotel," I said following the two Mistresses towards the door of the house.

"It's a very nice little bed and breakfast, much like this one, but staffed by members of Ay'esha. So there are some unusual things that take place there," I was told.

The owner, Mrs. Chilton, greeted us and I was directed to carry the bags upstairs to the appropriate rooms. I was assigned a single room with a shared bath while Mistress Miriam and Mistress Majima shared a room.

When I came back down Mrs. Chilton invited us into the dining room where a roast sat waiting along with potatoes and to my surprise, Yorkshire pudding.

"Normally I wouldn't have any kind of meal for you other than breakfast, but when the reservations were made I was asked if I could do something. I thought a proper meal would do you good," she explained as we sat down.

"It is very much appreciated," I said taking a slab of beef." Miriam and I haven't eaten since we left the States. In fact, I'm still running on lunch as a matter of fact."

"And if I understood Miss Markiewicz properly, in the morning you're off to Germany," Mrs. Chilton continued.

"Yes Ma'am," I answered as a young blond woman wearing a black sweater and gray pants, joined us.

"Sorry I'm late everyone," she said reaching for the potatoes.

"That's all right Saphra," Mistress Majima assured her. " Saphra Markiewicz, the young lady on your right is Miriam and the gentleman on your left is Michael."

She nodded towards the both of us in turn and finished filling her plate before speaking.

"I was a bit surprised when the Headmistress asked me if I would assist in identifying your late wife," she said to me." My sympathy for your loss."

"Thank you for that, but everyone is making a simplifying assumption. I don't think it's her and Dr. Ruth felt that the opinion of an outside expert would be more convincing. I understand you are very good with DNA testing," I clarified.

She looked at me and shrugged.

"I was only ranked fifteenth nationally in cell biology when I graduated high school," she said with just a trace of pride." The reason I'm at the Institute was an offer to work with Dr. Morris. His work in virology is groundbreaking, but I don't suppose you've ever heard of him."

I looked at Mistress Majima and bit the inside of my cheek. She and I knew the doctor's work very well after the Mad Cow Incident detailed in Ragtime Cowboy Joe.

"Biology isn't really my field Ms. Markiewicz," I said calmly." I have a basic background in it, but I'm primarily a computer technician and an information analyst."

"I see. How much do you know about DNA testing?" she continued.

" I know what the PCR testing is and I know Dr. Kerry Mullis got the Nobel Prize for it. And I know you need a comparison sample for the test," I said guardedly.

"I don't know even that much," Mistress Miriam said. "How does it work?"

" Well, I can explain the DNA ID...," Saphra started. "Once you've used PCR to magnify the sample, you split up the sample into a few mini-samples. Then using a different restriction enzyme on each, you load the now-fragmented samples into the gel electrophoresis box. Most labs would then x-ray it or put phototracers instead of just using the electrophoresis gel to look at. Then you use the "known" sample of DNA, put the same restriction enzymes in, electrophoresis, and compare. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's still not an exact science in some ways and what you're really doing is matching a statistical sample. It's still possible to be wrong, just not probable. If the DNA matches beyond a certain point, there will be no doubt," she said apologetically.

"We'll just have to wait and see what the test results are. It's going to be more interesting if the test does prove negative," I offered. "That leaves us with a couple of questions. Who is it and where is my wife?"

"There is always that," she admitted.

Any further discussion was blocked by Mrs. Chilton's insistence that we eat dinner and change to a lighter subject of conversation.

It was nearing midnight London time by the time we decided to try and get some sleep, Saphra having preceded us to bed, even though Mistress Miriam and I's bodies were still trying to run on Left Coast time.

We climbed the stairs together and Mistress Miriam kissed me softly before joining Mistress Majima in the room they shared.

I did my best to sleep, but an hour later was still very awake when there was a soft tapping on the door.

I opened it to find Mistress Miriam standing there dressed in only a T-shirt and carrying a small travel bag.

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd slip in here and keep myself occupied for awhile," she said softly as she brushed past me.

I closed the door and turned to find her standing by the rumpled bed, holding the collar Mistress Minx had left for my Christmas gift in her hands.

"I think you know what I want," she said expectantly.

I walked back to the bed where she was waiting and knelt before her naked, head up, waiting for the feel of the leather against my bare skin.

She looked into my eyes as she tightened it and then bent her head down to kiss me.

"You are my toy tonight Michael," she said drawing back." I'm feeling very creative and I expect your cooperation."

"Yes Mistress," I said wondering what she had in mind.

I found out a minute later as she withdrew a makeup case from her bag and some lingerie.

"I know you don't enjoy this, but I do, and I think I'm entitled to enjoy myself on occasion," she said cupping my chin in her hand to hold my head still as she started working on my eyebrows.

I didn't say anything to that. She was within her rights to paint me up if it pleased her. It certainly wasn't like I would be going out in public.

At least I hoped not.

She didn’t say much to me as she worked on my face and I had learned through experience to keep my mouth shut.

Makeup on your tongue is really disgusting.

She finished my eyebrows and then applied the eye shadow carefully as I flinched from the touch of the brush.

"You will get used to this in time," she said putting the brush away and getting out the powder for my face

"I hope not," I replied carefully as she brushed the coloring over my cheeks.

She looked at me oddly and then put the blush away.

"I thought you liked being a slut," she said.

"I do and I don't," I answered lamely. "I just have to be in the right frame of mind now days, and I haven't been."

She sat beside me on the bed and then put her arms around me.

"I'm not going to make you do anything you don't really want to do Michael," she said.

I looked at her and felt my eyes sting as a tear escaped.

"I don't wish to disappoint you either Mistress. I want to please you," I said embarrassed at my weakness.

"And I want you to be pleased in serving me as well," she said kissing me. "Why don't you go scrub the makeup off and perhaps we can just lie in bed together and cuddle. Would that be nicer for you?"

I admitted it would and she hugged me again and then swatted me gently across the ass as I got up to go to the bathroom.

It wasn't until I got into the bathroom and turned the water on that I found who I was sharing the bathroom with. The opposing door opened as I was reaching for a washcloth and revealed Saphra standing there wearing a long T-shirt.

She just looked at me, her eyes inspecting the makeup and the collar around my neck and then looking further down towards my nether regions.

I didn't quite know what to say, so I made sure I said nothing at all, just proceeded to wash my face and nod politely to her as I left the room, the glow of my blushing nose lighting my way.

"Something the matter?" Mistress Miriam said as I slipped into the bed with her.

"Uh, I'm not sure. I just ran into Miss Markiewicz in the bathroom. She didn't say anything, but I could tell she had a few hundred questions," I stammered.

"That might be an issue later," the Mistress agreed. "We'll know in the morning."

"But," I started to say and was gagged by her warm soft breast.

"In the morning little one," was all she said as I relaxed into her.

Saphra didn't see fit to mention our close encounter of the second kind at breakfast the next morning but with Mrs. Chilton and the other guests of the house present she might have just been trying to be discreet.

An hour later we were packed again and in the car for the drive to the headquarters of Dawes, Jones, Mosley and Grubbs located near the Royal Mint. Mistress Minx's mother had suggested meeting us in a pub near the building to give a blood sample for Saphra to use for DNA matching rather than the office itself to make sure that Wallace didn't spot me.

Mistress Majima stayed with the car while Mistress Miriam, Saphra and I entered the Unicorn in the Garden pub for our meeting with Wendolyn Dawes.

She was sitting in a back booth knitting quietly with a tea set and a plate of scones on the table, and without looking up she directed us to sit.

"I don't want to drop a stitch. At my age it's hard to find the mistake," she said lightly.

"Mrs. Dawes, I was sorry to learn of your daughter’s death," Saphra said respectfully. "I didn’t know her personally, but the Headmistress said she was one of her better students. I still haven’t been told how your daughter died however."

"My daughter was investigating a antiquities smuggling group in Lebanon that was using our bank to launder the money," Wendolyn said looking her in the eye." There is reason to believe that a dispute arose between two militia groups and she was caught in the middle."

"Bank?"

"You see that building across the street. Dawes, Jones, Mosley and Grubbs? My family owns it," Wendolyn explained with no little pride. "We feel very strongly that a bank must remain honest to remain in business and money laundering is a dirty business. My daughter chose to investigate personally despite her father’s objections to getting involved at that level."

I stood there lost in admiration at how fast Wendolyn had spun the tale and again I had the feeling that she had not always been just a proper British housewife.

Saphra nibbled at her scone and poured herself a cup of tea silently, obviously thinking about what had been said. I hoped that Wendolyn's explanation was enough to convince her.

The silence grew into what is referred to as a pregnant pause and this one was going full term.

"The military has excellent pathologists on their staff. Why do you want another opinion?" she finally asked.

Wendolyn placed her knitting in her carry bag and looked at me before speaking.

"I don’t feel she’s dead and Michael doesn’t feel she’s dead. It’s not scientific by any means, but some things transcend logic. Before I tell her father, I’m going to be totally sure."

"And if it isn’t her body?"

"Then I continue the search," I interjected." That’s a given."

Saphra looked at me and then at Wendolyn and at last turned her attention to Mistress Miriam.

"Is he always like this?" she asked.

"Yes. He may have his soft spots, but when it comes to his wife, he’s not going to give up," she advised.

Saphra finished her tea and set the cup down.

"Then I guess we’d better get the sample and be on our way," Saphra commented." There’s work to be done."

Saphra took a prepackaged blood draw kit from her purse and quickly got the sample and sealed the container carefully.

"Let’s move. I want this sample to say as fresh as possible," she instructed.

"You two go on ahead, I need to talk to Mrs. Dawes for a moment," I said.

After the two women left I turned my attentions back to Wendolyn.

"That was a very fast answer to Saphra’s question. I take it you’ve been rehearsing for awhile," I said with a nod.

"If one knows their craft, rehearsal is unnecessary. A ready mind and a keen wit can take you anywhere," she said lightly.

"I’m sure. But I still get the feeling you know more about Minkin and I then you let on." I countered.

"It’s a wise mother that knows her own child," she rebutted. "Oh I almost forgot to give you something."

She opened her bag and took out a blue credit card and handed it to me.

"That is a very special card," she said as I looked at it.

"I’ll say. It has my name on it."

She laughed at that.

"Well, beyond that, it has a rather large credit line attached to it. I thought you might need it."

"A blue credit card. That’s a bit different."

"Better than green, better than gold, it’s blue because the sky’s the limit," she said." Not many people have one of those, so don’t lose it."

"I won’t. And thanks," I added.

"For what?"

"Trusting me with it. I won’t abuse it."

"Michael, I hardly think you’re going to take the money and run to Brazil with it. At least not without telling me first."

"This is true," I admitted.

"So, be on your way. The young lady seems very intent on the task at hand."

"By your command," I said with a click of my heels.

"That should be, ‘By her command’ Michael. I trust you’ll remember the next time?"

All I could say to that was "Yes Ma’am".

And again I was left with the question of what did Wendolyn Dawes know.

It’s a short flight from London to Germany, so I didn’t get the chance to look in the aft compartment of the Gulfstream at all, my curiosity having been twitted by the earlier comments.

"We’re going to land at Saarbrucken Airfield. It’s about 55 kilometers from Kaiserslautern and there is a car waiting for you for the rest of the trip," Mistress Jazmyne announced after directing us to strap in for landing. "My orders are to drop you off and return to London and wait."

Driving in Germany was not on my list of things to do. I don't like driving in the City let alone in foreign countries.

When we cleared customs, we were escorted directly to the rental car pick up area and handed the keys to a Mercedes worth more than I make in 5 years.

"I'm not driving this thing," I told Mistress Miriam after Timothy put the luggage in the trunk and left with Mistress Jazmyne. "I'd be afraid of scratching the paint."

"I'll drive," Saphra said. "I've driven in Germany before. You just tell me the route."

I fumbled out the map and after a moment directed her to the E50 autobahn.

The E50 autobahn was a bit like Interstate 40 through Northern Arizona with the exception of the speed limit, of which there was none.

"I know we're going to a hospital Miss Saphra, but I'd rather arrive under my own power rather than in an ambulance," I commented after her third high speed pass of a truck.

"Chicken," she said lightly.

My only reply to that was the battle cry of Super Chicken.

Landstuhl Medical Center is the main U.S. Army medical center in Germany and has one of the best medical staffs in Europe, with specialists for everything from neonatal care to burn treatment. They also have a staff of pathologists to deal with the unpleasant task of identifying bodies that have been mutilated in combat or other grisly ways.

The first obstacle that presented itself to us was a very annoyed head of department, Dr. Francis Burnside, Major, Army Medical Corps. He made it very clear that our bringing our own expert with us chafed him in a sensitive spot.

"Mr. Forbin, I'd like to remind you that this facility has been doing identification of human remains since before you were born and that you could have just supplied a sample and let us do the work," he lectured when we seated in his office

"Doctor, if it was your wife and there was any chance of an error, you'd do the same thing. I've already lost a wife and child and the prospect of a second is not at all thrilling. It's being done this way on the recommendation of my therapist and was arranged at a level far over your pay grade. I have no objection to the tests being run by your people, I just want my expert to duplicate them," I replied calmly knowing that I had the advantage.

"And this is your expert?' he said nodding in the direction of Saphra. "She hardly looks old enough to know her way around a lab."

I started to object but Saphra beat me to it.

"Doctor it's obvious why you're in the Army. You lack the interpersonal skills to survive in the real world," she said sweetly.

He slid his glasses down his nose and peered over them.

"I'm not going to allow myself to be insulted young lady. I am a Major in the United States Army as well as having a doctorate in chemistry and biology," he rebuked sharply.

"No, Doctor Major Burnside, you seem to be more of a speed bump in the road of science. I'm am here on a consulting basis because I was asked by my instructor to work with Mr. Forbin and his associates. I would think that you would put your concern for the next of kin ahead of your ego, but I guess I'm wrong. Now if we can get on with this, the sample needs to be transferred to a refrigerator," she countered indicating the small ice chest sitting on the floor next to her.

He slid his glasses back up his nose and settled back in his chair smugly.

"There is the matter of a security clearance involved as well. Since you're not cleared, you'll have to be under escort at all times," he concluded.

Dr. Burnside pressed a button on the intercom on his desk and a moment later an MP sergeant appeared.

"Yes sir?" he said saluting.

"Escort the young lady and this gentleman to the path lab and turn them over to Doctor Timbrinkle. They are to be watched at all times and not to be left alone for a moment. Is that clear soldier?" Dr. Burnside commanded.

"Yes sir," he snapped although to my ear it sounded like he spelled sir, cur.

"Thank you Doctor," I said as Saphra picked up the sample case and followed the sergeant out of the office.

"I'll keep the Major entertained while you and Miss Markiewicz work Michael," Mistress Miriam said. Remembering that at one time she had worked as a nurse according to Mistress Minx, I had no doubts about her ability to deal with an officious doctor.

The sergeant was very professional in his treatment of us, not letting us get too far ahead of him, or allowing us to come to close as he directed us through the corridors of the hospital to the pathology lab.

When we arrived we found a pleasant faced blond young man waiting for us who introduced himself as Dr. Timbrinkle. We shook hands and introduced ourselves and explained why we were there.

"I hope that Dr. Burnside hasn't been too offensive," he apologized with a slight accent I couldn't place in his tone.

"He's just upset that Miss Markiewicz here is going to duplicate your tests to make sure this is really my wife," I said.

I'm sure that Dr. Markiewicz and I will get along just fine," he assured me.

"I'm only a student Dr. Timbrinkle, not an MD. I was asked as a favor to assist as I have a very good background in PCR technologies," she said dismissivly.

"It's nice to see a young lady starting early in this profession. My doctorate is in chemistry actually, so I'm not a real doctor as some people put it. In fact, I'd prefer it if you just called me Dirk. Let's get your sample here into the cooler after we get a couple of ampoules to start with."

Saphra set the case on the counter of the lab and the two of them quickly took matching samples from the small vial of blood drawn from Wendolyn a few hours before.

Saphra explained where the blood had come from and then the two of them started talking about biochemical concepts that run way over my head for the most part, but seemed to focus on the probability of a match using maternal blood.

I sat down on a lab stool while the two of them started the process of using the PCR technique to amplify the DNA in the samples.

All through this the sergeant kept watch scanning constantly, alert at all times for any hint of trouble from either of us.

Dr. Timbrinkle, excuse me Dirk, finally turned away from the lab bench and invited me to examine the charts of the first DNA tests.

He handed them to me and it looked to me like nothing more than a set of black dashes of varying lengths on a white background. Saphra came over and proceeded to explain that the markings were the results of the slightly radioactive DNA strands on X-ray film.

"Each position indicates a gene grouping. Now if the tests we run match beyond a certain percentage, then is it your wife. If not, then we have the greater mystery to solve," Saphra said stripping off her rubber gloves and throwing them into a biowaste container. Now what I'm doing here is running a PCR test which takes about a day for gross results and then we'll use another variation called mtDNA testing which will take a week to finish. Those results will be conclusive."

Dr. Timbrinkle nodded admiringly.

"I can see now why you were chosen. You do know your stuff," he praised.

"Thank you doctor. Perhaps you can convince Major Dr. Burnside of that," she replied politely.

"Someday perhaps. He objected to my assignment as well, but as the NATO representative he didn't really have much of a choice about it," he said with a grin.

"Did you run the tests on the remains or did he?" I asked standing up, my ass getting tired from the hard lab stool.

"He did and I checked his results. Despite his lack of manners, he does know his field. We did determine without a doubt that two of the remains were female. We could tell that from what was left of the pelvic bones. I could show you if you like," he offered.

I shuddered slightly. See the burned remains of my beloved? Seeing the burned remains of anyone was enough to make me queasy.

"I'll take your word for it."

Saphra squeezed my arm in sympathy and then explained that we were through for the day.

"It will take all night for the DNA to multiply, so we can come back tomorrow morning and start the next test series," she said.

"I know you've been waiting a long time Mr. Forbin, but before this technology was developed, you might never have been sure," Dr. Timbrinkle reminded.

"Right now Doctor, that is a small comfort, but I understand your point," I said. "I suppose the sergeant can escort us out now."

"I'll speak to the Major about getting you cleared for access to this area only. That way you can at least get to the bathroom if you need to without an escort," he replied. "Although I'm not sure the sergeant wouldn't enjoy escorting Miss Markiewicz to the bathroom," he added wickedly.

"Doctor you can treat it like a joke if you want," the sergeant said," But the Major would have my ass up on charges if I didn't follow her into the bathroom and make sure she didn't sneak out a window."

"Paranoia, thy name is Burnside," I said.

"This is a pretty open facility as a rule but right now we are tightening up on security due to a threatened terrorist act," the sergeant explained.

"Well do your duty and take us back to the Major's office so we can pick up Miriam and we'll be out of your hair for the day," I said.

"Would you like to meet for dinner tonight perhaps?" Dr. Timbrinkle asked looking at Saphra more than me.

"I don't think we'll have time tonight," Saphra replied. "I'm not sure what arrangements have been made for accommodations and I know that Mr. Forbin and his partner had a short night. Perhaps another time," she replied before I could consider Dr. Timbrinkle's offer.

"Of course. Plenty of time for a social evening," he accepted. "That will be all Sergeant. Please escort them back to Dr. Burnside."

The sergeant saluted and a few minutes later delivered us to the anteroom of Dr. Burnside's office when we were told by his aide that the Major had given orders not to be disturbed.

"What about our friend?" I asked.

"She's still in there with him sir."

I looked at Saphra and shrugged.

"I suppose she found a way to keep him amused," I said settling down on the couch in the outer office.

"Probably the same way she was keeping herself amused last night," Saphra said coolly.

"This is probably not the time or place to discuss that, "I said with a glance at the aide and the sergeant who was standing guard at the door.

"I wasn't planning on discussing it at all. What you and the lady do is your business," she replied.

"And thank you for that," I said.

"Yes my tastes don't run to men in drag but I would like to discuss other aspects with Miriam privately in the future," she continued with an arched brow.

In the words of Gomer Pyle USMC "Surprise, surprise, surprise."

That pretty much killed the conversation stone dead until the door to Major Burnside's office opened and Mistress Miriam stepped out and closed it behind her.

"I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long," she said with that tone in her voice that indicated she was in Domme mode.

"No ma'am," I said. "We finished our work for the day and won't need to come back until tomorrow," I said quickly standing up.

"Then I suggest we leave," she said and walked out leaving Saphra and I in her wake.

The instructions in the packet that Mistress Majima had given Mistress Miriam directed us to the Hotel Zepp where we found that while we had a reservation, we didn't have the rooms for the week it would take for the tests to be completed.

"I am very sorry sir, but the room we have reserved for you is already booked by another family in two days," the desk clerk apologized.

"That is not going to be acceptable. We will need a room for three people for one week," I repeated.

"I can give you that room for two days, but then you would have to move into two separate rooms. There isn't really any other option," he said firmly.

I was tempted to use the old "If the President was coming over..." routine, but decided that it wouldn't translate well into German.

Then I had the idea of taking out the little blue credit card that Wendolyn had given me and started tapping it on the counter in annoyance.

After about the fourth tap he noticed the color of the card and his level of cooperation increased dramatically.

"Would you be checking on that card sir?" he said respectfully.

"We would. I hope it's accepted here," I said knowing the answer just from his reaction.

"Naturally. I'm sure we can make some other arrangement for the other party when they arrive."

"I'm sure if you explained that we were here to recover the body of my wife, they would understand," I suggested.

"Of course," he said, positively oozing charm. "I'll have someone take your bags up to the room."

The room we were give was actually a large airy apartment with three separate bedrooms and a bath, unlike most of the rooms, which had a shared bath.

"How did you get the manager to back down," Saphra asked after the bellman departed.

"It's amazing what you get with the right credit card," I said showing her the card. "Wendolyn gave it to me just in case I needed it."

"He reacted like you had shown him a membership card in the Gestapo," she said.

"I'd keep that joke to myself here. They take it seriously, so seriously that it's against the law to even have memorabilia from that time period," I warned.

"Why? Are they worried about the Fourth Reich?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact they are."

"Oh," was all she said.

We had dinner that night in the hotel and after dinner Mistress Miriam and Saphra went into Saphra's bedroom, leaving me alone in the main room without even a newspaper to read an intolerable situation for me.

I took a moment to knock on the closed door and announce I was going out for a short walk to get something to read. There was no reply from the other side of the door, so I set out into the rapidly darkening streets for something to feed my mind.

The desk manager directed me towards the nearest newsstand, but between the darkness and my own disorientation from being short of sleep, I was soon lost just a few blocks from the hotel.

Mind you getting lost can be interesting sometimes and this was no exception.

By the time I reached St-Martins-Platz I knew I was off course but instead of retracing my steps, I decided to take a side street where I found myself looking at the German equilivant of a fast food court at a mall. I grabbed a cup of hot chocolate a small cafe and settled down to drink it and watch the people go by.

As I sat there I noticed a number of cars parked on the street, some with engines idling and parking lights on, and others sitting there silently. As I watched I saw a man approach one of the idling cars and speak to the driver. The door opened and the parking lights went out and the engine shut off.

Interesting I thought.

It became more interesting when one of the previous dark cars lit up, the engine starting again, and a man got out of it walking rapidly away.

Ok, the car starts when the driver leaves it.

I thought about asking one of the local citizens what that was all about, but knowing my German wasn't even close to covering that type of question, I decided I'd keep watching.

A half an hour later, I still wasn't any closer to an answer and then one of the idling cars shut off, and a woman got out and walked towards the cafe where I was sitting and came in.

She was blonde and wearing a fur coat and walked with a businesslike air. The business however was rather apparent when she opened her coat upon sitting down at a table near me and I saw she wasn't wearing a whole lot under it, just a thin lacy blouse and no bra. She had as Monty Python put it "Enormous .. tracts and tracts of land". I could see her nipples through the material and they were very dark and very erect.

I guess she felt me eyes on her because she looked in my direction and smiled for a moment. I nodded politely and she moved to join me, sitting down across from me.

"Tun Sie Sie mögen, was Sie sehen?" she said.

"I'm sorry, but I don't speak German," I replied not being able to even get the context of the question.

"I asked if you liked what you saw," she said switching to English with a slight accent.

"Rather," I said with an exaggerated British pronunciation.

She smiled and opened her purse and removed a pack of cigarettes from it and offered me one.

"I don't smoke, sorry," I said.

She looked at me and put the pack away as a man walked over and spoke to her sharply. She rattled something off in German to him and he nodded, but not before giving me an evil look.

"I take it he knows you," I ventured.

"He does. He was a bit annoyed that I'm sitting with you with out ordering something."

I shrugged.

"I'll buy you a coffee. I know it's cold out there," I offered.

"Danke schoen," she said.

I waved the waiter over and she ordered coffee and then asked why I was in Kaiserslautern.

She listened as I told my tale and then shook her head.

"You have must loved your wife very much," she offered.

"I do love her.," I corrected. "She's not dead and I know it in my soul."

The waiter delivered the coffee and she sipped it carefully and then finished the whole cup in a gulp.

"Thank you for the drink. I must get back to work," she said standing up.

I stood up as well.

"Time for me to wander my way back to the hotel. Thank you for spending some time with me," I said.

"You could spend more for just a few hundred marks," she said with a wink.

"I could but explaining it to my companions would be a bit of a challenge than I feel up to," I deferred.

She took a card out of her purse and gave it to me after kissing it to leave lip prints on it.

"Call me if you change your mind," she said and walked out into the night.

I looked at the card and saw only the name Heidi, and a phone number printed on it.

"Heidi Ho," I thought and walked out myself.

I walked back towards the hotel down Markstrasse and at the suggestion of a police officer cut back to the hotel via the Schneiderstrasse arriving just as the hotel manager was turning off the lights in the lounge.

"You are out late Mr. Forbin" he commented.

"Yes, I'm still on California time I guess. Good night," I said went to the room.

The girls didn't say anything to me about my night out the next morning at breakfast and I didn't say anything either. With Mistress Miriam, it wouldn't be necessary to explain and with Saphra, I wasn't sure what to say anyway.

When we got back to the hospital Dirk was waiting for us in the lobby with a set of security badges.

"I don't know what happened last night, but this morning I was told to give you these badges and that Dr. Burnside didn't want to see you at all," he said.

I looked at Mistress Miriam who just assumed her innocent "Who me?" look and said nothing.

"What about the test results?" Saphra said turning to business.

"Wait until you see them. I think you'll find them interesting," was all he said.

When we got to the lab, Dirk handed Saphra a clipboard with a chart on it. She read it carefully and then shook her head.

"You're sure of this?" she asked.

"I compared it to the first sample and had Dr. Burnside look as well. Not the correct grouping at all."

"Do you want to break that down into words of one syllable for me please," I said, mentally crossing my fingers.

Saphra handed me the chart as Dirk handed me another clipboard and chart. Both had lines of varying lengths on them.

"This is the results of last nights test and the other chart is the earlier tests. See for yourself," she announced.

The lines were in totally different areas and of markedly different lengths.

"I see the difference. If you're telling me they don't match, I can see that. Now I know that the results of using Wendolyn's blood would be different, so I guess I'm missing the point," I said.

"You're not missing the point. The point is that the difference is that radical. Unless your wife was adopted, there isn't any correlation at all between either of the two samples obtained from the remains."

My heart leapt.

"She's not dead and this proves it," I almost shouted.

"Calm down," Saphra warned. "This only proves that it's less likely to be her. Until the mtDNA testing results come in at the end of the week, it's not final."

"I am calm. If those results come back the way I think they will, then you'll really see excited!" I crowed swinging Mistress Miriam around in my arms as she laughed.

"Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
"You'll see it's all a show, keep 'em laughing when you go
"Just remember the last laugh is on you
" And always look on the bright side of life, always look on the right side of life."