Ugly Duckling (2 page)

'Ian!'

John was standing at the door to his office bellowing and clearly angry about something, everybody just kept their heads down knowing not to cross John when he was like this.

'Ian Cripp, where the fuck are you!'

No answer

'Has anybody here seen Cripp?'

Still no answer

'Useless bunch of morons.'

John turned back into his office slamming the door behind him. A minute later there was a knock.

'If that’s Cripp come in, anyone else fuck off!'

'Alright J.D.?' Ian asked politely as he entered the room.

'Where the fuck have you been?'

'Sorry J.D., got here as quick as I could.'

'Well now you've arrived what have you got for me?'

Ian looked at the bags he was carrying 'white coffee, bacon sarnie and a doughnut' he replied.

'Aren’t you a Funny Fucker?' John snatched the food from Ian 'listen Ian I'm having a bad day and I'm definitely not in the mood for your fucking about. I was talking about the case you stupid bastard.'

Ian snapped to attention 'Well Sir, we don’t have anything more than we had 45 minutes ago when we were on the beach.'

'Well what you doing here then?' John sprayed half eaten bacon sandwich across the desk 'go and find something, your supposed to be a detective, go and fucking detect, get me something to fucking work with!'

Ian looked John straight in the eye, turned and walked to the door, gently closed it then came back and sat down at John’s desk.

'Alright J.D. you’ve chewed me off for no reason at all, loud enough for them to hear you in Christchurch, your language today is shit, even for you, you don’t normally F and blind quite so much, your face is almost purple, your eyes bloodshot and popping out of their sockets and I think that vein in the side of your neck is about to explode. So tell me, what the fucks wrong with you?'

'Nothing’s wrong with me Ian, I just want people to get on and do their fucking jobs!' he took another large mouthful of sandwich.

Ian stared at John, he knew this wasn't John’s usual behaviour, suddenly a bolt of realisation struck him.

'Oh Christ John, I'm so sorry, it was three years today wasn’t it? I'm so sorry John, with everything going on I just....I am so sorry.'

John looked at Ian and tears formed in his eyes 'What you sorry for? It wasn’t your fault' Johns voice had suddenly become softer and the redness had started to drain from his face.

'And it wasn’t yours either John, you got called into work, it couldn’t be helped.'

'I should have been driving that night Ian, and if I had it might not have happened, or maybe it would have still happened and I'd have died with her.'

'John, it was an accident. If you hadn’t been called into work, if it hadn’t been icy that night, if you hadn’t arranged to go to Sonia's parents.'

'If that drunk hadn’t run out in front of the car!' John slammed his fist on the desk.

'Exactly John. If none of those things had happened Sonia might still be alive, but they did, and unfortunately, Sonia didn’t make it. But for you to suggest that if you were driving you might have died with her? Sonia wouldn’t want that John, and she wouldn’t want you to think like that either.'

John sat with his head down, studying the palms of his hands 'I know. Did you know she was pregnant? That's why we were going to her parents, to give them the news.'

'Yes John, I'm one of the few people that does know that.'

'Her parents have never spoken to me since, did you know that?'

'John, they lost a daughter. I don't think they blame you personally but they seem to hold the job responsible, they're wrong, and one day they'll realise it,' Ian paused and leaned closer to John 'It wasn't your fault John and you've got to stop blaming yourself.'

'I can’t help it Ian, sometimes I just want it all to go away. And that bloody drunk, what did he get? Six weeks in hospital, being fed three times a day and a nurse wiping his arse how fair’s that?'

'Well he also got the rest of his life in a wheelchair, and probably still needs somebody to wipe his arse, but I know what you mean.'

John looked at Ian and shook his head 'He can bloody walk Ian, I know he can, he's just sponging off benefits now. Completely bloody unfair.'

'Agreed John. But don’t get like this, its not you.' Ian took a sip from John’s coffee, 'Tell you what, how about a pint after work? Phil's opening his new place, the Laughing Pig I think it’s called.'

John feigned looking through his diary 'Well I don’t know, let me just check my diary, hmm, looks like I’ll have to put Angelina Jolie on hold, but I suppose we could re schedule, I'll just have my people call hers. OK, your on.' he smiled 'Now will you stop drinking my coffee and get back to bloody work, find me something to solve this case, I’m sick of telling you.'

'OK John I'm on it.'

'And Ian will you stop calling me John, you only do that when you’re trying to be nice, or want some money. It’s J.D. to you.'

Ian smiled and left.

As Ian left the building he noticed on the other side of the road a figure taking photographs of the police station, he was about to cross and ask what they were up to, but as soon as he stepped towards them they jumped into a car and were away. Bit odd he thought but probably just Japanese tourists, Bournemouth's full of them at this time of year.

The front door opened and she entered the apartment, a large holdall type bag over one shoulder and a laptop case in the other hand, she closed the door crossed to the kitchen put the bags down and went to the cupboard to pour herself some breakfast cereal. It was lunch time but Jenni wasn’t big on lunch, she couldn’t afford it for one thing, it wasn't the cost in financial terms, it was the cost in calories that bothered her. She was a freelance journalist but apart from the odd piece in women’s magazines she was still waiting for the big story that would make her name. Fortunately, in the meantime, her trust fund provided enough for her to live quite comfortably. At 29 she was still single. Men seemed to find her incredibly attractive and when she looked in a mirror she could see why, she knew she had great legs and boobs and her figure was very trim, she worked hard on it at the gym, she thought her nose was all wrong and those ears! But she could always have those rectified later but in the meantime she did her best to cover her ears with her hai
r, which was long, healthy and shiny, in her mind her hair was her best feature. She had her fair share of male attention but they seemed to get bored waiting to get her into bed but she wouldn’t give any man that privilege easily although she had no problem with “heavy petting”. On the occasions she did go the whole way they seemed to turn on her almost immediately and ultimately they vanished from her life. 'Men are bastards' she thought.

She took another mouthful of cereal and opened the laptop, it had been a busy morning down at the Pier, she’d been taking notes and photographs of the police activity there and had already sent them to the Bournemouth Mail “Body found in mysterious circumstances at the Pier” she'd written, and “A source confirmed that the police are baffled by the cause of death despite the horrendous injuries inflicted on the victim in what appears to be a motiveless attack.”

Her laptop sprang into action and almost immediately someone was Skyping her, it was “Wheeler49.” She had been in touch with him for a while now but never met him, it was one of those “friend requests” from strangers that she normally clicks “decline” on, but on this occasion she had clicked “accept” in error and never removed it. They had started by texting online, the chats via the video link came later and over time the rapport had built and she had divulged just about everything about herself to him. Now it had developed into a strange kind of relationship, he was the one man that had stuck with her when all the others had left.

'Hello Jenni, did you have a nice morning at the beach?'

'Have you been spying on me again? Your turning into a stalker.'

'Just like to make sure you're OK.'

'But I never see you, I've only ever seen your face on the monitor, are we ever going to meet face to face?'

'Maybe one day we will, but why spoil a good thing? Your happy with our little arrangement aren’t you?'

'I suppose so, at least you don’t leave a mess or outstay your welcome, I don’t have to cook you breakfast in the morning and as a bonus I can always turn you off.'

'Ah yes, but you always turn me on first don't you my little kitten?'

Jenni knew the signal, 'just wait a moment' she said 'I'm going to move you into the bedroom.'

'I'll wait for that no problem' came the expected reply. 'But don't take too long, I'm ready for you now.'

Jenni unplugged the laptop and took it through to the bedroom where she placed it onto the bed and plugged it into the bedside socket then she plugged in the USB web cam, the built in one was fine but with the USB one she could show the whole of the bed, she looked at the monitor to see that the picture was OK then sat on the bed with her back propped against the pillow, her legs resting comfortably on the bed and clicked reconnect.

He answered immediately, 'Ah there you are' he said 'that took you no time at all, what a good girl you are.'

'I get lots of practice don’t I?' she said smiling

'But you know you like it as much as I do' he was grinning from ear to ear.

'Maybe, maybe not.'

'Oh you little tease. Do you want me to make a mess in my trousers?' he paused, then 'What colour are you wearing today?'

She smiled, this whole situation was quite odd but it did turn her on.

'Well now, who said I was wearing any?' Jenni gave a coy look into the camera lens.

'Oh you really are playful today aren’t you? Show me!' Wheeler demanded.

She could only ever see his face from his webcam but she could tell he was already getting excited, she raised her skirt up to reveal the tops of her hold ups.

'Ooh stocking tops, you know I love stocking tops' he was almost shouting with excitement, licking his lips with shallow fast breaths he said 'higher move it higher.'

She smiled and did as requested, slowly raising her skirt further to reveal red satin panties.

'Oh, I knew you’d be wearing some, you are a little prick teaser.'

'But I got these especially for you,' she said 'would you like to see the rest?'

'Hmm Yes please' Wheeler licked his lips and moved closer to his computer to get a better look.

She gracefully got to her knees and undid the zip at the back of her skirt, laying back down on the bed she gently moved the skirt down over her long legs bending them at the knees so the skirt and stockings could be removed in one long single sweeping movement, she glanced at the monitor and could see that Wheeler was obviously approving of the show. Then she got back to her knees and turned her back to the camera revealing a small G string, firm shapely buttocks and her long hair trailing down her back, she leaned forward and run her finger gently between her legs.

'Hmm, oh yes lovely' Wheeler grinned.

As she undid and removed her blouse and bra, still with her back to the camera, she reached and pulled her hair over her shoulder so it fell and covered one breast but revealed her entire back and long slender neck to the camera.

'Oh god, you are beautiful.'

She glanced, smiling, at the camera where she noticed on the monitor his head “bobbing” slightly, she knew he had started masturbating, the thought of him doing that while watching her turned her on even more.

She turned to face the camera and placed one hand on her uncovered breast,

'God! my breasts are so firm and my nipples are so hard, can you imagine how they feel?’

'Oh yes, yes, tell me more.'

'But down here' her other hand reached between her legs gently stoking the satin with her index finger ' it’s so warm, soft and welcoming.'

'Yes, Yes my little darling, show me more!'

With this she moved her hand inside her panties, arched her back and fell backwards onto the bed.

'Oh my god, it feels so good down here, I wish you could try it.'

'I'm enjoying this as it is' he said, his head bobbing faster and faster.

She removed her panties, completely naked now her body was firm and completely hairless, her hand went back to between her legs and her index finger started probing and stroking, she bent her knees and opened her legs slightly more so that the camera could get a good view as she continued to caress herself, enjoying the pleasure she got from that and the effect it had on Wheeler.

'Oh my god, yes, yes,YES,' Wheeler was enjoying the show.

Jenni slowly reached into her bedside drawer and took the dildo and some lubricants, after slowly spreading the gel both on her and her “friend” as she called it, she placed her friend between her legs just gently rubbing around the labia at first then full penetration.

'Oh, I can just imagine this is how you would feel inside me, oh my god, Wheeler will you be this good, I bet you'll be so much better. Oh God Wheeler I can imagine this being you!'

She could see from the monitor that he was climaxing, she simultaneously curved her back and let out a cry of pleasure, 'yes that’s it' yes yes!' she cried.

Then silence.

She lay there for a few minutes, neither of them said anything, then she pulled over a pillow and laid it on top of her, partially covering herself. She looked at the monitor again and could see that he had lit a cigarette, something he always did and equally something that always made her smile.

'How was it for you?' she asked.

'One of the best' came the reply as he took a long drag of his cigarette 'So Jenni, what are you up to later on?'

'I don’t know yet, why?'

'Are you seeing anyone at the moment?'

'No, but you have to understand that as much as I enjoy my time with you nothing beats actual physical contact with someone, its been so long since I felt a real man inside me, and you keep refusing to meet me.'

'Maybe one day we'll meet, but I'm happy at the moment. I'm glad I've got you all to myself, not having to share you with anybody is just wonderful, and I know how upset you get when your boyfriends find out your little secret, as they always seem to do.'

She hated him when he started on this, he didn’t actually want her but didn’t want her to meet anyone else either.

'Stop going on about that, it’s no big deal.'

'Maybe not to you or me but other people are not so understanding about these little things my dear.'

'As it happens I am meeting someone tonight and if I bring him back here that’s up to me' she wasn’t actually meeting anybody special tonight just an old boyfriend that had asked to see her, 'definitely not to get back together but I need to talk a few things over with you.' he had told her, probably missing a few CDs and blaming her for it, but he would never be allowed to set foot in her apartment again. She just needed to put Wheeler in his place, wanted to make him a little bit jealous, and you never know, she might get lucky with someone else tonight.

'Well, just be careful my dear, I would so hate for another one to dump you, I'll only have to pick up all the broken little pieces again, I'll be watching you.'

'What did you say?'

'I'll be watching out for you' he corrected, 'I must go now, see you soon.' And with that the connection was dropped.

Jenni went for a shower 'watching me' she thought' he definitely said watching me.'