Combined Forces

by

Julie O

  

Chapter Forty-Nine

  

Ally arrived in her office and was warmly greeted by Donna and the rest of her staff.

"I was told that you weren't coming in today," stated Donna.

"Actually, I'm not here," smiled Ally. "Can you get everyone together in the operations center for me?"

"Sure thing, boss!" smiled Donna. "Give me ten minutes."

Ally called Robert and explained why she was in the office and that she wanted to go with Steve to New York.

"Steve already called and requested you. Promise me that you aren't jumping to Spec-Ops! I can't afford to lose you."

"I promise. It was exciting, but I have a job here. I know that more than ever," replied Ally.

"That's what I wanted to hear. Good luck in The Big Apple," stated Robert.

"Thanks," replied Ally, as she hung up the phone.

 

A few minutes later, Donna appeared at Ally's door. "They're all in there."

"Good," replied Ally. On the way to the center, she informed Donna that she was going up to New York to help recover one of the teens.

"How many are out there?" asked Donna.

"From what we can tell from the computer records, there are fourteen still with the original buyers. Two have been re-sold and they may be more difficult to recover," explained Ally.

"Re-sold? My, god!" exclaimed Donna.

"One may be in a brothel in Morocco, and the other was sold to a private club in Tokyo," explained Ally.

They walked into the operations center. Ally was pleased to see her staff all together.

Ally sat down on the table in front of her agents and set her open can of Diet Coke down next to her. "I just wanted to thank all of you for the great work you've done in helping us break the teen abduction case, and I do mean everyone. Some of you were directly involved in the case and you'll be pleased to know that we're in the middle of an operation to recover all the missing teens. But I want to thank the rest of you too. You took up the slack and carried a heavier load so we could focus on the teen case. Thank you. This was a true team effort and a joint department effort. I hope that we can work with MI more and start breaking down departmental walls."

There was a round of applause.

"Donna will continue to be in charge for the next few days," added Ally. "I don't want to hear any bad reports when I get back."

"Yes, MOM," chorused the department.

Ally smiled and whispered to Donna, "Someday you'll have to tell me who started this whole 'Mom' thing!"

Donna just smiled.

Ally went back to her office, then got up and walked over to Rich's office.

"Hey, there you are!" exclaimed Rich.

"Morning!" stated Ally.

"I'm jealous that you got in on the big bust up in Maryland. Good job!"

"How's it going here?" asked Ally, as she sat down.

"We made our first recoveries this morning. Britain also recovered the two there. We're hoping to get them all back this week," stated Rich.

"What if they don't want to be recovered?" asked Ally.

"That's a possibility. They'll have to pass a psych screening by Jenna's team first. Regardless of how the teen feels, the person who bought them will be prosecuted. At least those here in the US," explained Rich.

"What about overseas?" asked Ally.

"Up to the specific country. I'll settle for the recovery first. We know who they are and will put out warrants. They'll be caught eventually."

"I was shocked at some of the names on the list," stated Ally.

"I wasn't. I guess I'm more cynical than you. By the way, did you hear about Sir Nigel?" asked Rich.

"No, what he'd he do now?" asked Ally. Men like Sir Nigel disgusted her.

"He committed suicide, but he left a stipulation in his will. If his name is never mentioned publicly concerning this case, his estate will make a restitution to the family of Bradley, and to a fund set up to assist abused teens. The amount would be quite substantial," informed Rich.

"Ahhh, protecting the 'good' name of his family!" quipped Ally.

"And maybe buying his way out of hell," added Rich.

"I doubt there is enough money in the world for that," stated Ally. "I need to go. I'm heading up to NYC with a team to recover one of the teens."

"Lucky you! Good luck, and you're always welcome over here, Kid," stated Rich.

"You never know when I might be bitten by a snake," replied Ally.

They both laughed.

  

Chapter Fifty

Ally was sitting next to Steve on the flight up to New York. They were reviewing the file on the teen they were about to recover.

Jeremy Green was one of the first teens to be sold. He had been abducted three years earlier from his private school in Arlington, Virginia. He was seventeen at the time of his abduction. His father was a Colonel in the Air Force, and his mother was a professor at Georgetown.

He was sold to a wealthy Wall Street investor named Sherman Farnsworth.

"Farnsworth comes from old money, but he also made a killing in the early days of the Internet investments. He got out before the fall and is worth millions. He's 63 and has never been married," read Steve from the report. "Each year he gives large donations to local charities."

"Guilty conscience?" asked Ally.

"Maybe. We'll find out soon," explained Steve. "One of the therapists from the New York office will meet us at the airport."

"Any other back up?" asked Ally.

Steve smiled. "Why? Between the two of us we should be able to subdue an older man!"

Ally stared back and smiled.

"There will be two agents from the New York office along for support," stated Steve seriously

"So who's the therapist? Do you know her?" asked Ally.

"Her name is Dr. Nancy Chen. I don't know her, but Jenna has highly recommended her and has briefed her on the case."

"That's good," replied Ally.

Dr. Chen met Steve and Ally as soon as they got off the jet. She was a pleasant, young Chinese-American woman.

"Pleased to meet you, Dr. Chen, I'm Special Agent Steve Williams, and this is Special Agent Ally Burns," introduced Steve.

"Please call me Ally," stated Ally as she extended her hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Ally. I'd prefer that you call me Nancy," replied Nancy.

"And I'm Steve," he smiled.

"Jenna told me a lot about both of you. I feel like I already know you. I must admit that I'm impressed with the way you broke up the abduction ring," remarked Nancy.

"We're not done yet. We're still trying to recover all the teens that the Simons sold. We have two addresses for Sherman Farnsworth. His records state that he maintains a luxury penthouse overlooking Central Park and a house out in the Hamptons," stated Steve.

"His office reported that he's still out at his mansion in Southampton. If we tried to drive out there, it would take hours. The New York agency office arranged for a helicopter to fly us out there," remarked Nancy. "Two agents are already waiting for us at the Suffolk County Airport, which is about a 25 minute drive from our destination."

"Sounds good," stated Steve.

On the flight they discussed their plan. Nancy suggested that they just walk in and question him. If he resisted, they could always arrest him and conduct a search.

"I met him once at a charity fundraiser and I am shocked that he would be involved in something like this," stated Nancy.

"The data from the Simons' computer has already led to the recovery of six teens and six arrests. One of the men we arrested is a former senator and ambassador," announced Steve.

"The teens we've recovered will need a long recovery, and even then they might never lead a normal life," added Ally.

"I know. Jenna has 'borrowed' two of my staff for the recovery facility she has set up. I want to do whatever I can to help," remarked Nancy.

They arrived at the airport and were whisked away by the two waiting agents. The agents were named DJ and Sally. They both seemed in awe at the idea of working with Steve.

A short time later, they arrived at a large waterfront mansion. Steve let out a long whistle.

"This is it?" asked Ally, looking at the huge beautiful house. It was a large piece of property and was very isolated from its closest neighbors.

DJ nodded.

The plan was for Steve, Ally, and Nancy to enter the house, and for the two agents to standby.

They rang the doorbell and waited. A short, attractive young woman, dressed all in black, answered the door. She was wearing a simple black dress, stockings, and heels. Ally noticed that it was a designer dress that probably cost more than her entire outfit.

"Hello, may I help you?" she asked in a very pleasant, cultured voice.

Ally immediately recognized her as the feminized Jeremy Green, but she kept her mouth shut. She would wait until they met the man who owned her.

The girl was around the same height as Ally and wore her auburn hair in a fashionable up-do. Her ears were pierced, and she was wearing simple pearl post earrings. Ally also noticed that she wore a wedding ring.

"Yes, we need to see Mr. Sherman Farnsworth," stated Steve, extending his badge.

The young woman looked surprised and a little embarrassed. Not the shock that Ally would have expected.

"Oh. I'm sorry, but Sherman died two days ago. He had a massive heart attack and died in his sleep," replied the young woman.

Ally noticed that tears were forming in the young woman's eyes. Ally glanced over at Steve and he nodded. Ally would take the lead in interviewing the girl.

"Were you once Jeremy Green?" asked Ally.

The young woman turned her head towards Ally. "I was Jeremy Green, but that was a long time ago. My name is Celeste Farnsworth, would you please come in?"

"Thank you," replied Ally.

Celeste led them to a room overlooking the water. "This is my favorite room in the house. The views are so peaceful."

"Celeste, we need to talk," stated Ally, as she sat down. The girl was right; the waterfront view was lovely. They introduced themselves. Ally noticed that the girl didn't seem worried or upset.

"I understand. Sherman and I expected this one day. Would you like tea or coffee?" she asked. "I'll call Ina and she'll bring it here."

A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman brought in a cart with tea and coffee. Ally was impressed with the bone china teacup.

"We arrested the Simons two days ago. They were the couple that abducted, transformed, and sold you to Mr. Farnsworth three years ago," informed Ally.

"That's wonderful news!" smiled Celeste. "I suppose that you want to know about me. I am fine. Sherman always treated me like a lady."

"Celeste, I know this is difficult, but we need more than that," stated Ally.

She smiled at Ally. "I understand. You think that I'm suffering from the Stockholm Syndrome. Maybe I was when I was first delivered to Sherman, but that has all changed. He truly loved me and did everything possible to make me happy."

"Except let you go," stated Nancy.

"Why would I want to leave?" smiled Celeste pleasantly. "He brought in therapists to help me get over the trauma of being abducted and abused by those two perverts, the Simons. He then gave me anything I wanted. He brought in tutors and they have given me the equivalent of a MBA."

"But you were kept here as a sexual object for him," interrupted Steve.

Celeste laughed. "That couldn't be further from the truth. Sherman didn't want a sex slave or an object. He wanted an understanding companion, a kindred spirit."

"A companion?" asked Ally.

"Yes. Sherman was transgendered. Here is a photo of him. You can see that he wasn't exactly feminine in his physical appearance," stated Celeste, as she held up a photo of Sherman. He was a large barrel-chested man, with a rugged handsome face. He was very masculine. "But she was very sweet woman."

Ally looked at the picture and nodded.

"He told me that he wanted someone to dress with and help him become more feminine. He never touched me sexually, until we got married. By then I was deeply in love with him," stated Celeste, as she looked at the photo. A single tear ran down her face.

Ally put her hand on Celeste's shoulder.

"He truly loved me. I could have left anytime, but why? I had the life that I never had back when I was Jeremy. I'm willing to bet that my parents haven't been searching all that actively for me. Am I right?"

Ally shrugged. "We haven't contacted your parents yet."

"Don't bother. I don't think they'd be happy to see me. I'm sure they discovered my secret when they cleaned up my room after I was abducted," stated Celeste.

"What secret is that?' asked Ally.

"I was transgendered, even before the Simons abducted me. I had a hidden wardrobe in my room. My father thought I was a sissy and was constantly pushing me into more masculine activities. He wasn't impressed with my academic achievements. Mom didn't think that I was fully applying myself academically. She went ballistic when I got an A- on a final exam. I don't think that my present appearance would make them happy," stated Celeste.

Ally was holding Celeste's hand, as she felt a sudden empathy for her.

Celeste continued. "I didn't mind at all that the Simons feminized me; I cooperated willingly with that part. I hated the sexual training and the abuse. When I was delivered to Sherman, I was very confused. I thought I was there to sexually please him and instead he just treated me nicely. Gradually, he had me deprogrammed and gave me the choice of staying with him or leaving. He even offered to pay to have the physical changes reversed., if I wished. I decided to stay."

Celeste went on to describe her life with Sherman. He would spend the weekends dressed as a woman with her. Eventually they feel deeply in love and after Celeste had her SRS, they married.

"The house is in my name, and Sherman left me everything in his will. I am set for life, and I owe him a great deal. He truly cared about me. If you want to test me and see that I am telling the truth, that's okay," stated Celeste.

Steve looked at Ally and then Nancy. "If Nancy believes that you are doing this of your own free will, then I will follow her recommendations."

"Thank you," stated Celeste. She had a look of total relief on her face. "You have no idea of how happy I am now."

"I think I do," smiled Ally, thinking of her own situation. "Why don't we take a walk?"

Ally wanted to leave Steve and Nancy to discuss Celeste. She also wanted to talk with Celeste.

"Do you believe me?" asked Celeste, as they walked outside.

The weather was clear and spring was in the air. The light sea breeze smelled wonderful. A heron flew across the water. Ally couldn't believe that just two days earlier she was shivering in a Maryland field.

"Yes. I do. I understand the inner conflict that you've had," stated Ally.

"No offense, but you could have no idea of the struggles that I have had," replied Celeste.

"Don't be so sure, I'm planning on my SRS this year," confessed Ally.

Celeste froze and stared at Ally. A smile slowly appeared on her face. "That's wonderful!" exclaimed Celeste, hugging Ally.

They walked out to a gazebo that overlooked the water, and talked for over an hour. By the time they walked back to the house, Ally was convinced that Celeste was telling them the truth.

"I wish all the cases were this happy," stated Ally

"I know. Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Celeste, as they entered the house. "Sherman made many charitable contributions, and I want to continue his legacy."

Ally nodded. "I'm convinced that there will be other feminized teens that won't want to return home. They will need help."

"Why not here?" asked Celeste.

Ally froze and stared at her.

"This place is beautiful, but way too big for me, now that I'm alone. I'd love the company. Sherman bought this place for its isolation. I could easily accommodate several girls and their therapists," announced Celeste, "and I have contacts with tutors who could help them get restarted on their educations, as well."

"You don't mind?" asked Ally.

"No, not at all. I loved helping Sherman with his feminine side," confessed Celeste. "Besides, I need something to do with my life, now that Sherman is gone."

Ally looked at Celeste and saw the tears forming in the young widow's eyes. She could sense that Celeste had truly loved Sherman and was hurting emotionally. Without a word, Ally pulled Celeste close and hugged her and let her cry. Ally had to admit that she really liked Celeste, and she hoped that the agency would leave her alone.

Celeste stopped crying and wiped her eyes with a dainty linen handkerchief. "Thanks, Ally."

"No problem, Celeste," replied Ally. They walked back to rejoin Steve and Nancy.

Steve and Ally departed, leaving Nancy and Sally to stay with Celeste. DJ drove Steve and Ally back to the airport. He would then return to the house. Until they were totally sure of Celeste's story, Nancy would require protection.

Ally didn't worry. She was convinced that Celeste was telling the truth. She told Steve all about their conversation. She was pleased that he agreed with her recommendations.

"I like the idea that she wants to help the others," he replied.

"At least we have a happy ending for one of them."

  

Chapter Fifty-One

Ally was in bed snuggling next to Carol late that evening.

"Celeste sounds like a lovely young woman," said Carol.

"I like her a lot. She's also extremely lucky," answered Ally.

"Is that what's bothering you?" asked Carol.

"Yes. Some of these kids we've recovered are shattered. Then there are the three who were found dead. I look back and wish I had shot that bastard when I had a chance," stated Ally angrily.

Two of the teens were already dead by the time the agents arrived. They had been killed by their owners, who were now facing murder charges. The last one was killed in a murder suicide, as the agents tried to arrest the suspect.

"We can't save the world. You did well on this case," comforted Carol, as she brushed the hair out of Ally's face.

"Thanks," replied Ally, as she scrunched up closer to Carol. She really needed to be held. Thankfully, Carol read her mind and held her close. They fell asleep in each other's arms.

  

Chapter Fifty-Two

Ally was back at work the following Monday. Robert called the team together to update everyone on the status of the abducted teens. Ally looked around the room and began to examine the charts. They listed the abducted teens, their location, and present status. Ally felt a chill seeing "DECEASED" next to some of the names. A total of five were dead. Two had been killed by their owners in a vain attempt to hide the crime. Several of the teens were recovered without arrests of the men and women who had held them captive. Ally wanted to know why and planned to ask Robert at the meeting.

The list of arrested slave owners was impressive, a real who's who of the rich and famous. The list included a former Senator, an award winning movie director, a retired pro football player, and a TV talk show host. The overseas list was equally impressive and included several government officials and a Catholic Cardinal.

Only two teens were presently still with their "owners." One was on a yacht in the Mediterranean Sea and the other was in France. The one on the yacht was due to be apprehended soon. Apparently the man had been tipped off and was trying to escape the authorities. The other one was more complex. The man claimed the girl was his daughter and had refused any test of her identity. So far the French Government supported his claim.

Ally was pleased that the teen in the Moroccan bordello was recovered, as was the teen in the Japanese club.

"Okay, everyone, take your seats," announced Robert.

Ally looked around and saw Jenna, Donna, David, Steve, Rich, Maria, Michelle, Cathleen, and Bob. Just then Maggie walked in with Beth. Ally smiled, everyone was here now.

"I have some updates for you on the last two abducted teens. The US Navy just apprehended the yacht in question. They were doing a boarding exercise with the Coast Guard, and someone told them that the yacht was a suspected drug runner. They didn't find drugs, but they did recover the teen. The owner is also in custody and will be transported back to the US. The arrest was in international waters, so there is no extradition issue," announced Robert.

"Who sent them the fake drug alert?" asked Steve with a knowing smile.

Robert shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"What about the teen in France?" asked Ally.

"The French Government initially refused to apprehend the man, being he was a former high ranking minister in the government. However, the Director persuaded them to assist us," stated Robert.

Steve cracked a small smile. "And how did he do that?"

"He just told them he understood their desire to keep the issue quiet. But that the press would eventually get the story and that he was sure that it would cause quite a scandal," replied Robert.

"I'm sure he was the one who was going to the leak the story," added Maggie.

"So, did we get her back?" asked Ally.

"Yes. She'll be arriving at JFK in two hours. The ex-minister in question committed suicide," added Robert.

"What about the other slave owners that haven't been arrested?" asked Ally.

"We have warrants out for all of them," replied Robert.

"That's it?" asked Ally angrily.

"For now, yes. We know who they are, and we will track them. Eventually they will cross into a country that will honor the warrant. That's all we can do for now," stated Robert.

Ally sat there and seethed.

"We're making some progress with the teens we've recovered. Naturally, those in captivity longer will have a longer recovery time. We're running into a language problem with several of the teens, as they were programmed to speak other languages," replied Jenna.

"By the way, the funds in all of the Simon's accounts have been recovered," added Robert.

"Has a decision been made concerning Celeste?" asked Ally.

"Yes. She will be allowed to stay where she is. Nancy and I agree that would be for the best," answered Jenna. "Her offer to assist us has been very generous. She has already hired a very well respected therapist to be on the staff."

Ally smiled, at least some good came out of this mess.

"When will the reunions start?" asked Beth.

"Those will be done on a case-by-case basis. The two boys abducted at the same time as you have already been reunited with their parents," stated Rich. "As we have now recovered all of the teens, secrecy isn't an issue anymore. The Simons will be arraigned this week. They face a multitude of charges. I doubt they'll ever see the light of day again."

"They'll live?" asked Ally.

Rich shrugged. "Unfortunately, we don't have any charges that rate the death penalty."

"What about the surviving Primus rep?" asked Steve. He was referring to the partially transformed man, who had once helped Marcus identify the teens.

"Mentally, he's a basket case. The physical changes inflicted on him by Thomas Simon apparently caused his mind to snap," answered Rich.

"Thank you for that caring diagnosis, Doctor," interrupted Jenna with a smile. "He's undergoing therapy, and if he wishes we will provide surgery to make him masculine again."

"Sorry, I'm not more sympathetic, but he did sell out many of the teens we've just recovered," added Rich.

"Regardless of what the Simons did to him, he'll be charged," stated Robert.

"I have a question," said Cathleen. "There's a file on the computer titled 'Bid list.' Apparently the Simons increased their profits by putting each newly abducted teen up for bid to potential customers. The high bidder got the teen and could specify the training and modifications of the teen. There are names and addresses on that list of another dozen people who wanted slaves, but hadn't won a bid yet. They technically can't be charged, but isn't there something we can do to prevent them from going to another provider?"

"Good question," said Rich. "What can we do besides get warrants to search their homes and businesses for possible criminal evidence?"

"Excuse me," said Beth, "don't you have a computer list of suspected sex offenders, as well as the list of known offenders?"

"Yes, we have a list of suspected offenders," answered Robert. "What are you thinking of, Beth?"

"Well, I just thought that you could put those bidders names on that list, and then tell them that you've done so, and that they'll be questioned and perhaps have their places searched every time a teen goes missing. That ought to be a pretty effective deterrent."

Ally beamed at Beth. "That does sound good. Is it possible to do that, Robert?"

"I think that you can consider it already done," Robert grinned. "When can you start working full time?"

"Ask Mom and Dad," said Beth, "I wish I could."

"I think you'd better wait a few more years, and finish your education," said Maggie.

"May I at least offer her a summer job in my department?" asked Ally. "I know she can do the work."

"Oh, Mom, may I?" Beth's eyes lit up with excitement.

Maggie looked at Steve, who nodded. "So long as there's no field work involved, I think that would be an excellent arrangement. Is it OK with you, Robert?"

"Far be it from me to go counter to all these scheming women," he grinned.

They discussed the case for another hour.

"I just want to say that I'm very impressed with what I saw during this operation. The cooperation between the departments represented here today should be a model for all future operations. Donna, when this meeting is finished, I need you to accompany me. The Director would like to talk to you for a few minutes," announced Robert with a big smile on his face.

Donna was speechless as the whole room broke out in applause. Ally was perhaps more happy than Donna. She was excited to see her top agent get the recognition she so richly deserved.

After the meeting they stood around and talked. Ally hugged Beth.

"You look a lot better than the last time I saw you," stated Ally.

"I'm doing better. So, when are we going shopping?" asked Beth.

"Is this Saturday good?" asked Ally.

Beth smiled and nodded yes.

"By the way, Donna is going to join us, if you don't mind," stated Ally.

"Donna too! That's cool!" exclaimed Beth.

"Is that okay, Maggie?" asked Ally.

Maggie smiled and nodded. "Just don't overdo it with the credit cards!"

Steve was standing with Robert and Rich and he waved Ally over. "We're wondering, do you want in on the interrogations of Margo and Thomas?"

"Absolutely. And don't worry, I'll control my temper," stated Ally, with a sly grin.

  

Chapter Fifty-Three

Margo was sitting in the interrogation room with her lawyer. She was wearing a bright orange prison jumpsuit and leg restraints. Her bald head was covered by a knit watch cap, as she wasn't allowed a wig in prison. It was seen as a security risk. Both Margo and Thomas were kept in the high security wing of the prison. They were both kept in solitary confinement, for their own safety. The news of their crimes had made the rounds, and they were not thought of very highly by the rest of the prisoners.

Ally walked in with Steve, Rich, and a federal prosecutor, named Todd Krenzel. Margo looked bored with the whole proceedings.

"Again, I want to protest this miscarriage of justice. My client is totally innocent of the charges you have filed against her," stated her lawyer.

"Have you seen her video collection?" asked Todd. "Your innocent client left a videotape collection of her actions, going back three years."

Her lawyer began to look worried, he looked over at Margo. "They have videos?"

"And computer files," added Todd, with a sly smile.

Margo yawned. "Let's just cut through this nonsense. What am I looking at?"

"Life, without parole," answered Todd, not missing a beat.

"Fine," she replied. "I need a little vacation from men anyway."

"Ms. Simon, I think you should be quiet. I can beat these charges!" interrupted her lawyer.

"Shut up. They won, I lost," she snapped. "I've looked over the charges and I'll plead guilty to all of them. I will also testify against that moronic husband of mine if you want. If he had been more alert, I never would have been caught! Still, it was fun while it lasted!"

Ally felt her temper rising. The woman was totally unrepentant.

"I'll arrange the hearing," stated Todd, not believing his luck. He knew he had a strong case, but this was too good to be true.

"Will you also testify against those who purchased the kids you abducted?" asked Ally.

Margo turned and glared at Ally. "Who're you?"

"I'm one of the agents that caught you," replied Ally. "My department discovered your operations through the Primus site."

Margo examined Ally carefully. "You pass pretty good. I'm impressed. I imagine you fool most people. They wouldn't detect that you're a man."

Todd and the other lawyer turned and stared at Ally.

If this was meant to get under Ally's skin, it failed.

"Is your head cold?" replied Ally with a grin.

Margo's hands went to her head involuntarily and she glared at Ally. "Fuck you, bitch!"

Ally just smiled and walked out with Steve, Rich, and Todd.

"What did she mean in there?" asked Todd.

"I'm transsexual," stated Ally, in a matter of fact tone.

"Oh," replied Todd. "Doesn't matter to me one way or the other. I'm gay!"

They all laughed.

Thomas also pleaded guilty to the charges, after hearing of Margo's admissions. The cases of the ex-slave owners would be handled separately. Margo's detailed records would be very useful in their prosecution.

 

Chapter Fifty-Four

Donna, Beth, and Ally were having a great time Saturday and they ravaged the stores. They had an appointment for facials and to get their nails done after lunch. The only item that Ally had to get was a bathing suit. The weather was wonderful and it appeared that spring had arrived for good.

"You going for a bikini or a one piece?" Donna asked Ally, as they walked down the sidewalk..

"You should get a bikini!" interrupted Beth.

"I'm not sure. I just need to make sure that it hides certain things," replied Ally.

They arrived in a shop that had a wide selection of suits. Donna and Beth picked out several suits for Ally to try on.

"What's hiding your maleness right now?" whispered Donna.

"A gaff," replied Ally.

"What's that?"

"It's like a really tight panty that keeps things hidden," replied Ally.

"Oh! Do you think they could sew one into a bikini bottom?" asked Donna.

"I guess so," stated Ally.

"I have a friend who's a seamstress, and she could do that for you," replied Donna.

"Cool, thanks," stated Ally.

Ally tried on one of the suits and was pleased that the gaff worked. She was less than pleased with how visible her scars were.

She stepped out of the changing room and showed off to Beth and Donna. She had her top draped over the scars.

"New fashion statement?" asked Donna, as she lifted the top off Ally's shoulder. "It's not that bad."

"I guess you're right," replied Ally as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"You have a nice body, Ally. Don't worry about that," stated Donna, pointing at the scar.

The saleswoman came over while Ally was modeling her third suit.

"Sports injury?" she asked, as she looked at the scar.

"No," replied Ally. She glanced over at Donna who motioned her to tell what happened. "I'm a federal agent and I was wounded in the line of duty."

The woman nodded and looked very impressed. "If you need any help at all, please ask." She then walked away.

"See that wasn't so bad," whispered Beth

 

Beth picked out two suits and a matching beach jacket. When she went to check out, the saleswoman who had talked to her earlier rang up the sale.

"That will be $1.00," she stated with a big smile.

Ally shook her head and began to protest.

"I thought you looked familiar. I remembered that case from the news last fall. Please, let me do this for you," replied the woman.

Ally reluctantly agreed and thanked the woman.

On their way to lunch, Beth suddenly laughed. "Ally, all you need to do is to wear that bikini top and we can get a free lunch too!"

Ally and Donna laughed.

Right after they ordered dessert, Donna excused herself. When she returned, she was wearing a gorgeous diamond engagement ring.

"Well?" she asked, as she held out her hand for Ally and Beth to admire.

"Donna! When did this happen?" exclaimed Ally, as she stared at the ring.

"Last night! Ed proposed to me after dinner!" squealed Donna.

"It's beautiful!" exclaimed Beth.

They all hugged and cried.

"How could you keep this secret all morning?" asked Beth.

"I'm a trained agent!" laughed Donna. "It was really hard, but I wanted to wait until we were sitting down, and I wanted you two to know before anyone else!"

"I'm so happy for you!" smiled Ally. She leaned over and hugged Donna.

"Well, I have some more news. We're getting married in September, and I want you, Ally, to be my maid of honor and you, Beth, to be one of my bridesmaids!"

"Oh, my god! That's so cool! Thank you, Donna!" exclaimed Beth.

Ally looked shocked "You must be joking? You want me to ruin your wedding?"

"Ally, I want you. I can't tell you how much you have done for me. I know that you had a hand in the Director knowing about my contributions to the last case," explained Donna.

"I'll do it one condition. Tell me the story behind why you call me Mom!" exclaimed Ally.

Donna laughed. "Before you arrived, the department was the proverbial redheaded stepchild in the agency. You came in and gave us a purpose. Additionally, it was obvious that you really cared about us and were interested in seeing us excel. One day, someone called you the 'mother duck' and it was shortened to Mom," explained Donna.

Ally beamed and felt her eyes watering up. "Thanks, I think I'm going to cry!"

The waitress walked up and interrupted. "Will you ladies be needing anything else?"

"Yes, some champagne!" ordered Ally. She then looked at Beth. "Make that two glasses of champagne and a glass of sparkling grape juice. Sorry, Beth!"

Beth shrugged her shoulders, she was too happy about the prospect of being in a wedding party to care.

"What's the occasion?" asked the waitress.

"She's getting married!" stated Beth loudly, pointing at Donna.

"Congratulations! I'll be right back with your order," stated the waitress.

"By the way, Ally, I'm the only daughter in a family of six brothers. My dad is going to throw a huge wedding!" informed Donna.

"Well, I'd better do a good job on your bridal shower then!" replied Ally. This was a challenge that she hadn't expected, but she was so excited about being picked by Donna.

The waitress returned with the glasses and, as Ally made her toast, the rest of the restaurant broke out in applause, making Donna blush. Ally was pleased to see someone else blush for a change!

  

Chapter Fifty-Five

"Come on! Trust me, you look great!" exclaimed Carol as she coaxed Ally out on the pink sands of the beach near their guest cottage in Bermuda. It was a bright sunny April day, but a bit cool as a light breeze was blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean.

"Okay, here goes nothing!" replied Ally. She was wearing a light aqua colored bikini. She walked over to Carol, who slipped her arm around Ally's waist.

"Well? What do you think?" asked Carol, as they looked at the beach and the ocean.

"It's more beautiful than you described. The sand really is pink!" remarked Ally.

They sat down on a blanket and watched the waves.

"I know that it's not really all that warm yet, but I figured that you'd prefer less of a crowd for your first time out on the beach," explained Carol.

There were only a few other couples on the beach and they were far more interested in each other.

"It's perfect!" remarked Ally.

"I knew you'd love it," added Carol.

"I love that you brought me here."

Carol smiled and looked Ally over. She was really developing into a beautiful young woman. She was such a far cry from the young man she had first met in California a year ago. Ally was becoming confident and comfortable as a woman. Still, she had a very vulnerable side and Carol loved that.

"You want to rent a couple of those scooters and drive across the island tomorrow?" asked Carol.

"That sounds like fun. You've got to love a place that doesn't have rental cars," smiled Ally, who was now lying down on her back with her eyes closed, soaking in the sun.

Carol was also pleased that Ally was slowly becoming less conscious of her scar. It ran along edge of the material of her bikini top. The physical side of the scar was fading, and with it, Carol hoped the mental side was likewise diminishing too. She smiled at the fact that Ally hadn't had any nightmares since the raid on the farm in Maryland. Things were definitely looking up.

"I told Donna I'd scout this place out as a potential honeymoon spot. So far it seems like a great place," remarked a very relaxed Ally. "The sound of the waves is very soothing!"

"I can't wait to see you in a bridesmaid's dress!" quipped Carol.

"I'm really looking forward to it," replied Ally. "By the way, Donna promised that we wouldn't have dorky dresses!"

"Either way, I am just happy that you're so accepted at work!"

"I owe it all to you," answered Ally, who looked up and smiled. "I love you, Carol."

They spent the afternoon on the beach, and as they walked back to their cottage they were met by the resort's Concièrge. He was a distinguished looking light skinned black man.

"Excuse me, ladies, I have something to give you," he stated in a pleasant voice. He handed Carol an envelope.

Carol took it and opened it up, "Well, it seems that someone is buying us dinner tonight. We have reservations at the Waterlot Inn, at 7:30."

"Who is it from?" asked Ally.

"All it says is 'a friend'."

"Ladies, your cab will be here at 7:00. The Waterlot is one of the finest restaurants in Bermuda. You will have a lovely evening," informed the Concièrge

"Well, if it's one of the finest restaurants, then we'd better look our best!" quipped Ally.

The mystery behind the dinner bugged both of them the rest of the afternoon, and continued until they arrived at the restaurant. They were both wearing their best dresses. Carol loved seeing Ally dressed up. They were both wearing black, and Ally stated that they looked "stunning!"

The Concièrge wasn't exaggerating about the Waterlot Inn, it, was a lovely restaurant. The building was over three hundred years old! The Maitre D' treated them as if they were royalty. Ally got a kick out of the rest of the guests staring at them, trying to figure out who they were and why they were getting the royal treatment.

Right before their main entrées arrived, a bottle of wine was presented to them. Ally recognized the vintage and her eyes opened up wide.

"There must be some mistake," Ally said to the wine steward.

The Maitre D' glided up and smiled, "Is there a problem with the wine selection?"

"The wine selection is magnificent, it's just that it's very expensive. I don't know who our benefactor is, but I doubt they wanted to spend a fortune on us," explained Ally politely.

"Ahhh, I forgot to give you this. Maybe it will put your minds at ease," replied the Maitre D', handing Ally another envelope.

Ally opened up the envelope and read the note. A big smile broke out on her face as she read the note out-loud to Carol.

Dearest Ally,

I just wanted to thank you for the way you handled my 'delicate' situation. Enjoy the dinner. I heard from a friend of yours that you enjoy a good bottle of wine. I hope that you and your friend enjoy my selection; it was one of Sherman's favorites.

Your Friend,

Celeste

Ally felt her eyes tearing up as she turned to the Maitre D'. "The wine is perfect. Thank you."

"What a lovely gesture," replied Carol.

 

As expected, the wine was magnificent and Ally savored every sip. It was perfect, just like the entire evening.

"This is all like a wonderful dream," smiled Ally.

Carol reached over and took Ally's hands in hers. "It's not a dream."

Ally smiled.

Carol then reached into her bag and took out two small boxes. "I wanted to give you this as a symbol of my love for you." She then handed Ally one of the boxes.

Ally opened it up and found a simple diamond ring.

"I have its partner," stated Carol as she placed a matching ring on her own finger. "I know that our present situation is rather complicated in the eyes of the law, but I want you to know that I want you in my life forever."

Ally was now trembling and struggling to put the ring on her finger. Carol reached over and took the ring and slipped it on Ally's finger.

"There. What do you think?" asked Carol.

Ally could only nod and beam her happiness as she was so overwhelmed by emotions. Her eyes were welling up with tears.

"I think we should go back to our cottage now," stated Carol and she led Ally out of the restaurant to a waiting cab.

"This is better than a dream," stated Ally as they rode back to their cottage. "Thank you, I couldn't be happier."

Carol leaned over and kissed her lover.

 

Epilog

Jenna sat at her desk reviewing the progress of the ex-captives. Four of the feminized boys wanted to stay as girls. They had been sent to live with Celeste. Their therapists stated that all four were making great progress.

Not all were doing well. One slave, who only answered to the name Bébé, resisted all treatment. She was content to be a maid. Jenna doubted that the teen would ever return to being a normal boy. Jenna had to admit that Margo's techniques of mind control were extremely effective, even if morally corrupt. She had conducted several interviews with Margo in an attempt to get help in deprogramming the ex-slaves. Margo offered no help and seemed to be happy that some of the teens were resisting treatment. Jenna hoped there was a special place in hell for people like Margo.

The girls seemed to be more resilient than the boys. Even those girls with modified bodies seemed to recover quickly. Several top plastic surgeons were brought in to correct some of the changes inflicted on the captives by Thomas Simon.

Reintroduction to their families was also a challenge. Some teens were readily accepted back into their families, others were rejected by their families, and some had no desire to return to their original lives. The teens who had been treated as actual slaves seemed the least likely to reunite with their birth families.

Jenna cursed the Simons and their customers for the damage they had done. At least their money was doing some good. Funds were provided to all the teens, to aid their recovery, and in some cases, provide a new life. Part of their rehab was to restart their educations. Jenna hoped that most would go on to higher education. They needed goals in their lives.

The hardest part of Jenna's job was selecting someone to oversee the rehab of the teens. She wanted the job for herself, but knew that she was needed in the agency. Her recommendation to the Director was to appoint Dr. Nancy Chen as the lead therapist.

Beth went back to school. She began to date again. Maybe it was for the best, she thought. She was presently seeing a nice boy named Kevin. He was the editor of the school paper and she found that she really liked him. He was a bit taller than her, wore glasses and made her laugh. She found herself concerned over when he would invite her to the prom and not fighting crime. Ally was right; she should enjoy her second chance. Still, she couldn't wait until summer and her job working for Ally!

Donna was officially promoted to second in charge of the department. While it was merely a formality, Ally was pleased that the Director had rewarded her protégé.

Over in her office, Ally was catching up on her paperwork. Actually, there wasn't that much to do, as Donna had done an excellent job in her place. Every time she thought about Donna's wedding in September she broke out in a smile. The wedding would be just a month prior to her SRS.

Ally was about to make her rounds when a gift box was delivered to her office. The gift card was from Tom and Madison and the rest of the Spec-Ops team. She opened it up and found a dark blue ball cap with SPEC-OPS embroidered on it in yellow letters. On the back was her name. It was a great honor and the hat would have a treasured spot in her office.

The other gift caused Ally to break out laughing. She reached into the box and pulled out two round objects, mounted on a wooden plaque. The engraved plate read;

To Special Agent Ally Burns

Official Brass Balls Award

 

She couldn't wait to have it hung on her office wall.

The End

Special thanks to my editor and friend Amelia

  

  

  

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