The New Hire
Ben listened with rapt attention as I detailed the visions. When I got to the part about the blow jobs on the back porch he gave a chuckle. “Well, that explains why that space has such a sexual charge. No wonder you like sitting out there.”
“I guess,” I conceded, “But what do you think I should do now?”
“Well, I'd start by talking to the people he listed and see if they want to participate,” he suggested.
“But participate in what?” I asked. “I still have no idea what he has in mind.”
“So just tell them what you know. Ask for their opinions. They all know you well enough to trust your judgment, and are responsible enough to decline if they don't feel comfortable doing it. Start with Helmut. I'd say a sex crazed spirit is right up his alley.”
“Oh my god, yes!” I roared with laughter. “Can you imagine if the spirit were working through Helmut? No one would be safe!”
“True,” Ben laughed. “But that raises an interesting question. I mean, he's been over at the cottage, right? And nothing happened? The spirit didn't try to feed off of all that sexual energy Helmut carries around?”
“Yeah, he's been there many times, even finding me in the depths of the spirit's influence, and he managed to resist being drawn in, even when I invited him.” I thought for a moment and offered, “Maybe it's because he has such an active libido that he has more practice than most at controlling it. What do you think?”
“Perhaps, or maybe the spirit is a top and didn't like the competition.”
“I like it,” I grinned, “Let's go with that. So I'll head over to the Hathaway and see if I can connect with him and Kevin. And what about the pieces of the dog tags? Should I rip up the floorboards? The landlord would love that. Plus it sounds like I would need some pretty heavy equipment to move the large stone slabs I saw in the vision.”
“Talk to Helmut about it, he may have some ideas.”
“Alright, I'll head out.,” I said, rising to leave. At the door I turned and asked, “What time is your therapy today? I want to be back before that.”
“One o'clock, right after lunch,” he complained. “I think that's why it always wears me out. Exercising on a full stomach. Not ideal.”
“Still...Do as you're told! I want you home so we can do our own physical therapy in private.”
“Slut!” he shouted after me when I turned to leave, causing the nurse at the desk to look up with a grin.
“At least it's not boring with you two here,” he chuckled as I walked past him toward the elevator.
I walked back to the cabin to get my car, and decided to take a quick shower before heading out. I stripped out of my new jeans in the bedroom and found the gleaming new jock strap Helmut had given me stuffed in one of the back pockets. I had forgotten that he had tucked it in there after I gave it back to him. After the last twenty four hours I imagined I must smell pretty ripe., and thought this would be an appropriate time to start adding my scent to it as per his request. I rubbed it everywhere I could imagine being smelly, then jumped in the shower to clean up.
After drying off, I went to the bedroom closet to grab a clean pair of khakis, and as I turned the ceiling light on, I suddenly remembered that I was actually holding the chain from the dog tags. I must have handled this chain at least twenty times since moving in and had never sensed anything from it. I looked at it closely and could see that it wasn't a standard light chain. Still, I could see why no one had thought to replace it. It was unremarkable, and hiding it in plain sight like that was the perfect camouflage. I also wondered if Mr. Bouchard had somehow influenced subsequent owners to leave this closet alone. That would explain why the wallpaper had never been painted over even though the rest of the cottage had seen extensive renovations. I don't know why, but I removed it and wrapped it around my wrist a few times just above my watch. I suppose I thought that this way it was less liable to be accidentally reunited with the dog tags, even though they seemed well out of reach for the moment.
For shits and giggles, I decided to wear the jock strap instead of my usual underwear, maybe I could use it to bribe Helmut if he was hesitant. I had to admit, it gave me a new empathy with Kevin and his worries about going commando. It had been a while since I did that, and while my junk was well supported, I did feel like my ass was hanging out, and had to adjust to the sensation.
On the drive to the Hathaway, I got a call from Heather. “Are you available to come in for a few minutes today?” she asked. “Only, some of the unmarked folders from that box I found have turned up some interesting material.”
“I'll be there before lunch,” I confirmed. “Should I bring something from the food truck on the pier?” I asked in a conspiratorial tone.
“I have a packed lunch,” she replied. “But nice try. I will not be your alibi for eating junk food. That decision is all on you.”
I laughed. “You know me way too well.”
Hope house was quiet when I got there, some sort of field trip or something. I was told that Helmut was working on the perimeter fence with a new hire. I knew there was talk of getting more help for the grounds crew, but I didn't realize thing had progressed this far.
I heard them before I saw them. “There you are!” I announced as they came into view. A young man was kneeling beside the fence, clearing the weeds around one of the concrete footings, while Helmut was cutting back some overgrown branches with a machete.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “How's Ben?”
“Umm, I live here,” I offered with a chuckle, then added, “Ben's fine, he sends his love.”
“Glad to hear it. Hey Pete, come meet the boss.” he called, giving me a wicked grin. “This is Joey.”
Pete pulled off his work glove and extended a hand toward me. “Pleased to meet you.”
Helmut elbowed him in the side and warned, “You better watch yourself. This guy is a real hard ass.”
Pete's eyes grew slightly wider as he looked at me, clearly not knowing what to think. “Don't believe a word he says,” I reassured him as I shook his hand. “He just likes to cause trouble. I hope you'll be happy working here. Have you had a chance to meet the kids yet?”
“Umm, yeah, a couple of them.” He seemed unsure of himself.
“Good, Just remember, while your job may be as a grounds keeper, the real reason we are all here is for them. The kids always come first.” I motioned toward Helmut with my head and continued, “So don't let this brute bully you too much”
“I'll keep that in mind, sir” he said with a bit more confidence.
“No Sir's here. Just Joey, please.” Then looking back at Helmut I added, “I'm surprised this one hasn't instructed you to call him master yet.”
To my surprise, Pete looked down and meekly said, “Well, umm...”
“You're shitting me!” I turned to Helmut in disbelief. “You didn't!”
Before Helmut could defend himself, Pete let slip a little giggle, and looked up with a sly grin and an unmistakable twinkle in his eye.
I looked at him then back at Helmut, who was trying to stifle a laugh. “Oh, this one is going to fit right in, isn't he?”
“That's why we hired him,” Helmut smiled.
“Do you mind if I steal him away for a minute?” I asked Pete, gesturing toward Helmut.
“Please!” he enthused. “Who wants their boss standing over them all day?” He smiled and returned to his work, while I dragged Helmut to a more private part of the back yard.
I brought him up to speed as best as I could, and he agreed to be part of whatever was to come. “That explains so much,” he smirked. “I thought you smelled different over the last two weeks, but I just put it down to your separation from Ben. But now I realize it was overtones of the smell of the cottage.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “The cottage doesn't smell.”
“Everything smells.” He smiled. “I can even smell that Jock strap you're wearing, although it's not nearly pungent enough yet. Try skipping a couple of showers and rubbing it under your pits before bed for a few nights. That might help.”
“What...I already...how did you know...?”
He laughed. “First of all, those khakis are nice and thin, and I can see the indentation of the leg straps on your cheeks. Best kind of visible pantie lines. Plus the Jock I bought you is a bit like a push up bra. It accentuates as well as supports. You have more of a package than usual, that's all.
“Whaat?!” I reflexively placed my hands in front of my crotch, suddenly self conscious, and wondering if I needed to change before heading into work.
He roared with laughter. “Oh get over yourself! It's not like you're walking around with a boner. The effect is subtle. I just happen to pay attention to these things.”
“Of course you do.” I relaxed a bit and asked, “Where's Kevin at? I think he needs to be in on this as well.”
“In on what?” he added innocently, “Your new found love of push up jocks?”
“Be serious,” I chided.
“Oh, you mean the sex demon from Hell. Yeah, I think he might enjoy meeting that fella.”
“Oh my god!”
He laughed. “He went off with Mike first thing this morning. I think they were going to work one of the truck stops on the interstate. Nothing like a horny trucker freshly awake from an overnight in his rig.”
“Sounds like the voice of experience to me,” I chuckled.
“Oh yeah,” he grinned. “I'll have him give you a call when he gets home. Sound good?”
“Sounds good,” I confirmed. “You better get back to Pete. He might be goofing off without your keen guidance.”
“Nah,” he shook his head in disagreement. “I'm not worried about that one. I can already tell he'll be just fine.”
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