"Alas, Eschiatos"
       	                    	     Part VI
			       by Frank T. Gilson

	Antiseptic smell. Thick tongue. It hurts. Pain. Waking
up is hard to do.
	In a rush of memory, I reconnected with reality and
opened my eyes. I was where I might have expected to be; in a
hospital bed. An IV ran from my right arm and thick bandages
covered my torso. A doctor-type entered the room.
	"You're going to be alright, agent. The wound you 
received was not deep. A fair amount of blood was lost but
we've taken care of that."
	Ahhhhh, modern medical science. If you have the money,
or some organization has an interest in patching you up, you
get better, quickly. If you can't afford it and nobody cares,
you rot and die.
	"I need information about the woman I shot."
	The doctor looked a little perturbed. Maybe he had
just come on shift. How long was I out?
	"I don't know about that. You were here when I came
on duty."
	The phone by the bed rang. I picked it up. It was
the agency. I signalled the doctor for silence.
	"Agent, you've been unconscious for approximately
twenty four hours. Dana Maris is dead, but we traced her
incoming and outgoing phone calls and searched her room. We'd
like you to come in to report and to look at the accumulated
evidence."
	I said the right things and put the phone down. I
sat up. It hurt but not too much. The doctor spoke up.
	"You can leave, but don't try anything too strenuous."
	I slowly got out of the bed as the doctor removed the
IV needle and bandaged the arm.
				   *  *  *
	I decided to stop at my apartment first. I didn't
know if Chelsea would still be there. I hadn't been back for
over twenty four hours.
	The elevator didn't move fast enough for me. When it
opened onto the fourteenth floor I had to restrain myself to
a calm walk. Soon, my apartment door was in front of me.
	My key entered the lock. I turned it. The lock clicked
open. I rotated the knob; opening the door. The sound of my
holovision set assailed my ears. She was standing in the
kitchen; fixing a sandwich.
	"Did you want something too?"
	No rush into my arms. No look of relief on her face.
No 'where have you been?'. It seemed that all she needed was
the holo set, the kitchen, and the couch.
	"Make me a ham and cheese on rye sandwich. Nothing
but the ham and the cheese. I'm not staying long. Pour me a
soda as well."
	She went about making me my meal. I walked over to the
holo set and turned down the volume. Some lunchtime soap was
on. I never could figure out how anyone could watch those.
Then again, I've never been interested in sitting down and 
evaluating one.
	"Things are moving along smoothly. The two men you
saw dumping the body aren't a problem anymore. It would,
however, still be a good idea for you to stay here."
	She smiled. She knew why I wanted her to stay. I ate
my sandwich and drank my soda.
	"I have been missing you. Why don't you stay a little
bit? Hmmmmmm?"
	Yeah, right. Sex right now would probably qualify as
strenuous activity, and as such, would go against doctor's
orders. Now I don't necessarily listen to those orders, but
they would provide a good rationalization for my leaving and
getting some work done.
	"Now would be a bad time. I have several things to
take care of. Since I think you're safe, you can start answering
the phone. I'm expecting a call from a man named Jack. He has
some information I want. When you answer the phone, say that
you're the apartment answering service. Keep a pen and paper
handy. I'll check in this evening."
	With that I put down the empty glass, turned around,
and left her there. It was a short elevator ride this time.
				   *  *  *
	Parking beneath the federal building, I thought about
what I should take care of first. Should I go down to forensics
and teach Ms. Babylon a lesson or go upstairs to report and
review the evidence? I decided that Babylon could wait. Besides,
it would be better to catch her after a long work day.
	I got on the elevator. I was surprised to find myself
sharing it with the employee of Babylon's whom I'd met when
forensics had arrived at the boat launch. I openly admired her
looks; running my eyes up and down her. She appeared uncomfortable.
	"You're very attractive, Miss. Why does Ms. Babylon
keep pretty girls like you around forensics?"
	Just then the elevator opened, revealing the floor she
wanted. She quickly got out, without looking back, and turned
off to the right. As the elevator door shut I listened to the
sound of her heels clicking their way down the hall.
	The floor I was going to was that containing the office
of my immediate superior. It was there I would make my report
and discuss the evidence to date.
	The doors slid open and I walked out. This floor, rather
than containing many desks, contained the offices of the more
bureaucratic elements in the agency. I suppose I could have
advanced myself with the proper politics and regular attendance
at the christmas parties. But then I'd never get to be out in
it anymore.
	A couple of left turns and short lengths of hall later,
I stood before the office of Jay Michaelson. Jay had been an
agent like myself, but had always looked out for advancement.
He wasn't too bad a guy; just a little uptight.
				   *  *  *
	"Sit down, agent. I've read the reports you filed up to
the incident involving Dana Maris. As far as that goes, the hotel
had followed standard safety procedures and set their room
computers to look out for odors or sounds that might signify an
unsafe condition. Your gunshots signified such a condition. Hotel
security was immediately notified and you were found. We were
informed and sent a team over."
	Wonderful, that team would have been a forensics team.
Ms. Babylon herself may have been there. She would then know
everything that had happened to me in that room.
	"The phone call Dana Maris received the night you picked
up Evans was from a payphone in Ward Fifteen, the same ward
the late Eschiatos Abel was so recently boss of. You know she
made two calls right after that. The first was a long distance
call to a number in Chicago. The second was a local call to an
Aaron Markham. From evidence in the room we conclude that Maris
killed Eschiatos there, perhaps after enticing him up there. She
was hired for the job. We found a bearer usable credit wand for
twenty thousand dollars with her things. There isn't any immediate
tie between her and any potential employer. I want you to
investigate Markham."
	Who had called her? Who was in Chicago? Perhaps Markham
would have some answers. I resolved to bring backup along on this
one.
	"Also, the casework department was unable to find anything
on Abel. This agency has never investigated him and no government
inquiries have been held concerning him or any budget skimming
he may have done."
	He looked up from the papers on his desk.
	"One final thing. You were careless. The trouble you had
with Maris should never have happened. She could have easily killed
you and escaped. You're lucky she wanted to play games with you.
Check out Aaron Markham now, then get Babylon's forensics reports
about Maris' hotel room and the Abel body."
	This hadn't been much of a discussion. Jay was right
that I had been careless but at least he wasn't rubbing it in.
I got up out of the chair and left the office.
				   *  *  *
	 As I walked back to the elevator I thought about what
I knew so far. Abel had either pissed someone off or he'd
become a liability. That someone had hired Dana Maris to kill
him. The only potential leads were Markham and the Chicago call.
I pulled out my pocket phone and dialed my apartment.
	"Hello, you've reached Chatham apartments. This is Miss
White answering for apartment 1412."
	Chelsea was following my instructions about pretending
to be my answering service. She was actually doing a pretty good
job of it.
	"Chelsea, it's me. I need to know if a guy name Jack
has called."
	I could faintly hear the holovision set in the background.
I heard her turn it all the way down as she answered.
	"Yeah, he did. He wouldn't leave a number or any message."
	Jack had found something out. His records desk at City
Hall wasn't too far off a straight path to Aaron Markham's
condominium. I decided to stop there first.
	"Thanks, Chelsea. Good Bye."
	I put the phone away and relaxed as the elevator went
down.
				   *  *  *
	I got into my car and left the Federal Building. The drive
to City Hall didn't take too long. I parked and walked down the
two flights of stairs to Records.
	Jack wasn't at the counter; a young girl was.
	"Excuse me miss. Could you get Jack for me?"
	She smiled, nodded, and went farther back into the office,
behind some partitions. Jack soon came out.
	"Jack, I understand you have something for me?"
	He unhooked part of the counter top and opened the little
door beneath, motioning for me to follow him. We walked back into
a small terminal room.
	"I found out quite a bit, actually. I hope it'll be useful
to you. I'll make a hardcopy and give it to you."
	He activated the terminal and typed in a request. The nearby
printer was soon whirring away as it printed.
	"The rumors about Abel skimming funds appear to have been
only rumors. There isn't any available substantiating evidence that
I can determine and no investigations were performed."
	Jack started stacking up sheets as they were printed.
	"However, he owned part of a holding company, it's called
ShoreFront Inc. That company, through several real estate firms,
has been buying up bayfront property in Ward Fifteen. Until recently
that property was zoned for commercial use only. One of Abel's last
actions was to get it rezoned residencial. If the warehouses and
other structures are demolished and apartment buildings or condos
are built, the land package would skyrocket in value."
	The printer stopped. Jack stapled the sheets together and
handed them to me.
	"Besides Eschiatos Abel, who owned thirty-nine percent,
ShoreFront has two other owners. Someone named Aaron Markham owns
a small portion, about ten percent. Another holding company,
Diversified Interests Ltd., owns the remaining fifty-one percent."
	I looked in the papers he'd given me. D. I. Ltd. was a
Chicago firm. It now became very interesting that Dana Maris had
called not only Markham, but a Chicago number.
	"Jack, this helps immensely. When this is done I'll buy
you dinner."
	I shook his hand and left his office. Markham was my next
target. I called the agency for some backup. A couple of other
agents would meet me at his condo.
				   *  *  *
	Markham's condo was in the downtown residential district.
It was a deluxe unit near the top floor of one of the new high
security buildings. We parked our cars right out front and put
out agency permits to satisfy overzealous parking enforcers.
	The building had been faced with with a new acid resistant
plastic. It looked just like stone. It's amazing what money can
do for appearance. I, accompanied by two agents, walked up to the
doorman and flashed ID.
	"I need to speak with one of your tenants."
	The doorman sniffed, tilted his head forward, and looked
at me over the rims of his glasses.
	"Please, sir, we refer to them as guests. Whom would you
like to speak to?"
	This was likely to be a fairly uptight experience.
	"Aaron Markham. I've been informed he owns a unit in this
building."
	He frowned and looked away.
	"Mr. Markham has left instructions that he is not to be
disturbed. I'm afraid you'll have to leave."
	Uh-huh, that's it. I went over to my car, opened the door,
and turned on its terminal. I scanned in the additional information
about ShoreFront, Markham, and Diversified Interests and punched
in a request for a warrant. A few minutes later it popped out.
	"Here you go Mr. Doorman. This warrant should alter your
attitude."
	As he read the warrant and reluctantly opened the door I
transferred my gun from holster to coat pocket and kept my hand on
it. He walked us over to the elevator and keyed in the appropriate
codes.
	"It will take you directly to Mr. Markham's floor. He owns
number twenty fourteen."
	We stepped in and the doors closed. The ride was smooth
and almost silent. We soon reached the twentieth floor. A wide hall
surrounded the elevator. Number twenty fourteen was on the other
side.
	I had the other two agents go around the opposite way I
did. The three of us were soon at Markham's door. I drew my gun
and knocked; no answer.
	I pressed the call button on the doorside video screen.
I pressed it again. The was no answer.
	"One of you two go get the doorman."
	One of my backups went back to take the elevator down. I
continued to try to get some answer from Markham.
	A few mintues later the doorman arrived.
	"Markham isn't answering. I need this door opened, now."
	The poor guy looked distressed. I reminded him of the
warrant. He pulled out an override code card and slipped it into
the slot in the door. It clicked and he swung it open. We were
greeted by a smell that told me we were too late. It smelled like
death.
	I rushed in, gun in my hand in front of me. I was quickly
followed. We all stopped at the sight that confronted us in the
living room.
	"Oh My God!!"
	The doorman couldn't handle seeing Markham swinging from
a rope. It initially looked like he'd hung himself, but he could
easily have been murdered.
	This was getting to be too much. Finding one body had
tipped me off to this whole thing, but each new one cut a potential
lead. Forensics was going to have even more work now.
	I called the agency to call for a team and report. I then
looked around, found Markham's den, and sat down in front of his
terminal. It was still on. There was a login prompt which meant
he had been concerned about security even here in his home. Another
strange thing was the fact that this terminal wasn't connected to
any outside lines. Any valuable data would be stored within its
semipermanent memory, unaccesable without the proper login name
and password. I turned the machine off and disconnected it. I
picked it up and left the den.
	"You three stay here until forensics shows up. I'm going
back to the Federal Building."
	I left, took the elevator down, and got into my car.
				   *  *  *
	After arriving at the Federal Building I went to visit
our records department. They fiddled around a lot with computers.
Hopefully they would be able to get something out of the terminal
I'd taken.
	One of our computer nuts was on duty. I walked up to him
and put the terminal on his desk.
	"I recovered this from a crime site. It contains important
information. Break the login codes and download everything it's
got."
	I gave him my badge number and told him to notify me
by phone when he had something. I left and went to get lunch in
the cafeteria. The food isn't too bad and I didn't have any leads
to run down yet.
				   *  *  *
	After waiting in line and filling my tray with a roast
beef sandwich, a soda, and some fries, I noticed that same young
forensics girl I'd bumped into twice before. Since she wasn't
sitting with anyone I decided to join her.
	"Hello again, Miss. I know you won't mind my joining you.
I'll be stopping by your department later today to get the reports
pertaining to my case. Is there anything you could tell me now?"
	She had jumped a little when I sat down. She quickly wiped
her mouth, put the napkin down, stood up, and picked up her tray.
	"Ms. Babylon will handle you. Ask her your questions."
	She walked away, setting her half finished food on top
of a garbage can. Carefully watching her legs and her dress I
noticed she was wearing seamed stockings. Ms. Babylon kept several
pretty girls in forensics. Did she require them to dress seductively?
	Just then my phone rang.
	"This is Jay. We got a run down on the number Maris called
in Chicago. It does belong to Diversified Interests Limited. I want
you to fly out there tonight. We've booked you a flight. You'll be
met at O'Hare airport by agents from our Chicago branch."
	I acknowledged and put the phone away, finishing my meal.
I dumped my garbage and after a short elevator ride I was at my
desk.
	I keyed up the casework so far and made some additional
entries. Right now D.I. Ltd. was the major stockholder in a company
holding onto some extremely valuable property. Who was behind all
this? Why had Abel and Markham died?
	I took my phone out again and dialed my apartment.
	"Chelsea, it's me again. I need to leave the city, probably
for a few days. I'm going to have that guy Jack pick you up. He
doesn't have any connection with this case. You shouldn't be in any
danger but just in case, you'll be safer with him."
	I hung up that call and dialed Jack at City Hall Records.
	"Jack, The information you've given me has been very helpful.
I'm leaving to pursue the Chicago lead. There's a witness in my
apartment. Could you pick her up and put her at your place until
I'm back?"
	He cleared his throat. I could her some papers shuffling
around.
	"Sure, If she's pretty... Just kidding."
	I felt a twinge of jealously. I don't know why I did. I
certainly didn't love Chelsea. It was just sex. Knowing her she'd
probably end up in bed with Jack. Maybe that would be the best
thing. I didn't want her around when the case was done with. What
would I do with a teenage girl in my apartment?
	"Her name's Chelsea Brown. You'll like her. Bye, Jack."
	I hung up and dropped the phone into my pocket. I decided
to take a trip down to forensics and confront Ms. Babylon.
				   *  *  *
	The agency's forensics department is 3 levels below street
level. I decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator so that
my coming would be unannounced.
	As I neared the door leading from the stairwell into the
forensics lab, I noticed that it was not only shut, but the little
light above the palm plate was red. That means locked.
	I was going to have to use the entrance off of the elevator.
I went up one level, entered through that door, and made my way to
the elevator which I rode down one level.
	When I confronted the main entrance to the lab, it too was
locked. The 'autopsy in progress' light was lit. I had an idea 
something else might be going on. I went back to the stairwell
door and took out my phone, dialing security.
	"This is agent 818. I need to speak to the Chief."
	After a transfer I had the chief of security on the line.
	"Hey, Chief, the stairwell entry door to the forensics lab
is locked. Could you deactivate the lock and the palm plate? I'll
forget about your IOU from the last card game."
	He made a small noise and cleared his throat.
	"You know Babylon won't like that. Drop my last two IOU's
and it's a deal."
	I mentally added up what he owed me and figured this would
be worth it. Besides, he'd end up owing me more after our next
game anyway.
	"It's a deal."
	Soon after I had hung up, the lock light changed to green
and the palm plate clicked. I slowly turned the knob and eased the
door open. The sight that I saw answered a lot of the questions I
had had.
	The pretty assistant of Ms. Babylon's I'd kept bumping into
was hanging from the ceiling by the rope binding her wrists. She was
naked and she had been gagged.
	Babylon was applying weighted nipple clamps to her. She
finished, stepped back, and took a four bladed leather whip out of
a nearby drawer.
	"Prepare for the whip, slave."
	The poor girl was barely in contact with the floor. Babylon
brought her arm back, then forward. **Smack** The girl's entire
body jumped with the impact of the whip. Babylon sped up, varying
the timing and placement of the blows.
	**Smack**. . .**Smack** **Smack** **Smack**. . .**Smack**...
**Smack** **Smack**. . .**Smack**. . .and so on. . .
	It must have gone on for a couple of minutes. It felt like
an eternity. Babylon stopped the whipping, removed the gag, and 
kissed the girl. She gave her a hug and unhooked her from the
ceiling. I started to clap.
	"Bravo, Bravo. I know you didn't plan on sharing this with
me but it was very special."
	The girl was a bit too out of it to really notice me, but
Ms. Babylon spun around, dropping the whip.
	"How did you get in here!"
	I walked towards her, smiling. The girl was breathing heavily
and was covered with a sheen of sweat.
	"The stairwell door was open. I came for the information
you have on the Abel and Maris bodies and any additional information
about the contents of Maris' hotel room."
	She turned to the girl gave her a towel to wipe off with.
	"Mary, put some clothes on and go get the relevant files."
	She looked me in the eyes and I realized just how imposing
she was. Taller than I, especially with heels, she looked down at me.
	"Agent, you have me at something of a disadvantage. Do you
intend to use what you've learned to manipulate me?"
	I had thought about that, but wasn't the kind of scum to
do a blackmail deal. Well, at least not the kind of scum to use
such leverage more than once.
	"Only once, Babylon. No one will find out about this from
me. I would appreciate if, just this once, you'd do something nice
for me."
	She took a moment to consider it.
	"Certainly, agent, but only if you do me a similar favor
at some future point."
	I was willing to make that trade. For my pleasure now I'd
put myself at the mercy of her pleasure later.
	"I'll take your bargain. Now strip naked and lie down on
the examining table."
	She did as she was told. Her long, slim form excited me.
She was almost longer than the table. Some of her lovely blonde
hair spilled over its edge.
	I went over and looked into the drawer she'd taken the whip
from. I grabbed two short lengths of rope and one long one as well
as a box of plastic clothespins.
	Returning back to the examination table I used one short
length of rope to tie her wrists together and the other to secure
her ankles. I took the long length of rope and fastened it to the
rope between her ankles. I ran it underneath the table, once around
the supporting central column, and tied it to the rope between her
wrists.
	She was now firmly bound, her arms back behind her head
with her wrists hanging off the table. I dropped my trenchcoat and
suit jacket to the floor. Just then, the girl Mary returned with
the files. She gasped and took a step back.
	"Ms. Babylon has decided to be cooperative. You're welcome
to watch. Maybe it'll turn you on. Either come on in or stay out,
but shut the door."
	Almost mesmerized, she entered the room to watch. I put
the box of clothespins on the table and opened it. The first one
went on Babylon's left nipple. Both her nipples were becoming erect
and she was taking her breath in harsh gulps. 
	I quickly put a clothespin on her right nipple, then ran
a line of them down each breast to meet just above her navel. A
single line of clothespins ran down from that, through curly blonde
pubic hair, to end at the beginning of her pussy.
	"Ohhhhhh. . .Ohhhh God, what are you doing. . ."
	I carefully fastened her pussy lips together with one
clothespin, then another. I went back to the drawer for a dildo
I'd noticed and some lubricant.
	The dildo was of flexible rubber, about the size of an
average guy's dick. I covered it with the lubricant and put more
in and on her asshole.
	"Yessss. . .Ohhh, Yessss. . .Fuck. . .Fuck me with it. . ."
	I put the head of the dildo against her asshole and slowly
pushed. After some initial resistance it went right in. Mary was
walking over to the table.
	"Here, take hold of this and slide it in and out. Play with
her clit as well."
	The girl followed my instructions and was soon moving the
dildo in and out of Babylon's ass while buzzing Babylon's clit with
her other hand.
	"Ohhh, Ohhhh God. . .That's so good. . .so good. . ."
	I coated Babylon's tits with lubricant and removed some of
the clothespins below them. Dropping my pants, I got up on the
table and knelt over her, just below her breasts.
	I slapped my prick between her tits and held them together
with my hands, tit fucking her. She tilted her head forward and
at then ends of my forward thrusts, took me into her mouth.
	Soon after that she arched her back, threw back her head,
and moaned. I got off the table and took a look. Mary had stopped
when Babylon orgasmed and was panting.
	"Mary, back up against the wall and pull your skirt up."
	She did as I told her. I walked over to her and picked
her up, sliding my cock into her pussy. I thrust in and out, 
slamming her up against the wall. She wasn't making a sound. She
just closed her eyes. I fucked her faster and faster. I could
feel myself about to cum. As I bit down on her shoulder I came
deep inside her. She began her orgasm and held me to her.
	I lowered her to the floor and went back to the table.
Babylon was watching me. I removed all the clothespins from her
body and went over to a nearby sink. There was a container of
latex gloves next to it. I removed one and put it on my right hand.
	Walking back over to the table, I covered the glove
with lubricant and slopped the remainder of it into her pussy.
	I started slowly, slipping three fingers in and out of
her. Soon, I was slipping four in and out. I curled my thumb against
my hand and gently pushed. My whole hand went into her, forming
a fist.
	"Oh God Oh God Oh God Oh God Oh God"
	Her entire body was on fire, as though I had touched an
electric cable to it. I rotated my fist one way, then the other.
I moved it an inch back, then an inch forward.
	"I. . .I can't. . .I can't take it. . .Oh God. . ."
	She bucked against my hand. She started to shake and
she came. She collapsed against the table, exhausted. I carefully
removed my hand.
	I put my pants back on and picked up my coat and jacket.
I grabbed the files from where Mary had set them down.
	"Mary, untie her and clean her up. I'll read these files
in your office."
	I walked out, a big grin on my face.
				   *  *  *