The Housekeeper - Chapter 13 (Part 2 of 2)

The Housekeeper

By Karen Singer

Chapter 13 (Part 2 of 2)

     Roger crawled under the house.  Setting his flashlight down where it would do the most good, he started measuring carefully and taking notes.  It took him a long time since he needed to be very precise in what he was doing.  There were two types of air ducts under the house, large trunk lines that carried a lot of air and the smaller duct lines that branched off from the trunks and carried that air up into the rooms.  He was interested in both.  A short while later, he crawled back out from under the house and closed everything up again.  Now he needed to call someone who could build him the piece that he needed for Janice’s little hiding place.

     He pulled out his cell phone and went through his contact list until he found the name he needed.  He dialed with the punch of a button. 

      “O’Conner Heating and Air,” the voice on the other end answered.

      “Hi Mike.  It’s Roger Brinkley.”

      “Oh, hi Roger.  Is that system we put in for you last year still running all right?”

      “Just fine Mike.  No problems.”

      “Good.  So what can I do for you?”

     This was the part that Roger wanted to be careful about.  “I was wondering if you could custom make a piece of trunk line for me.”

      “I guess so.  For where?  Are you working on another house somewhere?”

      “No, it’s for my house.  I’d just like to make a small change in something.”

      “You want to change what we put in?  Why?  Isn’t it working well enough?”

      “No, it’s working just fine.  It’s just something I’d like to change now… for the future… in case I decide to expand.”

      “Oh, hey, that makes sense.  Yeah, I can probably come out and do it for you later in the week… probably Thursday sometime.”

      “Actually Mike, I was wondering if you could custom make the piece for me and just deliver it.  Then I can install it myself when I get around to it.”

      “Yeah, I can make something for you easy enough, but I don’t think you should install it.  And if you do, I can’t guarantee something else will go wrong.  My warranty isn’t going to cover any changes you make yourself.”

      “I know Mike, but I’d still like to do it this way.  Really, I’d much prefer it.”

      “Okay, suit yourself,” Mike said.  “Want me to come out so I can measure what you need?”

      “No, I’ve got it all figured,” Roger replied.  “I can give you the measurements right now.”

      “Okay, just a sec… let me get something to write with.”

     Carol opened the bedroom door to call Roger for dinner, except there was no sign of him in the room.  She only saw all his junk piled in the middle of the floor.  But she stared at the room with more than a bit of surprise.  No longer could she see through the wall into the other room.  It had finally been closed off so now there were two separate rooms. 

     She closed the door and went down to the next room.  He was standing bent backwards on his ladder spreading some white glop all along one of the seams in the ceiling.  “Mr. Brinkley,” she called.  “Dinner time.”

     A short while later, with his hands freshly washed, Roger entered the kitchen.  His gaze immediately fell to the purple dog dish on the floor… already containing his dinner for the evening – all cut up into bite-sized pieces.  The sight of it made him angry.  But saying anything about it would do him no good.  This was another situation he wanted to find a solution for… and fast! 

      “There you are, Mr. Brinkley,” Janice said as she quickly looked him over.  Yes, his tiny breasts were just noticeable under his shirt.  She shook her head at the ugly boots on his feet.  She and Carol sat down at the table, Roger simply stood where he was.  Janice looked over at him and waited for him to move.  When he didn’t, she said, “Your place is on the floor in the corner, Mr. Brinkley.  We’re waiting.”

     Growing angrier, Roger finally knelt down near the dog bowl. 

      “Now, let us bow our heads,” Janice said.

     Roger didn’t even try to join in any of the conversation between Janice and her daughter at the table.  Instead, he tried to eat as quickly as possible so he could get out of there and just forget the whole humiliating situation.  He would much rather be anywhere… doing anything… instead of… this!

     But before he could finish eating, the phone in his pocket began ringing. 

      “Speaker phone, if you please, Mr. Brinkley,” Janice said from the table. 

     Roger had to struggle a bit to get the phone out of his pocket before he could answer it.  “Hello?”

      “Roger,” Stan’s familiar voice replied.  “What’s happening?”

      “Hi Stan,” Roger replied, somewhat sorry his friend had called.

      “Hey,” Stan said, “I just wanted to let you know that there’s still a bed left for Friday night at the cabin if you want it.”

      “Thanks Stan, but I still can’t make it this year.  I appreciate the offer though.”

      “Well, I just wanted to let you know,” Stan said.  “What are you doing anyway?  I can’t imagine anything that would keep you away from the first day of fishing season.”

      “Finishing my house!” Roger replied.  “Spring break is coming up and I’d like to get it done before school starts again.”

      “It still doesn’t sound like you,” Stan said.  “Why finish that thing now.  You’ve been doing pieces of it since you moved in.”

      “I just need to finish it right away,” Roger told him.  He looked up at Janice and Carol who were both watching him intently.  “I need these rooms for my housekeeper and her daughter.”

      “Okay, Roger,” Stan replied somewhat conciliatory.  “Maybe next time.”

      “Yeah, next time,” Roger replied.  “Bye Stan.”  Roger ended the call and put the phone back into his pocket.  Janice and Carol were still looking at him.  He was about to bend back down over his dog bowl, when Janice stopped him.

      “Do you have a lot of friends?” Janice asked.

     Despite his position on the floor, Roger shrugged.  “A few.”

      “Are they all teachers from your school?”

      “Most of them,” Roger replied.

     Janice thought about that as she turned back to her own dinner.  She realized that, for the future, it would be better to separate Roger from as many of his friends as possible.  Which made another good reason for him to not teach anymore.

     Later that evening, Janice returned from taking Carol back to the foster home.  After removing her coat, she headed directly for the bedroom where Roger was working.  She opened the door and quickly backed up.  The air was thick with white particles from where he had been sanding on the walls.  Looking further, she saw that Roger himself was covered in the fine white particles.  “Mr. Brinkley,” she called from the other side of the hallway. 

     Roger turned from where he was sanding the wall. 

      “I need to talk with you, Mr. Brinkley,” Janice said, “but I didn’t realize what a mess you would be.  Perhaps it would be best if you stopped working now and immediately took a shower.  Then you can join me in the living room for a few minutes.  Don’t bother getting dressed after your shower, when we’re done you can chain yourself to the toilet again.  And please try not to make a mess when you come out of there.” With a shake of her head, Janice retreated to the living room where the air was much cleaner.

     It was a good twenty minutes before Roger finished cleaning up and headed… naked… out to the living room.  He was glad to see that the blinds had been closed on all the windows. 

      “There you are, Mr. Brinkley,” Janice said brightly.  She motioned toward one of the chairs across from where she was sitting and watching TV.  Pressing a button on the remote, the TV went silent and black. 

     Nervously, Roger sat… naked in the chair.  He looked around, but he didn’t see any sign of her collar or even one of the kitchen chairs that she used during her other “training” sessions.  He breathed a bit easier.  Maybe she did just want to talk.

      “What do you do during the summer months, Mr. Brinkley?” Janice asked.

      “What do I do?”

      “Yes,” Janice replied.  “How do you support yourself?  School isn’t in session all year long.”

      “I teach summer school,” Roger replied. 

      “Does that last all summer?”

      “No, only a few weeks.”

     Janice nodded.  “And then what do you do?”

      “I have several friends in the construction business that I usually try to work for.  Sometimes I do a few odd jobs for myself, but building houses pays better.”

      “Does it pay better than teaching?”

      “Sometimes,” he replied.  “It depends on the weather… and if there are jobs available.  The economy isn’t what it was,” he told her, “but in this area of the state there’s still quite a bit of construction going on.”

      “But you still prefer to teach,” she confirmed.

      “Of course,” he replied.  “I like it.  Besides, the paycheck is much steadier.  You don’t have to worry about the weather preventing you from working.”

     Janice nodded and thought about that.  It made perfect sense.  But it didn’t go along with her future plans for him… her new future plans.  “I’m afraid Mr. Brinkley, that I’m going to need you to tell the school that you won’t be able to teach summer school this year.  In fact, since I can’t tell yet how long Carol and I are going to be here, I think it would be best if you told them you won’t be available to teach next year either.  After that, we should be out of your hair and you’ll be free to do whatever you like.”

     Not teach summer school?  And not teach next year either?  Roger was shocked.  “Why?” he asked.  “What am I supposed to do?”

     Janice smiled.  “Now that is an excellent question.  I think, Mr. Brinkley, that you can make far more money doing repairs for people, than you can make teaching school.  So that is what I’d like you to concentrate on instead.”

     Roger thought about that.  It was certainly possible, but…  “But the work isn’t steady.  You never know what jobs are going to come along… or when.  And I’m not a well-known contractor, so nobody would call me with jobs that need to be done.  Besides, I’m not a licensed contractor.  I just handle things for people once in a while and I make sure that they’re all well aware of that.”

      “All that is fine, Mr. Brinkley,” Janice told him.  “And you let me worry about finding you work.  However, I think we can start by calling back that woman who called you a few days ago to fix her deck.”

      “Mrs. Whittaker?”

      “Whatever her name is,” Janice replied.  “Please call her tomorrow and see if the job is still available.”

      “But I can’t do contracting work and teach at the same time,” Roger argued.

      “You can at least give her an estimate for the job and do what you can until school lets out.  Then you can devote more time to it.”

     Roger thought about it.  “I guess it’s possible,” he replied rather sullenly.  He wasn’t exactly fond of the idea of not teaching school.  But could he get out of this somehow?  His mind started thinking hard about that option.  Could he argue further with her so he could continue teaching?  But another thought hit him first.  “I can’t,” he suddenly said.

      “Why’s that?” Janice asked.

      “I don’t have the right equipment!”

     That really surprised Janice.  “Mr. Brinkley, you have a whole workshop out there full of tools.  What more could you possibly need?”

     Roger smiled.  “A truck!  The little car I have now won’t hold the kind of tools or lumber I need to have with me all the time.  And while I’ve got a tow hitch on it and a trailer out back, it won’t pull the kind of loads I need to carry up the mountains around here.  So I can’t do it.  I’m sorry.”  He knew he shouldn’t have said that he was sorry, but it just kind of slipped out.

     Janice was momentarily angry… but she quickly composed herself.  He had come up with a very logical problem that would have to be overcome.  But that obstacle was only a minor one.  “Then we’re just going to have to get you a truck of some sort,” she replied.  “Cancel your teaching schedule, Mr. Brinkley,” she said much more firmly, “because you won’t be teaching this summer… or next year either!  Do I make myself clear?”

     Reluctantly, he gave in and nodded.  And he remembered something that she had mentioned earlier.  She and Carol would most likely be here through the summer… or longer.  Sometime next year they would be gone.  And that sounded like a very, very long time.

     Janice lowered her voice, and much more kindly said, “Now, Mr. Brinkley, listen to me please.  Sleep and obey, Mr. Brinkley, sleep and obey.  Sleep and obey.  Sleep and obey.”

     Roger suddenly felt like his head was spinning.  He tried to fight her words, but she kept telling him to relax and listen to her… and to sleep and obey, over and over again.  Even though much of her conditioning had worn off, he realized he was losing control again and all will to do anything but follow her commands soon took over… as did the total trance he quickly fell into.

     Janice was pleased to see him fall into the trance so quickly.  She saw him trying to fight it for a few moments, but there was still plenty of her conditioning left in him that he hadn’t managed to shake off yet.  And ambushing him by surprise with it this way didn’t give him any chance to mentally prepare to fight her.  The collar worked much better for this, but the conditioning with the collar was much more total brain-washing… something she needed to avoid right now.  Like it or not, for the future… at least until it was time for her and Carol to leave, she needed Roger and his entire brain.  But that didn’t mean she couldn’t control him at least somewhat.  Slowly and steadily, she coaxed him deeper and deeper. 

     When she felt he was ready, she said, “Stand up, Mr. Brinkley.”

     There was very little hesitation on Roger’s part as he stood up from his chair. 

      “Sit down.”

     Roger sat. 

     Janice leaned in.  “Mr. Brinkley, do you still see your impenetrable wall every time you stand or sit?”

     Surprisingly, Roger’s answer was somewhat delayed.  “Mostly,” he replied.

     That was what Janice had been afraid of.  He was indeed shaking off the conditioning.  She had gotten to him just in time.  “Mr. Brinkley, it is my will that you will continue to see that wall every time you stand up or sit down.  It is an impenetrable wall that has no end in any direction.  There is no way around it in any direction and it is totally impenetrable.  And it will grow thicker and thicker every single time you stand up or sit down.  All of your will to not do as I command is still locked behind that wall, Mr. Brinkley, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.  My will is your will, Mr. Brinkley.  My will is your will.”

     She sat back for a few moments and stared at his face.  Despite his trance, his face looked troubled.  Doing this with the collar would have been a better option.  He had a much stronger mind than most of her victims.  She would have to watch him closely in the future.  Deep inside, he was still trying to fight her.  But her small efforts tonight would definitely help.

      “Mr. Brinkley,” she said, “what are your primary concerns?”

      “To protect you and Carol at all costs.”

      “Very good, Mr. Brinkley.  Very good.  You will always protect us, no matter what.  You will do whatever either of us tells you to do no matter what.  And you will not try to run away or escape from us.  For now, Mr. Brinkley, our futures and lives are linked.  We must stay together, no matter what.  Do you understand, Mr. Brinkley?” 

     Again, it was a moment before his reply of, “Yes,” was heard.  And while she noticed that the command had registered with him.  He still had enough ability left to not like it.  Well, he could not like it all he wanted… as long as he couldn’t fight against it.

     But since she wasn’t going to work with the collar on him for a while and he was so head-strong, she decided on one last measure to help keep him in line.  “Mr. Brinkley, do you want to go to jail?”  She was rewarded to see him look startled.

     “No,” he replied with more sureness than anything else he had said so far.

     She leaned forward toward him again.  “Then I want you to think tonight about all those nasty pictures of you that Carol took and what would happen if they got released.”  She saw the troubled look on his face and continued.  “And I want you to think about all that nasty sperm of yours that I have as well and what they would do to you for raping my daughter.”  His troubled look became one of fear.  “And finally, don’t forget about all that money that you got your blood and fingerprints all over.  There’s no way you can deny any involvement with that money Mr. Brinkley.” 

     He was definitely scared now.  “Mr. Brinkley, remember this, if you don’t do whatever I tell you to do, or you don’t do whatever Carol tells you to do, then you can be sure that the authorities will find all that evidence against you, and you will end up in jail for a very, very long time.  Do you understand that, Mr. Brinkley?”  He didn’t reply, but she saw him nod his head.  Actually, it looked more like he was too afraid to reply.

     She sat back and smiled.  “Now, Mr. Brinkley, I have just one more question before we finish tonight.  What is your shoe size?”