She saw him looking at her, more like staring. She like the way he stared. The two glasses of wine made her cheeks blush. He walked by and smiled. Wha... a beautiful man she thought. He was tall—6’3 at least. She needed to meet him. Raquel’s friend was in a conversation with a guy and she excused herself to the bathroom. She made her way toward Bill and he just gazed as she walked by. He thought she was coming to talk to him and just walked passed. He watched her walk down the hall. He thought. ‘He’s still in the hospital. He has two bullet wounds. He said he’d be there? If he said it, then you can take it to the bank. He’s definitely a man of his word!’ As soon as she finished speaking with Johnnie Dee, Gwen phoned Charlotte. ‘Johnnie Dee asked me to do something at the memorial Saturday night. I was thinking that I’d sing and was hoping that you’d accompany me on the piano.’ ‘You’re finally going to sing in public?’ asked Charlotte in disbelief. ‘Everyone’s been trying to get you to. If one refuses all three of us will go away to the courts. Ifthe city or county of Salem pushed all the stuff we did just in last thetwo years, we would be getting 15 to 20 years in a State Pen. That dammdyke Winston said when she dropped us off at home that she would pullstrings to place any or all of us in Websterville. That place is ratedExtra Maximum. They built it on Camel Island in the middle of MarlboroLake. When they built it, the State attached the three smaller islandsthat were next. Somehow, suddenly I have become property. I’ve experienced a total loss of power; an inability to make choices, to effect any of the outcomes in my life. The realization that I’m no longer able to look someone right in the eyes and say no is shattering. Out of the blue the term sex slave is no longer an esoteric phrase having no real meaning in my life because something like that could never happen to me. It’s happening to me now! I don’t have to see their faces to be able to sense the males.