The Betrayal (18 page)

“I agree. It’s not right, son,” Duncan Munro stated, weighing in at last. “But we have to fight fairly. Let’s not stoop to their level, whoever “they” are. Didn’t you say this Sabattini woman was following up some leads?”

Declan nodded, refusing to acknowledge the tiny spark of hope that ignited low in his gut at the mention of Chloe’s name.

“Chloe Sabattini. She’s the senior investigator working for IA,” he said. “She’s the one who did the initial investigation and recommended the charges.”

“And now she’s on
your
side?” His father shook his head, his scepticism plain to see. “How does that work?”

Declan offered a grim smile. “It’s a long story, Dad. Hopefully, when I tell you about it one day, we’ll look back and laugh.”

“Yeah, well right now, laughing’s the last thing on my mind,” his father said.

“You and me, both, Dad,” Declan replied grimly. “You and me, both.”

* * *

The Master flicked the leather switch in his hand, enjoying the raspy sound of it against the fine cloth of his suit pants. Earlier, he’d enjoyed a thoroughly pleasurable hour with his office junior. It had been much too long since he’d availed himself of the boy’s talents. The boy was more than eager to please a boss who could do so much for his career.

A word in the right ear could make the difference between permanent employment and all the benefits that came with it, or having to go from one temporary contract to another. Applying for a bank loan to purchase a house, or even a car, could be extremely difficult without a permanent pay packet.

The intercom on his desk buzzed and he strode over to answer it. His secretary announced he had a visitor: Federal Agent Stanford was waiting for him.

A smile tugged at the Master’s lips. The day was about to get even better.

“Send him in and hold all my calls.”

* * *

Charlie glanced around the dim interior of the Master’s office and surreptitiously wiped the perspiration off his hands. He always felt nervous when he came there. It had more to do with excitement than fear, but he couldn’t deny a visit to the Master caused a little apprehension. He never quite knew what mood he’d find the man in.

“Chip, come in. It’s good to see you.” The Master came toward him and flung an arm around his shoulders. Charlie relaxed slightly and savored the other man’s nearness. He closed his eyes briefly and breathed in the Master’s scent.

The man’s arm dropped and he took a seat behind his desk. Leaning back, he looked up at Charlie expectantly.

“What can I do for you? I hope the transfer’s working out?”

Charlie nodded. “Thanks, it’s working out fine. The Fraud Squad is happy to have me. The commute to the office is even shorter. But that… That’s not what I wanted to see you about.”

The Master raised a single, bushy eyebrow. “Oh?”

Heat exploded across Charlie’s cheeks. “I-I wanted to see you. I wanted to see
you.
”

A knowing smile spread slowly across the Master’s face. “Why, Chip, I’m flattered, but I did meet with you a couple of days ago, right before the hearing. You know we’re not due to get together again until Friday afternoon.”

Charlie’s desperation ratcheted up another notch. He was prepared to do anything for the Master, even betray a man he’d considered a friend, but he needed to know his sacrifices were truly appreciated. Lately, it had begun to feel like the Master’s attention had waned.

Stepping closer, Charlie grabbed hold of the other man’s sleeve in an effort to convey to him the depth of his feeling. The Master stared at Charlie’s hand and then slowly reached up to remove it.

“I don’t have time for you today, Chip. I have several engagements that need my attention. You’ll just have to wait—I’ll see you on Friday.”

“I can’t wait that long,” Charlie shouted. “I need to be with you, to touch you. Ever since this thing with Munro started, I’ve been a mess. I can’t eat; I can’t sleep… I’ve done everything you asked. I need to know it was worthwhile. I need to know you appreciate it. All of it.”

The Master stared at him thoughtfully—at last seeming to realize the depths of Charlie’s despair. Sliding his chair backward, he beckoned him closer.

“Come here, Chip.”

Charlie trembled with excitement and relief. He stepped forward and fell to his knees, his head bent low. The Master reached out and caressed his cheek. Charlie gasped at the gentleness in the other man’s hand. He leaned into the Master’s touch, silently begging for more.

“Of course I appreciate it, Chip,” the Master murmured tenderly. “There’s nothing about you I don’t appreciate. You’re my right-hand man, Chip. You know that. Your evidence at the committal hearing was nothing short of brilliant.”

“Y-you were there?” Charlie whispered hopefully.

“No, Chip. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it, but I have my sources. I heard all about it, including the fact Agent Munro was committed to stand trial, just like I wanted.”

The Master’s fingers had continued to caress Chip’s face while he spoke. Then his fingers wandered higher and tangled in Chip’s thick, fair hair.

Charlie groaned at the pure deliciousness of it and his body burned with need. “Please, Master,” he gasped. “
Please.
”

With a sigh, the Master stood and reached for the riding crop. Charlie’s cock pulsed with desire.

“All right, Chip, but we’re going to have to be quick. As I said, I have pressing matters to attend to.”

Charlie bobbed his head in agreement, grateful for whatever attention the Master chose to bestow.

“Of course, Master, of course. All I want to do is please you.”

“Then pull off your pants and show me.”

Charlie struggled to his feet. With trembling fingers, he undid his belt. He loosened the button on his pants and undid the zip. His gaze remained fixed on the thin hard piece of black leather in the Master’s hand.

“Turn around.”

The order was issued in a voice that was as soft as steel. Charlie hastened to do as he was asked.

“Bend over.”

The kiss of the whip sent fire across his ass. The agony of it was excruciating. He bit his lip against the pain, even as his cock stood to attention.

“Stroke yourself, Chip. I want to see you stroke yourself.”

Another stripe across his buttocks and Charlie flinched and reached for his cock. His hand tightened around the thick shaft. He stroked slowly, rhythmically, in time with the riding crop until his desire had reached a fever pitch.

“Show me, Chip. Turn around and show me how much you love what I do to you. I want to watch you come.”

The Master’s words sent him catapulting over the edge. He spun on his heel. An arc of white fluid spurted out of his cock and filled his hand. He shouted in relief. Gasping, he fought to regain his breath.

“Well done, Chip. I hope you now realize how much I appreciate you. I’ll always appreciate you. Don’t forget it.”

Charlie kept his head bowed, his eyes fixed to the floor. “Yes, Master. Thank you, Master. I promise, I won’t forget.”

The Master loosened his pants and dropped them to the floor. His underwear quickly followed. His cock sprang thick and hard from his groin. “Good. Now, clean yourself up and get over here. I have something else you need to attend to.”

* * *

Eric stared through the crack in the opened door, his eyes wide with shock. His boss stood half naked behind Agent Stanford, his cock thrusting rhythmically in and out of the younger man’s pale ass.

He’d known the Minister was gay, of course, or at the very least, bi-sexual. The Minister had never pretended he wasn’t married, but Eric had been under the impression his boss had chosen him and him alone for his pleasures, not this buffed up try-hard that looked like he had a decade or more on Eric.

Hurt and disbelief flooded through him. How could the Minister prefer Stanford to
him
? And how could his boss go from loving Eric deep and slow on the couch less than two hours ago and whispering sweet platitudes in his ear, to fucking this wannabe Arnold Schwarzenegger like an animal?

It wasn’t right and if he hadn’t seen it for himself, he’d never have believed it. For nearly a year, he’d been at the Minister’s beck and call, fulfilling his every need and he’d loved every minute of it. The Minister continually assured him of his appreciation of all that Eric did for him and Eric was more than happy to deliver.

But that was when he’d thought he was the only man in the Minister’s life. Now it was clear that wasn’t the case.

He thought back to when he’d first come across Agent Stanford in the Minister’s Office and realized it was more than three months ago—about the same time his boss had approached him with the task of attending HR and obtaining access to a list of personnel files. He’d been given strict instructions to pay particular attention to the file of one Agent Declan Munro, including photographing every page of the file.

At the time, Eric hadn’t questioned the order. He did what he was told and he gladly waited for his reward. The Minister hadn’t failed to deliver. The memory of their encounter after Eric had downloaded the photos onto the Minister’s computer still had the power to make him hard.

But that was then, before he knew. Before he knew it was all a lie. He wasn’t the Minister’s special boy. He wasn’t the favored one. He wasn’t the only one the Minister loved…

He wanted to charge into the room and tear the men apart. He wanted to scream out his pain and disillusionment until he was hoarse from the effort…

But where would that get him? It was obvious the Minister had been playing him. For nearly twelve months, Eric had done everything his boss had asked of him—and more—without complaint and now he knew it had all been for nothing. God knows how many others had been in the game, taking the kind of pleasure from the Minister that Eric had believed was his alone. All this time, he’d been blissfully unaware.

Heartbreak and disillusionment nearly made him weep. Rage like he’d never known burned behind his eyes. He’d been played the fool, pure and simple. Well, not anymore. He’d find a way to make the Minister pay…

* * *

The Minister watched with a narrowed eyed gaze as Chip departed the way he’d arrived. The boy had come in handy, but his usefulness was at an end. Now that Declan Munro had been committed to stand trial, the need for Chip had dissipated. Even if Munro was found not guilty, the damage to his credibility would be irreparable. The man could continue to spout his innocence to all and sundry, but who would listen? He’d been charged with accessing child pornography. His career and reputation would never recover.

Besides, the meeting with his niece a little over an hour ago had unsettled him and the increasing desperation in Chip’s eyes was more than cause for concern. Desperate men were unpredictable and the Minister hated when things went beyond his control. No, it was time to put an end to the man’s dependence upon him, before he became more trouble than he was worth.

He’d do it as gently as he could, of course. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had plenty of practice. He’d ended more relationships than he could remember. More often than not, they’d ended amiably with a promotion and reward. History assured him the odds were in his favor.

He’d begun to tire of Chip, anyway. He’d only sought the man out as a way to get access to Munro. Now he’d achieved his aim, it was time to let him go. Besides, cutting Chip loose would give him more time to devote to his young clerk. During the year they’d been working together, he and Eric had grown close, but with most of his efforts concentrated on Chip over the past few months, the Minister had been more than a little neglectful of the boy.

It was time he paid the clerk a little more attention.

CHAPTER 16

Chloe bent over the sink in the staff restroom and splashed cool water onto her face. She patted it dry with some paper towel and then stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed; her eyes were overbright. Tendrils of hair that had escaped the tight confines of her bun, now curled riotously around her face. Overall, she looked like she’d run a marathon around Lake Burley Griffin. Twice.

The lunch with her uncle had left her feeling dissatisfied. She’d hoped he would answer her questions with facts; that one way or the other, she’d know the truth about why Declan’s personnel file had been accessed. But her uncle had been anything but enlightening and when she left, she’d felt even more unsettled.

With a sigh, she pulled out hairpins and loosened the elastic band that contained her bun. She released the heavy mass on another sigh. Grabbing a brush from her handbag, she ran it through her wayward locks before twisting it back into its customary bun. With a last look at her reflection, she left the bathroom and headed back toward her desk.

Straight after her meeting with her uncle, she’d returned to her office and had placed a call to Charlie Stanford’s cell phone. The call had gone through to his voice mail. It was now nearly two hours since she’d left a message for him to contact her and she had yet to hear from him.

Impatience churned in her belly and she reached for the internal police phone directory and found the number for Detective Superintendent Gary Julian. Snatching up the phone again, she punched in the numbers for Stanford’s boss and waited for someone to pick up.

“CPU.”

“Detective Superintendent Julian, please.”

The call was redirected and a few moments later, the familiar, deep voice of Gary Julian answered the call. Chloe cut to the chase and told him she was waiting for Stanford’s call.

“I’m sorry, Senior Inspector Sabattini. I wish I could help, but Charlie transferred out of my unit a fortnight ago. I didn’t even know it was happening. The transfer papers turned up on my desk out of the blue. Stanford never said anything, although given what he’s had to say of late, I can understand why he wouldn’t want to hang around here. The rest of the unit isn’t exactly overflowing with understanding for him.”

“What do
you
think about his evidence?” she asked.

There was a long sigh on the other end of the phone. “If it was anyone else but Stanford, I’d have said it was a load of bullshit. But Stanford’s a good agent. He’s been here for years. Then again, I’m still not willing to believe Declan’s guilty of the charges.”