Debby did not wake up until a little after 11 a.m. the next morning. Ordinarily she would have never slept so late, but as they had not returned to the cabin after burying Jody and Stitch until close to 3 a.m., it was more than understandable. When her eyes finally opened, she found Duke had already absented himself from the bed the two of them were now apparently to share.
Aside from Duke's absence, Debby had two other initial impressions upon waking. One was coming from the rumbling in her tummy which told her she was starving. The other being that her body both reaked and ached from sex. Not surprising given she'd literally been used by every member of the gang yesterday; forcibly fingered by Jody, anally sodomized by Stitch, fucked one time each by Duke, Shorty, and Coke, and had ended the night by giving Duke oral sex in the back seat of the car as they returned to the cabin (he had so thoughtfully pointed out that by her giving him a blow job he wouldn't have to blindfold her to keep their burial location secure). It had taken forever to get him to release his spending into her mouth, and now even her jaw ached. Debby thought to herself, 'No sex tonight. I've got to ask the boys to please give me a night off from this, my body can't keep up.'
Despite her body's discernible stench of sex, Debby decided her hunger had overruled her need for a shower. She got out of bed and put on a bathrobe from one of her suitcases to cover her nakedness and walked down the stairs to the kitchen. At the bottom of the stairs though, she paused. Debby could hear the voices of Duke and the others, and realized she was the topic of conversation.
"Duke, last night was the worst night of my life, an I'll admit it was nice having your honky bitch around to help out with all that. But I still don't trust her." Spoke a voice Debby recognized as Shorty's.
"Don't you worry Shorty. I'll be keepin' that little white girl on a very tight leash for a very long time. She knows she's gotta long way to go to earn our trust." Duke answered.
Coke chimed in, "I don't think she minds being on your leash Duke. That was crazy how she came running after us after you let her go."
"You cram a big black dick in a white girl's pussy it can make her go crazy. Real crazy. But crazy in a good way, a loyal way even. Debby's going to take a long time to groom and to educate, but I think she's got a ton of upside potential for our organization." Duke replied.
"Her pussy definitely has some upside potential. I think you outta have me pimp her out to keep us with a steady cash flow. Having that stuck up rich bitch on her knees in the back alleys of De-troit turning tricks for us would be a good way to show her her place in our gang." Shorty suggested.
Just out of sight of the gang who were sitting at the living room table, Debby gasped and found herself feeling nauseous upon that suggestion. However, Duke quickly nixed the idea. "You really think my little Debby doesn't know her place with us? Coke last night shoved her panties in her mouth like a horse bit and rode her like a racehorse at the track. When you was fuckin her, you had her sayin' 'Black Power' so many times she could barely talk when we got back, she was so hoarse. My honky doesn't know her place? Seriously Shorty?"
"Little Debby, sounds like a nickname to me." chuckled Coke.
Debby rolled her eyes and cringed, not wanting to be nicknamed after a snack cake.
Duke then continued. "I'm not pimping out Debby. I don't want no honkies touching her and that's the only way we'd make enough bread with her to make it worth our time and risk. Her legs spread for our brothers or they don't spread at all. Besides, that's not the kind of upside I was talking about. Did you see who she'd had a family picture taken with? Governor Romney! And she apparently has a full bird Colonel in the Michigan National Guard in her family too. Obviously she's got some connections in her family. We may be able to use her as a mole and get inside some of white America's power structures. Way to early to tell what that would look like, and we've got to get her trained and fully committed to our side first. But I think Debby could prove to be a very valuable asset."
Shorty responded, "Ok I'll grant you that Duke, but that's long term. I'm worried about our cash flow in the short term. What about getting her a job strippin' down at the Man's club. She's got the body for it, and the panties for it too, as we saw last night." Shorty chuckled.
'Give it up Shorty, there is no way Duke is going to let you treat me like a whore for money.' Debby scoffed to herself, scolding Shorty in her mind, feeling confident that Duke's protectiveness of her would keep him from accepting such an idea.
However, after a moment of pause, Duke answered. "I suppose that's not a bad idea. I will have her dance for me while you all are away this week and see what kind of moves she's got. We could at least have her work there as a cocktail waitress. Her sweet little high class ass would make us damn good tip money. Let me think about it. Goodness knows now their gonna need a replacement after last night. What time are you two leaving today?
'Noooooo...' Debby screamed to herself as she felt herself feeling faint, shuddering at the thought of having to take off her clothes and dance in a room full of strange men. Hopefully strange- 'What if someone I knew saw me doing that?' Debby shuddered at the thought. Deciding it would be better if she took her shower first after all, Debby took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then silently tiptoed up the stairs hoping the gang wouldn't be alerted to her eavesdropping. Holding the railing to steady herself from her nerves, Debby looked down at her bare feet, as if to say, 'forgot those 7 years of ballet you had growing up, they never happened.' Debby pledged to herself to override her desires to please Duke and be the most awkward dancer he had ever seen in his life....***
After getting out of the shower and having dried herself, Debby went into her bedroom and saw that
Debby looked over at Duke, who had put on a nice, black collared shirt and white pants, with a black belt and black shoes. She thought he looked very handsome, but wondered if they were over dressed for the day.
As if reading her mind, Duke spoke. "I've decided we are going into Detroit today and I'm going to take you to an Italian place I like, and then we are going shopping. I've went through your clothes and like a lot of what I see, but you will need more skirts and dresses at least. Since your gonna be my chick, I want you looking sexy at all times, especially when we go out."
"Yes Sir." Debby replied, flashing him a playful smile. Debby was so excited at the thought that Duke was actually going to be taking her out on a date! Finally they can actually get to know each other like he said yesterday, she thought.
After she had put on the dress and applied some make up in front of a full length mirror in the bedroom, Duke walked behind her and placed a brown choker around her neck which he had pulled from her suitcase. Standing behind her with his hands on her hips, Duke purred into her ear, "Ummm, I like that." Duke kissed her choker on the right side and then kissed up her neck to her right earlobe. Duke then whispered as he gently nibbled on her ear, "Love the choker baby. It's like you have a collar around your neck, that's sexy. Today when we go out I want you to think of this choker as my collar your wearing, that it's there to show everyone your mine. Understood?"
"Yesss...Sir." Debby answered, nodding her head. Her body was literally shivering and goose-bumping from Duke's kisses. She placed her hands over Duke's hands that were still gripping her hips and leaned backward into him. Looking into the mirror as Duke nibbled and licked on her ear, Debby asked herself, 'Why does this man have to be so sexy? My body really needs a night off. Goodness... I hate to be vain but we look so amazingly sexy together!'
"Good girl, let's go to the car."
They drove into Detroit in Debby's VW Bug and pulled into the parking lot for "Vinny's Italiana, " an upscale looking restaurant. After Duke had parked the car, he looked at Debby and said. "Before we go in, I want you to take off your panties first, leave them in the glove box."
"Ummm...ok." Debby replied. After she had reached under her skirt and peeled off her panties, she turned to Duke and said, "Can I ask why?"
Duke smiled and said. "For me to know, and possibly for you to find out."
Holding Debby by the arm as they walked to the entrance, the jaw of a portly, elderly woman who greeted them nearly hit the floor when they walked in. She immediately recovered and politely seated them however. Walking to their booth, Debby could feel the eyes of everyone in the restaurant upon them. Fortunately for Debby's nerves there were only a dozen or so customers in the place. The booth they were seated at sat on an elevated floor and Debby had to hold the back of her skirt to make sure she didn't flash anyone when Duke lead her to her seat.
After looking over the menus and ordering caesar salads and lasagna, Duke leaned in towards Debby and said, 'So, now that ordering the food is out of the way, tell me all about Debby Baker."
Debby smiled, delighted by the question. She hoped by opening up the pages of her life it would allow her to learn more about the dark, handsome, and mysterious man sitting across from her. A complex man whose role in her life seemed to fluctuate between being her captor and being her suitor. To Debby, both terms seemed to apply to him equally.
Debby gave Duke the backstory of her life from the beginning. Born 19 March 1946, she was the 21 year old daughter and only child of Richard and Linda Baker. She discussed how she had lived in Midwood all her life and attended their public high school, where she was involved in drama and cheerleading. As for the present, Debby stated she was set to be an incoming senior at Cordell University, where she was majoring in English and her goal for that degree was to be a school teacher. Thinking this topic provided a good time to bring up her concerns about her future, Debby began batting eyes and in a sweet, mildly pleading voice said,
"Oh, and I know it's way too early for me to ask you. But I am kind of hoping that BALA has a work release program that might permit me to finish school?"
"Well see." Duke said, smiling in return. "You know, interestingly enough, I actually have a late application in to attend Cordell University this fall myself. If that gets approved and I'm able to get scholarship money I might be there too and able to supervise you. So it is a possibility, presuming those two things work out, and the Race War that's about to start doesn't prevent me from enrolling."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Debby exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement and willing herself to ignore the caveat. "What do you want to major in?"
"Political Science. I hear this year they are beginning a Black studies program as a Minor with an eye towards making it a Major. That's what I"m interested in. I think that would help me to, you know, educate and lead my people."
"Oh we are. Cordell is really trying to be at the forefront of multicultural studies and promoting diversity. We've also started offering several scholarships exclusively for blacks and other minorities. "
"He knows Valerie Demore? She's not only in charge of minority admissions, her husband Mitchell is the chancellor of the University. You should be as good as in!" Debby said excitedly. "How does he know her?"
"They met a couple of years ago working on Lyndon Johnson's re-election campaign together. Really hit it off. She even shows up at his Church sometimes to hear him speak."
"He's a minister?"
Yeah, at a place called "His Kingdom's Temple" in the inner city of Detroit." Call's himself a Rabbi actually. I've only been there a few times, but it's very old school, Old Testament, mixed in with Black Liberation Theology. It's predominately black but there are a couple of whites who go there. I've been there a couple times but my Dad doesn't like me going there, as the two of them don't get along very good. Dad goes to a white church."
The conversation paused at that moment. Debby was simply looking at Duke and smiling. Behind that smile though her mind was churning, happy at the thought that she may have two angles from which she could steer Duke away from violence. Religion and a college education.
Duke interrupted her silent plotting along those lines with a question to get the conversation back on track.
"So hey. We're still supposed to be talkin' about you though. Tell me about the picture I saw of you with the full bird Colonel in your living room last night. And also I want to know the story about that picture of your family and Governor Romney together."
With respect to the Colonel, Debby explained how that was her dad's brother Arthur, who presently served as a Vice Chief of Staff for the Michigan National Guard. As for the Governor, Debby explained how her dad had been active in local and state politics in the Republican party for decades and had served two years in the lower house of the Michigan legislature before becoming a judge. She told Duke that the picture had been taken at a Republican fundraiser, and that while their families knew each other, they weren't close.
Looking at Duke, Debby discerned he somehow seemed a touch pale. After a pause he said, "Your dad was a judge? Wow... I guess I should have picked up on that last night from reading your letter. I'm kind of glad I didn't know that until now. You and I, here together. This is crazy. Crazy." Duke concluded, slightly shaking his head side to side as he gazed off into the distance, as if replaying the events of the past couple of days in his mind.
Debby reached across the table and took Duke's hand in hers and began to caress it reassuringly. "What we've been through these past couple of days is crazy. You and I together like we are right now, not crazy." Debby flashed Duke a tender smile and shook her head side to side, to emphasize how happy she was to be with him. Duke smiled back, and took Debby's hand and held it.
"Oh Duke, here comes our food. How about you start telling me a little about you?"
Over the lasagna, Duke began telling Debby about himself. Born on the 4th of July, 1946, Duke told her he was the youngest of two sons born to his mom and dad, Jeremiah and Nellie. His brother's name was Isaiah and he was five years older and "they didn't get along." He added that he had spent all his life in Detroit, graduating from the racially integrated Southwestern High School in 1964. While at the school he had been a straight A student and active in drama, where he had played the leading role in Othello.
'Othello!" Debby exclaimed. "That's my favorite Shakespearean story. He was such a complicated, fascinating character. 'After saying that she thought to herself, 'Just like the man sitting across from me.'
"Agreed. Loved playing him. Even had a white girl cast as Desdemona." It was a lot of fun."
"Did you end up hooking up with her?" Debby asked coyly.
"Naw, I was with Jody then. I was about the only brother she hadn't put out for though and everyone knew that, so it didn't really cause all that much controversy.'
'So you met Jody in high school? Did all of you to to high school together?" Debby pressed, hoping Duke wouldn't think she was pressing for too much information.
'Jody yes, Shorty and Coke I knew from the old neighborhood I lived at until my freshman year. Stitch lived in the old neighborhood too, he was my cousin. Dad's sister's kid."
The conversation paused for a moment as they both exhanged sorrowful glances. Debby patted Duke's hand with her own, which encouraged him to go on. Duke went on to add that he had been in the high school's ROTC and joined the Army, going to basic training the month after graduation. He had excelled in basic training and in 1966 did a tour in Vietnam, where he served as an Military Police Officer working corrections at the Long Binh Jail. It was there, Duke explained, that he had become completely disillusioned with the United States because of all the racial discrimination he saw at the prison. Duke claimed this prompted him to chose not to stay in the Army, and that he had been out for close to two months now.
From there Duke further elaborated on his military experience, which shed light for Debby as to how he had become involved in the Black Nationalist movement. Duke's father had served in WWII and was very much a patriotic conservative even to this day. He had raised Duke to love the United States in spite of it's historic mistreatment of blacks, and believed with the passage of the Civil Rights legislation that blacks would someday have equality with whites. Inspired by his father, Duke had grown up loving his country, which lead him to join ROTC and then the Army. But serving at the prison in 'Nam,' he had been one of a small handful of black security guards overseeing an inmate population that was 90% black. The racial disparity between white guards and black inmates had convinced Duke that there would always be a white America and a black America, and the latter would always be treated as subservient to the former. Duke complained of how white war criminals went home and got promoted, while black soldiers did hard time for simply smoking pot.
Listening to Duke, Debby was surprised by how despite their different upbringings, they really had a lot in common. Both grew up in loving, religious, two parent homes; both had stay-at- home mothers and fathers who were workaholics. Duke's father had worked 25 years as an auto worker and was still working. Both dad's had been good at making time for them though, each had enjoyed taking them to Lions and Tigers games as they grew up. Each had even taken them to the city to walk with Martin Luther King in '63. Suddenly it dawned on Debby that she still didn't even know Duke's full name.
Beginning with a playful voice, she stated, "So Duke, I've learned a lot about you and really appreciate everything you've told me. However, I still don't even know if your real name is Duke, let alone what your last name is. Is there anything I could do to coax that information out of you?"
"I suppose. Lean forward and I will whisper it to you." Duke said suggestively, taking Debby by her left hand and pulling her close to him from across the table.
"I'll tell you, but you have to do exactly as I say. There are a couple of honky's sitting at the table across from us and the bald headed guy can't stop looking at your legs. I want you to turn slowly from the table to go to the bathroom, then pause for a moment with your legs spread. I want you to make sure he gets a good look at what's mine. When you've paused, I will tell you my name."
"Ummm..ok." Debby giggled, thinking the momentary embarrassment would be more than worth it.
With Duke still holding her hand Debby twisted her torso to get up and use the bathroom and left her legs open as instructed. Duke leaned into to Debby and said, My first name is Richard...my middle name is Duke...
'Please hurry up, this is so embarrassing!' Debby thought, frustrated at Duke's pauses. She could feel her face getting beat red.
"My last name is Johnson. Now go powder your nose." Duke said, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
Flushed, Debby walked to the bathroom and tried not to look at the table across from them. Out of the corner of her eye though, she saw the bald guy Duke mentioned who was staring at her with a look of awe. A slightly overweight man in a suit with brown hair on the sides of his head, likely in his 40s. 'At least he's not racist apparently." Debby said silently to herself.
When Debby returned to the table Duke informed her he was waiting on the check. Looking casually over to the other table, the bald guy was trying to look at her while being discrete, but the man across from him on the other side of the table was looking directly at her and had an appalled look on his face. Also in a suit, he was a thin with thick, grey hair, and appeared to be in his 60s. Debby focused on looking at Duke and making small talk, but found herself constantly crossing and uncrossing her legs and rubbing Duke's leg with her pink heeled shoe. To her surprise, Debby was finding the differing types of torment she was causing those men to feel empowering, and even a bit of a turn on.
After several minutes had passed, the waitress walked up to their table and said. "Well it appears today is your lucky day, someone just paid the bill for you two, including a nice tip. He wishes to remain anonymous though."
"Hey, that's great. Tell whoever it was we appreciate it." Duke asked.
"Will do, have a great day."
Getting up to leave, Debby, knowing in her mind it must have been the middle-aged bald man sitting across from them, looked at him and silently mouthed "thank you."
"Your welcome." his lips said silently back, then closed into a smile.
As Duke started up the car, he looked at Debby and said, "You know, maybe there are a few more good whites out there than I thought?"
"Pretty sure it was the bald guy who paid. He's definitely one of the good whites." Debby replied.
They both had a good laugh at that and then Duke said, "Guess that's more money for your wardrobe. Leave your panties off though girl, we're going to the mall."
END OF Chapter 1.
