Chapter Two:
Claire walked stridently
down the hallway; past a series of closed door on each side and sat down on
hard wooden bench just before the closed main door. She could hear the
women on the other side of the doors along the hallway, some crying loudly,
some sobbing softly and others too exhausted or defeated or perhaps a
combination of the two to do anything but lie quietly in despair and hope their
nightmare would end soon. Claire didn’t want to be here anymore than all
the other women, but she like them was out of options and this was their only
refuge.
She starred at the writing
on the wall opposite her for what seemed to be growing into an eternity.
The man on the door had told her somebody would be out to assess her in a few
minutes, until then she had little else to do but read the messages that
covered the walls.
“How can I help you Miss” a
voice said as a hand closed gently on her shoulder.
Claire
bolted out of the chair her hand pressed firmly into her sternum fighting to
regain her breath
“Shit! Where did you come from?”
she gasped between shallow breaths before regaining her composure and feeling
the heat of embarrassment flush her face. “I apologise for my language,
please forgive me you gave me quite a start! I guess I was deeper in
thought than I realised.”
“No need to be sorry I’ve
heard much worse over the years I can assure you. I’m very light on my
feet or so people say and I must admit it’s a skill that can be quite useful
around here at times. My names Alice Hamilton.”
“Claire Baxter,” the spy
offered holding out her hand now that she’d recovered.
“Please to meet you,” Alice
responded griping Claire’s hand and making the spy jump again. “Oh, now
it’s me that must apologise I’ve just been cleaning the ice box, sorry for
that. Now we can start fresh, how can I help you?”
Claire looked away, looked
back and generally looked embarrassed, she didn’t like admitting defeat and in
most cases would rather have died than admit it but she truly needed all the
help and support she could get at least for the short term so she screwed up
her courage.
“Matthew 25, 35-36,” she
answered.
“For I was hungry and you
gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you
welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I
was in prison and you came to me,” Alice answered with a smile. “The
Salvation Army is here to help you Claire in anyway we can. I was just
about to eat my dinner would you care to join me, we can talk and then find you
a room for the night,” Alice said as she opened the door and motioned a
grateful Claire through.
They
ate mostly in silence except for the usual questions to Claire about where
she’d come from, what was she doing in Los Angeles, what kind of work was she
looking for. The spy’s vague, but not too vague answers seemed to satisfy
Alice all the same. Claire, her training never too far from the surface
watched and listened to Alice Hamilton as they ate and conversed.
“I hope you don’t mind my asking
but what part of Devonshire are you from?” Claire asked.
“What makes you think I’m from
England,” Alice answered nonchalantly.
“You
try very hard to hide it, but you still put the emphasis on the wrong syllable
in certain words and you cut the corner, just so slightly on the ends of
others. That is a certain trait of a person from Devonshire.”
“I can see I need to work on
my speech a little more and here I thought I was doing so well,” she said with
a little laugh. “I’m from a small village called Totness. I
immigrated here just after the war looking for a new start.
“You’re quite a detective Claire,
a regular Miss Marple, can you discern anything else so far,” she asked
playfully.
Claire smiled before she
began. “You’ve spent time on the continent; I’d say Italy, Germany,
France and Spain being the most prominent of the places. Italy because of
your very polished manners, Germany because of the way you sit in your chair,
straight backed with excellent posture, France because of your very fine and
delicate table manners and Spain because of your ease and manner in
conversation.”
“You really are remarkable
Claire! My father was in the Foreign Service before the war and we were placed
in all the countries you mentioned. Brava to you my dear.” Alice said
placing her utensils silently on her plate.
“One
more question if you don’t mind please,” Claire asked in her best voice. “Please.” Alice offered.
“You’re not a Sally Ann officer are you?”
“Heavens no, I just volunteer my
time here at night. My husband left me a considerable fortune so I’m well
looked after. I spend my days managing my money and at night I like to
give back something of myself to try and improve the world in any small way I
can. Just as I’m sure you do Claire,” she answered knowingly. “Now
come on lets find you a room and tomorrow night I’ll bring you some clothes,
you and I appear to be about the same height and figure, I think I have one or
two extra dresses at home that may fit you nicely. We can’t have you traipsing
all over town in pants now can we?”
Claire smiled and followed
Alice Hamilton out of the kitchen and back down the main hall she’d come in by,
then down another to the end.
“The showers right there at
the end of hall, very close. There’s a bar of soap and towel in your
room, but I’m afraid no nightgown or PJ’s as American’s say. I’ll add
that to my list or we may have something in the thrift bin, perhaps I’ll start
there,” she said making a mental note to herself.
“You’ve
been so kind I really hate to ask but would you have any paper, a pen or pencil
and a telephone book so I can make some notes for a job search?” Claire asked. “I’ll see what I can do,” Alice said as she lightly disappeared up the hallway barely making a sound.
Claire put the newspaper
she’d been carrying on a dresser that leaned to one side and had definitely
seen better days, picked up the soap and towel and headed for the shower.
When she returned all her requests including a nightgown, old but clean where neatly
placed on her cot. The spy slipped on the garment and placed the paper
and other items on the floor, she needed sleep first, tomorrow she’d begin her
new ordeal, but for now sleep was more important.
* * * * * * * * * * *
She awoke early and as best
she could in the little room did her stretching before climbing onto her cot
and placing herself in the lotus position for some deep mediation while it was
still quite. Carefully Claire unlocked the tumblers to her mind and let
the panic and confusion seep out and into her body, the Ying mixing with the
Yang to create a balance again. The two forces flowed back and forth;
Goliath’s battling each other for the supremacy of her. She nearly lost
the battle several times before pushing herself back into equilibrium.
She surfaced, this time in control and determined to stay that way. She
dressed in her old clothes and headed for the main room that doubled for the
eating area. Claire knew her stay, as long as she wanted, was free, but
that certain jobs were expected of her. She found the bulletin board and
her name under something she hadn’t expected, teaching.
She located the officer in
charge, a Major Bowes who explained her duties to her. Claire ate her
breakfast, porridge, toast and tea while leafing madly through the manual she’d
been given by the Major as class started in half an hour!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“That had to be the longest
two hours of my life!” she thought as she closed the door to her room and fell
onto her cot. “Thank God it’s only twice a week!”
She didn’t know where to
start. Out of class of 25 woman, 18 of them could barely read, the other
seven at best had grammar school level!
“This experience just keeps getting better and
better!” she thought as she reached for her newspaper. “Well at least I
know its February the 18th today,” she mumbled as she flash read the
paper. It told her very little, she really needed a Wall Street Journal
reasoning that if her mad scientist friend had managed to survive, he’d set
about building up resources. “But for what? Too many ifs at this
point in time!” she sighed discarding the newspaper and grabbing the
Telephone Directory and the notepad. She had seven pages of notes and was
on her eight when a knock on her door interrupted her concentration.
“Come
in Alice,” she answered.
“You’re psychic powers
really are astonishing!” she said with mock laughter. “Here, these are
for you,” Alice continued, holding out her arms that contained several boxes
that Claire gratefully took before shifting herself on the cot to make room for
and offer a seat to Alice.
Claire was now the proud
owner to two dresses, a hat, hatpin, a set of shoes, earrings and a few
cosmetics. “I’m sorry no stockings, silk is still too hard to come by and
very expensive, even for me!” she said again with a little laugh that they
again both shared.
“I’m very thankful and
really don’t know what to say!” was all Claire could sputter out before giving
the woman an unexpected kiss on the cheek and an attempt at a hug before Alice
quickly pulled away and vaulted from the cot to the door. “I’m sorry I
didn’t mean to..” Claire began before Alice quickly raised a hand.
“It’s my fault that dammed
restrained English upbringing. Try as I might I can never overcome
it! I’ll see you at dinner later,” she said before quickly exiting the
room.
* * * * * * * * * * *
“So you have no experience, no
portfolio and no references! Why should I consider you! As a matter of
fact why the hell am I even talking to you at all!” Sam Carroll yelled as
Claire adjusted a light stand.
“Funny I didn’t see Jeanne Crain,
Rita Hayworth or Hedy Lamaar in the outer office waiting ahead of me!” Claire
smiled sweetly as she moved the defusing light stand. “This is way too
high, you’ll never get the kind of exposure that would capture the image
properly,” she continued.
“Look Miss, just leave my stuff
alone and get out before I have to throw you out on your ear!” he said
advancing on the light stand.
“I wouldn’t advise that if I were
you,” she glared at him with piercing eyes that made him stop in mid step from
a combination of fear and a newfound excitement!
“Can you give me that look all the
time?” Sam asked hopefully.
“That and any other one you
want! All I need is a chance and a little guidance from someone, who
knows how to package the product,” she answered deferentially pulling up a
chair and motioning for him to do the same which he did.
“Look, let’s be honest with each
other and to make it easy on you I’ll go first,” Claire said as she took
control of the situation. “I’m new in town, I have no money at all, I’m
staying at the Salvation Army Centre downtown and to top it off the clothes I’m
wearing were a charity gift. I need this chance and look at this way
everybody was undiscovered once you get to be the discoverer. You can
pose me anyway you want including nude if you like.”
Sam Carroll gave her a hard
stare. He was young, still under thirty but he’d seen a lot as a war
photographer and the eyes always told the truth, in a picture as well as face
to face. “She was a very pretty, hell, beautiful woman and just a touch
different in looks from what was in vogue at the moment, she had a unique
style, a way of moving and talking that didn’t add up, but was alluring
nonetheless,” he thought.
“Since were being honest I think
its only fair to tell you that I have absolutely no experience in pin up
pictures and as you so rightly pointed out nobody is really busting down my
door to hire me! In fact I had to let my receptionist/assistant go last
week because I couldn’t afford to pay her! That doesn’t make either of
our long or short term prospects too encouraging?” he said flatly before
picking up the thread of the conversation again. “I had to sell some of
my props and I have no clothes or costumes for you to pose in.”
“How much do you think you could
get for a couple of tasteful nudes or semi nude pictures? Would it be
enough to get you back on your feet and put some money in my pocket?” she
asked.
“It depends on how they turn out
and many other factors, but given my model I’d say a couple of hundred is not
out of the question split 50/50 and then if there’s more demand we can
negotiate from there.”
“Good as long as I get the bigger
slice of the pie!” Claire smiled sweetly. “And before you go off the deep
enough let me explain why,” she answered catching him just before his lips
could mouth the response his brain had formed.
“When these pictures are a success you’re
going to have more business than you can handle from all the would be pin up
girls and wanna be starlets running to your door to have their picture
taken! Those are the people you can set your percentages with and in the
end you’ll make more off of them than you will me simply by the law of
averages.”
Sam thought not too long and not
too hard before agreeing to his model’s demands. “Deal,” he said offering
his hand that Claire took firmly in hers.
“Ok, let’s see what props we have
to work with?” she asked. Sam retreated to a cupboard and came back with
a paper grocery bag that he carried with both hands. He set it down on
the floor between them and watched her dig through it.
“These are fake I assume?” Claire
said with a laugh as she set aside a strand of pearls. “ Oh, these are
perfect Harry Potter glasses,” she said trying them on.
“Who’s Harry Potter?” Sam asked.
“Oh, just some British kid I spent
time with now and then,” she replied with an inward laugh. “Not much else
of use to us in here, but this should do nicely! I have an idea for a
series of shots, but I need you to do to things. Can you set your
equipment up in the receptionist’s area?”
“Sure, what’s the other,” Sam
said.
Claire just smiled and advanced
towards him!
* * * * * * * * * * *
He had just finished setting up
the lighting and was about to call for her when the door to the bathroom opened
and Claire stepped out. Sam felt his brow tingle just a little with
sweat, he shifted his stance quickly in embarrassment.
“I’d have been very disappointed
if you’d had no reaction! That must mean we’re on to something here,”
Claire said as she walked by him. “Your shirt fits me just perfect and
the heels your former receptionist left are the crowning touch. Now how
do you want me?”
Sam thought of any number of ways
that would have got him slapped or worse before he came back to reality and
guided her to the desk. “Hop up and cross your legs over each
other. No more like this. Do you mind if I touch you?” he
asked. “It will make adjustments easier and the shoot go faster.” At this
point Sam wasn’t sure this is what he wanted at all! She been stunning
before but with just his pressed white collared shirt and heels on she was
beyond even that superlative.
“No go ahead I’ll let you know
when you get out of line!” Claire said with a laugh but she knew he
comprehended the threat behind it, not that she was worried it was just a
nature statement.
Sam could tell right away that the
camera loved Claire, her expressive face and long beautiful legs caressed his
lens in shot after shot. He had her lean forward and open several
buttons, her cleavage opening and filling the shirt, but not exposing
themselves. Claire put on the glasses just at the end of her nose and
pursed her lips for several more shots before placing a pencil between her
teeth for another couple. Sam swung her legs off the side of the desk and
had her lean forward for several more. Claire raised a leg up and dangled
one shoe off her toes for added effect, her leg muscles flexing marvellously
for the camera. Other shots of her bending over an open file cabinet with
her head tossed back to the camera completed the session they both decided to
dub “The Secretary”.
I’ll be in the studio setting up
for the next series,” Sam said as he disappeared while Claire exited to the
change/bathroom to check her make up and hair. Several minutes
later she had deposited herself on the white cotton sheet Sam had placed on the
floor in front of another plain white backdrop.
“Not much of a contrast?” Claire
asked.
“Who’s the photographer here!” he
wisecracked before adding. “I want your skin tone to be offset as much as
possible. Are you still sure you want these shots Claire?” he asked not
at all confidently.
“Sure, the human body is a very
beautiful erotic form and I’m not ashamed of it! I think you’re more
nervous about this than I am?”
“You
got that right! I’m sweating bullets I’ve never done a nude shoot
before!”
“Neither have I, but I’m always up
for new experiences! How about you, are you up for it as well!” Claire
said.
Sam fully understood the double
entendre and played along. “Both of us are!” he answered glibly with a
quick glance down the effect of which washed away the tension for the both of
them. “One rule Claire, no full frontal shots, it will only cheapen your
value and besides you’re much too classy a woman for those kinds of cheap
expletive pictures! I can pose you so the imagination of the viewer will
do all the work and leave them wanting more which is what we’re after.”
Claire nodded he silent agreement
as Sam got down and demonstrated the first pose he wanted her to affect before
turning his back on her and allowing his model to remove the shirt and emulate
his idea.
“You’re such a gentleman Sam, you
can turn around now I’m ready,” Claire said warmly. “How’s this?”
Claire had her legs drawn up at
the knees with her arms wrapped around them below the knees, her torso leaned
forward to contact her thighs and her head tilted towards the camera. Sam
nervously adjusted several lights and her just a little before smiling. He
worked quickly giving her word prompts for various expressions all of which she
took well. They did a second set with her lying flat on her stomach her
head up with her chin straddling her interlaced fingers before Sam handed her
his shirt and left the room. The spy smiled at the door he had just
closed in admiration before slipping on the shirt and following him out to
change her clothes.
“How long before you can have them
developed and in the hands of the right people?” she asked anxiously.
“I’ll start tonight, finish them
tomorrow, make a few calls then and see what happens. Should be two or
three days. Where can I reach you if I hear something?” Sam inquired.
“When you hear something,” she
corrected. “You can still find me staying at the Salvation Army’s Women’s
Shelter. As I said I have no money so consequently this is the only place
I can afford to stay. Sam I need this to happen!” she said with a tone of
desperation in her voice.
He saw the look in her eyes
clearly worried and scared. He’d seen it too many times during the war to
ever forget it try as he might. He always found it a paradox that it was
the look and emotion that served you best. It kept you alert and alive
most of the time, it was the guys with the calm look you stayed away from,
they’d given up, alive or dead didn’t matter to them the lines between the two
had been erased and either choice was the same to them. She was still all
right for the moment.
“You know I have an ex girlfriend
who’s always looking for women to model clothes for her clients at her
boutique. Very high-end stuff, you have the figure and the class she’s
always looking for. Here let me give you her name and address. I’ll
call and grease the wheels for you. The money’s not bad and you make tips
from the buyers, just don’t tell her about us!” Sam spoke as he wrote out the
address and handed it to her.
“You’re turning out to be a real
sweetheart Sam!” she said giving him a kiss on the cheek before breezing past
him and out the door of his studio down the stairs and into the night air.
“Let’s hope I can sell these shots
for both our sakes,” he shrugged before locking up and heading to the darkroom.
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