target. Once, long ago, Margie had been Cameron’s woman. As such she was in complete agreement with Moe that Cameron would (a) hire Judith at first sight and (b) have sex with her that night. The object, then, was to make this sexual encounter as brief, painless, and safe as possible.
Margie would make certain that her daughter was fitted for a diaphragm as well as provided with a spermicide. Cameron prided himself on leaving sexual partners satisfied; Margie knew that Cameron would want prolonged foreplay. Judith was advised to forestall any of Jake’s attempts at foreplay. Get it over with as quickly and decisively as possible. And, as the coup de grâce, she should make haste to the nearest bathroom and either become sick or make the appropriate sounds.
It went just as planned.
Cameron hired her on the spot. He never questioned the document stating her age as eighteen. He made his move at his earliest opportunity. She had all the necessary protection. She drew him into intercourse with no foreplay. And he left disgustedly when she did actually vomit as a capper.
The details did not interest Moe Green in any way. His bargaining chip proved sufficient; he became a partner in Virago—the original as well as all future Viragos.
The impact on Judith was profound and manifest.
She no longer believed she was something special. There was little parity in her dating life; she accepted invitations from boys she never would have even looked at prior to her coupling with Cameron. She drew the line only at Morris.
There was one, and only one, positive for Judith. She no longer owed anything to her father. The only feeling she could muster for him was disrespect bordering on contempt. It was a blessing for her that she had to be in his presence only minimally.
From the time, as a small child, she had become conscious of a father, his role had been nothing more than that of a procreator.
And now, Moe Green had so sullied the title father that it signified for her nothing but shame.
From that time, whether Moe Green lived or died was a matter of supreme indifference to his daughter.
THE PRESENT
For Koesler, all this was now coming together.
He had heard the chronicle of Dr. Moses Green from the experience of Jake Cameron, from Claire McNern and her fiancé, Stan Lacki, and now from Judith Green.
A clear if most distasteful profile was taking form.
Not only had Green forced his way into Jake’s enterprise, now he was forcing Jake out of the clubs that had been his babies. Claire had lost her virginity, her unborn child, and her reproductive capacity. Stan, marrying Moe’s castoff, would never be a father. Green did not limit himself to one outrage per victim.
At this juncture, Koesler wondered whether Judith might also have had a more recent confrontation with her father.
“… so, that’s the way it was, Father,” Judith said. “There is no way Jake could possibly have known the complete story. I didn’t want you to have only his side of it.”
“Well,” Koesler said, “this was very thoughtful of you. I guess we can be thankful it’s over, and your father considered everything to be evened up and that the slate was clean on both sides. But I must say that, short of actual child molestation, I’ve never come across a parent-child relationship more fraught than that of yours and your dad’s.”
“Oh, it wasn’t over.” She grimaced—or was it a sneer? He wasn’t sure. “I just filled you in on the Cameron obscenity. Strangely enough, you’d think that Jake and I were the central players in that episode. But I think you’ll agree that we were only pawns. The player was Dad. He always was.”
“It wasn’t over?” Koesler was definitely puzzled.
Judith shrugged. “It never was. Not with Dad.” Seeing his appalled expression, she hastened to explain. “Oh, nothing happened after Jake Cameron for a long while—actually, not until very recently—when I decided to get married.”
“From all
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