Sapphire's Place - Prudence Walker's " The Inheritor "

The Inheritor

by: Prudence Walker
© 2001

"I’ll talk to Michelle, but we had better wait till things settle down and we get this other business over with," Phoebe continued.

Chapter 6

The next morning, Bill arrived just after breakfast, and, smelling the aroma of freshly baked bread muffins, he cajoled Pickles into getting two for him, then with a mouthful of food, mumbled about getting a move on.

Karen told them that the gear they needed had already been stowed on board the boat. Phoebe and Pickles walked with Bill down to the boat shed showing him the property on the way. He was duly impressed and asked if they could visit again sometime.

Setting off in the boat heading for Jamestown it was a sombre crew, each of them thinking ahead to the gruesome task before them. Kim asked Phoebe to join her as she navigated her way eastwards, saying she wanted the company. The two men stayed below talking.

Kim, ever curious, asked Phoebe, "What did she think of becoming a female and how did the two compare?"

"Kim, it’s really hard to explain, but so far its been great, I mean I get chased by two men then threatened with death and shot at and now I’m looking for a dead body."

She laughed. "No seriously it’s been a blast, dying as a man is nothing compared with living a healthy life with friends like you and to top it off I’m rich."

Kim giggled. "You know what I mean, stop evading the question, is it better being female?"

"Well..., both have their good points, but I do like the way skin feels when I’m in the shower-especially my nipples when the spray hits them. I haven’t had sex yet for the simple reason I haven’t had time to think about it, but when I kissed Pickles, it did something to me that I never felt as a man. It sent shivers all though my body and I felt like I wanted to melt into his embrace."

"Yes, he has that effect on all the female staff," Kim giggled.

So do you think you’ll be having an active sex life with all that entails?"

"I think so, when I get settled and learn more of the female graces including makeup. Then I’ll just need to find someone."

"Karen is a beautician, it was one of the many skills she has that Catherine hired her for. She will teach you all you need to know.

Talking about finding someone...hmm...Sandra has a brother... I think his name is Keith.

Owwwh! What did you do that for?" as Phoebe kicked her gently in the shins, looking at Kim with a pained expression.

Laughing at Kim’s hurt expression, she said.

"I’m barely a week old in this body and already your trying to play the match maker."

Kim grinned ruefully, "Well you can’t blame a girl for trying."

Phoebe fell silent then, thinking of her future. She owed so much to the ‘murdered girl. The least..’ she could do was give her a proper burial and have words spoken over her so her soul could find some peace.

Soon they were wending their way up the river mouth, arriving at the jetty by the boat ramp. Tying up at the jetty adjoining it, they moored

"So this is where they dumped the body," muttered Kim.

Bill came up to them, saying, "at least the waters cold at this time of year. Her body should be in good condition even after a week in the water." Phoebe shuddered, knowing that beneath her, only few a feet away lay her twin. Talk about someone walking on your grave.

"Why don’t you girls go into town while we do our thing, take the cellphone and we’ll call you when we have her secured."

"Alright," said Kim anxious to be away from this scene.

"Come on, Phoebe, we can browse though some fashion boutiques." Phoebe although not sure whether she was up to buying women’s clothing, decided it was better than staying here and watching the men retrieve a dead look-alike. So gathering her handbag she stepped on to the jetty and followed Kim.

Hailing a passing cab, they arrived in the center of Jamestown at 10.30 in the morning. Spotting a nice cafe Phoebe said she was thirsty, and needed a coffee. Kim laughed, and said these delaying tactics won’t stop her for long. She was determined to get Phoebe into a dress shop if she had to drag her screaming.

Phoebe sighed, and said, "you can see right though me. I’m okay getting dressed in the clothes that I have at the moment, I didn’t buy those, but the thought of trying on clothes in a shop and looking at lingerie with the thought that I’ll be the one wearing it, scares me."

"You never shopped with a girl friend? never picked out lingerie for gifts?" asked Kim with surprise.

"No, never, I didn’t have a girlfriend as such at least none that I went shopping with, just casual friends. When my mom used to shop when I was little and she dragged me though the women’s clothing shops I was too embarrassed to do more than look. And when I did I never really looked at any thing for long in case someone thought I was interested in it.

"You poor girl," Kim chortled, "think what you’ve been missing all these years. Well never mind, I’ll hold your hand and you’ll enjoy yourself, I guarantee it."

Phoebe looked at Kim with a somewhat doubtful expression on her face, but decided to try and do her best to overcome the feeling she was the lamb being lead to the slaughter.

After coffee and a sandwich they both need to go to the toilet plus touch up their lipstick, as they stood in front of the mirror after doing their business, Phoebe asked Kim,

"Does it get any easier putting on makeup?"

"Well I don’t use a lot while I’m working, only when I’m going out on a date. I guess it becomes automatic my general stuff. I only need to think a bit when I’m after a certain look or co-ordinating it with what I’m wearing."

"Don’t worry you’ll soon pick it up, you did say you were good at artistic design, think of it in those terms."

"I’m glad I have you and the rest of the girls to help me when I need it," replied Phoebe.

"Never be afraid to ask any of us for help."

Finishing in the ladies room, they went back to the table and picked up their handbags in preparation for leaving.

Kim started getting out her purse.

"My treat," said Phoebe quickly getting her own purse out and leaving the tip on the table.

Kim quickly had Phoebe into the nearest shop and led her to racks of dresses, saying "we’ll start off with the easy stuff and work our way back to the lingerie section, maybe by then you’ll have got over your shyness." Phoebe stood they looking at the bewildering array of dresses in all many of styles and colours.

"They all look great to me, but I wouldn’t know what to pick out," she murmured.

So began an hour of discussion of what women wore to different functions and the ins and outs of colour matching and the mysteries of what should show and what to conceal. Phoebe found she had ended up with three gowns two casual sundresses, several skirts and had tried on over twenty others while Kim had explained their various merits.

Next came the lingerie, Phoebe by this time felt not so much of an intruder, she felt not conspicuous, as all the women there either ignored her, being occupied with their own shopping or helpful like the shop assistants, giving advice or saying that something looked particularly nice.

She felt odd when looking at bras and panties when holding then up against her, knowing that she could wear these without any one thinking she was weird. There seemed to be as many styles and colours and many different fabrics used. One thing did strike her, was the fact that they felt nice. In the past, as a male, he had mainly worn cotton /wool or nylon or blends of the three. Now there was a myriad of fabric’s soft and sensuous from satins to silks, velvets to all the many synthetics.

When she had tried on the gowns, the sensations from their fabrics felt wonderful almost orgasmic.

She was starting to enjoy herself, making jokes with Kim. Saying wouldn’t Pickles eyes pop if he could see them now. Kim laughed throwing a rolled up satin panty at Phoebe’s head. As she dodged the pink missile it hit a gentleman who was passing behind her with his wife. He stopped, picking them up then with a strange expression he said,

"I think these are for you,"

Phoebe felt herself blushing furiously as she took them from him.

"They really do so suit you," The man continued with a twinkle in his eye, then moving after his wife who was standing waiting, looking at him with a baleful eye.

Phoebe turned back towards Kim trying to suppress a giggle that just wanted to get out. As she looked at Kim, her face, an picture of innocence, she burst forth with it. Kim started laughing with her and the pair hugged each other, tears running from their eyes.

"Did you see the expression on the wife’s face," giggled Kim. "I thought she was going to say something to him."

"Poor man, he was only being nice, "burbled Phoebe, collecting herself together.

"Well, did you enjoy shopping? I noticed you had your eyes full looking at the half naked women in the changing rooms."

"Funnily enough I did, and looking at those half naked women as you put it, told me something important," returned Phoebe.

"Oh, what was that?" Asked a curious Kim.

"Well, I thought at first I’d be embarrassed, then feel like a perv, but that didn’t happen. At first they seemed just like me..."

"Silly they are just like you," laughed Kim.

"No not that, I meant it just seemed natural to be among them like a group of friends, all polite and friendly. Then as I looked at their bodies I found myself comparing them against mine, seeing if I measured up. I never felt any sexual feelings towards them, Why is that?"

"Hmmm, I think your destined to have sexual relations with the male half of the population," said Kim thoughtfully. "It looks like your days of lusting after women are over," grinned Kim.

Phoebe sighed, " I can’t see it, but I guess you’re right, I really felt something when Pickles kissed me."

"When Pickles kissed YOU, ha ha from where I sat I’d say it was the other way around."

Phoebe blushed, "It was just a spur of the moment thing."

"Yeah right, pull the other one," Kim grinned," it has bells on it. Admit it, you were attracted to him."

"Well--- yes alright, I was attracted, does that make me gay?" Phoebe asked worriedly.

"Not from where I’m standing, in fact I’d say you were a normal hormone driven female." If what Michelle told is true then you have a female brain, only your memories and attitudes remain male, she said that the influence of the hormones from your body should change your sexual orientation. How fast that might happen depends on how well you accept it. Your brain will provide all the emotional needs of the body. If the original body was heterosexual then it will follow that you will be too."

Phoebe sighed, "well when you have been as close to dying as I was this is heaven, to be able too have a full sex life again even if it will be with a male seems a minor detail. At least I’ll be able to find out the answer to the age-old question, which way is best, as a male or as a woman.

Kim looked at her with a speculative eye, "when you do find out, I want to be the first to know."

Without thinking, Phoebe said "Yes okay." Then as she realised what she had agreed to, she looked at Kim with surprise. "Did I just agree to tell you when I have sex with a man?"

Kim looked innocently away, "umm, yes,"

"Okay you’re on," laughed Phoebe, at which Kim smiled back and began hugging her.

"First rule, girlfriends tell all."

"Okay then, tell me then what it feels like."

"Later."

"Hmm."

"I promise,"

"Hmm."

"Had enough?"

"Huh?"

"Shopping, had enough?"

"Oh right---yes for now, but I will want to buy you something first. For all the help you’ve given me." Phoebe replied, her mind still full of thoughts of sex with men.

"I’ll take a rain check on that, we need to get this stuff back to the boat and see how the men are doing."

"Hey lets buy something for lunch for all of us," begged Phoebe.

Kim looked at her, "you’re worse than somebody else I know, always thinking of your stomach." The twinkle in her eyes belying the reprimand.

"Oh, who?" queried Phoebe.

"Just a friend I have on the Internet."

"A bit of a pig is he?" rejoined Phoebe, laughing a little.

"She actually, no it’s just every time I log, on she seems to be having a meal."

"Well I like nice food and just recently I’ve developed an appreciation for good food, especially after what I had to go though." Phoebe went quiet as they walked along the street, thinking of the times looking in bins for scraps of food.

Passing a bakery they smelled fresh bread wafting out the doors of the shop. As one they stopped, looked at each other, the thought of each clearly written on their faces.

Entering, they proceeded to buy a loaf of crusty bread along with four fresh cream filled doughnuts, the jam was oozing out. Kim licked her lips, saying she just felt herself put on ten pounds.

Next stop was a deli where they purchased some freshly sliced ham. Hailing a cab they bundled everything in, telling the driver the destination.

Arriving at the jetty, they scrambled out, clutching the results of their shopping binge. Hearing a shout they saw Pickles walking to wards them indicating they stay in that spot. As he came up to them he asked for the bags saying he would carry them. Instead Kim handed him the food saying, "get started on that, we can handle a few bags," with a wink to Phoebe.

Phoebe asked if there was any progress, but Pickles just said, "that they would fill them in after lunch."

Bill, when he saw them asked, "what’s that nice smell?"

"Lunch," chorused the girls.

"Great, I’m starved," he replied.

Lunch was rather subdued, nobody spoke much, the men were obviously keeping something from the girls, but Phoebe didn’t press them for details. It was plain they weren’t going to say anything until lunch was over.

When things were cleared away and the girls had refreshed their lipstick, Phoebe finally broached the subject.

"Well what did you find?"

"You sure you want to hear?" Replied Bill.

"No, but I can’t hide from it, give it to us straight."

"Okay, we found her. Using the grapple though the live bait well," Pickles said quietly, looking for signs of distress on Phoebe’s face.

"We opened the bottom door like Kim suggested which gave us a clear route though to the lake floor and dropped our grapple though it. Luckily we only had to move once before we found her. No-one from out side could see what we were doing as we closed the top hatch and worked in the well itself."

"Where is she now?" inquired Phoebe.

Still in the well, but I took the ropes off her and wrapped a blanket round the body," Bill replied.

"I must see her, I owe her that," Phoebe insisted.

"No, not yet wait till we get back to the boat shed where can ensure a little privacy and let us clean her up a bit," Bill pleaded.

Alright, please be gentle with her, she’s been abused enough."

"Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things."

Phoebe surprised Kim with a suggestion that they continue shopping while the men pilot the boat home. At Kim’s look, Phoebe said she didn’t want to stay aboard with her twin being so close.

"It feel’s weird knowing she’s so close I owe her everything, but its not just a dead person, its me."

Kim said she understood and gave her a gentle hug, saying, "let’s go. Pickles knows how to handle the boat so he will be okay."

Telling the guys they would see them later, they left, catching another cab into town.

We have two hours before we need to go back," Kim calculated. "What with the speed restrictions going out to the lake and then the time to prepare the body. So where do you want to go?"

"Please anywhere, I don’t mind, remember that rain check? Well the offers still open."

Kim laughed, "okay, but I’ll warn you it won’t be cheap."

"Hmm, I think I can cover it," Phoebe grinned. "Oh, can you help me pick out something for the others too. I wouldn’t want them feeling left out.

Two and a half, hours later, two tired shoppers hailed a cab for the ride home. On arrival there seemed to be a hive of activity about the house. Plonking down of the lounge suite, Phoebe kicked of her shoes and started rubbing her toes. Kim smiled at her then grabbed the bags and took them away to their respective bedrooms. Phoebe smiled her thanks as she massaged her aching feet. ‘It wasn’t that the shoes didn’t fit,’ she thought, just her muscles were unused to putting most of her weight on the balls of her feet. Looking at the offending heels, she wondered why shoes that looked so great could make your feet so sore.

Sandra came in with a gin and tonic for Phoebe saying she might need it to help her unwind a bit.

Phoebe thanked her and asked, what was happening.

"Well, Sara is making a lovely wreath from the flowers she’s grown, Karen is touching up ‘Phoebe’s’ appearance for you, and the others have sewn up a burial bag from some heavy canvas. I’ll call when we are ready, okay?"

Finishing her drink, Phoebe went into her bedroom and finding some suitable paper, started wrapping the gifts she had bought for the staff. A knock on the door announced the arrival of Sandra, who, on entering, told Phoebe that everything was ready for the burial.

Phoebe sighed, then got up walking over to her wardrobe to find some suitable clothing. Getting dressed in a traditional LBD with the help of Sandra, Phoebe sighed, thinking about what was about to happen. Looking in the mirror, she looked very elegant in the black dress even if it was a little provocative. Sandra handed her a black scarf and helped her arrange it around her head and hair. Looking for suitable footwear, she selected some black slingbacks with a low heel and with Sandra helping her do her makeup she was ready.

As everyone gathered by the boat shed, Phoebe could feel the tension. Everyone was looking at her, knowing that she had asked to see her dead twin and wondering how she would handle it. She climbed on board the boat where at the stern there lay a shroud-covered form. Bill was there looking at her, as she approached.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.

"YES," she said, walking slowly towards the body.

As she stood beside the body, she watched as Bill drew the cloth away from her twin’s face.

Looking down she saw, strangely, considering the manner in which she was killed, a relatively peaceful looking face. Karen’s work was evident as the cosmetics applied to her face covered the ravages from the water, and it gave her face a look, that almost seemed as if she was just asleep. Lipstick and the perfume that was from ‘Phoebe’s’ own collection had been added. Feeling as if she was looking in a mirror Phoebe got a feeling of ineffable sadness. This person didn’t deserve this fate. She should have been standing in her place with this beautiful house and living the good life. Bending down she whispered in ‘Phoebes’ ear,

"I promise you I will try to live life as you would have wanted it for yourself. Rest in peace my sister, you have given me the gift of life and for that I will always love you. Go in peace, your death has been avenged in a manner I hope you approve of." As Phoebe stood up, her eyes filled with tears.

Turning she walked straight into Bill’s gentle embrace and sobbed. Bill led her to the others who had stood further away respecting her right to be alone with her sister/twin. They gathered her into their arms and let her weep quietly, while Bill went back to the body to make the final preparations.

Kim reluctantly broke free from the group hug and started the boat up. Slowly, she manoeuvred it out of the boathouse and started cruising out towards the middle of the lake.

Using the sonar equipment fitted to the boat as a guide, Kim located a spot she knew was the deepest in the lake. Cutting the motor, she anchored and then went back to the rest of the group. As they waited till twilight they drank a toast to ‘Phoebe.’ Bill and Pickles had placed the covered form on a ply wood sheet. Gathering round the body, they listened quietly as Kim got out her bible and spoke a passage from it, which brought forth a few tears and sniffles. As the last rites were finished, Bill lifted the end of the board and the weighted body slid into the water with a soft splash and sank out of sight in seconds.

Sara threw the lovely wreath into the water where it floated bobbing gently in the calm water.

Returning, the mood lightened as if the burden of ‘Phoebe’s’ burial had lifted. And thoughts of the future were once again on the minds of those on the boat. Kim called Phoebe up to the wheel were she was navigating by the GPS and looking for the beacon on top of the boat shed.

"How are you doing?" she asked, as Phoebe came up to her.

"I’m okay, it was very upsetting looking at her, but I needed to thank her for this," (indicating her body). I wish she hadn’t had to die, it feels almost as if I’ve robbed her of her life by becoming her."

Kim snorted, "No way girl, you were as much a victim as she was. Be thankful you now have a life to live."

"Oh I am, I am… No, I think this will be something of an adventure that few people could appreciate."

"Remember we are here to help you for as long as you want us."

"Thank you, I couldn’t have done without all of you. I want you to stay with me for as long as you wish," replied Phoebe.

"Do you think the body will be okay where it is? We don’t want someone finding it accidentally." Phoebe asked worriedly.

"Unlikely, I found this place using my sonar. I don’t think there’s another soul who knows this spot. It’s a deep, mud filled depression according to my readings. ‘Phoebe’s’ body will soon be covered beyond anyone’s reach."

After they docked and walked back to the house, Michelle who had stayed behind with the girls and the baby, greeted them with cups of whisky laced coffee which were thankfully accepted. While everyone went into the main lounge at Phoebe’s request, she went and brought out the gifts she had bought.

Handing them out, explaining that they were in appreciation for all of their help. Michelle loved the lovely black negligee that Phoebe had given her. The two girls were playing quietly at Michelle’s feet with the dolls that Michelle had given them looking and acting their apparent age and sex.

When all the girls had opened their gifts, and exclaimed over the clothes that just happened to be what they wanted. Phoebe winked at Kim, knowing that it was she that picked out what each wanted. Then Kim opened hers, one was a new barometer to replace the one broken by the shooting and a pale lavender peignoir. Bill got a brand new fishing rod and the promise of as many fishing trips on the boat as he wanted. Pickles looked on not having been given a present, a little piqued at missing out. Finally with a grin, Phoebe pulled out a small gift from behind her back. Handing it to Pickles she said,

"We all know how you would like to get into our panties, so I thought, why not. So here is a pair from each of us for you to wear."

Opening the gift Pickles looked at the five pairs of panties with a grin as everyone laughed with him.

"Pickles blushed, but quipped back, "I knew I’d get into your panties one of these days," then he joined in with the fresh burst of laughter.

Later as Michelle and Bill were leaving, Phoebe noticed that baby Linda wasn’t with her.

"Where’s Linda?" she inquired.

"Sandra expressed a wish to raise her as her child so I’m leaving her here, that is okay isn’t it?" she asked anxiously.

"Of course, I’m sure she be doted on in a little while, as everyone forgets who she really was."

They hugged each other as they left, Phoebe insisting that they don’t become strangers. Walking back inside to a supper that Pickles had hastily prepared, they sat around quietly talking. Phoebe grinned at the sight of Sandra holding Linda, feeding her a bottle of formula.

That night in her bed, Phoebe lay awake, thinking of her future. At this point it looked great, she was rich, beautiful and had more friends now than she ever had in her old life. There was the question of what sex would be like with a man, but it didn’t repulse her, in fact she was looking forward to her first experience as a woman. As she drifted off to sleep she reminded herself to ask Sandra to invite her brother. May as well start looking for a suitable life mate was her last sleepy thoughts.

End.

A footnote

This story is a work of fiction. It was written half a world away from the actual locality, but there were several eerie coincidences that occurred while I was writing it. I used Jamestown because my friend Cathy lives there and could fill me in on local colour. I also downloaded a map, which showed me the streets of both Jamestown and nearby Celoron, which I used in my story.

The character was originally going to be called Cathy Wilson (for obvious reasons), but got changed to Phoebe (another friend), who had asked to be in one of my stories.

I chose Celoron for the main part of the story to be based in. Cathy emailed me after reading a part of a rough draft. She was rather shocked, she told me that a girl by the name Cathy Wilson had disappeared from Celoron two years earlier, and her body has not been found.

Looking for a street near the lake for ‘Phoebe’s’ home, I picked at random, a street from my map. In the story, I had my characters drive along the street leading to the house.

When Cathy read this chapter a few days later, she told me I had done it again. Apparently, the street that I had picked out randomly, was the one from where another girl had mysteriously disappeared. Talk about coincidence.

As I said earlier, this story is a work of fiction. (I hope)

Now to dedications, most of the people who helped me in the writing of this story are in the story as characters. I’ll let you guess who they are, (most are writers themselves) For those that aren’t, I’d like to thank Jenny Jane Pope, Cathy_t_, Virginia Kane, and a very special thanks to Karen Summerfield who did most of my proofing lol.