A Colonial Trial

[SoftGameHunter]

Chapter 5

“Hello, you are Mr. Cadwallader Goodeman, chief of the constabulary, yes?”

Goodeman was suddenly confronted by three well-dressed men as he walked across the town. He pondered the center one for a moment. The man spoke well, but in a thick accent.

“Yes, I am he.”

The man bowed and handed him a wax-sealed letter. It took Goodeman a moment to recognize the seal of the Royal Governor of Massachusetts. “My name is Pieter de Voore, investigative officer for the International Gem and Jewelers’ Guild. These are my associates, assistant investigative officer Jan Parshoot, and security officer Wilhelm Kleinmann. The document you hold grants me liberty to conduct an investigation into the theft of gem stones in Piedmoore Point recently.”

“Yes, we had such a theft,” Goodeman said as he broke open the seal and looked over the letter. It looked legitimate. “We briefly had a suspect, but she had no evidence on her of conducting the theft, so she was freed after a trial.”

“Please tell us of this trial and this woman.”

“Very well.” As they walked, Goodeman recounted the trial, in increasingly detailed terms as de Voore asked more questions.

“It is possible that the woman is innocent, but also that she is not. Where may I find her?” de Voore asked.

“I don’t rightly know,” Goodeman replied. “She was released early yesterday after her attack in custody. I don’t believe I’ve seen her. I’d guess she fled the town.”

“Hmm. Yes, that would be logical,” de Voore said. “But almost impossible for a despised, injured, and very naked girl to pull off. Not without help. What is her living situation? Does she reside with family?”

“No, I believe she rents a small room with another young unmarried woman in the attic of James Martindale’s home.”

“Please take us to this place, sir.”

Ten minutes later, Prudence Fairfield sat surrounded by five men, all staring at her. She’d expected such a thing since Sarah’s arrest, but the three strangers troubled her, particularly their obvious leader. Goodeman and Martindale were less worrisome.

“It is your contention that Sarah Miller said nothing to you about planning a theft, is this correct?” de Voore said.

“Yes, sir. I’ve explained as much days ago. Sarah was my roommate, but we weren’t really friends.”

de Voore turned to Parshoot. “Go upstairs and search the room thoroughly,” he said.

“Wait a moment!” Prudence cried. “You can’t do that!”

“I’ve granted permission,” Martindale said.

“As have I,” Goodeman added.

“And I have as well,” de Voore said calmly as Parshoot hurried off. He turned to Goodeman and Martindale. “Gentlemen, I would like to conduct the interrogation alone if you please.”

“I needed to be in town on business twenty minutes ago,” Martindale said. “Please enjoy the hospitality of my house, such as it is.”

“Please keep me informed,” Goodeman said.

“But of course, chief. But of course.”

His searing eyes returned to Prudence when the other men had gone. She fidgeted in her seat as de Voore stared into her eyes. Kleinmann just stared, unblinking.

“I should tell you, Miss Fairfield, that I do not believe that Sarah Miller would share her plans with you just because you share a room. If she is guilty, it would be foolish to randomly brag to a casual acquaintance, as you essentially are to her. Mr. Martindale has informed me that you’ve only shared a room for four months now. So only on the off chance that you are both accomplices would you know anything. I simply must be sure.”

“I understand,” Prudence said.

“It is, however, possible that if she is guilty she may have inadvertently let slip some hint or clue or minor detail to you that you would not necessarily see as important. It would be something forgettable to you, but very important to me. So I will be asking you many, many questions about your living arrangement.”

“I see,” Prudence replied more cautiously.

“But first things are first. I must be sure that you are not obviously an accomplice. My associate is searching your room. I must search your person. So please stand and remove your clothing now.”

“I will certainly do no such thing!” Prudence replied. She was trying to put on a strong face to these men, though they scared her badly.

“Herr Kleinmann, if you please,” he said. Kleinmann suddenly was out of his chair and grabbing Prudence’s arms as he lifted her up.

“Hey, no!” she cried, trying to break loose. de Voore stood up and suddenly pulled a short, sharp blade from his waistline.

“I make no allowances for stubbornness, Miss Fairfield,” he said, grabbing at her bodice.

“No, wait. Wait! Wait!” she cried, but he placed the blade at her bosom and slid it firmly downward. Its honed edge tore easily through every layer of her clothing over her chest, the cold, dull backside sliding along her soft flesh. In seconds her upper body was exposed on her front side. Her breasts popped out, large and magnificent. Kleinmann pulled the fabric along her arms and everything slid off her at once, leaving her naked above the waist.

With a cry of shock and shame, she tried to bolt for the door. de Voore’s arm blocked her, knocking her backwards onto her ass, and then his booted foot on her bare breasts pressed her onto her back on the floor.

“It is ironic that your modesty will survive better if we find all the gemstones in your discarded clothes,” de Voore said calmly while Kleinmann tore at her ruined clothing in search of the gems. After a few minutes he shook his head.

“Please, please sir. Don’t do this! Don’t put me through this!” Prudence begged.

“Such a pretty girl,” de Voore said. “Today will pass into memory, if you are innocent. Don’t make your situation worse by fighting me. If we walk out of here convinced of your innocence, no one of your townsmen will know of this, and your prospects for a good marriage will not be diminished. But fight, and I may have to involve your community in a more public way.”

Prudence froze. It was a cruel threat, but a good one. An effective one to be sure. When Kleinmann took hold of her skirts and knickers, she didn’t try to kick. She sobbed a bit as she felt the fabric sliding off her skin. The gentle silks touching her legs and butt were replaced by a wooden floor. With her hands free, she clasped them over her womanhood, desperate to save some flicker of modesty. Kleinmann again picked through every lace and ruffle. Her clothing was not particularly rich, but there was always plenty of it. He took his time, but again shook his head.

“Go assist Mr. Parshoot,” de Voore said. With a nod, the older tough man left the room. Prudence was alone with de Voore, still lying naked on the floor with his foot pressing down on her breasts. “Now we are alone,” he said to her.

“W-what do you wish of me, sir?” she asked, terrified, and knowing his verbal answer mattered for nothing.

He took his foot off her. “Stand up, girl,” he said. She got to her feet, still clutching her hands over her crotch. He slapped them aside, and she didn’t dare protest or resist. But she trembled terribly in shame and terror under the man’s vicious gaze. He put his hand on her back, between her shoulders, almost gently, and guided her to step forward. “Your interrogation is going well,” he said to her. “We have found nothing in your clothing. My associates have not yet reported finding anything in your room. But there is still the matter of your body!”

He shoved her quickly, knocking her thighs into the table he’d walked her towards and slamming her upper body down onto it bending her over. Prudence cried out and tried to stand up, but he got behind her and held her face to the wood. “Cease your struggles or be found guilty!” he shouted angrily. Prudence froze, terrified of his threat. But then she heard him fiddling with his trousers and felt something smooth and hard poking at her entrance. Her eyes widened as she realized almost too late what he sought.

“No!” she shrieked, twisting away and lashing out with her foot. She rolled and fell off the side of the table, crashing to the floor, but she saw de Voore wincing and grabbing his manhood area, making low pained sounds in his throat that he clearly was trying to suppress. Prudence wasted no time now that she realized his intent was to rape her. She bolted to her feet and fled to the door. As she found it locked, she heard him shambling up behind her.

“You lousy thief!” he hissed as he came up to her. Prudence frantically fumbled with the lock, finally sliding it away and throwing open the door. She fled the building with de Voore’s fingertips brushing against her arm in his attempt to grab hold of her. “Seize her!” he shouted loudly. “The thief escapes!”

Prudence ran to the edge of the lawn, realizing vaguely that she had to seek safety in a public place. Stark naked! It was a horrifying thought that began her tears flowing, but glancing back to see Parshoot and Kleinmann racing out the door and de Voore hobbling along behind them was enough to spur her on. With her feet pounding on rough gravel, she turned to her right and raced for the center of town.

“Help me!” she cried. “Oh, somebody, please help me! He’s attacked me!” Soon she had the attention of folk looking out their windows and passers-by in the street. Her face burned in shame as she ran naked, her breasts flapping obscenely with each step, but the men were catching up fast.

“Help! Help!” she shrieked as she heard footsteps just behind her. And then she was shoved hard and sprawled forward, hitting the dirt road on her naked front side and sliding to a halt.

“Please, please!” she yelled in pain as the man knelt on her and yanked her arms behind her. She saw Parshoot running up, so it had to be Kleinmann that caught her. She felt metal locking onto her wrists. “Don’t let them rape me!” she cried to the gathering crowds of familiar people. “Oh God, make it end!”

“Good people, I encourage you to move along and go about your business!” de Voore yelled as he approached, still walking awkwardly.

“Who are you?” someone asked. “I don’t know you!”

“And who is this man handcuffing Prudence Fairfield?” a woman asked. “Sir, what authority are you?”

“We act with permission of your constabulary!” de Voore shouted.

“What’s going on here?” Prudence recognized Chief Goodeman’s voice. Soon he was standing there, out of breath from running, but the crowd calmed on his arrival.

“Mr. Goodeman, I am glad to see you,” de Voore said. “My attempt to question this witness ended with her attacking me and fleeing.”

“He tried to have indecent acts with me!” Prudence cried from the ground, still under Kleinmann’s knee.

“I tried to serve her person for gem stones. Procedure, surely.”

“Then do so,” Goodeman said. “Here, with witnesses.”

“Chief! Please, no!” Prudence cried. “I’m not on trial!”

“You ran,” Goodeman said.

“From a, a rape!”

“Conduct your search,” Goodeman said.

“Of course,” de Voore icily replied. Prudence lay face down in the gravel, and now felt fingers at her womanhood. She let out a long sob of misery as several of them slid up her opening, stopping at the barrier. He pressed at and around it, making her wince.

Kleinmann suddenly coughed and jerked his arm, banging into de Voore, whose fingers suddenly then surged forward, tearing through her barrier. Prudence screamed in pain and shock.

“My apologies,” de Voore said.

“That’s plenty,” Goodeman said in growing annoyance. de Voore quickly withdrew his fingers before any blood got on them.

“Mr. Goodeman, I did not find gem stones in Miss Fairfield’s vagina, but she did attack me during a lawful search. I must insist that justice be rendered.”

There was nearly dead silence among the forty or so people gathered around. Prudence lay weeping, praying Goodeman would say no. Praying he would resist these outsiders.

“This is correct procedure,” he said. He spotted one of his men in the crowd. “Daniel, please place Prudence Fairfield in the public pillory until such time as Thomas Sinclair can rule on her case.”

“Oh, no! Please don’t make me do that!” Prudence wept as they pulled her up and removed Kleinmann’s handcuffs. Daniel Vetterman took a firm hold of her arm and guided her over to the town square, letting her walk on soft grass as much as possible. The crowd was quiet, but they also followed, growing in number. “Please, sir! Please! This is wrong! I’ve done nothing wrong!”

Vetterman kept his grip on her and walked her to the pillory, the same one Sarah Miller had occupied so recently as a few days earlier. Prudence just broke down crying as her legs were spread and her arms and head were placed through the holes. Both were locked in place, putting her naked body on full display even as her virginal blood leaked down her inner thighs.

“We shall continue our investigation, sir,” de Voore said brusquely before moving off with his associates in tow.

“We need this resolved soon,” Goodeman said. He turned to Vetterman. “Daniel, go find Reverend Climewater. I haven’t seen him since yesterday. I shall inform Magistrate Sinclair. I don’t like that trio. Not at all.

“Nor do I, sir. Still, you have to appreciate some benefits of their being here,” he said, glancing none too subtly at Prudence’s naked body, her big breasts swaying gently as she wept in shame.

“Even so,” Goodeman said quietly. He turned to the crowd. “She is not for touching,” he said. “Am I clear?”

There was murmured acknowledgement from the sixty or so people gathered, allowing Goodeman and Vetterman to head off and do their jobs.

[Shocker]

I see they are using the time honored tradition of bend over and cough for their search of the gem stones. One has to applaud their dilligence of providing their own probe for the task.

[SoftGameHunter]

I see they are using the time honored tradition of bend over and cough for their search of the gem stones. One has to applaud their dilligence of providing their own probe for the task.

I don't recall anyone coughing.

But yes, when you're in the sticks, you have to make use of what you have.