Judicial Punishment Lottery Pt. 04

Shona followed the girls gaze and saw Karen chatting to the handsome young man she had met earlier in the changing room, "Er.. I think so, why?"

"She fancy him or something?"

Maggie couldn't help but notice the fairly sharp tone of the question and she giggled, "Oh I think you're safe enough," she looked at Shona meaningfully, "I think Karen's spoken for."

Shona blushed, "This chick is as sharp as Joyce right enough."

"Hmm, fair enough I guess."

"So, at a guess, your hero isn't called Mike by any chance is he?"

Kate blushed, "Is it that obvious?"

Maggie laughed, "Only a lot, don't worry about it, your secret is safe with me and Shona."

Shona nodded, "Cross my heart. So, what happens in the story?"

"Well, the heroine and the Mike character end up doing a lot of shagging, but eventually they uncover some evidence that reveals how the bad guy and his minions have been abusing custodies and using blackmail for their own sexual and financial gain and it's a happy ever af..."

Shouldn't you be working Kate?"

The Sergeant was a grim-faced veteran with cold, unsympathetic eyes and a distinctly unfriendly demeanour.

Maggie turned to him with a cheerful grin, "It's okay Sarge, I said she could take a break. You fancy a coffee? We have biscuits."

The man's brow furrowed in obvious displeasure, "Hrmph. Seems like she's slacking off to me. Perhaps she needs another lesson to remind her what she's here for?"

Shona watched horrified as Kate paled, but Maggie didn't seem fazed, "She's been working hard Sarge, I've been keeping an eye on her."

"You're too soft Maggie."

"I'll remember you said that next time we're ahem... training."

The Sarge turned his icy gaze to the naked girl, "How long you got to go before you've completed your Community Service Kate?"

Kate started to hurriedly get up, "I started at eight this morning so I should be done by two this afternoon. Look it's not Maggie.. er.. Officer McGregor's fault, I didn't mean to get her in trouble, I'll go back to work right now."

"Hmm. Tell you what young lady. You bring me your timesheet and I'll mark it up as complete and you can just go home after your coffee, okay?"

"Huh?"

The Sergeant grinned at the girl. "I think you've done enough of this crap. I don't think letting you off a couple of hours early will cause the system to implode, or anything do you? Finish your coffee, come see me and we'll get you out of here, okay? Catch you later Maggie."

The big man turned and ambled off. Maggie grinned and looked over to the girl, "Told you he was a sweetheart really."

Kate frowned, "Shit."

"What's wrong?"

"He was gonna be my 'bad guy'. No idea what I'm gonna do now."

Shona interjected, "Surely, he can still be the bad guy?"

"Nah, he's too nice, I'd feel guilty. My story's buggered and I really wanted to shag Mike!"

Maggie burst out laughing and Shona couldn't help but giggle. Kate blushed alarmingly again, "I mean I wanted my character to shag the Mike character! In the story! Oh, for fuck's sake..."

It took more than a minute before Maggie could breath again, "Go get your timecard stamped. That makes you a free woman. Then just ask the silly bugger out for a drink. He's right there!"

"Oh, I couldn't just ask him. I'd be mortified."

Shona interrupted, "I might be able to help. Gimme a sec."

She pulled out her phone and texted Karen,

"Hey K. This sexy nude girl has the hots for Mike.

Her sentence is over so she's free.

Get the idiot to come over here and ask her for a drink after work.

Hugs, kisses and other naughty stuff. Shona."

Shona watched as the woman checked her phone as it bleeped at her. Karen read the message and looked across the room with a smile before turning back to the guy.

Turning to Kate Shona spoke hurriedly, "He's gonna come over in a minute. Quick, go get sorted out. He can't ask you out if you're a custody, or whatever they call it."

The naked woman was out of her seat and headed off towards the Sergeant's desk like a shot.

Maggie looked across the table at Shona and raised her coffee cup in a mock toast, "I hope you decide to join us, Shona, I think you'd do really well here."

"Hmm, big step. Not the work, more the... hmm, philosophical change if you catch my drift."

Maggie grinned, "Like going from nursing to working in an officially sanctioned torture chamber? That sort of thing?"

Shona almost choked on her coffee, "Well, I wouldn't have put it quite like that but... yes, I suppose."

"You're right to think about it. It's not for everyone. But I mean the system isn't perfect, not by a bloody long shot, but reoffending is down by a third at least and anti-social behaviour has fallen off by twice that, especially since they brought in Police judicial birching without a court order for petty theft, brawling, and the like."

"You support it then?"

"Yes, I think so. I mean it doesn't work for hardened criminals and there are always cases like addiction where punishment is useless, but generally, it's damned effective. Must admit I'm not sold on this naked crap though. That seems like some political hack either wants to make headlines or is just pandering to perverts and photographers, to be honest. I mean can you imagine having young Kate there picking up litter or whatever in public? It would be a bloody nightmare."

Maggie regarded Shona carefully, "That's why I think we need folk like you Shona. You're not going to turn into some sadist or whatever. You'll do your duty because you have to, not because you enjoy watching folk suffer and I think that's the kind of people we need."

Just then the Sergeant led Kate back into the canteen, now wearing her jeans and t-shirt. She blushed as she got a round of cheerful applause and a few wolf-whistles. "Kate here has now paid her debt to society and is a free woman. Let's all wish her the best," he looked around, "Er... Mike, once she's said her goodbyes could you escort her from the premises, please?"

"Sure Sarge."

Maggie turned to Shona again, "See, not so dumb as he looks."

"Er... Are you and he?"

The woman just grinned.