Swimming with the Shark.

Julie listened closely trying to judge where the blackmailer was. First the steps were distant then they walked around the pool. Julie tried to remain still so she could hear over the flowing water. Suddenly a flashlight flicked on, shinning a thick beam of light on the floor. Julie could only see the man's feet as Mark walked toward her clothes. She saw the beam of light rest upon her clothes, then a hand reached into the pile and picked up her bathing suit. Julie felt a sense of helplessness pass through her.

She continued to watch from the safety of the pool. The hand returned the suit to the pile then the beam of light moved off the clothes and aimed directly in her direction. The light was bright and blinding, Julie could see the man behind the flashlight. But he could see her and all her nakedness as she floated in the pool. Julie's eyes returned to normal when the light went out. She also focused her attention once again to her audio sense. In the darkness she could hear first the sound of a belt buckle then the sound of a zipper being unzipped. The sound sent goose bumps down her arms and legs. And again the mixed feelings of fear and excitement returned to her.

The scared girl waded in the middle of the pool while her blackmailer undressed on the outside. She could hear laughter and it sounded oddly familiar but she couldn't put a finger on where or when she'd heard it before. The laugh was followed but a large splash only 20 feet in front of her. She felt the pool's cold water rain down on her as the man entered the formerly safe water. Julie suddenly felt like she was swimming with the shark. The pool became quiet again, this time it was interrupted by a voice. It was the same, disguised voice she had heard in the school closet.

"Listen carefully," Mark told her. "I am going to come over there... then you and I are going to have a talk."

The water rippled as the man approached her, then she felt hands in the darkness touching her. Julie resisted the urge to fight and continued to listen, hoping that it would all be over before the lights came back on and the pool flooded with people. Part of her wanted that to happen, she wanted so badly to know who the blackmailer was.

"Here is what I want you to do..." said the voice.