The Puppet Master Prologue

Detective Peppers toughest case

Prologue: Friday, July 12

The bar was dimly lit, filled with the quiet conversation and the occasional clink of glass against wood. The scent of aged whiskey mingled with traces of salt in the air, a reminder of how close the ocean was. Marie had been there for over an hour, nursing a glass of wine as she adjusted to the slow rhythm of Ogunquit. It wasn’t like San Francisco—here the pace was unhurried, the faces unfamiliar. A fresh start, she reminded herself.

She glanced at the time on her phone before taking another sip. The move had been exhausting, but tonight, she wasn’t thinking about unpacked boxes or her new job. Tonight was about feeling something again, about not being alone. And then, as if fate had decided it for her, she arrived.

Marie noticed the woman before she even sat down. Confident, poised, with an effortless grace that made the low lighting seem tailored just for her. She slid onto the barstool next to Marie and ordered a drink, neat, without hesitation.

"New in town?" the woman asked, her voice smooth as silk.

Marie hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "That obvious?"

The woman chuckled, lifting her glass. "I have an eye for these things." She extended a hand, her touch cool but firm. "Jackie."

Marie took the offered hand, noting how Jackie’s gaze held hers. It sent a slow ripple down her spine, not discomfort, but intrigue.

"Marie,” she softly replied.

Jackie’s lips curled at the name, as if she found it interesting. "So, Marie, what brings you to our sleepy little town?"

Marie exhaled, letting the warmth of the wine settle in her chest. "Work. A fresh start. I’m a therapist."

Jackie tilted her head, watching her with an intensity that made Marie feel suddenly seen. "Fresh starts can be tricky. The past has a way of finding us, doesn’t it? By the way, I am also a therapist."

Marie laughed lightly. "Oh really? Here in town?"

Jackie smiled but didn’t answer right away. Instead, she swirled her drink, eyes locked onto Marie’s. "Maybe. Would that change anything?"

Something about the way she said it made Marie's heart flutter. She had spent years studying human behavior, learning to read between the lines, yet Jackie was unreadable, an intoxicating mystery.

As the night wore on, the conversation deepened, shifting between playful banter and something more charged. Marie hadn’t planned on meeting someone tonight, but the way Jackie spoke, the way she looked at her, as if peeling away layers with every glance made it impossible to pull away.

And when Jackie finally leaned in, brushing her fingers along Marie’s wrist, Marie let her.

"Would you like to get out of here, show me your new place?" Jackie asked.

Marie hesitated for only a second before nodding.

* * *

Her house was still half-unpacked, but the bottle of red she had set aside for her first night in town now sat between them on the coffee table.

Jackie leaned back against the couch, watching Marie with quiet amusement. "So, tell me, Marie," she said, swirling the wine in her glass. "Are you the kind of woman who likes to be in control? Or the kind who enjoys being told what to do?"

Marie smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Jackie’s eyes twinkled with something unreadable. "I already do."

There was a certainty in her tone that made Marie shiver. The room suddenly felt smaller, the air thicker. The way Jackie carried herself, the quiet dominance in her voice, the way she took up space without trying, ignited something in Marie that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Marie leaned forward, a playful challenge in her gaze. "And what if I said, take orders?"

Jackie smiled. "Then I’d say you’re exactly what I was looking for."

The tension crackled between them, electric and undeniable. Jackie set down her glass and leaned in, brushing Marie’s hair back with a featherlight touch.

"Do you trust me?" Jackie whispered.

Marie’s pulse quickened. The rational part of her mind warned her to slow down, to think, but another part, the part that had been drawn to Jackie the moment she walked into that bar, was already answering.

"Yes," she mumbled, her breathing excited.

Jackie smiled. "Good," she said softly. "Then let’s play a game."

The bedroom was bathed in warm, ambient light, a soft glow from the candles flickering along the walls. Marie stood at the edge of the bed, her breath uneven, anticipation drumming beneath her skin. Jackie was close, her presence magnetic, fingers trailing along Marie’s shoulder with deliberate slowness.

"You’re beautiful, sexy and enticing" Jackie whispered, her voice a low hum against Marie’s ear.

Marie shivered at the words, the tension between them thickening. It wasn’t just attraction, it was being seen, being known in a way that felt almost unnerving. Jackie had read her so easily, unraveling the hidden parts of her that most people never noticed.

Jackie moved behind her, fingertips ghosting over the delicate straps of Marie’s dress. "Do you like giving up control, Marie?"

Marie exhaled, her eyes fluttering closed. "Yes, yes I do."

Jackie smiled against her shoulder. "Then let me show you something new, show you how I play."

She slid the straps down, slow and deliberate, letting the fabric pool at Marie’s feet. Jackie’s touch was light, teasing, guiding Marie’s arms behind her in a way that felt natural, unforced.

"You trust me, don’t you?" Jackie whispered, lips brushing the curve of Marie’s neck.

Marie nodded, her pulse racing. "mmm, yes."

As Marie stood there naked, Jackie exited the room, “stay put Marie, I’ll be right back.”

When Jackie returned she was dressed in a thigh length dark green lace robe, dark green nylons showing underneath.

Jackie took a rainbow-colored collar from her purse, holding it up for Marie to see. The metal tag reflected the dim light, the name "Penelope" etched in cursive.

Marie hesitated. "That’s not my name."

Jackie turned Marie’s chin toward her, holding her gaze with quiet intensity. "No, but for tonight, it is."

A thrill shot through Marie’s spine, a delicious mix of curiosity and surrender. She didn’t need to understand, she just needed to feel as Jackie fastened the collar in place. The cool leather pressing against her skin.

"Perfect," Jackie murmured.

She moved to her purse once more, retrieving a small camera that she placed on the dresser and something else. When she turned back, she was wearing a mask, smooth, expressionless, concealing all but the sharp gaze of her eyes.

Marie’s breath froze. "That’s…"

"Shh," Jackie whispered, pressing a finger to Marie’s lips. "You trust me, remember?"

Marie swallowed, nodding.

Jackie reached for the blindfold next. "Close your eyes."

And Marie did. The world melted into darkness, leaving only sensation, the faint rustle of fabric, the whisper of breath against her skin, the distant echo of her own heartbeat. She felt Jackie’s fingers trail down her naked spine, slow and deliberate.

"Now," Jackie murmured, her voice laced with something unreadable. "Let’s begin."

Marie’s breathing was still uneven, her body warm from the roleplay. She knelt on the plush carpet, blindfolded, wrists bound behind her back. A slight, breathless laugh escaped her lips.

“You’re good at this,” she murmured, tilting her head slightly as if listening for Jackie’s next move.

Jackie smiled beneath the mask, though Marie couldn’t see it. She had played her part well, guiding Marie deeper into her own desires, weaving a fantasy so intoxicating that the woman had surrendered completely. And now, Jackie had her exactly where she needed her.

The dim glow of the bedroom was the perfect setting as Jackie stepped around Marie slowly, taking in the sight of her, vulnerable, expectant, unaware. The rainbow-colored collar gleamed around her neck, the small metal tag catching the light. Penelope. Jackie’s fingers brushed the tag as if admiring it.

Marie shivered at the touch. “That feels nice,” she whispered.

Jackie tilted her head, considering the moment. She had planned this perfectly. Every detail, down to the silk ties binding Marie’s wrists, had been orchestrated with precision. This wasn’t about passion. This wasn’t about pleasure. This was about control. And soon, it would be about transformation.

Jackie reached for the blindfold, trailing her fingers along the edge. Marie shifted slightly, anticipation in her posture.

“Time to pay for your transgression,” Jackie purred, her voice smooth.

Marie smiled. She thought this was still the game. That was the beauty of it as Jackie took the ends of the blindfold, soft, expensive silk, and twisted them gently against Marie’s throat. The moment was delicate, a breath held between what was real and what was fantasy.

Then she pulled.

Marie tensed, her body reacting instinctively. A strangled sound escaped her lips, but at first, it was confusion, not fear. She jerked slightly, as if expecting Jackie to loosen her grip, to turn this into another part of the game.

But Jackie didn’t loosen her grip. A tremor rippled through Marie’s body as realization struck. The blindfold was tightening. Her air was slipping away.

Panic surged through her limbs. She twisted, her bound hands flexing against the silk ties, but Jackie was strong, so much stronger than she looked. Marie gasped, a raw, desperate sound. Her head jerked back as she struggled, her feet shifting uselessly against the carpet.

Jackie’s grip remained steady. Firm. Unrelenting. The struggle was brief but violent, Marie’s body fighting against inevitability. But the roleplay had worked too well. She was already restrained, already at Jackie’s mercy. Her struggles weakened. Her body sagged. Then, finally, she was still.

Silence filled the room.

Jackie stayed there for a moment, holding the silk tight even after Marie had stopped moving. Not out of necessity, but out of certainty. Out of control.

Slowly, she released her grip, letting the blindfold slip from between her fingers. Marie’s head lolled forward, the tag on the collar gleaming one last time before coming to rest against her bare skin. Jackie exhaled, straightening. The transformation had begun.

Now, Jackie stripped off the dark green robe, and dressed back into her clothing.

Marie’s body was nothing more than a problem to solve now. Jackie moved swiftly, wrapping her in a thick sheet of plastic before placing her into the trunk of her car. The ocean was only a short drive away. By the time the sun rose, Marie would be gone, swept into the depths, erased from existence.