“I’ll admit, Dr. Messuro, this isn’t where I expected to meet you.”

Jo Barbarosa, ace reporter, scanned the comedy club with an amused smirk. The poorly-lit club, with brick walls sunk below street level, was a hobby business of Antoine Messuro. When he wasn’t tinkering with sound systems in his sweats and old college shirt, Dr. Messuro ran one of the richest rehab clinics in the state.

“To be honest, I’ve been sunsetting for a while. The director’s office at the clinic mostly runs itself.” Messuro got off the stepladder with a grunt. He was a tall, authoritative man, with a square jaw and broad shoulders, with a little gut on his thick torso. He grinned like every boss Jo had ever caught staring at her ass. “I keep my hand in, of course, and still do rounds. But I think I’m close to retiring and running this place full-time.”

“Does that mean you’ve kept your distance from the Kowalski case?” Jo turned on her phone to record. “You don’t mind, do you? Dr. Messuro?”

Messuro smiled. His eyes didn’t. “I guess you did say ‘on the record.’ Look, I have met the young Ms. Kowalski. I admire her for taking her problems in her own hands. I did what I could, personally, to make her first week with us comfortable. But her case is being handled by a talented young fellow, a Dr.-“

“I spoke with Dr. Faugliacci, yes.” Jo cut Messuro off. “He had no statement. But I also looked into your clinic’s usual client list. You mainly treat the family and friends of lawyers, executives, bankers… It’s a bit pricey for someone of Sara Kowalski’s background.”

Messuro tried to laugh it off. “Well, as long her checks clear, it’s not my business how she makes her money.”

“Sara Kowalski is a material witness in a major environmental lawsuit. She’s also a single mother who lives in a trailer park. And now she’s isolated from her family, from the prosecutors, from the press… in a clinic that someone else must be paying for.”

Dr. Messuro stood in silence, staring at Jo like he expected her to apologize for what she just said. Jo fixed her icy stare against his. Finally, Messuro sighed, stuck his hands in his pocket, and walked off the stage, towards the bar.

“You know, it’s silly, but I had hoped you would’ve let me hype the club a little bit. My little bit of vanity.”

“Dr. Messuro, I’m sorry if you don’t appreciate the implications, but I’m not accusing you. I asking if something might be going on at your clinic-“

“Do you know why I really wanted to start a nightclub? Because I do a cheesy little hypnosis act. Make people act little chickens, think they’re models, that sort of thing. Behold, the mind-bending powers of Dr. Mesmer!”

Dr. Messuro posed dramatically, his back still to Jo.

“Dr. Messuro, if you don’t have something to give me, I’ll have to assume that whatever’s happening, you’re in on it, too.”

“Can’t you call me Dr. Mesmer?”

“Dr. Messuro, stop dodging the question!”

“’Dr. Mesmer, can’t I see your shiny pendant?’” Messuro picked something up from the bar and held it up to the light from the street-level window. Jo’s eyes followed it. It was a green glass bauble on the end of a gold chain. It caught the light and then a blinding rainbow flash filled Jo’s sight.

Blinking, Jo stumbled back, a wave of dizziness passing over her. A hand caught her shoulder.

“Woah, there.” It was Messuro. When did he get behind her? Jo’s head felt heavy and numb. She looked at her hands. Her phone was missing. Had she dropped it?

“It packs a punch, doesn’t it?”

“Wha-?”

“This.”

Messuro reached around and held up his pendant. It caught the light. Jo blinked. She was sitting in a chair. Everything felt unsteady, unbalanced, confusing… and Jo felt weak and drunk. What was she doing here? Jo couldn’t think. Trying to think felt heavy.

“Ssh, that’s good, you’re good, just relax… lie back and relax.” A strong hand rested on her shoulder. It traveled up her neck and gently cupped Jo’s chin. “You’re safe. You’re fine. Just relax.”

“I’m… safe?”

“You’re safe. You’re fine. Just listen to me and look at this.” The hand pivoted her head up to look at a glittering green pendant between her and light. Her brains sloshed around like water. A thumb gently slid along Jo’s lower lip. “Listen and look. Listen and look. Listen and look…”

Again, it caught the light.

---

“And let’s hear it for my lovely assistant, folks!”

The club cheered. Giggling, Jo held up her arms and bounced in place. Her boobs jiggled in the bright red leotard. She quickly grabbed the plush rabbit ears to keep them from falling off, setting off a fresh wave of laughter and jeers. Oh gawd, Jo felt so horny!

“Billy Bashly’s set is up next. Have a great night, folks. Remember to tip your bartenders.” Dr. Mesmer took Jo by the ass and guided her off-stage. Jo leaned happily against Doc’s tuxedo. She still wobbled on her spiked stilettos. Her breath deepened, with only the fishnets between her ass and his hand. Dr. Mesmer lead Jo through the crowd and the kitchen, past a grinning busboy, and finally to the back office.

“Having fun?” Dr. Mesmer asked.

“Lotsa fun.” Jo rubbed her face against his lapel and trailed a hand down his cumberbund. “Lotsa, lotsa fun.”

“That’s good. So good. Down you go now.” Dr. Mesmer untangled himself from Jo and helped her to her knees.

“I get to see yer cock now?” Jo stared stupidly up at Mesmer. “You said that if I was your ass’tent, I get ta’ see yer cock.”

Dr. Mesmer patted Jo on the head. “You get to see my cock, yes.”

“Yay.” Jo clapped happily.

The good doctor pulled up his cumberbund and undid his belt. “We’ll have to figure out what to do with you, afterwards. It’s not as simple as making you forget. We’ll have to unravel the last couple of weeks of your life very carefully. Perhaps, at least, it will give us the chance to become friends.”

Dr. Messuro looked down at Jo. She wasn’t listening. So he pulled pants down and let his cock fall free.

“What did we practice?”

“Light as a feather, stiff as a board.” Jo took up Messuro’s cock and began to massage it. “Light as a feather, stiff as a board… Light as a feather, stiff as a board…”