Lady Wrestler By James Harvey - Chapter 12

1962 Genre: Vintage Sleaze / Lady Wrestlers

When is a lady not a lady?

When she is a lady wrestler.

What compulsions drive these voluptuous creatures into the Lady Wrestling racket; and how are they different from other women? Why do they allow themselves to be clawed, slugged, kneed and butted? What do these super-gals do for sexual pleasure? Here is the only story that answers all of these questions and many more about this grotesque sport where girls pin girls for pay and pleasure.

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CHAPTER TWELVE 

Bella made page three of New York's tabloids, that spot reserved for rape cases and ax murderers. In the center-pages there was a picture of her standing in seemingly naked glory in the ring and under it the caption read, 

Did she or didn't she ... wear anything? There was no question about the picture's showing her naked since it was a rear shot, the most vulnerable part of her costume. 

The news accounts revealed that, despite the fact that the lady wrestling show had only a small audience, all of them seemed to have telephoned someone last night. Some called the T. V. station ... long distance in many cases, some called their friends, some called Washington D. C., some called the police. 

The reporters and photographers wouldn't let Bella alone until she posed a few times in her flesh-colored suit and even had to let them feel it to show them that it was real. Every reporter who felt the suit managed to feel a bit more. Bella felt like exploding, but didn't. After all, the gentlemen of the press were the last people she could afford to insult at this time. 

Time and again Bella repeated her story of the mistake she had made, but it was obvious that many of the reporters weren't convinced. "Come now," one of them asked flatly, "its all a gag, isn't it?” 

Bella turned on some real tears. “How can you say that to me?" she wept. 

As the day wore on it became easier and easier for her to cry. Her nerves were being pulled to the limit. 

The rest of the girls gathered that it was all a stunt even though none of them had been let in on it. Tessie remained glum. So far, not a single reporter asked her a single question. She sat off in a corner by herself like Papa Gabor in an interview with Mama Gabor and all the Gabor sisters. 

Charlotte's reaction was something that Bella expected. “Why couldn't I be the one?” she complained. “Oh, for that much publicity I'd die! 

Cleo was downright angry about the whole affair. In the office she scolded Brick as if he were some small boy who had been caught in the cellar doing what so many small boys get caught at doing in the cellar. “I hate cheap tricks!” she shouted. "Now you've ruined us all!” 

Brick didn't lose his temper this time but merely explained to her calmly that Bella had actually made a mistake. From the beginning the plotters decided not to admit it to anyone. They would be the only two who knew about the whole deal. In this way there would be no leak. By constantly insisting that Bella had merely committed one small error in costuming Brick was sure that they would come out of it with a ton of publicity to their credit and not a single day in jail. 

As for Shirley, she read all the accounts in her hospital bed ... lying stomach down. 

Then, the next day, the producer had his lawyer visit the offices of Hardy Enterprises. Brick and Bella were to have a day in court. 

Despite Brick's contention that the courtroom proceedings would only serve to garner themselves more publicity, to Bella it sounded more like whistling in the graveyard. The producer claimed that Bella wasn't telling the truth about her supposed mistake and that she deliberately went on television in, what he termed, “an immoral costume.” At first Brick thought he would be safe since only Bella could tell whether or not she was lying. But, through the lawyer, the producer claimed he intended, not to prove or disprove Bella's claim but to prove that the flesh-colored outfit was, in fact, “an immoral costume.” One that, by the evidence of the audience reaction to what she had already displayed herself before, she knew to deliberately give the illusion of nudity. 

When the producer's lawyer left this bombshell behind, Brick sat stunned in his chair still picking out the shrapnel. “That producer is out to get us," he said to Bella. "He knows he can't upset your claim but he knows he can have a chance nailing you on an indecent exposure rap." 

"Indecent exposure?” Bella wailed. “But I've been wearing that costume for months.” 

“But, no one wanted to make a case out of it before. If that guy proves his claim, we may even be in for one giant-sized lawsuit. And, that's after we are nabbed on indecent exposure. Bella, I'm sorry." 

Bella took his head in her hands and placed it against her breasts. Adversity was bringing them closer together so she didn't feel as badly as she thought she would. “We're not licked yet," she told him. 

Brick brought her body tighter against him. His hands cupped her buttocks. “All my life I seem to be depending on women. First there was my mother and then Cleo. Bella, maybe all I'm really good for is selling my looks to commercials, just a pretty man and nothing more. Cleo is right.” 

She rubbed her breasts against his face gently. “Cleo? How is she right?” 

"I should've let her take over ... let myself be her assistant. She wanted it that way. I'm her baby brother and I think I'll always be.” 

Anger began to well up in Bella like lava flowing into a dark cave. Winning the case now seemed to be the same as winning Brick from Cleo. It had to be won and Bella could think of only one man who could do it. “Brick," she said, "did you ever hear of a lawyer named Joseph P. Fallon?" 

"Of course I've heard of him," Brick said lifting his head and looking into her face. "He's about the biggest criminal lawyer in the country. But, you're not thinking of trying to get him to pick up this case? It's too small for him. Besides, his fee is much too high.” 

Bella smiled. "Not as high as you think,” she said. Many people had heard of Joseph P. Fallon, knew him by reputation, and knew him by his many lurid courtroom dramas. But, Bella also knew his soft spot. 

As soon as she called his office and mentioned her name she was connected with the great man right away and she made an appointment that afternoon. When she put the receiver back Brick looked at her with surprise and respect. “I can't believe it,” he said. “Do you know him?" 

"I've met him a few times. You know how he loves the theater. A first night without Fallon is like a first night without a Times review. He always comes backstage, too.” 

"And it sounds as if he's interested in the case." Brick exclaimed. 

"Of course he is. Cases like this to him are like cat nip to cats.” 

"But ... the fee ..." 

"Oh, that. . . . well, he'll do it for what we got in trouble in the first place ... the publicity." 

Brick squeezed Bella's buttocks with sheer joy. "Hell, with Fallon, we'll get out of it yet!” 

The offices of Joseph P. Fallon were in the Wall street district. The decor just screamed wealth with thick carpets and real oak paneling. Fallon himself looked the picture of a lawyer who pushed himself all the way to the top of his profession ... which was exactly what he had done. Inside his plush private office he bade the young couple to sit down. He was a tall, towering man, over six foot with a completely bald head that gave him a powerful and yet exotic look. Although he was about fifty he seemed strangely ageless, a man from another planet where people lived for thousands of years and on nothing but deep thoughts. Fallon was fully aware of the impression he made and he used it constantly to cower witnesses and juries. He was a spellbinder rather than a cloddish type who preferred facts. Emotion was his forte. 

"My children," he began, "you would never be in this trouble now if you gave that publicity stunt of yours a little thought before you started it." 

"It wasn't publicity,” Brick told him. "It was all a..." 

Fallon cut him short with a glare that shook many a witness. “Don't lie to me," he said sharply. "I demand that my clients tell me the truth. From what I know of the case thus far I would say that the producer has every right to bring the action. After all, my dear Bella Woods, you were wearing an immodest costume, you knew you were wearing an immodest costume and, therefore, you knew you gave an indecent performance against the producer's wishes." 

Bella sank into her chair. “Should I confess?” 

"Confess?" Fallon responded in amazement. “That is one word we don't use in this office. You have that costume with you, I trust?" 

Bella opened her large handbag and brought out her flesh-colored bathing suit. Fallon ran it lovingly through his fingers and smiled. “If you people do as I say ... do exactly as I say ... we'll win the case. Now, I trust, you want to cash in on this publicity while it's still hot. So, I'll try to get this case before a jury as quickly as possible.” 

"A jury?” Brick asked. 

“Of course," Fallon told him. “If this case went before a judge he would find for the complainant and, I might add, rightly so. A jury is our only chance. Bella, I want you to come back exactly one week from today.” 

"How about me?” Brick asked. 

Fallon smiled thinly without showing his teeth. “I must work out some ... matters with Bella alone. Both of you may go now.” The bald-headed lawyer picked up some papers and began to read them. Brick and Bella waited for a moment and suddenly Fallon looked up at them. "What are you two waiting for?” he asked. 

They left the office in a daze. Outside in the street Brick punched his open palm. “I don't like him," he said. "He's such an overbearing son of a bitch!” 

“An overbearing son of a bitch who'll get us off the hook," Bella reminded him. 

A week later Bella returned to Fallon's office alone. She was in a highly nervous state because, since then, the producer's lawyer had informed her that the case would be in court before the month was out. Bella felt as if a noose were tightening around her. She wondered if even the mighty Joseph P. Fallon could save them from a bankrupting lawsuit. 

“Bella, my dear," the lawyer greeted. “Exactly on time.” 

"Mister Fallon, I understand that the case will be heard in a short time from now," she cried. 

"I know," Fallon answered calmly. “It will be before the jury next week.” 

"Next week?” Bella all but screamed. “Shouldn't you try to delay it ... shouldn't you?” 

“My dear, if you want to take advantage of all the trouble you went through to get this publicity then speed is essential. Next month all this may be old hat. Strike while the iron is hot, if you'll pardon the cliché." 

“Sir, you don't have to handicap yourself for us." 

"Handicap? No handicap at all. Now, I suppose you know why you're down here today?” Fallon stood close to Bella. He was so tall that he made her seem small and childish. 

A smirk curled Bella's mouth. "I know," she said. "But, shouldn't you win the case first?” 

Fallon placed his fingers on her lips. They tasted of salty sweat and expensive soap. "The case is won. I want my fee today. I don't want any more complaints from you. I think you know that I have ... special desires ..." His voice trailed off, full of dirty inflections. 

“I know," Bella answered dully. She knew all about Fallon and his "special desires.” Only his desires weren't that special. They were really quite common. 

“Then," Fallon told her slowly, “I want you to do exactly as I say. Go up to the roof, take off all your clothes and wait for me." 

Bella stared at him in shock. “Up on the roof? Naked?” 

“Don't worry about Peeping-Toms," he answered. “This is the highest building in this area so no one can see you. Take a spot near a line of chimneys facing the sea. You'll have complete privacy there. I know, I often go up there in the nude myself.” 

Without another word Bella turned and left the office. Since the office was on the top floor the walk to the roof was a short one. As Bella could see, the building was the highest in the area with the nearest one that towered, several miles away, the impressive grandeur of the Empire State Building. She found a row of chimneys and walked around to the side facing the sea. This provided a greater feeling of privacy since now it hid the view of the Empire State ... and she hoped it worked the other way around. 

Slowly Bella removed her clothes and placed them on a spot against the wall formed by the row of chimneys and sat down. The roof was dirty and smelled of tar in the hot summer sun. She waited staring out at the clear, cool water where ships sailed by mindless of her desperation. 

An hour passed. Still Fallon did not appear. Bella stirred restlessly and wondered if she should put her clothes back on. What was he planning, she wondered? Was he indulging in some bit of sadism in his advancing years? What was he about to do? Rush in suddenly with some of his oddball friends to gape at her? 

She licked her lips from thirst. The sun seemed to grow hotter with the afternoon and bore right into her like a demon. Then she heard footsteps behind the chimneys. She grabbed her clothes and placed them across her body. Fallon walked over to her, his eyes were aflame like the sun. "Put those clothes away," he demanded. 

Bella put the clothes next to her on the roof. Fallon leered and sat next to her. "You look so dirty," he said. “This isn't a clean roof, that's why. No one comes here. You should look at yourself.” 

She gazed down at her body. It was true. She was filthy. Was this it, then? Was this why he wanted her on the roof, to roll in the dirt? Did he want to degrade her? 

Fallon took off his clothes with trembling hands. He had a bulky yet hard body, almost devoid of hair. He stood up so that his bald head reached the edge of the chimneys. Then he walked very close to her, as close as a man could stand next to a woman. His hands toyed with his body. Bella closed her eyes against him and all that was his. 

"Open your eyes, Bella," he commanded. 

Bella opened her eyes. She looked high up this time, away from his demanding body and looked blankly into his demanding face. It was set and cruel. "Do it,” he said. 

Disgust swept over her. Must she do this? "Do it," he repeated in an ugly whisper. 

Bella closed her eyes once more. I am not here, she thought, I am on one of those ships going far away. Nothing matters what I do now ...