04-10-2020, 09:25 AM
Chapter 18
Natalie winced as her protests were cut off at the same time as her access to fresh air. She instantly recognised the smell from the cotton wool that had been clamped over the lower half of her face; it was the same smell from the cloth that had been used to knock her out earlier. Knowing that her bonds were secure she knew that there was no chance of escaping the fumes she relaxed and waited for the inevitable blackness to consume her. The sensation started in the same way as last time, first her arms and legs went numb then her head went fuzzy. Eventually darkness seeped in around the edge of her vision and her eyelids became heavy. Natalie continued to take even breaths, inhaling the chloroform fumes and sliding toward unconsciousness. Just before she succumbed and closed her eyes to sleep her last thought was that she owed this Martinez woman big style.
Twain approached the garage and stopped before entering the workshop. After looking through the tracking data supplied by the Commissionaire the last location of the Hayley King’s car was somewhere on this street. Twain had walked its length twice and unable to see the vehicle decided to begin enquiries with this garage. She waited a couple of minutes before two rough looking mechanics noticed her from under the bonnet of a what looked to Twain like a high end European sports car.
“What can we help you with darling?” the smaller of the two asked whilst wiping his hands on an oily rag. The larger one crossed his large, meaty arms and grinned like he was the only one that had just heard a decent joke.
“I am looking for a dark gray Dodge Avenger. A very specific dark gray Dodge Avenger and I think that it was brought in here four days ago” Twain said whilst surveying the inside of the garage for said vehicle.
“Sorry I don’t think that we can help you with that. Haven’t seen a car like that but we may have something else that you like.” The smaller man said, a thin smile now spreading across his lips. What was this? Were these guys auditioning for the grinning idiot museum? Twain thought; time to change gear a bit.
“Right guys I am with the police department and an investigating a serious crime. Just give me the information that I am after and I will be on my way otherwise I might call a friend at Grand Theft Auto and get them down here.” The expression on the faces of both men instantly changed. They both started to move forward with purpose, one of each side of the detective.
“Now that wasn’t very nice” sneered the smaller of the two as they approached in an aggressive manor. This was about to get interesting Twain thought to herself as she pulled her trusty collapsible baton and prepared for action.
Twain sat back in her car and plugged her phone into the hands free device. Selecting the mobile number that she wanted she heard first the dial tone and then the number being dialled through the sound systems speakers.
“Afternoon Detective”
“Afternoon sir, hope that I didn’t catch you at an awkward time.”
“No please continue Detective.”
“I managed to track down the car to a well know chop shop. I had a friendly chat with two nice mechanics and the car was dropped off by one of the local car thieves. The thief claimed that they found the car on a local street with the keys in the ignition.” Twain paused, unsure of how to continue.
“Give me the rest detective.”
“Well after further questioning the mechanic mentioned that the thief saw who left the vehicle. It was and I am quoting here sir, a smoking hot broad.” Twain replied.
“Could….he have been…erm”
“Talking about your daughter sir? I thought of that. The description of the woman that abandoned the car didn’t match your daughter.”
“Thanks detective. I have been making some enquiries myself and have managed to get you an appointment with somebody that worked with my daughter. I will text you the details. Hopefully they can help.”
“Thanks sir.”
Chapter 19
Gillian and Hayley both turned to the door as it burst open and four women entered the room. Three of them were dressed identically as nurses and quickly closed the ground toward Hayley who stood up. That didn’t last long as the three nurses launched themselves at Hayley tackling her onto the bed, forcing her face down onto the mattress.
“Hey! What’s going mmmppphhh……” Hayley didn’t get to finish her question as one of the women forced a large cloth in her mouth. Gillian looked on, shocked at the sudden attack as the same woman placed a thick cloth over Hayley’s mouth and used a thick bandage to keep it in place, wrapping it around the lower half of Hayley’s face several times. A fourth nurse wheeled a gurney into the room and between them the four women managed to force the still struggling Hayley onto the gurney and used a number of heavy duty restraints to strap her down. Gillian was stunned then felt fingers lightly on her chin, gently turning her head so that she was face to face with Christina. “Gillian its decision time, either tell me what I want to know or I take your friend away and have a lot of fun with her.”
“Honestly I don’t know what you are talking about Christina?”
“Okay then Just remember; what happens next is your responsibility” Christina said to Gillian the turned to her colleagues that had strapped Hayley to the gurney. “Take her away.” Gillian watched as the gurney with her friend strapped to it was wheeled toward the door. Gillian panicked, racking her brain. Then suddenly something sprang forward from her memory. The desperation of wanting to spare her friend further discomfort must have helped her dredge something up.
“Wait, wait a second” Gillian shouted springing to her feet. “There was an e-mail from Professor Smart, something about a book.” Christina signalled to her colleagues and the gurney with the still struggling and complaining behind her gag Hayley paused just before the door.
“I’m going to need more than that.” Christina said with a smirk.
“Wait it was something about a book. Just give me a minute and I will get there!” Gillian paused for a moment. “It isn’t easy remembering a single e-mail amongst the hundreds that I get every week.” Suddenly it came to her. “Right that’s it. Now I remember, I thought that it was weird or cryptic at the time. All it said was my favourite book in her favourite place.”
“Well that’s a bit vague.” Christina said. “I am going to need more than that.”
“If you let me finish I will fill in the blanks Christina” Gillian said with a sense of frustration. “The book would be the Color Purple and her favourite place would have to be the College Library. Professor Smart used to love the silence of the place.”
“Thanks for that. I will arrange for that to be checked out. Now ladies please make our guests comfortable for the night. They both look a bit tired so perhaps a nap is in order.” With that Christina left the room and headed to meet the woman in charge.
Chapter 20
Natalie once again found herself sitting across a desk from a figure of authority. Looking around the office Natalie noticed that the shelves were filled with books and board games, backgammon, chess and scrabble amongst others.
“Thanks for taking the time to see me Ms Martinez. Hopefully the situation has been explained. I really need to have a look at the room that Hayley and Gillian shared. There may be some clue that could assist in my investigation.”
“Yes the situation has been explained fully. I appreciate that Detective but it is a firm rule that only staff and of course detainees are let beyond the final door and into the main facility”, Martinez responded.
“Is there any way around the rule?”
Martinez leaned back in her seat and considered how best to phrase her next statement “You aren’t going to like this but I think that we can bend the rules of this occasion if and only if you agree to be bound and blindfolded when taken to the room and on the way back then I will agree to your request.”
Natalie mirrored the body language of the woman sitting across from her, leaning back in the chair and ran the options through her head. Natalie noticed that she was biting her bottom lip like always when she had take a course of action that she wasn’t keen on. She didn’t the idea but if it was the only way forward then she would have to agree. “Alright I agree.”
Martinez nodded and picked up the phone form her desk, “Can you get one of the on duty girls down to my office?” She listened to the response and thanked the person on the other end before replacing the receiver and turning her attention back to the detective. “Please empty all of your belongings onto my desk and I will return them when you are finished.” Natalie once again hesitated, it was final decision time, but reckoned she had to get access to search the room. Natalie emptied her wallet, keys, notepad, pen and other items onto the desk, and then paused for a second before also reluctantly removing her trusty extendable baton from her belt and tossing it onto the pile.
There was a knock at the door and Natalie spun round to see an attractive young, dark haired woman wearing what looked like to her very much like wedding dress enter. After briefly explaining the situation to the young woman Martinez said “Gayle please escort Detective Twain to Hayley and Gillian’s lodgings and allow her full access to search. Usual precautions will prevail for transport of non employees.”
The woman called Gayle nodded her understanding and turned her attention to Natalie, “Please stand and place your hands behind your back.” Natalie did as instructed and despite knowing what was coming she still recoiled in shock once the young woman started to bind her wrist using strong, thin cord. Once the bindings on her wrist were complete Natalie gave them a wiggle but there seemed no opportunity to loosen the cord. Next Gayle produced a padded sleep mask with from her belt and slipped it over Natalie’s head and positioned it over her eyes, shutting out all light and blindfolding her comfortably and effectively. Natalie now felt a sense of helplessness as she was now completely at the mercy of these two women. “Please open your mouth Detective.”
“Why do I have to do that? Going to search my oral cavity?”
“No Detective unfortunately the rules are that you also have to be gagged.” Martinez said from across her desk. Natalie’s initial reaction was as usual to react with anger but at the last moment managed to gain control, nodded her head and opened her mouth. Gayle produced a thick cloth, scrunched it up and forced it between Natalie’s lips into her mouth. Natalie made muffled noises in slight protest as the cloth was secured in place by Gayle with a scarf tied at the nape of her neck, forcing the cloth further into her mouth.
Martinez handed Gayle the detective’s notepad and pen. “Detective I appreciate that this is uncomfortable position and you will be unnerved but please relax and trust Gayle to look after you. I have given her your notepad and pen for you to use. If anything happens please obey the instructions of the staff and you will be fine.”
The Detective attempted a response but it was muffled effectively by the gag and she sighed in frustration. Natalie felt the hem of Gayle’s dress against her legs as the young woman lightly took hold of her upper arm and starting to guide the detective out of the door and along a corridor. Natalie felt ill as ease walking along blindfolded with her arms bound behind her back but tried to relax and follow the light touches and instructions of the woman guiding her. After a short walk they stopped at what Natalie assumed to be a door. Natalie heard what she believed to be an electronic lock disengaged and a door open before she felt the grip on her upper arm tighten and took this as a sign to start walking again.
Exiting the lift Gayle spoke again, “We will just head left detective, around a corner and Hayley’s room is at the end of the corridor.” Natalie again mumbled a response through her gag. “Thanks detective. Don’t worry it takes a bit of time to get used to wearing a gag. Hopefully you don’t wear it long enough to become accustomed.” Natalie assumed the young woman was just teasing and made the comment with a smile, in a tease the new girl kind of way but had to admit that statement did make her slightly nervous. After walking along to the end of the corridor Natalie felt Gayle pull back slightly on her arm. Natalie had by this point lost all sense of her bearings and was dependant on Gayle for all direction. “That’s us arrived outside the dorm detective. I will just open the door and let us in.” Natalie relaxed and waited to be guided into the room. Once both women were inside Natalie felt Gayle move around behind Natalie and first removed the blindfold and then the cord that bound the detective’s wrists behind her back. Natalie blinked her eyes against the lights and looked around the large room. Natalie rubbed her wrists where they had been bound and surveyed the room. It was a large room with two double beds, ample closet space, two desk and a sofa positioned to face a mid size television. “Right detective I will leave you to it and come back in about an hour to check how you are going. Please under no circumstances leave the room.” Natalie turned and went to respond until she remembered the gag was still in place. Reaching around behind her head she undid the knot on the scarf then removed the cloth from her mouth, working her jaw to get it used to moving again. Natalie placed the both parts of the gag on the nearest bed where Gayle had left the blindfold and cord and hoped that she would be able to convince Gayle not to use them on the way back.
Dropping down in frustration onto the couch Natalie threw her head back and stared at the ceiling. She had spent the past forty five minutes searching the room thoroughly and found nothing of interest, well not to the case that the Commissioner had given her anyway. There was nothing in the room that wouldn’t normally be found in a flat shared by two women in their mid twenties. Well except from the tools of the particular trade that they had chosen. After staring at her reflection in the dead television screen for a couple of minutes her attention was drawn to a desk where a laptop sat open. She sat on the chair and ran a finger across the mouse pad, trying to fire up the computer. Nothing happened. Determined not to leave empty handed she found what she thought was the problem, lack of power. The power cable was plugged in so she switched the socket on and was rewarded with a lights flickering on the side of the laptop followed by a distinctive ping as the screen came to life with instructions to enter a password. Looking at the desk there were no pictures or anything that might give a hint at the password required to gain access to the computer. There was a phone in the room and she decided at this point that with nothing to lose to try something. Picking up the receiver she started hitting the numbers until someone picked up. “Switchboard, where would you like your call directed”, said a well spoken female voice on the other end of the line.
“Human Resources please”, Natalie replied and was instantly met with a ping as the call was put on hold then redirected.
“HR. How can I help?”
“This is Gayle. I am trying to get information on Gillian Young. I am trying to log onto her computer but its password protected.” Natalie finished then mentally crossed her fingers that it would be this easy.
“So you were thinking about simple stuff like date of birth, mother’s maiden name and stuff like that.”
“Exactly” Natalie said and thanked her luck
“No problem. You got a pen and I will give you what we have. Let’s start with date of birth and work form there. September……………”
Natalie leaned back and grinned. It had only taken ten minutes once she had the information from Gillian’s personnel file. The password had been a combination of date of birth and her middle name. Given her lack of time, the real Gayle would be back in five minutes Natalie made her way straight to e-mail folder and looked through the most recent e-mails. Finding nothing interesting Natalie switched focus to the deleted items file where she found one that didn’t look quite correct, from an old College professor. Just as she finished scribbling something in her notebook a loud siren went off and a red light started flashing above the door. Without thinking Natalie grabbed her notebook and securing it in her inside pocket headed for the door.
Natalie came round the corner just as two women exited the lift. Given the way that they were dressed Natalie assumed that they were staff or guards or whatever they like to call themselves responding to the alarm. The two women spotted the Detective and immediately headed in her direction looking decidedly like they meant business. It was then that Natalie realised that she had made a mistake in leaving the room. Natalie quickly raised her hands, palms towards the women in a gesture designed to say “Hey, calm down we are all friends here” but it wasn’t going to work. The woman approached her and without warning the first grabbed her right arm and moved behind her, using her other arm to grab her around the waist and pull her tight against her body, the second grabbed her left arm and held it aloft. Natalie was about to try and explain the situation but just as she was about to begin the second woman used her left hand to smother a large cloth over the lower half of her face, completely covering her nose and gaping mouth. Natalie recoiled in shock and tried to shake free of the two woman but they had a strong grip and obviously had experience in subduing struggling women. It wasn’t until a couple of seconds later that she noticed the strong, sickly sweet smell invading her nostrils. It must be coming from the cloth she thought. It was then that her brain clicked into gear, it must be chloroform. They were going to knock her out like some damsels form an old movie. She had never been rendered unconscious before and had no desire to be now. Natalie had already started to feel slightly light headed and now started to seriously struggle against her two attackers but all this did was increase the amount of breaths and fumes that she inhaled. Natalie was now panicking as she could feel her arms and legs start to tingle as they starting to not quite respond to the instructions from her brain; the world was starting to spin around. Despite her best efforts Natalie could no longer fight the effects of the drug. Her eyelids felt like they had weights attached to them and she could no longer keep them open. It was then on the brink of succumbing to the chloroform’s fumes that it struck her about the dresses. It was two fold, the reason that they wore them. It made them stand out and as she had just found out you pause and it costs you a second or two react.
Natalie gave her head a shake, trying to clear the fuzz from her mind and get her eyes to focus properly. Instantly the throbbing behind her eyes, like a mild headache sharpened into pain and the dizzy sensation got worse. Quickly she decided against that course of action. She closed her eyes and would wait it out. After a reasonably short period of time her head felt almost normal and looking around she realised that she was back in the room that she had been searching not that long ago, or at least she believed not to be that long ago. She had no idea how long she had been out. Natalie quickly discovered that she had been securely bound. Her wrists were bound behind her back again but this time her arms had also been secured to her body using more cord. This time her legs had also been bound at the ankles, below her knees and across the thighs. In frustration Natalie screamed but the gag muffled most of the sound and it barely registered as noise. She had not enjoyed submitting to her earlier bondage and certainly objected to her forced sedation and current predicament and struggled for a bit to try and get loose but after a couple of minutes decided it was a waste of time. Despite her best efforts she could not loosen any of the ropes. These women were obvious good at this. She had no option but to wait until someone came to untie her. Then a thought crossed her mind. What if nobody did!
After what seemed like hours the door to the room opened and Martinez entered. Natalie instantly noted that she was now wearing a similar dress and jacket combination to the other woman that she had seen rather than the more relaxed ensemble she had sported earlier when they met in her office. Natalie studied Martinez closely as she made her way over to the bed and addressed Natalie with a serious expression.
“Good afternoon detective. Sorry about the current confinement but I did warn you about staying in the room should anything happen.” Martinez stated as she made her way across to the bound woman on the bed.
“Mmpphh, mmpphh, mmpphh!” Natalie’s reply was unintelligible through the gag.
“Please don’t hold any grudges against the girls. They were only doing their job and following standard protocol in that situation, finding an unidentified person in this section of the facility.” Martinez sat down carefully on the bed beside Natalie taking care to flatten the large skirt on her dress. Martinez leaned over and undid the knot on the scarf that had been tied over Natalie’s mouth. As soon as she was able Natalie tried to spit out the cloth that had been stuffed in her mouth but due to the tight fit couldn’t get it out. Noticing that she was struggling Martinez pinched an edge of the cloth that was peaking from Natalie’s mouth between two fingers and gently removed it.
Martinez turned away and if talking to the wall started “I am tempted to keep you here as a guest detective. It would teach you a lesson about following instructions. During our telephone call The Commissioner mentioned that you had problems in that area, issues with authority, not really a team player, that sort of thing. Not the kind of things we tolerate in this organisation.”
Now having full use of her voice Natalie responded “What are you saying Martinez. You want to keep me hear. You have no reason to detain me any longer, untie me now and let me go now! Before I have you charged with unlawful detainment” Natalie tried to sound calm and in control but inside was starting to panic. Once again Natalie strained at her bonds in an attempt to find a weakness in the knots but once again it proved useless.
“Now, come on detective a woman in your position can’t really be making demands.” Martinez responded; a playful smile at the corners of her mouth as she looked on at the detective struggling against the bonds. Martinez then dug into her jacket pocket, feeling around for something by touch. “Exactly who knows you came here and when would they notice you were missing?”
“Look I don’t know what game you are playing at lady but let me go before……..”
“Before what detective?”
It was then that Natalie noticed what the other woman had been retrieving from her pocket. It was a very large wad of cotton wool and a small glass bottle. Natalie quickly put two and two together when Martinez opened the bottle and started pouring a generous amount of the liquid from the bottle onto the cotton wool.
“Please Martinez, come on I don’t want that stuff again. It wasn’t a great experience the first time. Look let’s talk th…..mmmppphhh.” the protests were cut off as Martinez pressed the soaked wad of cotton wool over Natalie’s nose and mouth. Whilst placing her free hand on the back of Natalie’s head to prevent her from moving it away from the chloroform fumes coming from the chemical on the cotton wool.