03-28-2020, 09:13 PM
Chapter 12
Christina held the door open as the orderly pushed the wheelchair into the room and toward the bed where Hayley lay unconscious. “Take her to Linda and make sure she is secured. Also find the ditzy tour guide and make sure she is alright and doesn’t mention this to anybody. Tell her that is was a journalist trying to get a story and we have warned her not to come back” Between them the two nurses lifted Hayley from the bed and into the wheelchair, securing Hayley’s wrists and ankles to the wheelchair using heavy padded straps.
As both vehicles exited out of the motel parking lot Hayley pulled out from the curb and followed at what she hoped would be a safe distance. Keeping the vehicles in sight was relatively easy on the city streets as Hayley had basic training on this as the police academy. Soon however the busy city streets faded into smaller county roads as they exited the built up areas into more scenic surroundings so Hayley was forced to drop back a little from the small convey. After following for forty minutes Hayley noticed the turn signal on the van come on and slowed down to give the vehicles more space. After dropping back to what she thought was a safe distance to allow the two vehicles to turn from the main road without being spotted Hayley maintained her slow speed and cruised past the turn off. It looked to be an entrance onto a long driveway; solid looking gates blocked any thought of following. Standing on each side of the entrance were solid brick pillars with large brass plaques bearing the name The Chester Institute.
Hayley spent the next twenty minutes making left turns driving around what she believed to the boundary of the property that the two vehicles had turned on to. Unfortunately she couldn’t see much from this level due to a combination of the perimeter wall, large trees and thick hedges. After passing the entrance again she was starting to give up hope but after making another left turn she noticed a track off the right hand side of the road. Swinging her car onto the track she had found a single track access road that quickly ascended through the some woods. Hayley found a passing spot halfway up the hill and pulled in. Crossing the track and making her way further up the hill on foot she turned round and found that she now had an excellent view of the property spread out below her. The estate consisted of three large buildings and several smaller ones dotted around lush green lawns. Two of the larger buildings were connected but the third sat off by itself in a separate compound that was surrounded by what looked like a tall fence. In addition to the buildings the complex also had a swimming pool with bar, tennis courts and a small golf driving range.
Leaning against a tree Hayley pulled her phone from her pocket and opened the interest browser function, selected a search engine and entered The Chester Institute. When the results were displayed Hayley was surprised that she had to scroll through many entries before finding something substantial. It was an article about the Institute and its director, Elizabeth Crawford. The article was mainly about the director’s charity foundation but the place was billed as a retreat where women could come and relax or receive treatment for various ailments. It did seem strange for such a place to be so publicity shy, so much so that they didn’t have a website. At the bottom of the article it had a note that visits were by appointment only with a telephone number. Nothing ventured noting gained Hayley thought to herself as she selected the number and pressed the call option.
Chapter 14
Despite her best efforts Hayley couldn’t get an appointment that day so had to bide her time until the following morning. Arriving early Hayley approached the reception desk having entered the main building through the large double wooden doors. The young woman instantly looked up and flashed a high wattage, toothy smile in her direction. “Good morning and welcome to the Crawford Institute. Can I take your name please?”
“Hayley King, I have an appointment.”
“Miss King, nice to met you. Please take a seat over there” the receptionist she indicated a section of the large room stocked with couches and coffee tables, “and my colleague Cindy will be with you in a few minutes.” Hayley nodded her appreciation and made her way across to the very comfortable looking couches. Hayley took a moment to take in her surroundings. The sumptuously and tastefully decorated interior of the property hadn’t come cheap. Whatever business was being carried out within the walls of the compound was obviously profitable. Hayley waited as instructed and was soon approached by a young woman that was almost the identikit of the receptionist, big smile, tastefully expensive outfit and a neat, well kept appearance.
“Miss King my name is Cindy and I will be your guide for your tour this morning.”
“Thanks Cindy. Please Hayley is fine. Ms King makes me feel even older than I actually am. Please lead on.” With that Cindy turned and headed toward a door at a brisk pace. Hayley tagged along a couple of paces behind. Hayley caught up with the young woman at a door and paused. Cindy tuned round and produced a card that she almost waved in Hayley’s face. Cindy proceeded to explain how at the Chester Institute that their client’s privacy and security was at the top of their list of priorities. Cindy then swiped the card to disengage the electronic lock that held the door closed, opened it for Hayley to enter the corridor on the other side before closing it behind both of them.
Hayley stayed a pace behind Cindy as they toured the large house. Cindy settled into what Hayley assumed to be the standard sales pitch about the history of the building and the various courses and treatments on offer at fabulous prices. Hayley had to admit the building was spectacular but that was not what she had come here for. During the tour Hayley asked the occasional question without arousing suspicion but was more concerned with having a good look around and had specifically noted the high level of security, CCTV systems and locks on every door. Trying to keep her bearings Hayley thought that they were now at the back of the main building when she noticed a large door in the external wall that she thought was strangely positioned. Pausing she asked Cindy where this door led.
“That’s the path out to our more secure facility. I don’t want to say too much but our more delicate clients stay there for treatment. I haven’t been inside, only specially trained staff members are allowed.” Hayley nodded and followed Cindy as the young woman carried on with the tour. Hayley had gotten into the building and really needed to have a look around on her own to confirm if her friend was being held at the facility. For that she would need to get rid of Cindy in some way and unfortunately she couldn’t just lose her. Given the security provisions around the building if she went wandering off it was sure to raise an alarm so that left only one option.
“Could I have a quick look in one of the suites on this level?” Hayley asked.
“Yes, no problem.” Cindy paused for a second then walked on. “Suite 124 is free and we can have a look in there.” Cindy opened the door and held it for Hayley to enter. Cindy then closed the door and started toward the large bay window where she stopped to admire the view of the gardens.
Hayley felt sorry for what she was about to do to the young woman but she didn’t have any choice. Closing the distance to Cindy quickly Hayley grabbed her from behind wrapping her right arm around Cindy’s neck, taking care that her bicep and forearm where pressed against either side her unsuspecting targets neck. Hayley then started to apply pressure to both sides of the neck by squeezing her forearm and bicep together. She then grabbed the forearm of her left arm with her right hand and used her left hand to press Cindy’s head toward the elbow of her right arm. Cindy had shaken off the initial shock of the attack and was trying to free herself of Hayley’s grasp by flailing wildly and slapping at Hayley’s strong arms but it was already too late. Hayley could feel the strength starting to drain from Cindy as she struggled to breathe. The struggling got weaker and weaker until Hayley eventually felt Cindy go limp. Hayley immediately relaxed her hold and gently laid the young woman down on the lushly and no doubt expensively carpeted floor. Hayley picked up the dead weight of the young woman and dragged her toward the bed, once there Hayley heaved her onto the bed. Continuing to improvise Hayley looked around the room to find something to bind the woman. Settling on the wardrobe Hayley approach and flung open the doors and found what she was looking for, a selection of complimentary bathrobes. Pulling the cords from three of the bathrobes she hurried back to the unconscious woman on the bed. Flipping her onto her stomach Hayley gathered both of the woman’s hands in the small of her back and used one of the cords to securely bind the woman’s wrists together. Once the wrists had been secured Hayley used the second cord to bind the woman’s ankles together. They using the third cord Hayley tied the woman’s wrists and ankles together, hogtying the poor young woman. Delving into her pocket Hayley produced a clean handkerchief, balled it up and forced it into the woman’s mouth. It didn’t fill her mouth completely but it would do. Lastly Hayley removed the silk scarf from around her neck and tied a knot in the middle. Placing the knot in the bound woman’s mouth she tightly tied both ends at the base of Cindy’s neck. Hayley detected the first signs of Cindy starting to regain consciousness and took that as a sign to make a quick exit but not before checking Cindy’s pockets and taking her security card.
Hayley spent the next half an hour searching round the main building but couldn’t find anything that would suggest that kidnapped women were being held there unless there was a secret entrance that she couldn’t find. Hayley thought that the best bet would be the second building where the more delicate clients were located but she had tried the door that lead there and Cindy’s security card hadn’t opened the door. Suddenly Hayley was aware of a commotion and the sound of several people heading in her direction. Hayley decided that this was not the natural sounds of this facility which meant that they were probably looking for her; either they had discovered the bound and gagged Cindy or the failed swipe of the security card had set off some kind of alarm. Hayley decided that these women would probably subdue first and ask questions later so made her way round to the where she had earlier found some vacant suites, unlocked one and made her way inside. Hoping to hear what was going on she left the door slightly ajar and listened intently behind the door. Hayley waited for what seemed like a long time before hearing several people hurry past. Hayley realized that she had been holding her breath and let it out as she opened the door to leave. As the door opened Hayley found herself confronted with a tall, angular brunette with a serious expression on her face and hands on her hips. Both women paused for a split second before the brunette said
“Hi I’m Kirsty and what do you think you are doing?” before she launched herself at Hayley forcing her back into the room.
Hayley and Kirsty wrestled other around the room, bumping into items of furniture and up against walls each trying to gain the upper hand in their struggle. They were well matched adversaries, both determined and not willing to give their opponent and opportunity to exploit and gain the advantage. Hayley was worried as in addition to having to get the better of this woman the noise of their struggle was sure to have attracted attention. As the two women continued to wrestle, Hayley lost her balance when her heel got trapped in a rug that was on the floor allowing Kirsty to gain an advantage and pin Hayley on the bed, this meant stalemate at the moment but for how long. The door to the room that was only slightly ajar suddenly burst open. Hayley managed to twist around and saw two women dressed identically as nurses come rushing in and made straight for the bed looking to assist Kirsty in subduing Hayley. Now Hayley knew that she was in trouble. A third woman stopped at the entrance to the room and looked around, sizing up the situation. This woman was wearing a nice pantsuit and so was probably in charge.
“Quick, keep her quiet” Christina shouted from the doorway “Use the chloroform!” Christina casually closed the door and turned to usher some nosy individuals congregating around in the corridor who had been drawn by the commotion away from the area. “Come along ladies; move along, nothing to see here. Don’t worry just one of our more troubled guests having an episode.”
Hayley was struggling valiantly against her three assailants when she saw one of them lean across and lift one of the luxurious pillows from the top of the bed, going into a pocket the assailant produced a bottle and poured a liberal amount of liquid from the bottle onto the pillow. It took Hayley a few seconds to grasp what was going on; it dawned on her just before the chloroformed soaked pillow was smothered over her face. Hayley tried to work herself free but with her arms and legs pinned, and useless as she attempted to somehow reach up and pry the chloroformed soaked pillow away from her face. As she feared the powerful vapours started to make there presence felt. Her thoughts and movements were becoming sluggish and her strength was ebbing away, causing her limbs to go rubbery. Hayley realised that her inevitable slip into unconsciousness was fast approaching, the end of her resistance to the fumes was drawing near and she wondered what fate awaited her when she woke up. Hayley managed to turn her head sufficiently to escape the direct contact with the liquid but it was just delaying things briefly, her limbs became increasing numb, her eyelids fluttered uncontrollably and then everything went black as she slipped into unconsciousness. Kirsty noted that Hayley had stopped struggling. To check Kirsty lifted Hayley’s left arm and then let it go, it instantly fell back to the bed. Kirsty nodded to her colleague holding the pillow over Hayley’s face who removed it at once.
Christina held the door open as the orderly pushed the wheelchair into the room and toward the bed where Hayley lay unconscious. “Take her to Linda and make sure she is secured. Also find the ditzy tour guide and make sure she is alright and doesn’t mention this to anybody. Tell her that is was a journalist trying to get a story and we have warned her not to come back” Between them the two nurses lifted Hayley from the bed and into the wheelchair, securing Hayley’s wrists and ankles to the wheelchair using heavy padded straps.