BLACK MAIL:

A Kat Derringer Adventure

By

J.R. Francisco

****

PART ONE

Though Saturday nights were busy and hectic, things had run smoothly at Rosalba's Café. There had been the occasional dinner order mix-up, but Rosalba Galindo had taken care of it. As the host and owner she was a natural with people. Since Dorado City was a small town the costumers were all regulars and locals. Rosalba went out of her way to ask about their personal lives. It didn't hurt that she was a striking woman with long black hair, large brown eyes, and a gorgeous face. She was popular with the men for aesthetic reasons while the women respected her professionalism.  

The café was now closed and most of the staff had gone home. Only Rosalba and two other waitresses, Kaylie and Jaqui,  remained in the café. While Rosalba was busy with paper work in the office, the two girls were taking out garbage through the backdoor.

Kaylie Ferguson was a cute blonde in her early twenties. She was a senior in college and spent her summers working at the café to earn extra money. Jaqui Kenston was a local 19 year-old girl who had gotten pregnant at seventeen and had to get a job straight out of high school after her boyfriend bailed on her. She was a pretty brunette with large brown eyes and a friendly personality.

"So what are your future plans?" Kaylie asked Jaqui.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you going back to school?" Kaylie asked.

Jaqui sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. I have a baby to care of."

"Don't let that stop you," Kaylie said. "You can do anything you want." She lowered her voice to a confidential tone. "You want to work here all your life, serving coffee while guys hit on you?"

Jaqui shrugged. "It's worked out fine for Rosa."

"She owns the place and she's got a business degree," Kaylie said. "She's inside doing paperwork while we're out here dumping garbage."

"What's wrong with good honest work?" Jaqui countered.

"Nothing," Kaylie replied. "But you can do better. You're a smart girl with your whole life ahead of you. Think about it, okay?"

Jaqui was about to say something but froze when a dark figure stepped out from behind the large dumpster where the two girls had just tossed two trash bags. The two waitresses looked on with shock when they saw that the tall figure, who was probably a man, wore a dark ski mask. He also held a menacing looking black gun, which he leveled at the two young women.

"Oh, my God!" Kaylie gasped, stepping back.

Jaqui let out a frightened squeal as her eyes expanded with fear.

"Shut up!" the tall figure said. His voice was deep, threatening, and definitely male. "Hands up, both of you!"

Both girls threw their hands up. While Kaylie appeared more composed, Jaqui, being younger, looked terrified. She stared at the gun as her breathing quickened.

"Turn around and go back inside," the masked-man ordered. His tone now more relaxed.

"Please don't hurt us," Kaylie gasped.

"Shut up and get inside," the masked man said, motioning with the gun.

The two frightened waitress glanced at each other. They had no choice but to obey. They stepped inside the café through the back door as the man followed them. Once they were all inside he closed the metal door behind them. They stood inside a narrow hallway that led into the kitchen area of the café. Around the corner of the hallway was the main office where Rosalba was working.

"Hold it," the man ordered. "Who else is in the place?"

Kaylie knew better than to lie. "Just Rosa, the owner."

"Good girl," the masked man said. "You don't want to make me angry. Call your boss out here."

Kaylie paused. Her face expressed regret at bringing Rosa into this dreadful ordeal that was unfolding. She swallowed and called out, "Rosa, can you come out here please!"

A few seconds later Rosalba Galindo turned the corner and stepped into the narrow hallway where the two waitresses and the armed intruder waited. She was about to say something but froze when she spotted the masked man behind the two girls. Her eyes immediately went to the gun in his hand.

"Good evening, Mrs. Galindo," the man said, sweeping his eyes over Rosalba's shapely figure. "Sorry to interrupt your work but there's some business we must attend to."

"Who are you?" Rosalba asked. Despite the situation she displayed remarkable composure. "How do you know my name?"

"What would be the fun in that?" the man said with a tight laugh. "First things first. Let's get nice and comfortable." After a short pause he continued, "Strip down to your underwear. All of you."

All three women reacted with surprise.

"I don't think so," Rosalba said defiantly. "If this is a robbery take what you want and leave us alone."

The man raised the gun to the back of Jaqui's head. The girl gasped and whimpered when she felt the metal barrel. "Start stripping or the cute girl gets it. You first, Mrs. Galindo."

"You bastard," Rosalba said, glaring at the man. "Is this how you get your thrills?"

"One more word and the girl dies," the man said. "Now, peel for daddy."

Rosalba seethed but knew she had no choice but to comply. One look at Jaqui's terrified face convinced her that this was no time for heroics. At least not against an armed man. So much for those self-defense lessons her husband, Deputy Marlon Galindo, had taught her. She suddenly wondered where her husband was?

Although her staff dressed casually, Rosalba always dressed professionally. Today was no exception. The café owner sported a form-fitting white blouse with a black knee-length skirt, black pumps, and sheer hose. Since she had been doing paperwork she wore round-frame eyeglasses. It gave her a dignified appearance without detracting from her beauty.

With a look of embarrassment, the café owner began stripping. She sighed as she slipped off her blouse, revealing a black lace bra that encased a pair of generous breasts. Her skin was smooth and tanned with a flat feminine stomach. She paused as she reached for the clasp of her skirt. She noticed that Kaylie and Jaqui averted their eyes, sparing her some embarrassment.

She slid the skirt down her womanly hips. In the silence of the café, the skirt hissed as it brushed against her hose-covered legs. Although Rosalba Galindo was a professional woman, she embraced her femininity by her choice of underwear. Black lace panties exposed most of her round and tight backside. The panties were called "cheeky" for good reason. Lace top thigh-high stockings complimented her shapely legs and full thighs, revealing just enough smooth skin. Even through her olive complexion she blushed with humiliation. She stood awkwardly with her arms crossed over her breasts and looked away.

"Very nice, Mrs. Galindo," the man taunted. "I bet you're a wildcat in the sack. Turn around, let's have a good look."

Rosalba glared at the man but remained silent. Her humiliation was far from over. She closed her eyes and turned, displaying her backside to him. She now regretted not wearing a more modest pair of panties today. She never imagined she would be forced to strip and expose her backside to some leering pervert.  

"Now that's an ass," the man said, gazing at the curvaceous behind. "I guess it's true what they say about Latino women. Stand there and don't move." He shoved Jaqui toward Kaylie. "All right, girls, your turn. Strip."

Kaylie and Jaqui looked on pleadingly but knew better than to protest. In less than two minutes the pretty waitresses stripped down to their undies. Being both young and in prime shape, their underwear choices were not on the conservative side. Kaylie sported a white bra with a green stripped cotton thong. Jaqui wore a pretty pink bra with a matching g-string. The two humiliated young women stepped out of their jeans and gazed downward with shame.

"Turn around and let's have a good look," the man ordered.

Both girls did as instructed, giving the man a magnificent show of tight backsides and smooth skin. Neither girl had an ounce of fat or imperfections on their perfectly shaped backsides, which gave way to silky smooth thighs and legs. Jaqui was on the verge of tears while Kaylie was more composed, her pretty face expressing more anger than fear.

"Whoever invented the thong had you two in mind," the masked man taunted. "All right, ladies, loose the cute panties. All of you."

The command took the three women by surprise but they were in no position to refuse the order. With looks of resignation and humiliation, they peeled their respective underwear down their legs. Before they could discard their undies the man had another surprise for the blushing young women.

"Stuff them in your mouths," he ordered.

Rosalba shot the man a defiant look. Enough was enough. "Go to hell!"

The man chuckled. "I beginning to like you, Mrs. Galindo. You got spunk. I'll give you a choice: either your stuff your pretty panties in your lovely mouth or I'll find something else to fill your mouth with. I'll give you a hint . . . it's long and hard. What's it gonna be?"

Rosalba seethed with outrage but knew better than to press her luck against an armed criminal. As she raised her underwear toward her mouth the man stopped her.

"Hold it," he said. "Let's make things a little more interesting." He addressed Kaylie and Jaqui. "You two . . . trade panties."

The two girls sighed with desperation. They attempted to preserve some dignity by placing a hand over their private areas as they traded panties.

"Good little girls," the masked man taunted. "Now, blond girl, trade panties with Mrs. Galindo."

Kaylie did as ordered and offered her panties to Rosalba. Anger had now replaced her fear but the semi-nude café owner handed her lace panties to Kaylie.

"Now open wide and stuff those cute panties in your mouths," the criminal ordered

The three women winced with disgust but did as told, stuffing each other's underwear into their mouths. Jaqui had a tougher time than Rosalba and Kaylie. She gagged and heaved before completing the task. A choked sob escaped her stuffed mouth but then all was quiet.

"Perfect," the man said proudly. He produced a thick roll of duct tape from the pocket of his jacket. "Get down on your stomachs. All three of you."

TWO HOURS LATER . . .
Intense grunting and moaning disturbed the otherwise silent café. Rosalba Galindo along with her two employees, Jaqui and Kaylie, squirmed and rolled about the floor of kitchen area of the restaurant. All three women were tightly bound and gagged with duct tape. They were also all completely nude. After the man had bound and gagged them, he had removed their bras and then done something that bordered on ridiculous and even more humiliating than being trussed up and gagged.   

Their arms were bound behind their backs with tight bands of duct tape wrapped around their crossed wrists. Silver bands of tape circled their upper bodies, below and above their breasts, pinning their arms against their nude torsos. Their thighs, lower legs, and ankles were secured with several loops of unyielding tape. Their mouths were covered with several layers of tape strips that stretched to just below their ears. The bondage was simple, neat, and extremely affective.

All three women were covered in sweat and frustrated. At first they had struggled vigorously and with determination. But their efforts were met with complete failure. No amount of pulling, squirming, or bucking loosened the duct tape. This led to despair and anger on the part of the three captives.

They had even attempted to peel each other's tape gags off so they could communicate and perhaps comfort each other. But even that proved futile since the tape was well applied. So all they could do was grunt and mumble their displeasure.

The only other option was to try and stand and perhaps find some sort of sharp object to cut the duct tape. All three women tried to stand but only got as far as a sitting position. There was no way to get any leverage and get to their feet. Jaqui didn't give up so easily. Though initially frightened, the girl proved to be a hellcat. She sat up and scooted her way to the nearest wall. She turned her back toward the wall and used it as leverage to get to her feet. It took some effort but she eventually succeeded.

Rosalba and Kaylie watched from the floor as the determined girl stood and balanced precariously on her bound legs. Jaqui looked about the kitchen of the restaurant, scanning the area for anything sharp. Her eyes zoomed in on a set of knives inside a wooden rack on the stainless steel counter top. She carefully began hopping toward the counter.

Each short hop caused her perky and naked breasts to jiggle. It was the only part of her youthful body that wiggled. Though only Rosalba and Kaylie were there to witness her effort, Jaqui still blushed with embarrassment. Grunting with effort, she finally reached the counter area where the knives were. She turned and blindly reached for a knife with her duct taped hands. It took a few tries but she pulled the knife out from the rack.

Jaqui paused to catch her breath and then resumed hopping back toward Rosalba and Kaylie, who looked on from the floor. The teenaged girl again put on a show with her bouncing breasts, but it was worth the humiliation in exchange for their possible freedom. She stood over her two bound and gagged companions and carefully lowered herself to her knees, then fell on her side with a painful grunt, all the while holding the knife in her hand. It was quite a feat and a testament to the girl's resolve.

She grunted empathically and motioned with her head. "Rolmmmmphh Ovmmmphh mmmmmm!" she told her boss and Kaylie, hoping they pick up on what she was doing.

Rosalba took the initiative and rolled along the floor. She winced with discomfort as her bare breasts were crushed against the cold kitchen floor. After some creative maneuvering she positioned herself back to back with Jaqui. That was the easy part. Now the younger woman had to saw the duct tape securing Rosalba's wrists without cutting her boss . . .

****

The three outlaws rode into town on their horses, shooting guns in the air to scare off any bystanders. Frightened men and women fled in their path as the men rode toward the bank. Once there, two of the rugged-looking men dismounted from their horses and entered the bank. They were in no hurry. A third man stood outside, standing guard, ready to shoot anyone who dared interfere.

Mocking laugher filled the room, drowning out Kat's muffled pleas . . .

Kat Derringer awoke with a sharp gasp . . . to the sound of a loud beeping. It was her cell phone ringing, which she kept on the night stand next to her bed. Still half asleep and lost in the images of the strange dream, Kat rolled over on the bed and answered the phone.

"Sorry to wake you up, sheriff," came the familiar voice of Detective Rachel Graham, "but we have a situation down at Rosalba's Café."

That immediately jolted Kat to full awareness. "What sort of situation? Anyone hurt?"

"No," Detective Graham replied quickly. "Not really. You better come down here and see for yourself."

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Kat replied, ending the call.

Kat switched on the lamp on the night stand, threw the bed sheets off her, and sat on the edge of the bed. She sighed as the thought about her dream again. Lately, strange bondage dreams had being occurring more often than she liked. She blamed the therapy sessions she had been secretly attending in Palm City. She would bring it up with the therapist on their next session, but for now there was official business to attend to.  

She had to get dressed and ready to deal with whatever situation had occurred at Rosalba's Café. That had special meaning to her since the owner of the café, Rosalba Galindo, was the wife of one of her best deputies . . . Marlon Galindo. Kat wondered if he had been notified also?

Clad in her pajama pants and t-shirt she padded down the hall and into the bathroom. Lindy, Kat's younger sister who was also a deputy in the Durango County sheriff's department, was currently working the late shift and wouldn't be home until well after midnight.

Ten minutes later Kat was professionally dressed in a tailored navy jacket with a matching knee length skirt, white blouse, and black pumps. Her sheriff's badge was clipped to her waist and a Colt .45 revolver was concealed in a shoulder holster under the jacket. Her shoulder-length brown hair was straight and perfectly framed her attractive face. She looked more like a business woman than a county sheriff, but it was her personal style.

****

Though Rosalba's Café was officially closed, there was plenty of activity inside the kitchen area when Kat arrived. She entered the café through the back door and was immediately confronted by Detective Graham, Rosalba Galindo, and two other young women who Kat knew worked at the restaurant as waitresses. All three women appeared to be shaken and visibly upset.  

"What happened?" Kat asked Detective Graham.

As ususal, the statuesque and shapely detective was dressed in tight jeans, leather jacket, and form-fitting red blouse. Like Kat, she wore her shoulder-length dark hair straight, which framed a serious but attractive face. She was a prime example of female fitness and health.

"I'll tell you what happened," Rosalba spoke up, her face filling with anger. "Some creep in a ski mask held us at gunpoint, made us strip, and left us tied up and gagged."

The words left Kat stunned and speechless, especially after everything she and her mostly female staff had gone through the past year with a group of criminals who came into her town. Flashbacks of being bound and gagged invaded Kat's mind. She immediately felt uncomfortable.

"Sheriff?" Detective Graham said, noting the blank expression on Kat's face. "Are you all right?"

Kat's throat felt dry and a feeling of dread settled in her stomach. She had to get herself under control. "I'm sorry," Kat told Rosalba. "What did he take?"

"Nothing," Detective Graham said. "After doing what Mrs. Galindo said he did he . . . um . . ." Rachel paused, clearly uncomfortable. "He got a dark marker and wrote a message."

"Can I see this message?" Kat asked.

She noted that Rosalba and the two waitresses bristled upon hearing her request.

"Maybe it's better you don't," Detective Graham said.

"I don't understand," Kat said, confused.

A awkward silence followed.

"He wrote it on our behinds!" Kylie said angrily. "He took a magic marker and wrote on our asses!"

For the second time that night Kat was stunned. "What did he write?"

Detective Graham cleared her throat. "Time for payback," she said. "He wrote one word on each . . ." She noticed Rosalba glaring at her and decided to choose her word carefully. "... person."

Kat and Detective Graham shared a quick glance. They knew of only one person who would want payback on anyone in Dorado City. A year ago one of Kat's deputies, Jay Bayless, got himself mixed up with the criminals who invaded her small town and created all kids of havoc. Before being captured the rogue deputy fled town and was never captured.

At that moment Deputy Marlon Galindo, Rosalba's husband, walked into the kitchen through the back entrance. Since he was off-duty, he was dressed in jeans and a dark t-shirt. Kat couldn't help noticing his buffed upper body, especially his muscular arms.

After a quick greeting he took his wife in his arms and gave a her a tight hug. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"He didn't hurt us," Rosalba said. "Just tied us up and humiliated us. Bastard!"

"Robbery wasn't a motive," Kat said. "Since he didn't take any money or valuables."

"Then what did he want?" Deputy Galindo asked.

"He delivered a message," Detective Graham said.

She explained the situation to Galindo and then everything went silent for a moment.

"He's definitely creative," Galindo said, shaking his head.

Rosalba glared at her husband. "You think this is funny?" she asked, annoyed.

Galindo raised his hands. "No," he replied quickly. Before he got into more trouble he turned to Kat and said, "Bayless?"

"Maybe," Kat shrugged. "Unless it's something personal with you or your wife. He did know her name."

"Who would he have something against us?" Rosalba asked, agitated.

"Just throwing out possibilities, Mrs. Galindo," Kat said defensively.

"You can throw out all the possibilities you want," Rosalba said, her voice cracking. "Just catch the bastard." She turned to her husband and said, "Take us home please."

"It's all right," Rachel told Galindo. "We're done."

Deputy Galindo said goodbye before leaving with his wife along with Kaylie and Jaqui. Once they departed, Rachel and Kat looked at each other.

"What do you think?" Kat asked the detective.

"There's not much to go on," Rachel replied. "He wore a mask and gloves. His motive was strictly humiliation. It's definitely something personal against someone."

"You mean me?" Kat asked.

"Maybe against all of us," Rachel said. "If it is Bayless, I have a score to settle with him."

Kat was impressed by the detective's determined tone. "Whoever it is, he'll probably strike again?"

Rachel nodded. "I'll check the local hardware store first thing tomorrow. See if anyone remembers someone buying duct tape."

"Can I ask your opinion on something?" Kat asked Detective Graham.

"Of course."

"What do you think of Deputy Galindo?" Before Rachel got the wrong idea, Kat added, "As a deputy?"

"He's confident and professional," Rachel replied. "But he's personal and outgoing. Why?"

"Do you think he'll make a good detective?"

That surprised the detective. "I suppose he would."

"I'm thinking about promoting him to detective and working with you," Kat explained. "He's put in his time. What do you think?"

Rachel Graham offered a tight-lipped smile. "Two heads are always better than one."

****

It was nearly two in the morning when Kat got home. The ranch house stood outside Dorado City in a ten acre property. As a detective in Palm City she had lived in an apartment building. She didn't know what she was missing until she moved to Dorado City and bought the house, which she was still paying. Kat doubted she would ever go back to the city again. Too much noise and not enough privacy.

She entered the ranch house, her thoughts still on the events at the café and the warning message. Her heels clicked loudly on the tiled floor of the silent living room as she made her way to the kitchen. She would make herself a cup of tea and then go back to sleep-if she could. She had to be at work later that morning.

After placing a teapot with water on the stove top, Kat retreated to her bedroom. She switched on the light, revealing a clean and comfortable room with sparse decorations. The room was strictly used for sleeping and not much else . . . at least not recently. Though she would never admit it to anyone--even her sister--Kat missed male companionship.

As she took off her jacket and kicked off her heels she recalled her last relationship. It had been almost two years ago when she was still a city detective and had ended mutually. They had different paths in life and weren't really compatible. Though he never admitted it, Kat knew he felt uncomfortable dating a female cop. Selling real estate was not that exciting by comparison.  

Men, Kat thought as she removed her shoulder holster and placed it on the dresser. Her sheriff's badge joined the gun holster on the dresser. She had hopes in finding someone one day but Dorado City was not exactly a fertile ground for dating and finding available men. Though not vain or shallow, she certainly had the goods. She glanced at her reflection in the dresser mirror as she unbuttoned and took off her blouse.

The black lace bra announced her femininity and displayed a nice set of breasts, so she was covered it that area. She unclasped her skirt and slid it down her shapely hips, wiggling slightly as she worked it down her legs. She stepped out of the skirt and once again stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Clad only in her bra, matching panties, garter belt and stockings, she looked anything but a woman in authority and power. She resembled an underwear model in a women's catalogue from the past. Lindy sometimes chided Kat about her underwear choices being archaic and impractical, but it was what she wore and didn't give it a second thought. Kat didn't wear underwear for anyone but for herself and had feminist views on most subjects. In addition to her strange bondage dream, perhaps she should bring up this subject on her next therapy session?

She was about to unclasp her stockings from the six-strap garter belt--which kept her stockings more secure--when the teapot whistled in the kitchen. Kat was about to reach for her robe in the closet, but remembered she was alone in the house. She headed into the kitchen dressed in her underwear, feeling a bit awkward . . . but what the hell?

She made herself a cup of tea and returned to her bedroom. She took a few steps into the room and froze. Kat gasped with shock, her eyes and face filling with fear at the sight that greeted her. She dropped her teacup. It shattered as it hit the floor. A man stood in her bedroom pointing a gun at her--her own revolver, which he had apparently taken from her holster. A quick look at the empty holster on the dresser confirmed that.

The man was older, perhaps in his late forties and somewhat handsome. He was tall and fit with short graying hair. His eyes were cold and a taunting. A sneer was plastered on his rugged face as he gazed at Kat. The most shocking thing was that Kat knew the man! His face was clear and unmistakable-a ghost from her past . . .

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