"Hurry up Janeen, we'll be late!" shouted Melissa Ferguson, her friend & one of her two roommates.
"I'm coming!" answered the gorgeous brunette, trying to juggle her textbooks. The girls were majoring in criminal justice at Western State University. Hurriedly, both girls walked into the classroom where they sat with another girl, Nineteen-year old freshman, Suzy Santos, who happened to be their other roommate.
"It's about time girls." Suzy said as she shuffled some papers around.
"Don't start with me Suzy" Janeen snapped as she got out her textbook
"Probably talking to that guy again huh?" the pretty Hispanic girl said to Melissa
"Yep, probably"
"Will you guys stop it" Janeen said as she rolled her eyes, then giggled
"Ok, you got me"
All three girls laughed as just then a shorthaired blonde woman entered the small classroom of about fifteen students, which included the girls.
"I hope everybody has their assignment done." said the female professor, Miss Erica Weston.
"Oh crap!" Janeen said, almost shouting "its back at the apartment"
"Told you he's was a distraction…." Melissa added as both she & Suzy took out papers from their folders & passed them down to the aisle
"Miss Martelli," Erica asked Janeen "Did you forget the assignment?"
"Not exactly Miss Weston, it's back at our apartment"
"It was due this morning"
"I know it, I'm sorry"
"I'm going to cut you a break, bring it by later on. I assume you know where my house is?"
"Yes. Thank you"
"Okay students, today you get to read chapter three. I'll be busy looking over the papers. If you have any questions, see me after class or in Miss Martelli's case, see me tonight"
Janeen rolled her eyes as Erica sat down at her desk
"The nerve of her" Janeen sneered quietly as she got out her textbook. "Nothing like being humiliated in front of the whole class"
"Well girl," Melissa said, "If you had brought the assignment, you wouldn't have been in this situation"
"If she even did it." Suzy added whispering
Janeen gave Suzy a dirty look
"For your information Suzy, it's on my computer. I've just got to touch it up. Anyway, Professor Weston just doesn't like me that's all"
"Yes she does Janeen" Melissa added "She just wants you to do better, & lately you've been distracted….."
"I know, but he's sooooo gorgeous!"
"See what I mean?" Suzy said giggling
"Look," Melissa added "I want to open up a detective agency one day & I want my friends to join me, but if you don't turn in your work on time……"
"Okay, okay you've made your point" the headstrong girl answered as she finally picked up her textbook. "Let's read chapter three"
Soon the girls were quiet as the hour kept ticking away.
About two hours later, a pony tailed Janeen Martelli was busy on her computer typing away when her one roommate, Melissa Ferguson came down the stairs of their apartment. Melissa, wearing a white T-shirt & shorts, looked at Janeen's paper.
"Not bad Martelli, not bad"
"See I told you I could do it. Where's Suzy?"
"Doing her laundry I think"
Just then the young Latino showed up carrying a laundry basket. She was also dressed in shorts & T-shirt, her deeply tanned legs stood out in the blue jean cutoffs.
"Hey Suzy," Melissa said "I think we're seeing progress here"
"Okay you guys." Was Janeen's answer "There done!" she announced as she hit the print button & soon had her copy printed out. The brunette then put it in a folder & got up. Janeen was about as tanned as Suzy, but more athletic. She had been a cheerleader in High School & also was a gymnast. Being Italian, Janeen had a reputation of being headstrong which got her into trouble sometimes. Melissa on the other hand, was fair skinned & really bright, but no less pretty as her brunette roommates. People often said she had that girl next door quality. Melissa had been on the Dean's list for awhile & often had to help Janeen out with her work. Meanwhile Suzy had come from a poor background, but prided herself in trying to be the first from her family to graduate from College. She was only a freshman, but was already on the Dean's list.
"Okay you guys, I'm off to make Miss Weston's night" Janeen said as she pulled on a pair of sweats & then put her sneakers on over her white ankle socks
"I'll be back shortly." she said as she went out the door. Janeen then got into her blue Honda & took off. It took about twenty minutes to reach Erica Weston's house, which was a one-story brick house on the other side of the small town. Janeen parked her car on the side of the street & got out. She then went up to the door & seeing no bell, knocked on the door. She waited & knocked again, then three times. A strange feeling came over the young girl as she noticed the door open a crack after she knocked harder. Curiously, Janeen opened the door slowly
"Miss Weston, are you in here?… Miss Weston. It's Janeen Martelli. I have my assignment"
Janeen then was shocked as she noticed the room ransacked! Even the phone was off the hook.
"Oh my God!… Miss Weston?" she now shouted. Soon a faint mmmpphing sound filled the air. As Janeen walked toward a back room, the mmmpphing got louder. Janeen's heart started pounding harder as she opened the door from where the noise was coming from. Quickly she opened the door & immediately saw her Professor, Erica Weston. She was tightly bound to a kitchen chair. Her mouth tightly cleave-gagged with a thick white cloth.
"Miss Weston, Oh my God!" Janeen said as she put down the folder & cell phone & rushed over to her. Erica started mmmppphing louder as before Janeen could loosen the gag knot, a man with a ski mask on stood behind Janeen. Erica got Janeen's attention but it was too late, the man grabbed the startled brunette, silencing her scream with his right hand. Just then another masked thug made an appearance, this one carried more rope. A white rag was pulled from his pocket & he tossed it to the other goon
"Well I see we have another visitor" Sneered the man holding Janeen as he forced the rag into her mouth, pulling it tight & knotting it tightly behind her head. "Wrong place at the wrong time, right, honey?"
Janeen could only mmmppphh into the gag
"I'm going to check to see if she has any friends around. Tie her up"
"Stupid nosy girl" The second thug said as he took rope & tied her crossed wrists tightly behind the chair. Janeen looked at Erica, trying to get loose. What did she walk into? A robbery? Obviously the thugs were looking for something, but what? The man did a thorough job on her wrists as the rope stung as he tightened the knots. The thug took more rope & tied it around her body & through the chair openings, holding her against it. Still more rope was tied around her ankles, as an ankle was tied to each chair leg. Satisfied the goon got up. Soon the first thug returned.
"Nothing. Let's get back to it."
Then the thug looked at Erica.
"It better be here"
Janeen could only wonder what the man meant. What was here? She had been humiliated again, but this time it was more serious. Twisting her wrists for any slack in the ropes was futile. Then Janeen spotted her cell phone still lying on the small table. If only she could get to it & somehow alert Melissa or Suzy or maybe even the Police…….