"I want her picked today Syd, as soon as possible. Everything's ready, all we have to do now is get her out of the way. You aren't going to disappoint me, are you?"
Syd stood placidly, trying to control his own annoyance as he stared into the eyes of the woman in front of him, her normally beautiful features clouded with annoyance. God she can be such a bitch at times, he thought, why the hell do I stay with her?
The question was rhetorical. He'd asked himself the same one a score of times before and already knew the answer. Two years earlier he'd been down to his last few bucks when she'd found him in some low-life bar and offered him a job. He'd hesitated a first doubting that a woman, especially someone as young as she was, could pull the job off. She'd proved him wrong and in the end rewarded him handsomely for his efforts. Since then he'd remained loyal struggling to understand his feelings towards her. It hadn't been easy, her frequent violent rages were such a legend in the underworld that she'd become know as 'The Storm Queen'. Surprisingly it was a name she adopted as her own and so became known as simply 'Storm' to a favored few.
If only if was simply lust he thought surveying her lush body with carefully concealed appreciation, God, Diana Rigg would have killed to fill a cat suit that way. The truth was he'd fallen in love with this glowering child-woman standing before him and now he waited hoping someday she might feel the same about him. A line from an old John Wayne movie drifted through his head, something about 'you're sure are pretty when you're mad', but he resisted the temptation to speak it aloud. It was too early in the day to commit suicide.
"No, Storm," was all he said.
"Excellent," she said, her voice losing its strident edge as the dark clouds cleared from her eyes. "Let me know when she arrives. We can begin the next phase then."
"Yes, Storm," Syd murmured, his thoughts already drifting towards how to accomplish the task.
"Oh, by the way Syd," she said, her voice now soft and sultry, "about your 'hobby'. Why not pretend she's me and show her the ropes so to speak. It will be interesting to see what you have in mind for me should I allow it. Make sure you treat her nice, after all she is family."
Syd stared at her for a second, a small quiver of unease spreading through his body as he took in the mocking laughter dancing in her eyes. It was all too obvious that Storm was fully aware of his interest in her and what he'd like to do with her if given the chance. What wasn't so obvious was she was going to do about it.
Syd looked at his wrist watch, the third time in the last twenty minutes. It was just past 4:30 p.m. and he was beginning to get concerned. For almost an hour now he'd been sitting outside the FedEx Building keeping a close watch on the main door to the Bremont Pharmaceutical Company warehouse across the street. The entire area was zoned light industry and so someone sitting idly in a parked car wasn't a common sight. FedEx handled a lot of confidential and expensive parcels and he knew it wouldn't be long before their security reacted to his presence.
Almost as if on cue the door of the Bremont building opened and a dark-haired woman walked out. Syd studied her as she headed down the street towards the bus stop a block and a half away. "Unbelievable," he whispered softly to himself as he studied her closely, "she really is a dead ringer." His target identified, he started his car and began to slowly follow her.
The woman, totally oblivious to his scrutiny glanced at her wristwatch and slowed her pace a little as if to enjoy the late afternoon warmth. In her early twenties, she wore the trappings of the typical office 'wage slave'-- a light pastel cotton blouse tailored carefully so that it only hinted at her trim figure, a straight dark skirt that fell to a couple of inches above her knees, sheer tan hose that gave a gauzy smoothness to her shapely legs and a pair of sensible dark leather pumps with short heels. Her hair, drawn up into a tight bun behind her head, rippled with highlights as she moved her head gracefully. From her left shoulder a black leather purse dangled, swinging in cadence with the sway of her hips.
Time to move Syd thought and accelerated his car. Pulling into the curb just ahead of her, he slipped the transmission into 'Park' and got out quickly. "Police," he said to the woman who had stopped to stare at him, curiosity mixed with mild wariness painted on her face. Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out his badge case, flashed it in her direction then put it away. "Please step over to car."
The woman remain frozen with that deer in the headlights look then finally croaked, "Me?"
"Yes you!" Syd replied just a trifle sharper as if annoyed. The woman hesitated, glanced around as if looking for some kind of support then moved towards him with hesitant steps. It was all he could do not to smile as he watched her reluctant approach, a touch of apprehension showing in her facial expression.
"What...," she said then stopped to clear her throat. "What can I do for you, officer?" she continued, her face reddening slightly.
"Do you have any identification?" he asked in a polite, neutral tone.
"Identification? Why, is there something wrong?"
"Could I please see some identification?" Syd repeated his request, an edge of irritation creeping into his voice. The woman stared at him for a second then reached into her purse. After a brief search she pulled out her billfold, extracted her driver's license and handed it to him.
Syd looked at the document and studied the unsmiling face of Leah Toye. Unsmiling but with hints of humor dancing in her eyes, she gazed out of the picture with that serious look that Motor Vehicles just seemed to love. I love license photos he thought, it's awesome how they can take a beautiful woman and make her look like a complete doofus.
"Stay here," he told the clearly puzzled woman then walked around his car, picked up a microphone and spoke into it. The radio attached to the other end of the microphone cord remained mute; not a real surprise since it wasn't even turned on. Syd stood there for a few seconds pretending to be listening to something then put the microphone down.
"I'm sorry ma'am," he said walking around the car to where Leah stood, "but you'll have to come with me. There's a warrant out for your arrest."
"What!!!" she gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "Arrest! For what? I haven't done anything wrong."
"Ma'am, my orders are to place you under arrest. Now please just do as you're told, let's not make this any more unpleasant than we have too. I'm going to have to handcuff you so please put your purse down and turn around."
Leah stared at him, her mouth falling open to argue when she caught sight of his stony eyes. Maybe sensing that she was not going to get anywhere with him she shut it and did as she was instructed. Moving in close behind her, Syd reached into his jacket pocket and removed a pair of black solid-hinged handcuffs. He pulled one then the other of her hands to the center of her back, squeezing the shackles around her wrists tight enough that escape was impossible but not so tight that her circulation was cut off. Leah stiffened and gasped softly as the cold steel embraced her but remained still.
Syd picked up the woman's purse and then lead her over to the car by the elbow. Opening the front door he threw the purse on the seat then slammed the door shut. Guiding Leah to the rear door he opened it and helped her sit down on the seat noting with appreciation the flash of thigh as she lifted her legs in. Bending down, he reached under the front seat and pulled out a set of leg irons, its short chain only five links long to ensure maximum restraint.
"What are you doing?" Leah asked, her voice thin and shaky, as she watched him lock one manacle to her right ankle and then reach for her left one.
"Regulations. A few prisoners have kicked out windows trying to escape so these are now required during prisoner transport," Syd replied, locking the second manacle and then checking to make sure they were secure. "I'm also going to have to gag you because of spitting incidences and the risk of HIV infection."
"But this isn't right!" she said, as he removed a blue ball gag from a plastic bag he taken from under the seat, "I've done nothing wrong."
Syd pushed her back against the seat back and said, "Open wide." Leah scowled at him then let her eyes drop and opened her mouth. The ball was slightly too large but with a little effort it finally popped into her mouth and settled behind her even white teeth.
"Well ma'am, I'm sure they can straighten this matter out down at the police station," Syd commented as he threaded the strap through the buckle behind her head. "But, there's just one small problem," he added as he pulled the strap tight. "You see I'm not a real cop," and with that he buckled it fast.
Silence hung in the car for long seconds, then from behind the gag came a muffled wail as the meaning of his words sank in. Her eyes wide and frantic, Leah tugged at the cuffs on her wrists and ankles, twisting and rocking her body in a panicked effort to get free.
Syd let her continue her efforts for a moment then pushed her down onto her left side on the seat. "Just lay still!" he hissed to the frightened woman, "unless you want me to show you just how rough things can get."
The threat worked like a charm. Leah went rigid, her eyes staring at him over the blue ball between her lips. Syd leaned over her and pulled a scarf from his pocket which he used to blindfold her. Then taking the right side seat belt he wrapped it around her ankles before clicking it home in its receiver. Digging the centre seat belt from under her stiff body he rolled her forward, slipped it underneath her, pulled it tight across her belly, and clicked it home.
"That's much better," he said surveying his captive now pinned firmly on the rear seat. "Why don't we adjourn to someplace more private where we can get to know each other better?" he said as his hand gave her thighs a lingering caress before patting her ass gently.
A muffled plea came from her gagged mouth as she turned her blinded eyes towards his face but he just gave her a smile in response, slammed the door shut and walked around to the driver's seat.
Forty minutes later Syd pulled the car to a stop outside the ground-level loading bay on an old semi-dilapidated three-story warehouse. The trip had been strictly routine; Syd driving carefully but not to carefully so as to attract the interest of a roving police car. Even his unwilling passenger, after an initial flurry of thrashing and muffled cries had gone quiet save for the occasional grunt and clinking from the cuffs.
Syd took a slow methodical look around to ensure he was unobserved then pressed a button on a garage door opener clipped to the visor in front of him. With a clatter of poorly lubricated wheels and the groan of an overloaded electric motor the door began grinding upwards. As soon as the opening was large enough Syd quickly gunned the car into the building then pressed the button to close the door behind him. Safely concealed from the eyes of any curious passerby, Syd slid out of the car and hastened to check on his captive.
Leah lay where he'd left her, her disheveled clothing offering a mute testimony to her efforts to escape. The face she raised towards him was coated in a sheen of sweat while the skin at both her wrists and ankles was reddened and chaffed from her efforts to slip her bonds.
Syd was a 'leg man' and was not disappointed by what he saw. The once proper skirt had ridden well up her thighs providing a splendid view of her shapely legs as well as hinting generously at the treasures still concealed from sight. Above her waist the blouse had been pulled tight showing her full generous breasts. Two button had come undone giving a tantalizing peek at the black lacy bra that lay beneath.
"Oh yeah," he breathed almost in a moan, "I'm definitely looking forward to spending some time with you later but right now it's time to get you safely tucked away. Let's go see you're new home, gorgeous," Syd said as he bent over Leah and undid the seat belts holding her prone on the car seat. Then, after unlocking and removing the leg irons while skillfully avoiding her kicks, he seized her ankles and dragged her from the car.
Leah stiffened then began to squeal as she slide along the seat, her skirt riding even further up to reveal the black low-rise panties she was wearing beneath her hose. Dropping her heels, he pulled her to her feet and used his body to pin her against the back fender of the car as he shut the door.
"Behave or I'll make you wish you had," he said, as he pulled her away from the car and began towing her towards a nearby door. For a second Leah resisted but when a quick jerk almost sent her stumbling to her knees, she opted to cooperate and shuffled along beside him.
The interior of the building resembled a cool well-lighted tomb. Not a scrap of sound revealed the presence of another human being except for the shuffling of their feet as he led her down a barren corridor. Leah listened to the echo of her heels reverberating off the barren walls and couldn't repress a shudder as the knot of fear in her stomach swelled.
"Here's your new home," Syd remarked as pulled off her blindfold and pushed her through a door, "hope you like it."
The room, once an office, was nearly empty, the floor covered in a stained carpet that still bore the marks of heavy furniture. Overhead, exposed fluorescent fixtures flickered fitfully bathing the entire area in a harsh brightness that just seemed to add to the air of decay that hung in the room. In one corner was an old poster bed, tangled lengths of rope spread casually across its frayed and worn mattress. Beside an old wooden chair, its back long gone stood a lonely vigil.
"Over her," Syd growled and dragged her to a heavy ring set in the wall about five feet off the floor, more pieces of rope strewn on the floor beneath it. "Down on you knees," he ordered and then impatiently pressed on her shoulders until she assumed the correct position. Taking a piece of rope from the floor he tied it to the solid hinge in the cuffs between her wrists then pulled it upwards forcing her to bend forward into a kneeling strappado position before tying the other end to the ring.
Her back bent uncomfortably, Leah grunted her objections into the ball gag as he crossed her ankles and then lashed them tightly together. Her protests became even louder seconds later when he used a second piece of rope to elevate her ankles placing all her weight on her knees and ensuring she couldn't rise to her feet.
"I've got to go get a few things from my room ,." Syd said to the woman staring at him with a pleadingly look over the ball gag between her lips. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable," he added with a chuckle, "and I'll be back in a few minutes." With that he gave her bonds one final quick inspection and left the room.
Leah, watched the door close behind her captor and tried to ignore the gathering ache in her knees and shoulders as she jerked at the cuffs hoping that a knot might loosen. It wasn't easy to move much perched on her knees and the little she could sent stabs of pain through her shoulders. Finally she stopped altogether as the reality of her helplessness sank in.
She still couldn't believe how easily he'd fooled her. Sure she'd been raised in a small country town but she'd lived in the city long enough to know 'those' situations that a careful woman avoids like the plague. Then, despite all she'd learned, all the newspaper stories she'd read about hapless women, she'd immediately relaxed her guard as soon as he'd said he was a cop. Maybe it was the shock of being arrested or something else but instead of questioning the situation, she'd done as she was told until it was too late. The icy grip of the manacles on her limbs, the ache in her jaw from the ball gag were nothing compared to the sick feeling gnawing at her stomach.
Leah's shoulders felt like they were on fire when Syd finally returned, a large cardboard box clutched in his arms. Putting it down on the floor in front of her he studied her for a minute in obvious appreciation before kneeling down to untie her ankles. Leah took the opportunity to examine the contents of the box and was alarmed by what she saw. Coils of rope in various colors, lengths of cloth, leather straps with gleaming silver buckles and a plethora of other things she didn't recognize but instinctively she knew they bode nothing good for her.
Syd fiddled with the stuff carefully laying some of it out on the floor then looked at her. "Any preferences on how you'd like to be tied up?" he said as walked in front and caught her eyes. "No?" he continued at her confused look, "my choice then. I've got just the thing in mind for you."
Twenty minutes later Syd stood back and surveyed Leah with a satisfaction. While there was any number of ways he could have secured her, he'd opted to go with his personal favorite first. It wasn't elaborate nor particularly original but its blend of style and utility, never failed to excite him.
As for Leah she had never felt so completely defenseless in her life. Her body was completely immobilized, her limbs confined in rigid imprisonment. It had started simple enough; he'd carried the broken chair over to where she was kneeling and after helping her to her feet and undoing the handcuffs made her sit upon it. Pulling her hands behind her, he'd tied and cinched them together palm-to-palm then anchored the free ends around a cross piece between the back chair legs forcing her slide to the back of the chair seat and sit bolt upright. A second length of rope had then been looped around her upper arms and then tightened forcing her elbows back until her arms formed a straight line from shoulders to wrists. As the loops had tightened Leah had had no choice but to arch her back to ease the strain. Even more humiliating was how her chest had thrust forward, her breasts now straining against her blouse with button-popping pressure. The embarrassment had not ended there. Almost as if determined to heap chagrin upon her, each of her legs had been drawn back and tied to a rear leg of the chair. No longer able to even shift around on the seat of the chair, she could only stare impotently at her knees spread open invitingly. Her skirt had slid upwards as her legs spread giving not only a generous look at her thighs clad in gleaming pantyhose but exposing to one and all her crotch with only the thin barriers of her panties and hose to preserve her modesty.
Syd walked in front of Leah and studied his work, his gaze heating up as his eyes traced the curves of his captive. Despite the mind-numbing fear that seemed to fill her to the point that she could barely breath, Leah glared at him with open defiance. It was a good performance but Syd had one of his own. Reaching for the top button of her blouse, he began to undo it.
Leah tried to twist her upper body away from his hands but it was a wasted effort. She could only barely move and it was no where near enough to hinder his hands as they worked steadily downwards, undoing each button in turn. She mouthed muffled curses at him, shaking her head at what he was doing but Syd simply smiled and when the last button was undone pulled the blouse out from beneath the waistband of her skirt. In a matter of seconds, it was pushed back across her shoulders exposing her black lacy bra underneath. Moments later the bra was gone, undone and the shoulder straps cut to expose her full high breasts and dark nipples.
"You're very beautiful," he told Leah in a low even voice, lifting her chin and gazing into her eyes, "I watched you walking today. The way you carried yourself on your gorgeous legs, the sway of your hips, it was truly poetry in motion."
Leah sat rigid, face flushed, her eyes meeting his burning gaze. "Your breasts," he said reaching down and fondling them, "so soft and warm."
Leah barely heard his question, distracted by that hand as it kneaded her breast, teasing her nipple until it was hard and sensitive. Syd let his hand trail down her stomach and come to a rest on her thigh. The leg twitched as she tried to shake his hand off but there was no way she could deny him.
"Oh yes baby," he whispered lost in the pleasure of the moment as he caressed her thigh, 'you're all I dreamed you'd be Storm."
Syd stiffened as those words died out, then straightened abruptly, his face flushed with embarrassment as he turned away from his captive and left the room.
Leah watched her captor departure in puzzlement. Storm? Who the hell is Storm?