Header: Mia and Melody bound hand and foot, and cleave gagged. Illustration to the short story, ‘The Artless Heiress,’ Saturday Evening Post, 22 June 1957, author unknown, from Fuzzweb’s miscellaneous pages.

When Mia descended from Tilly’s upstairs bedroom six hours later she was glowing and relaxed. Miles had left quietly some time before sunrise. The hot bath and those hours of sleep in Tilly’s satin sheets had rejuvenated the young woman.

Mia wore one of the changes of clothes that deVille had thoughtfully provided, a dark, almost sleeveless dress of fine quality, almost transparent cotton belted at the waist with a wide sash of soft leather. Black seamed stockings and high-heeled shoes completed a picture that would have been fully appreciated in an earlier era.

‘That dress looks great on you. It’s almost like a suit,’ said Melody as she rose and poured a fresh cup of coffee for her friend.

‘Well, it’s sort of a shirt-maker dress,’ Mia explained. ‘Kind of nine-teen fiftyish, isn’t it?’

‘It’s a style that ought to come back,’ said Mia. ‘Especially with the new fabrics we have nowadays. It makes a woman feel dressed up and feminine, to have a skirt like this.’ In a little-girl gesture, Mia took the filmy skirt in both hands and did a pirouette. ‘Anyway,’ she added, ‘if I’m in the 1950s, your style must go back at least that far too. I saw a British black and white movie a week ago, before this whole business started. It was called "The Black Riders." The heroine wore a neck scarf like that.

Melody was dressed in a slim satin skirt that reached to mid-calf, a blue belt with a buckle, and a semi-diaphanous white blouse. A neat silk neck scarf fluttered at her throat.

‘Come to think of it,’ mused Mia, ‘the heroine was held bound and gagged in a cellar by a gang of smugglers.’

‘That’s a touch of synchronicity,’ said Melody with a grin, ‘But I don’t expect to repeat that experience in a hurry.’

‘Don’t you?’ replied Mia thoughtfully. ‘It might happen sooner than you think. That is, if you agree with the idea I’m going to suggest. It involves putting ourselves back into the hands of the gang.’

‘Oh no. No! That’s out of the question.’

‘Wait till you’ve heard me out,’ said Mia persuasively. ‘I’ve been thinking how desperately important it is that we rescue Jasmine Morris from that gang. We’ve managed to slip their clutches, you through a combination of good luck and me rescued like a true damsel in distress by you and my boyfriend. We can’t just forget about that girl. However she’s mixed up with those two con artists Brentford and Orly, she doesn’t deserve to be a prisoner of that gang any more than we did.’

‘I’m listening,’ said Melody guardedly.

‘Here’s the plan. We arrange for Johnny Montague and Karl to make us their prisoners again. They’ll have to take us back to their new hideout, and that’s where they’re holding Jasmine.’

‘That’s far-fetched! It won’t work. We’ll need some kind of backup. And Brod and Miles wouldn’t hear of it.’

‘Sure. That’s why they mustn’t know. That’s why we have to look elsewhere. Like, Brentford and Orly? You told us how they found you and freed you. They must know how to contact the gang. And they badly want to get Jasmine back.’

‘Well, I think they said something about having the gang’s mobile phone number.’

‘That decides it, Melody. What do you say?’

‘It-It’s worth a try.’ Melody could not prevent a tiny shiver at the thought of being tied and gagged once more. But Mia was right. They could not leave Jasmine Morris to her fate. And there was the other matter of Jasmine’s likely knowledge about the Duck’s Egg Diamond. That bauble had got them into the whole mess in the first place.

*

In the silence that followed, one could hear the proverbial pin drop. Then Cuthbert Brentford found his voice.

‘My dear young woman, do you know what you’re saying?’

‘I do ... We both do,’ said Mia firmly.

‘But we couldn’t possibly do that,’ Rupert Orly interjected. ‘It’s much too dangerous. You have just escaped their dastardly clutches. You surely can’t want more of their nasty attentions!’

‘All the same,’ said Melody, ‘It has to be done. We must take the risk, and suffer the consequences. Can you think of a better way of bringing the gang out into the open, and giving us a chance to rescue Jasmine Morris?’

‘They won’t negotiate with the police, it’s obvious,’ added Mia. ‘And that’s why Melody and I have decided to go free-lance.’

‘Aha, your boyfriends in the constabulary would have respective fits wouldn’t they,’ said Brentford archly.

‘But you won’t be telling them, will you?’ replied Mia.

‘Ah no. No. We’re somewhat ah, allergic to the cold eye of authority.’ Brentford turned to Orly. ‘What do you think of the ladies’ clever plan, Rupert old chum?’

Rupert Orly walked to the window and looked pensively out at the gathering dusk. ‘It just might work, you know. We’ll have to keep a very close eye on our prisoners. And every moment we delay and do nothing, dear young Jasmine is languishing in vile bonds.’

‘That’s settled then,’ said Mia.

‘When do you propose to start? And how should it be done?’ asked Brentford.

‘Right now,’ said Mia. She looked questioningly at Melody, who nodded in silent agreement. ‘And as for what’s to be done, we came prepared.’ Mia indicated her shoulder bag that stood on the floor near the sofa. She went on. ‘We’re in this thing together and we have to trust one another. Melody and I are now your prisoners. You have a mobile

phone number for Johnny Montague. So what you do is ring them and say that we have just walked into your trap and that you’re willing to hand us over in exchange for a large amount of money, and the girl Jasmine of course. Don’t make it appear that she means too much to you. Concoct a story that Jasmine’s been blackmailing you or something and you want to have your revenge on her, not in a physical way but by forcing her to strip her bank accounts. Something like that. I’m only inventing. You can probably think of a much better way to convince them.’

‘Lady, you have genius,’ exclaimed Brentford in admiration. Orly nodded, his face beaming. ‘As well as guts,’ he added.

‘First, we have to be bound hand and foot before you make that phone call,’ said Mia, ‘because when they come to collect us, it has to look authentic. We need to show the appearance of having been bound for at least two hours. Sweating. Fretting. Weary. Do you understand?’

‘We do, dear lady, but we don’t like it,’ said Orly.

‘Don’t go through all that again!’ Melody spoke up. ‘Let’s do it and get it over with!’

Mia walked across to the bag, stooped - showing a prettily turned leg encased in black seamed stockings - and retrieved a handful of dark-coloured cords. She turned to the two men and placed the hanks of rope on the coffee table.

Mia then stepped back, looked across her shoulder at Melody, and with a graceful swaying of her dark shoulder length hair, turned and offered her arms behind her back. Melody followed suit.

Orly gulped audibly. ‘I-I guess I’ll do Miss Chantal.’

‘An-, And I’ll secure Melody Hazard,’ stammered Brentford.

As Orly drew Mia’s wrists together behind her, with what Melody knew to be strong assured fingers, Mia instructed him. ‘Don’t treat me with kid gloves, Rupert. Use plenty of cord, and tie my hands palm to palm. That sort of tie is impossible to get out of, if the knots are tight. But don’t cut off circulation, will you?’

‘My dear, I will do my best,’ Orly responded with a bemused shake of his head.

Mia looked across at Melody. ‘How’s Cuthbert managing?"

‘He - he’s doing very well,’ replied Melody with a grimace. Her wrists were being tied in an orthodox crisscross manner, and with each turn Brentford snugged the cord firmly around Melody’s slender wrists. It was tight and already felt escape-proof. Melody had allowed her hands and fingers to remain limp and relaxed, and she saw that Mia’s hands were slack too. The feeling of helplessness was not unpleasant, but Melody knew that was because she and Mia were among allies. It would be a different matter when they were handed over to Karl’s ministrations.

When the two women’s hands were securely bound behind them, they sat side by side on the sofa. Orly and Brentford knelt at their feet and crossed and bound together the ankles of the woman each was tying.

‘There you are,’ said Brentford straightening up, ‘Bound hand and foot like heroines in those old-time matinee serials.’

‘Can you remember that far back?’ asked Melody with a mixture of playfulness and interest.

‘My dear, I have aged well, as far as that goes,’ the man replied with a graceful bow.

Mia became businesslike again. ‘There are more ropes. You don’t need to put them on us right away. But when you do, be careful of our arms. I’m wearing a sleeveless dress, and Melody’s in a pretty flimsy blouse. Remember, we’ve got to put up with this for many hours, probably. And it’s up to you two, Cuthbert and Rupert, to do your part. The situation is out of our hands now, tied like this.’

The two men stood back and surveyed their willing prisoners apprehensively.

‘I don’t think we’ll worry about tying your arms. It should be good enough the way you are,’ said Brentford. ‘Uh, what shallwe do next, Mia dear gel?’

‘I think it’s about time you phoned the gang and set up the hand-over. We’ll just sit here, won’t we Melody?’

‘We can’t do anything else,’ Melody replied wryly.

Brentford and Orly walked into the adjoining bedroom where the bedside phone stood, and closed the door. Melody and Mia could not hear what was being said.

‘I hope they get it right,’ said Melody.

‘They should,’ replied Mia brightly. ‘They’re clever con men. "Dirty rotten scoundrels," like in that movie.’

‘I think they have a lot of socially redeeming features.’

Mia looked at her companion. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘You mean, about the bonds?’

‘Uh huh. I didn’t want to admit it in front of Rupert and Cuthbert, but we are taking a terrible risk.’

‘Now you tell me!’ said Melody with a chuckle. Then, ‘No, I feel ... comfortable about it, so far. These cords are tight, and I’m sure I can’t get out of them. But that’s the whole object of the exercise.’

‘I know. We’re depending on those two in the next room. And anything might happen. Do you want to go through with it, Melody? We’ve only to ask them and they’ll set us free. I think it would be a relief for them if we did get cold feet and called it off.’

‘Yes, but they’re already talking to Montague,’ said Melody. The distant mutter of a voice could be heard through the bedroom door. ‘The deal will be done. We can’t back out now.’

‘I know. I was just testing you I guess. You’re really something you know.’ Mia leaned over and gave Melody a light kiss on the lips. Melody responded, allowing it to linger a moment longer.

‘You’re really something too. The way you handled yourself when Karl was giving you that rough treatment. You played it quiet and didn’t waste precious energy like me. Didn’t go into hysterics like I did! I understand what deVille sees in you.’

Mia shrugged but Melody knew she was pleased. ‘Well,’ Mia observed laconically, ‘When they come back we’ll get them to finish making us uncomfortable.’

Melody nodded. She was beginning to feel frightened, and was about to say something when the bedroom door opened and Brentford and Orly re-entered the room.

‘Well m’dears,’ said Brentford in response to the two women’s inquiring looks, ‘We’ve set them up. They were of course highly interested in our proposition and they’re coming over on the double, though from where they appear to be it will take them a good hour to reach here.’

‘Where are they?’ asked Melody.

‘I heard what sounded like a ship’s siren, so they’re somewhere in the waterfront.’

Melody looked at Mia. ‘Still there? I wonder whether they’ve found another warehouse, and how close it might be to the one where we rescued you?’

‘Not very close, I should think,’ said Mia. ‘There are two docks areas, either side of the river. My guess is that they’re holding Jasmine further out. Those old dockside suburbs are rabbit warrens. If you know your way around them - as the gang seem to do - you could hold a prisoner for weeks. Especially if she’s kept tied and gagged, like we were. Which reminds me,’ Mia added, establishing eye contact with the two men, ‘I think it’s time for our mouths to be tied up.’

‘Are you sure?’ asked Orly with a grimace of distaste. ‘Can’t it wait till the last minute?’

Mia shook her head stubbornly. ‘I’d prefer that, and so would Melody. But we have to be realistic, as I said before. As far as the gang is concerned, you’ve been holding us for at least an hour already. When they come, it must look to them as if we’ve been held for that time. If it’s not done realistically they’ll smell a rat.’

‘So there’s nothing for it,’ Melody interposed, ‘but to gag us now. You’ve already practiced on me twice.’

‘Before declaring our entente cordiale,’ observed Brentford with a guilty expression.

‘You’re more than forgiven for that,’ answered Melody, ‘after what you did to help us.’

Brentford and Orly both sighed audibly. ‘Dear lady ...’ Orly began, but Mia cut him short.

‘There are two silk scarves in my bag, and Melody brought a couple also. I don’t much like the idea of a mouth-filling gag, like the ones they put on us when we were being held captive before. But there’s another way of doing it that will be effective. Just tie a single scarf in my mouth, and Melody’s, but make it tight enough so that it holds our jaws apart. If we can’t close our mouths properly, we’ll be unable to speak clearly, and the amount of noise we’ll be able to make in our throats will be minimal too. It will be a little uncomfortable but that can’t be helped.’

‘I trust not too unpleasant, dear Miss Chantal,’ said Brentford as he bent to Mia’s shoulder bag. Orly was opening Melody’s handbag at the same time.

‘Gag me first,’ said Melody. ‘Let Mia supervise.’ Melody was feeling more frightened than ever, now that the finishing touches to their plan were being put into place, but she trusted in Mia’s good sense, and she did not want to show any sign of weakness in front of her friend.

Dutifully, Orly folded a square silk scarf into a rectangular bandage and drew it into Melody’s mouth between her teeth. It was long enough to be tied in a doubled knot at the back of her neck. Orly drew it tight. It works! thought Melody. I can’t close my mouth properly.

‘The blindfold too, I think,’ said Mia. A patterned oblong scarf was folded lengthwise and bound over Melody’s eyes.

‘Melody, if you could see yourself! You’re now festooned with silk scarves,’ Mia remarked in a bantering tone.

Melody knew her friend was saying this in order to keep up her morale. Blindfolded, she became more conscious of the feel of the silk in her mouth and around her cheeks, the bandage over her eyes, and the light silk neck square that fluttered sensuously at her throat. The silks covering her face, and the flimsy white blouse she wore, gave her mixed feelings of femininity and helplessness.

‘Right. Now me,’ said Mia. ‘Remember, be firm. It has to be tight. Then sit us on the floor, side-saddle. It’s too comfortable on this sofa. And when the gang comes, that’s the time to do your best acting. Don’t forget ... glgg!’ Mia’s voice cut off abruptly.

‘You talk a little too much sometimes, my dear,’ said Brentford. ‘We know full well how dangerous this caper is, and the trust you’ve put in us. But don’t order us around so much! Give us some credit. Eh, Rupert?’

‘Don’t get uptight, Cuthbert old mate,’ answered Orly. ‘No need to take it out on the brave gel.’

‘I suppose not. Sorry my dear. Shall I loosen your gag? No? Right. The blindfold next. I won’t make it too tight. You’re really the damnedest brave women!’

‘They look nice, don’t they?’ said Orly as he and Brentford gently lowered Mia and Melody from the sofa to the plush carpeted floor. ‘Silk scarves do a lot for a woman. Mia, you look fetching my dear, with that black scarf in your mouth and the light coloured one over your eyes.’

Melody heard a faint ironic, ‘Uh huh’ from her companion. She was beginning to appreciate the efficient gagging effect of the scarf tied so tightly between her teeth. Already her mouth was starting to feel dry as she drew air in through her open jaws. And the silk, soft though it had been at first, cut into the corners of her mouth and was beginning to hurt. I don’t think Mia expected these gags to be so tight, she thought, but now we can’t say anything about it. She settled herself on the floor in the most comfortable position she could find and prepared to wait out the coming of the gang.

*

Brentford’s guess about the gang’s latest whereabouts was correct. Jasmine Morris lay in one of the containers stored in another warehouse on the opposite side of the river, one that had been missed by the team who rescued Mia because it was four rows further and

in total darkness without a revealing glow from the skylights. She was still bound and gagged, but her arms were now fastened behind her at the wrists and her gag had been changed. A wad of cloth had been stuffed into her mouth and, when no more packing could be crammed in, the lower part of her face had been bound up with a wide strip of cloth. She was also blindfolded, and her ears were sealed with rubber plugs.

Jasmine had no idea where she was, although there was a feeling of stillness and confinement about the air she breathed. It was stale and dry. Her tears had dried too. She lay still, no longer struggling or fretting at the gag. Her mind did not seem to want to function. She had given up all hope that Brentford. and Orly would come to her rescue. She wondered dully where the other two women were being held. Were they Iying somewhere nearby, trussed up like herself, unable to see, hear or speak? But she did not care much anyway. Jasmine was slipping into the quietude of shock where nothmg mattered any more.

*

When the knock sounded at the door of the room at the Hotel Excelsior, Melody and Mia gave a start. Involuntarily, both women tugged at the cords binding their wrists. Mia was unable to stifle a small whimper at the thought of what was likely to happen during the next few minutes.

But Karl and Montague’s reactions were surprisingly low-key. ‘So you managed to catch our slippery fugitives,’ said Montague, looking down at the two bound and blindfolded women with a satisfied grin.

‘It wasn’t easy, I can tell you,’ said Brentford.

‘No,’ said Orly, ‘They took a lot of persuading before coming to this room. But, once here, well ... there was no way out for them. As you can see.’

‘But we’ll have to vacate this place very soon,’ said Brentford. ‘The girls’ police friends may know where they were going. It’s too hot for us now.’

‘Maybe we can accompany you two gentlemen, temporarily of course, until we get our pay-off,’ said Orly.

‘Not to mention that silly young thing, Jasmine whatsaname. She diddled us out of our funds, and we intend to, ah, persuade her to give the money back,’ said Brentford.

They’ve taken my suggestion, thought Melody. I hope Karl and Montague swallow it.

‘Sure.’ It was Montague answering. ‘Ride up front with us. We’ll secure the women in the back. It’s a van.’

‘Righty-ho. We’ll bring our suitcases and toothbrushes,’ said Orly brightly.

‘And we’ll prepare our pretty morsels here,’ said Karl.

Melody did not like the sound of that, but it seemed straight forward, at first. The bonds tying the two women’s ankles were removed and they were helped to their feet. Karl checked and tightened their gags and blindfolds, and they were led from the room along what Melody guessed was the passageway, to the rear fire escape.

‘No one about,’ whispered Montague. ‘Come on.’

Their shoes clicked on the iron steps as they descended. Melody’s arm was gripped tightly just above her elbow by one of the men to steady her. She thought it was Johnny Montague. Karl was probably keeping control of Mia in the same way. They came to a halt and Melody heard the snick of a key in a lock and the sound of a door sliding on oiled runners.

‘Mind the gap,’ said Montague softly in Melody’s ear. She was helped up - it took two steps - and then she heard the sound of a door sliding shut. ‘Down,’ said Montague. Melody was taken under the armpits and lowered to her knees, onto the floor of the van. She felt the vehicle shift and guessed that Brentford and Orly were already making themselves comfortable in the front seat.

‘Okay,’ said Montague. ‘Karl, you secure Miss Chantal and I’ll truss up Miss Hazard. Karl gave an answering grunt.

Melody felt ropes passed around her elbows and tightened so that her arms were pulled into the small of her back. She had experienced this before, but its familiarity had not bred contempt. It was a painful tie-up, efficient and inescapable. It made her feel utterly helpless and vulnerable in the way it forced her breasts up against the thin cloth of her blouse. She remembered with disgust the way Karl had groped her before and was thankful that it was Montague tying the knots this time. Mia was probably not so lucky. She heard her companion making soft whimpering noises through her gag as she too was bound.

Ropes were passed above and below Melody’s breasts, pinning her arms tightly to her body by the elbows. She was made to sit, handled like a helpless doll, and her ankles were again bound together. She felt Montague passing the rope between her legs in order to cinch off the tie at her ankles. Her legs were then bound around the thighs and she was jerked to her knees again.

‘Reinforce their gags.’ It was Karl who spoke. Johnny Montague muttered an agreement.

The next thing Melody knew was that a wad of cotton cloth was being stuffed into her mouth over the silk band already fixed between her jaws. She tried to fight away from it, but Montague’s hand held the back of her head while with the other he completed the operation. Melody’s jaws were now stretched wider than they had been before. The packing was then bound in place by what felt like a wide strip of canvas, hard, unyielding and scratchy. It covered her face but left her nose free.

Melody retched, and fought back the gagging reflex. She felt weak and sick. This was your bright idea, Mia, to put us back in their hands, she thought in frustration. She could hear Mia gagging softly close by her shoulder so she could not feel anger towards her friend. We’re in it together. And a lot is hanging on what Orly and Brentford can do, she thought hopefully.

Melody was expecting to be laid out on the van’s floor, perhaps to be hogtied or, worse, put into a ball-tie again. But Karl was more inventive. She felt herself placed face to face against Mia and ropes passed around their bodies. They were being tied together.

In a short time Melody and Mia were anchored very tightly together as one unit. They were wrapped in ropes at the thighs, around the waist, and about their upper bodies. The waist ties were also looped and knotted around their wrists so that both women were quite unable to move their arms. All the ropes were cinched so that they would not slip.

When they were laid on their sides, their bodies were all of a length, thigh against thigh, belly to belly, chest to chest. Melody felt Mia’s neat firm breasts hard against her own through the thin cotton of their clothing. And the mounds of each woman’s sex were also squeezed snug together. If one moved in her bonds, the other felt that movement as an unsettling friction or as pain, depending upon whether the centre was at their sex or their breasts, or in their arms and backs.

The motor started up and with a jerk the van moved off. Was Hudson driving? Melody noted that there was no sound of a dysfunctional motor. The gang had found themselves another, quieter vehicle. Gagged as completely as they were, the two prisoners were unable to even whisper encouragement to each other. And they were so tightly tied together that they could make very little movement. Their bodies rocked gently with the rhythm of the vehicle, that was all.

In a short time, the bonds and the gag grew unbearable. Melody’s lips were already feeling raw against the heavy canvas tied over her mouth, and the immoveable wadding trapped her tongue and threatened to choke her with every breath that she drew. But there was some comfort in being in such close physical contact with Mia. It reminded Melody that they were both suffering together.

As if in sympathy with those thoughts, Mia nuzzled her bound face against Melody’s cheek. Melody responded. There was also something sexual in the way their thighs and breasts ground together, especially when Melody or Mia strained her arms against the ropes binding them so painfully at her back. Melody could appreciate why many women enjoyed the sexual comfort of other women. But she would gladly exchange her present plight for a night nestling in Brod’s large protective arms.

It was a long journey. The gang drove slowly and carefully so as not to draw the attention of the police road patrols. More than an hour of acute discomfort for the two prisoners had passed by the time the vehicle turned into the driveway next to one of the large abandoned warehouses. The van came to a halt. There was a pause of several minutes, during which Melody and Mia could hear the murmur of voices sometimes raised in dispute. Then the van rocked gently as the men in front alighted, and there followed the sound of the sliding door. Melody was conscious of someone kneeling beside her. Hands ran over her body, checking the ropes and the knots that held her gag and blindfold tight. She felt the same being done to Mia. The handling was not rough, so she guessed that it was Johnny Montague again, doing his best to protect them from Karl’s cruel attentions.

Montague spoke softly to the two women. ‘Listen carefully. I’m going to remove your gags. If you remain quiet for the next couple of hours, they can stay off until we’re ready to leave. As a precaution, you’ll be muffled instead. This place is well away from the houses, so if you call for help there won’t be anyone to hear you. Except us of course. I assure you it won’t be pleasant if we have to come out and replace the gags. Do we have your cooperation?’ Both Melody and Mia knew that it was no idle threat and they nodded emphatically.

Melody groaned with relief when the stiff canvas was taken from her face and the roll of cotton extracted from her mouth. The blindfolds stayed in place. As the scarf was being untied she had a fit of coughing. Melody heard her friend whimper with relief than break into a coughing fit too. Their bodies rubbed together, melded by the ropes binding them. Aflask of water was held to Melody’s lips and she drank gratefully. A moment later, she felt Mia’s chest rising and falling against hers with each swallow. A ‘Thank you,’ came from them simultaneously.

‘Remember, I’ve warned you,’ said Montague. A hood was pulled down over Melody’s head and face. It felt like the heavy silk bag that had been used on her before, when she traded herself for Tilly. A straining movement from her friend told Melody that Mia was probably being hooded too. ‘Sweet dreams,’ said Montague, and the door of the van closed with a muffled thump. Melody heard the click of a lock and she and Mia were wrapped in silence.

Melody licked her lips and with her tongue tentatively felt the smooth silk of the hood stretched taut across her face. ‘Mia, are you all right?’

‘As well as can be expected,’ her friend answered. ‘Thank God they took our gags off. I couldn’t breathe properly and I was beginning to feel faint.’

‘Me too. I suppose you could say we’re lucky.’

‘Funny sort of luck,’ Mia rejoined. ‘Look, Melody, I know it’s a nice feeling rubbing against each other like this, but there’s a reason for it. I’ve got a small knife blade sewn into the belt I’m wearing. It’s in the centre of my back where I thought I’d be able to reach it. But our hands are tied against our bodies, so any attempt to get free will have to wait. It should be easier once they untie us from each other.’

‘If they do.’

‘Oh they will. It’s just a matter of when.’

‘Mia, what do you think is happening? They haven’t taken us out of the van and put us in a warehouse.’

‘No. My guess is they’re going to take us to another place. That will make it harder for Brod and Miles to find us. That is, if Brentford and Orly have a chance to let them know what’s happened.’

‘That will be difficult with Karl and Montague watching them like hawks. Do you think Jasmine will be loaded in with us?’

‘I don’t see why not, unless Brentford and Orly persuade the gang to let them take her away. That’s part of the plan. But when you’re dealing with criminals like those two who’ve tied us like this, it’s anyone’s guess what they’ll do next.’

‘It’s frightening.’

‘I know.’

The two women shivered simultaneously and Melody found herself nuzzling her silk enclosed face against that of Mia. ‘I’m glad you’re here,’ Melody said. There was a lump in her throat.

‘I’m glad you’re here,’ replied Mia. ‘God, we sound like two little girls.’

‘Being bound and gagged like this brings one very close to one’s inner feelings, doesn’t it?’ said Melody.

‘Best not to think about it,’ said Mia. ‘We’re not schoolgirls. We’ve already been through a lot. And we have options for escape that we did not have before. Let’s settle down and make ourselves as comfortable as we can. It’s going to be a long night.’

The snug fit of their bodies together, and the warmth and companionship that it gave, had a soothing effect on them both. The ropes were tight but the pain remained at the threshold of the bearable. Melody found herself drifting off to sleep, and Mia’s slow steady breathing, the gentle rise and fall of her chest against that of Melody, added to her confidence.

Both women napped in this way for perhaps two hours when they were rudely wakened by the sound ofthe van’s door sliding open, followed by a shift in the floor as one of their captors stepped in.

‘Had a good sleep ladies?’ asked Johnny Montague ironically. ‘Hold still,’ he added warningly, as Melody tried to jerk her head away from the hands she felt about her face. ‘It’s no use struggling.’ Melody guessed what was coming, and she rebelled against the whole idea of being gagged once more.

A band of cloth, probably the scarf that was used to gag her earlier, was drawn between her teeth. But this time it was tied outside, over the silk hood already occluding her. When it was tied off, Melody found that the simple gag with the thick silk of the hood in addition muffled any sound she might care to make. The silk was stretched uncomfortably tight across her nose and face, and her breathing became laboured. But it was a little better than having her mouth packed with cloth or bandaged in canvas as it had been before. A muffled sob from Mia told Melody that her friend was also being gagged, and probably in the same way. The sounds ceased, and Mia in her characteristic way became quiet and, perhaps, even calm.

They were left for several minutes, then there came the sound of the door once more being opened, and again the van rocked slightly on its springs as someone stepped in. Melody heard a faint mewing that continued unabated. It was distant, muffled to her ears by the silk covering them, but it was enough for her to guess that Jasmine Morris - the object of their voluntary captivity - was also being loaded into the van. She guessed that the girl was being placed more towards the back, as she and Mia must be occupying the centre of the floor.

The helpless women felt the van move off, negotiating several bumps in its progress from the warehouse entrance to the road. There followed a sense of gathering speed. We’re on our way, thought Melody. She wondered whether they were in reality bait to trap the gang. The way it felt was that they had succeeded in entrapping themselves instead. Bound again. Helpless, unable to move or call for help, unable to see. Melody felt her spirits sinking as the vehicle gathered momentum, taking them to an unknown destination and an unforeseeable fate.

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