CHAPTER 3
“… and she must have popped the strap on my holster when she fell against me that first time,” Deputy Amy Cole was saying. “Because when she came up after the second time she had my weapon in her hand.”
Even the glum expression could not change the delicate beauty of Amy’s face as she sat at the desk in the nurse’s small office. And despite being wrapped in a man’s raincoat several sizes too large for her, she still drew most of the stares of the curious male courthouse employees who gathered in the hallway outside the office. Deputies Barnes and Tyler tried to keep them away when they weren’t ogling her themselves. It might have been the fact that the raincoat kept falling open as Nurse Ruth Leeson applied first aid ointment to the handcuff bruises on Amy’s wrists. Ruth, though slender and attractive, was less endowed than the deputy was. She was also better covered by the spare uniform she kept in the office than Amy was by her panties and bra.
“Once she had that gun there wasn’t much we could do,” added Ruth, as she dabbed more cream onto the red mark on Amy’s wrist. “She made us undress and had us tied and gagged in no time.”
Deputy Harry Tyler turned his face to Charlie Barnes and raised his eyebrows. A civilian employee standing behind them nudged his neighbor and whistled almost soundlessly. If Sheriff Winchell noticed the reaction, he ignored it as his eyes swept the room.
“Both uniforms are gone. And you don’t know which one she was wearing when she left,” he said.
Amy shook her head as she pulled the raincoat closed again.
“She blindfolded us before she changed clothes.”
Sky Ryder had been looking intently around the room also.
“If that’s Ruth’s purse beside the desk,” he said, pointing, “then the only car she’d have had the keys for would be Amy’s. If that car is still here, she’ll have to be on foot and not too far from the courthouse.”
Winchell turned to Tyler.
“Harry, go see if Amy’s car is in the lot.”
Tyler picked his way through the crowd. Winchell turned to Sky.
“The only reason Amy’s working over here is because the county’s only female bailiff’s on vacation. The Johnson girl will be the only other woman in the county in a deputy’s uniform. We should be able to find her.”
“Unless she’s stolen a car, and maybe has the driver for a hostage,” noted Sky grimly.
“Where would she go?” asked Winchell.
Ruth Leeson looked up from her work.
“To get the person who really took that money,” she said.
Sky Ryder put a hand to his chin. His eyes narrowed in thought. And he didn’t like the thought that had just occurred to him.
John Wilberforce edged away from the door of the nurse’s office. On his way back to the bank he had been drawn to the courthouse by the stream of the curious. Now he went upstairs to the main level to the pay phones.
Marie Sanders sat at her desk in Wilberforce’s office. Her long, shapely legs were crossed as she worked on a small snag in her nylons. The phone rang. She reached for it on the fifth ring.
“Mr. Wilberforce’s office.”
“Marie, it’s me. Listen. The Johnson girl’s escaped from jail. Somehow she tied up that female deputy and a nurse and escaped. And she told them that she’s going to get the person who took the money.”
Marie was stunned for a moment.
“You think she knows it was you? Or us?”
“She’s got to suspect I had something to do with it. I want you to get out of there. She might get in the bank somehow and come after us. But be careful going home. She took their uniforms and could be disguised.”
“All right, Honey. Come over after the girls go to work.”
“I don’t know if I can.” Marie could imagine him mopping his brow again. “I’ll have to come up with something to tell Dora.”
Marie’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“You’re very good at that, Johnny. I’m sure you’ll think of something. But thanks for the warning.”
Marie hung up the phone. Yes, she would get out of there. But there were a couple little things to do first.
Though she had no destination in mind, Copper decided to put plenty of distance between them and Marie’s apartment. She took the quickest way to the main highway and headed away from town.
“What now?” she asked Sherry.
The woman did not answer for a moment. She was resting her elbow on the edge of the open window, her forehead in her hand. For all the daring and outward toughness she had shown in the past couple hours, Sherry looked very tired and uncertain now.
“I don’t really know, Copper,” she said wearily. “But I just know that I have to make Mr. Wilberforce or Marie talk if I’m ever going to clear myself. But I don’t even know how to find them right now.”
Copper looked closely at her friend.
“I think you could use some rest and some food. It’ll probably be easier to think after that.”
Sherry nodded.
“And the only place we can safely go is the Flying Coronet.”
Sherry looked at Copper.
“But if anybody sees you with me, you’ll be in big trouble! We don’t even know if anyone’s seen us together already. I don’t want you to be arrested for helping me.”
Copper laid a hand on Sherry’s.
“You’re my friend, and I’m going to help you,” she said firmly. Then she laughed. “You can always leave me tied up and gagged to convince everybody you’re a dangerous criminal.”
Sherry laughed too.
“I guess I might have to.”
Copper reached for the radio knob and tuned to the local station.
“Let’s see if you’re the biggest news in town.”
Marie Sanders drove warily through the parking lot of her apartment building. She saw no sign of anything amiss. The patio doors were standing open, as Rita always left them when she was sunbathing and going in and out. Old Mr. Higgins across the way was on his patio, attending to his wife’s flowerpots with a watering can. He looked up and broke into a wide smile as she pulled the car into a space right in front of him.
“Howdy, neighbor!” he called.
Marie was in no mood for being eyed wistfully or engaging in a long chat with the old man. What he said next surprised her.
“I hope you and the girls aren’t in too much trouble!”
Though startled and slightly alarmed, she fell easily into the coyly flirtatious manner she used with him.
“What trouble could we be in with you keeping such a good eye on us, Mr. Higgins?”
He set down the can and wiped his forehead with the back of his bare arm.
“I don’t rightly know what it was, but that lady deputy went into your place an hour or so ago, and your friends haven’t been out since.”
Marie looked at her own patio. No one had come out yet.
“And the funny thing is,” continued Higgins, “the lady deputy didn’t seem to have a police car. I didn’t see one out here when she went in, and when she came out she and a cute little blonde got into the station wagon that belongs to that feller that flies all the time. You know, Sky Ryder.”
It certainly was interesting news. However it did not seem interesting enough for Higgins to take his eyes from Marie’s cleavage.
“Well, I’m sure it’s not serious trouble, Mr. Higgins. I’ll have a talk with Rita and Liz, and if they’ve been bad maybe you can come over and scold us all for being such naughty girls. I’ll even have Liz wear that outfit you like so much. How ‘bout it, Mr. Higgins?”
Higgins appeared to be on the verge of a stroke.
“You can call me Clarence.”
She smiled and wrinkled up her nose at him.
“Okay, Clarence. Bye now.”
Once she turned around, the ‘come hither’ look and attitude were gone. She strode purposefully and watchfully to the patio. When she reached it, she turned back to Higgins. He was still watching her. She gave him a little wave. He started to raise his hand to wave back when Mrs. Higgins stepped out onto their patio. He quickly resumed his watering.
“Almost got caught, you old letch,” she thought, turning back to her own apartment.
Taking a step inside she stopped, looked, and listened.
Rita Everett stopped to rest for a moment. After a half-hour’s fruitless struggles trying to free herself, she had put a new plan into action. The woman in the uniform had left both her and Liz lying on their right sides on the bed. Rita had rolled herself over onto her left now. She had also managed to work her way back to her roommate until she was able to reach Liz’s bound hands, despite the difficulty in getting Liz to understand that they had to draw up their hog-tied feet to get their hands close enough to touch. Rita had seen television and movie depictions of gagged women unable to make the smallest sounds because of handkerchiefs bound across their mouths and had seen them for the fakes they were. But the gags the woman had applied to her and Liz were no fakes. Having one’s mouth packed with underpants made communication very difficult, especially to a fellow prisoner no brighter than Liz.
But now even Liz seemed to realize what Rita was up to. The redhead inched back. Her fingers felt for the bands around Liz’s wrists and searched for the knots. She found them! Now, with a little luck and effort, they would be free in a few minutes, even if Rita broke a nail or two.
Marie looked down at the two women on the bed. She had followed the sounds of muffled female exertion very quietly and had found her helpless roommates. Instead of the fear Sherry had hoped to instill in her, Marie was highly amused to see the two nearly naked and tightly trussed beauties. She was sick of Rita’s airs about being the most popular dancer at the club. Her body was no better than Marie’s, her breasts were less impressive than Liz’s were, and her dancing was amateurish. And Liz was just an attractive, shapely though slightly fleshy waitress who counted on a skimpy costume to attract someone to pay the bills. The bimbos deserved it! But Rita was working at getting them free and might, in time, succeed. Marie had an idea.
She slipped out of the room to return a moment later with a roll of wide silver tape. She playfully reached down and slapped Rita’s probing fingers away from the knots on Liz’s wrist bindings. Rita squealed in surprise and protest, and both women began to mew into their gags, demanding to be freed. Marie peeled off some tape and wound up Rita’s fingers to keep her from working on the bonds. The dancer moaned and shook her head. Despite their feeble struggles, Marie immobilized their fingers, then plastered more tape over their gags. As a parting shot, she rolled the bikini bottom off Rita’s firm buttocks and gave her three hard smacks with the flat of her hand, then did the same to Liz’s more padded behind. Smiling wickedly, she left the writhing and protesting captives.
She made a quick stop in her own room. From a hollowed out place in a large book, she took a gleaming .25 caliber automatic pistol and stuffed it in her handbag. Without a backward look she left the apartment through the patio doors.
Sky Ryder, a passenger in the Sheriff’s car, noted a blonde woman in a sporty car going in the opposite direction as they approached the apartments. He tried to see if it was Marie at the wheel, but there was a truck loaded with hay bales stopped in the outer lane on her side of the road and it blocked his view at the critical moment. Winchell, at the wheel, had not noticed, and Sky was not sure it was Marie.
“This is the place,” said Winchell, pointing to the apartment entrance. He swung the patrol car into the parking lot. “I sure hope you’re wrong about Copper being with the Johnson girl.”
Sky looked worried.
“With no other cars gone and Copper missing at the same time, it seems a logical deduction.”
“Well, if it’s true, we’ll go on the official theory that Copper’s a hostage, not an accessory. I’m sorry that it took so much time to get Marie Sanders’ address.”
Sky was watching the building numbers intently. He pointed.
“Down there, Winch!”
Winchell pulled the patrol car into a parking space near Marie’s unit. A second Sheriff’s car parked a few spaces away, and Deputies Barnes and Tyler got out. Winchell ordered them to check with the neighboring units while he and Sky went to the front door and rang the buzzer. They waited for a minute or so then rang again. No one answered. Sky noticed the open patio door.
“I don’t think they’d go off and leave the patio open.”
“There might be trouble here,” Winchell said, loosening his holster strap.
The two men cautiously entered the apartment through the patio.
John Wilberforce drained his drink and beckoned the bartender to pour another. Though a veteran of many cocktail parties, the banker seldom touched alcohol during business hours. The events of this day had him edge. It had been difficult enough to sit through the trial and watch his former secretary be convicted of embezzlement. What a lovely girl she was. It was too bad that she had rejected him, since he really would have left Dora for her had she been agreeable. And in a fit of anger he had let that minx Marie talk him into planting money on her instead of one of the other bank officers.
He sipped from his new drink. Now Sherry had escaped, hoping to get the real thieves to talk, and there was little doubt about whom she’d suspect. He reached for some nuts in the bowl on the bar. He chuckled as he chewed. Yes, he’d like to see Sherry get her hands on Marie. But, no, that wouldn’t work. Sherry was no match for Marie. Still, she’s shown a lot of strength to get that woman deputy’s gun and tie her up to get away from the courthouse.
He took another sip and checked his watch. Dora would be coming home from her bridge game. He didn’t want to see her. This whole business was coming apart somehow, and he knew there was only one way out. Leaving the rest of his drink on the bar, he left a good tip and headed out to the parking lot.
Sky Ryder and Sheriff Winchell stood outside the apartment of Marie and the others. A doctor, a nurse, and the two ambulance attendants had taken over inside. A crowd had gathered, including a reporter for the Kermit paper. A couple more of Winchell’s deputies were busy keeping everyone back.
“Well, Sky, your hunch about where Sherry’d go first was a good one. I hope you can look into your crystal ball and tell me what she’ll do now.”
Sky smiled ruefully and shrugged.
“I don’t think she’s fool enough to into town and try to search the bank for Marie, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Deputy Tyler called to the sheriff. He and Sky walked across the parking lot to where Tyler stood with one of the neighbors.
“Sheriff,” said Tyler, “I think you ought to hear what this fellow saw.”
The neighbor was Clarence Higgins.
“More, Sherry?”
Sherry Johnson had changed from the stolen deputy’s uniform to a pair of Copper’s jeans and a plain light blue shirt. She looked down at her nearly empty plate and set down her fork.
“I couldn’t eat another bite, Copper.”
Copper crossed from the stove to the table. She carried a pot of spaghetti noodles and a large serving spoon.
“There’s plenty of sauce left too. It’s been a long day, and you didn’t have any lunch.”
Sherry held up a hand. Copper smiled sheepishly.
“I’m sorry that spaghetti’s about the only thing I make real well.”
Sherry smiled back.
“It was a lot better than the food in jail.”
Copper returned with the coffeepot and poured some into Sherry’s cup.
“You just relax while I get things cleaned up. Then we can decide what to do next.”
Copper turned on the radio on the counter and busied herself storing leftovers and rinsing pans. As she worked, they discussed how to proceed now that Marie was aware of Sherry’s suspicions. They had not gotten very far when they heard the news flash. They had heard the reports of Sherry’s escape on the drive out to the ranch, but this bulletin contained a new detail.
“…Miss Johnson was seen getting into a car driven by a local resident. The Sheriff’s Department is working under the assumption that the resident has been taken hostage by Miss Johnson.”
The two young women looked at one another as the report droned on.
“Somebody saw you!” groaned Sherry. “I just knew you’d be in trouble if you helped me!”
Copper tried to keep her head.
“And what’s worse, they may come out here to search! We’ve got to act fast.”
She opened a closet and grabbed several items.
“What’re you doing?” asked Sherry.
“Don’t ask questions! Just go to my room and wait for me there.”
Sherry went back to Copper’s room. Amy Cole’s uniform lay on the bed. The young brunette paced the room a few times until Copper bustled in. In the blonde’s arms were a large amount of rope and a roll of tape, and in one hand she held a sharp knife. She ordered Sherry to move the deputy’s uniform from the bed to the back of the chair of Copper’s kneehole vanity. As Sherry draped the uniform over the chair back, Copper dropped the rope onto the bed. She took up a piece, measured it, and used the knife to cut it into several pieces.
“What’re you doing?” asked Sherry.
“You remember what we talked about?” said Copper, picking up and cutting another length. “About you leaving me tied up and gagged? Well that’s what you’re going to do.”
Sherry stared at her, uncomprehending.
“That way, you keep the reputation of being a dangerous fugitive and I can help you by looking for Marie out in the open. I’ll be able to go places that you can’t. You can keep in touch with me and I can tell you what I’ve found out.”
Sherry thought a minute.
“That’s not bad, Copper. It might work. They must have seen your station wagon, so I’ll have to get another car.”
“Of course it’ll work,” Copper said triumphantly. “You just stay out of sight tonight. I’ll find out where Marie is. Call me here at the ranch tomorrow around noon and I’ll let you know. But first---”
The girl took the knife she had been using and put it in Sherry’s hand, pressing her friend’s fingers around the handle.
“What’s that for?” asked Sherry.
“You’ve got to be the one who used the knife to cut these ropes.”
Sherry looked at Copper dubiously.
“You really think I should tie you up?”
“Yeah, and you’d better do a really good job. Sky’s got some kind of radar about spotting something phony, and he’ll be the one to find me. Wait a second.”
The girl unbuttoned her dress, slipped it off her shoulders, then stepped out of it. She took it over to the vanity chair, lifted the uniform, and carefully slipped the dress under it. Sherry was watching her quizzically.
“You got dressed after undressing me. That’s one of the things Sky’d spot.”
Copper took off her shoes. She stood before Sherry in bra, panties, garters and stockings. Turning her back to Sherry, Copper crossed her wrists behind her.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Sherry took one of the short cords and went to work binding Copper’s wrists. Copper turned to look over her shoulder. She gave a coquettish look.
“You’ll never get away with this, you know.”
Sherry had to laugh.
“I’d almost think you liked this.”
“Well, after being bound and gagged by bank robbers, enemy spies, escaped prisoners, and crooks of all kinds, it’ll be nice to be tied up knowing I’m safe.”
Sherry finished with Copper’s hands.
“Oh. It’ll have to be tighter than that, Sherry! Sky’ll know in a minute.”
Though the dusk was coming on fast, Marie Sanders did not turn on her car lights. The Ryder ranch house was in open country where lights could be seen for a long distance. Not too far from the front gate was a stand of trees at the edge of the road. Marie pulled the car there and shut off the engine. She could see the station wagon parked at the front gate. It would just be a matter of watching.
Sherry finished binding Copper’s ankles together by making a seize, a couple loops between the girl’s feet at right angles to the main ropes.
“How’s that?” she asked.
Copper, seated on her bed, looked down at her feet and wiggled experimentally.
“Very good. Now do my knees the same way.”
“I forget,” said Sherry passing a rope around Copper’s legs just above the knee. “Why did I have you undress before I tied you?”
Copper wrinkled an eyebrow in thought.
“Well, when I pleaded with you to give up and reminded you we were friends, you got mad and did it to show me that you have no friends anymore. Or something like that. Make sure that knot is tight.”
Sherry made sure the knot was secure. She took some long lengths of cord and circled them around her friend’s body above and below her breasts and at the waist. The girl’s bound wrists were now pressed against her bottom.
“Ooh, that’s good!” said Copper with a grin. “I look and feel like I’ve really been tied up by a desperate character. Now help me onto the bed.”
“I hope Sky believes this,” said Sherry. “Otherwise that woman deputy might put the cuffs on you and haul you off to jail.”
Sherry picked up Copper’s feet and, as the blonde fell onto her back, swung them up to the surface of the bed. Copper rolled over onto her belly while Sherry picked up another length of rope. By the time Sherry had stood up again, Copper’s legs were bent back awaiting connection of bound feet to the body loops. Sherry obliged by completing the hogtie.
“Comfy?” Sherry asked, still somewhat nonplussed by the enthusiastic cooperation of her “victim.”
“Great! This ought to fool everybody. But you really should gag and blindfold me too. That way nobody can blame me for not trying to get to the phone or the radio. There are some scarves in the top drawer you can use. And put some tape over my mouth after the scarves.”
Sherry wadded one scarf into a ball and knotted the wad in the center of a band she made from the other. As she worked, Copper gave her final instructions.
“The keys to the station wagon are on the kitchen table. Take it, but remember that they’ll be looking for it. You’ll have to get yourself another car as soon as you can. Remember; call the ranch at noon tomorrow. I’ll try to find Marie for you, and we’ll set a trap for her.”
Sherry held up the gag wad.
“All ready.” She smiled as she regarded her bound friend and added: “There aren’t many people who’d do this for a friend, Copper. I really appreciate all your help.”
Copper grinned.
“Just gag me, you brute. And good luck.”
Sherry grinned as Copper opened her mouth to take the gag. Sherry gently tucked the wad inside, then tied the scarf ends behind the girl’s head. A few strips of tape over the packing completed the effect. After checking her friend’s breathing, Sherry used another scarf to blindfold the girl.
“You look like you’ve had a run in with every outlaw in the old West!” Sherry exclaimed, as she looked Copper over. “You sure you’ll be all right?”
Copper nodded then wagged her head toward the front door. She said something into her gag, obviously urging her friend to leave. Sherry bent down and kissed Copper on the cheek before she left.
In the gathering darkness, Marie saw the figure in jeans come out the front door and get into the station wagon.
“Well, Miss Ryder, I wonder where you’re off to?” she said to herself as the car drove away. “I think I’ll pay a visit to your little friend. Maybe I’ll even get a reward for bringing her in.”