Industrial Espionage
by "Charles Spencer"
Part Four: Enter Fanny Hall
The hours went by; two miserable bodies shrugged and wriggled to get free. All that moved was their heads and fingers. Janey had always fancied herself as an escape artist ever since her previous boyfriend had tied her up one night for a drunken bet. She had soon got free from his amateurish knots. It had given her a thrill however so since then at odd times she had tied herself up and tried to get free. Most times she managed it very quickly. This was different. As much as she twisted and turned her hands she always found tight rope holding them firmly together. There was no slack at all and the gag filling her mouth made her short of breath all the time. She looked at Melanie but she had long ago ceased to try and get free and was hunched uncomfortably, crying her eyes out. She was a couple of years younger than Janey but Janey knew had joined for the romantic side not the hard slog. Now she knew different. Still Fanny must call the police sometime and then they would search the house and find them. Lord See would get his just reward and they would be free.
Back at the office Fanny paced the floor. Why oh why had she heard nothing from Melanie or Janey. She began to fear the worst. They had both been caught but now what to do about it. She doubted Lord See would call the police in. He didn’t work like that. Her investigations showed he worked in the shadowy land between criminal and legal, never too far over the line either side.
“I will have to go in and rescue them,” she came to the worrying conclusion, “ The Police won’t do anything against him without more proof than I’ve got. I had better wait till dark though. He is having that soiree tonight with those business visitors from the States. At least it will make it slightly easier and they may be off their guard a bit. I wonder if I can get in as an uninvited guest.” She closed the office and went home to change and prepare. Her research had been thorough, she knew all the guests names and background. She had no doubt that dressed to the nines she could get in as a girlfriend of one of the guests. She knew it would be that kind of party, no wives allowed. Girls provided for the guest who did not have ‘friends’.
Back at the See Mansion, Mellors also realised the dangers and moved both girls upstairs to a little used spare bedroom on the top floor. It used to be the servant's quarters he mused, so appropriate for these two. They will make nice servants. The room had a large old style wooden bed with wooden ends high off the ground and strong carved legs As the girls would now be closer together he tied them back to the bed legs. They looked like figure heads at the end of the bed. He used miles of rope around their bodies to weld them to the wood. Finally he placed a length of tape over their forehead and round the wood. They were each joined in uncomfortable silence to the bed and could never get enough movement to actually move such a heavy object around and create any noise. Mellors also knew no-one would come up here whilst the party was on. The guests would all try and use the bedroom made up on the lower floors.
The caterers arrived soon after and Mellors became very busy fussing around making sure everything was perfect. At the last minute he bumped into Lord See rushing down the hall.
“Ah Mellors do you know what Ms Hall looks like? No I didn’t either but I have been able to get this from a friend in the Police. She has to give her photo in to get an investigators license to use electronic spy tools. He faxed this down. Do keep your eyes peeled, there’s a good chap. She is bound to try and get in somehow.” He passed over a thin slip of paper, which had a fuzzy black and white picture of what was, undeniably, a very beautiful woman of probably mid thirties.
“Very good my Lord. I am certain I will find her. I took the liberty of asking my friend, Mr. Dover, over to keep check on the back doors. I suggested you would be happy to compensate him for his time. I trust this will not cause a problem.”
“ Ah the wonderful Ben Dover, no problem and make certain he has some refreshments whilst he is there, but no drink. Remember last time. Yes very good Mellors, I can see you’re on top form as always.” Muttering to himself he went off to ready himself in the drawing room.
Mellors took another look at the picture to fix it in his mind then moved back to give it to his friend lounging in the kitchen joshing with the waitresses.
“Ben. No larking around this is serious,” said Mellors taking him to one side." This woman must be caught if she tries to get in. Not sent back or refused entry. I want her in and kept safe out of sight and sound. She is good. Don’t mess up or I’ll have your guts, apish?”
“Ok John, no problem. For the money you’re paying I would imprison my own granny.”
7.30 came and the guests started to arrive. In their eyrie Janey and Melanie heard nothing and were left in their painful cocoon as the sweat ran down their bodies. Downstairs Mellors allowed a constant flow of people in through the front door. Loud large Texans in expensive tuxedos with over dressed over loud girls hanging on their arms. Some girls came separately and were able to choose their partner for the night. In the street outside Fanny waited her time. She knew the guest of honour would arrive on the dot of 8pm with his entourage and she hoped to get in then with the rush. These Arab’s always traveled with large numbers of officials and girls.
As her car clock clicked over to 8.00 a large Roll Royce limousine drew up followed by two Mercedes saloons and stopped just outside the house. Quickly she was out and sauntering down the road to mix with the crowd of people disgorged from the cars. The Rolls doors stayed closed until six large men had got out of the Mercedes’ and fanned out across the pavement, looking intently at all the passers by, some of whom stopped to watch the spectacle. Also getting out were four expensively dressed young women who chattered loudly giggling to each other as they waited. Fanny moved up to stand behind them as the door to the Rolls was opened and out stepped a stocky Arab. In full regalia, Sheik Abdulla, she mused and his entourage. Two more girls climbed out followed by a thin weedy looking man in an expensive ill-fitting suit and dandruff who clasped a briefcase under his arm.
The Sheik marched up to the door, which Mellors held open in greeting as the girls followed covered by the bodyguards. Fanny was glad she had overdressed for the occasion to change her appearance; a slinky tight black Lycra micro dress, black hold-up stockings and four inch black patent heels. She had blown her blonde wig into an overlarge halo around her face with ringlets cascading over her shoulders.
As she passed Mellors she nodded in greeting, no sense in ignoring him that would leave him suspicious. Soon they were congregated in the hall as Lord See in white dinner jacket came down the stairs to meet the Sheik.
“Your Highness. Welcome to my humble dwelling. Allah is indeed kind to us both that you can visit.”
“ How nice to see you Lord Peter,” the Sheik spoke in the clipped accent of British Public school and Sandhurst. “ I am honoured to receive your invitation. You have met my associate, Mr. Ward.” He pointed to the weedy looking man, who bobbed his head in greeting and clutched his briefcase tighter to his arm. “ He has some papers we need to run through sometime this evening.”
“ Of course Your Highness, come and have a drink first and meet the others then we can move off to my study in peace before dinner. I see you have brought some friends as well.” he turned to the girls,” Welcome ladies, come on through and enjoy yourselves. A drink awaits. Mellors please see to my guests.”
“At once my Lord. Please follow me your Highness, would you care for your usual aperitif?”
The party moved chattering to the drawing room where the other guests already were. Fanny dawdled to try and sneak away but was caught by a strong arm around her waist and Lord See’s voice at her side.
“Come my dear, I’ll take you on a guided tour later and you can see all my treasures, but first come and meet the others. You are....”
“Oh.... Melanie, my Lord. You have a wonderful house here. I was just admiring that watercolour over there. By Sisley isn’t it?”
“Indeed, you know your art. Yes I acquired that instead of a business debt just after the Gulf War. Some of my Arab partners were having trouble with cash flow and I had always admired it. There are four in all, the others are spread around upstairs.”
Skillfully he steered her into the room after the others whereupon Mellors appeared with a tray of champagne; she took one and looked around. No-one she knew luckily, but she had to get out and about the house soon to find the others.
The minutes rolled by and Fanny become more edgy; she was talking with some idiotic Texan who was boasting everything in Dallas was bigger and better than anywhere else when she noticed Lord See and the Sheik move towards the door. Now’s my chance she thought moving after them and leaving the Texan mid boast. She was so intent on following them out quietly she did not notice Mellors watching her, puzzled. He decided to follow her as she steeped into the hall and started towards the stairs.
So far so good thought Fanny as she moved down the landing whistling a tuneless note softly. It was the agreed signal for all her girls; if they heard it they would know she was outside and they could come out of hiding. She had forgotten Melanie’s comments about Janey being bound and gagged though, if she had thought about it they would not have been able to move or make a sound in response. Slowly she tiptoed along pausing at each door and listening for a response.
Nothing on the first floor so she travelled up to the top. In her haste she missed Mellors stalking her taking advantage of every doorway and alcove.
“Fewer rooms here, thank God,” she murmured to herself. As again she started her whistling. At the final door on the left she was about to give up when she heard a faint, very muffled sound which she immediately recognized as a gagged voice. (She had heard it often enough in her travels.) She tried the door and it opened noiselessly.
“My God, you two. What has happened? Are you OK? I’ll have you free in a jiffy. Where’s my penknife.” Her eyes took in the sight of her colleagues roped tightly to the bed legs, eyes agleam with relief. Their heads started to wave in unison, which she took for pleasure at their rescue until she stopped dead at the push in her back.
“You must be Ms Hall, I suspect.” The cultured voice of Mellors hissed in her right ear. “Do not move, no-one will hear this gun if I shoot you, it’s silenced but I will have to clear the blood. Put your hands up, fully, and turn round. Ah. Yes - that will do very nicely. Let’s go back to another room, this one is very crowded.”
She snatched a last look at the other two, Melanie had started to cry with the shock of first thinking she was rescued then finding her rescuer taken. Janey just seemed angry and was throwing herself about trying to get loose.
She shrugged her shoulders at them with apology and sauntered slowly form the room. She needed to get back control and wanted to lull Mellors into thinking she was compliant. Two doors down Mellors motioned for her to open the door and go into, what she realised was, another servants bedroom. The she spied the male clothes and realised it was Mellors own room.
“By the bed, ducky; keep those hands up and don’t move.” his accent dropped as he reached down to a Nike hold all by the bed head and reached in. Out came his hand with loops of soft white rope.
“Oh no, you’re not tying me up. No way. I demand you let my friends go and we will all get out without saying anything. Ok, now go and see your Boss. I am certain he won’t want you taking matters into your own hands.”
“Unfortunately, I still have the shooter, now shut it. See will agree with anything I do to you and your poxy friends. Now hands behind you and keep very still. I have a very short temper with snoopers like you.”
She turned quickly hoping to catch him unawares as her right arm came round in a Karate chop to his gun hand, only it wasn’t there. She realised with horror he was faster than her and very alive to her survival instincts. The momentum took her round and a push from him helped her to fall face down on the bed. Her wig fell off as she hit the bed.
“Ah you are Fanny Hall then, I am glad you decided to call.”
Quickly she tried to get up but too late; his weight was on her back and strong hands pulled her arms behind her. A sinking feeling rose inside her as she felt the hemp around her wrists, palm to palm. Round the rope went in loops then he pushed the ends between her wrists and wrapped a couple of cinches to tighten it all. He grunted as he pulled on the ends and she squealed as the rope bit into her soft skin. He tied it off above her hands out of reach and she found herself unable to pull her hands apart. Another length of rope cinched her elbows together with a further piece tied to the middle of that cinch, under her left armpit, around the back of her neck through her right armpit and back to the elbow rope. Tied tight this locked her upper arms close to her body, which he reinforced by winding the long end twice around her chest above her ample breasts. Now her arms were locked solid she found as he rolled her over.
He pushed her skirt to her waist illuminating her black satin knickers and bent her right leg back ankle to thigh. Miles of rope, or so it seemed to Fanny Locked it there. The same happened to her left leg. Reaching into his bag he drew out a red ball gag and, with much resistance, proceeded to prod and push it into her unhelpful mouth. As it plopped home;
“Hey cowboy what you doing to my gal then.” They both looked up startled at Fanny’s Texan standing in the doorway. Fanny tried rapidly to push the huge ball out with her tongue. Mellors turned and smiled thinly,
“I am sorry, Mr. Ewing, I am afraid his Lordship asked me to get her ready for his attention later. Did she give you the impression she would stay with you? I do beg your pardon but I’m afraid I am only following his orders. If you would care to wait downstairs I am certain I can introduce you to another fine lady for the evening. This one is a very special friend of his.”
“So sorry Mellors”, came the drawled reply, “ She never gave me any idea she was booked. I must obviously bow to my host’s choice. Still I like the way you prepare them. Can you do the same for me later.” he winked at Fanny and turned to leave, blowing her a kiss.
“With pleasure Sir, I know the very choice. She will be waiting for you after the meal; I will advise you when and where then. Now please forgive me I must finish this lady for His Lordship.”
He turned away as he heard the footsteps move of and started to buckle the leather strap on the gag behind her neck under her hair. He drew it very tight eliciting a strangled mewing from Fanny as her lips were drawn back in a grimace and her mouth gaped open around the ball. It pressed heavily down on her tongue and against the roof of her mouth. She had no movement of her tongue and could articulate no meaningful noises. Some noise did come out but a few lengths of black duct tape sealed her mouth from under her nose to her chin. All the noise she could now make was useless whistles through her nose. No one would hear her outside the room she realised with dread.
She was still lying uncomfortably on her back resting on her bound arms when she felt him attach a rope to her wrist ropes and pull it down between her legs to the end of the bed. He pulled and her back arched as her wrists went past her buttocks. She tried to scream but noting came out. The sheer pain and need for breath made any effort exhausting.
He left her there tied securely to his bed and absolutely silent and went in search of Lord See to report his good fortune. He found him coming out of the study with the Sheik. Leaning over he whispered in his ear, “ I have captured Ms Hall sir, She’s upstairs in my room. That’s all three now.” Lord See beamed and turned to the Sheik.
“I have some more presents for you later, your Highness. But first we must eat. Then I will show you.”
“Oh Goody, I do like present time, and so early before Christmas,” the Sheik beamed with childish spoilt delight. He knew the kind of presents Lord See offered.
Hours went by as the sounds of merriment drifted up the stairs in waves; in two room's three bodies tossed, turned and waved their heads in soundless, uncomfortable restraint. At last the guests started to leave with much gestures of pleasure. The Texan left with his friend whom Mellors had neatly tied up under her coat with her agreement. Finally only the sheik and his party were left.
Lord See led him up to the rooms on the top floor and opened the door to Mellors bedroom with a flourish.
“Ta Ra.., today’s special offer; the well known Private investigator and pain in the ass, Ms Fanny Hall.” She looked over her breasts and belly at the two heads nodding approval in the doorway.
“I will be glad to get her out of my sight. Do you think you can take them tonight, Sheik?"
“Oh yes dear man. No problem. I had already scheduled to fly out from Stanstead tomorrow morning early on my private plane. She really is wonderful and such a beauty.” he moved up to her and started to fondle her magnificent chest, as she tried vainly to crawl away.
“Did you say there were others or am I being greedy.”
“No of course not, there are two more both for you.” They moved down the hall and looked at Melanie and Janie still struggling against their bedposts.
“Oh very nice indeed. Ms Hall’s friends I presume.”
“Indeed, and I want them all out of my hair. She has been a pain in my side for some years. Hopefully, you will be able to help me out here.”
“Wonderful, we kill three birds with one stone and each get what we want. A marvellous business deal. I shall get my bodyguard to organise them for travel.”
Half an hour later the Sheik stood at the main doorway held open by Mellors saying his goodbyes. Next to him and held by the bodyguards were three Arab women dressed in traditional robes covering them from head to foot including the black veil so no man could gaze upon their faces. Under the robes were Fanny, Janie and Melanie; arms tied tightly behind their backs and firmly anchored by yards of rope to their bodies. Mouths stuffed to bursting with cotton cloth then taped over with lengths of duct tape going all-round their heads and over their hair. The tape had also been put around their eyes so they could not see where to run even if they could have got away.
All three had realised they would never see their homes again.
To be continued ?