Kristy struggled to free herself. Contrary to popular belief, handcuffs are not intended to keep a person restrained indefinitely. Rather, they are to allow an arresting officer to keep an arrestee under control. Still, she had a difficult time trying to free herself. Maybe if I just relax for a bit, it'll be easier, she thought.
She relaxed and started to think about what she could do to get out when her cell phone started ringing. Could it be Gomez wanting to tell her what he had found? If that were true, he would be coming along soon. Then it would be best to just sit back and wait. Any frantic squirming would make him overly cautious when he showed up.
Eventually, Gomez showed up. Kristy grunted to get his attention. Despite the fact she didn't show any anxiety, he approached her cautiously. "I didn't find anything there," he said as he unlocked the cuffs.
Once the ball gag was removed, Kristy took a deep breath and said "It's becoming apparent you weren't meant to."
The two weren't looking forward to filing the report on the incident. Kristy knew Captain Bowman would take a dim view of this. "This is not the image this department needs!" Bowman said as soon as he finished reading Kristy's report. "How will it look if the media finds out a tactical officer was found tied to a post with a kinky sex gag in her mouth? You'll have two weeks to think this out while you're suspended."
Bowman didn't dismiss her, but he picked up Gomez' report. That was all the cue Kristy needed. It wasn't until after she told Gomez about her suspension and left the building that she realized Bowman knew about the ball gag. Her report had not specified what type of gag was used.
Kelly was sympathetic, as were their parents. Still, it rankled Kristy. Like that night at the bar after Kelly passed the exam, Kristy was in a funk her twin couldn't fathom. "I'd like to help out, but Mister O'Malley and I have a meeting tomorrow?"
"Who with?" Kristy asked.
"Ted McNulty and his client. About all I know is that this client is a woman."
"Given McNulty's connection to that guy who stole the will, maybe I should go along."
"I don't see why you would want to do that."
"I don't actually have to be in the meeting. Rather, I stay close by and look out for trouble."
Kelly thought it over. "Considering what has been going on lately, it might be a good idea."
Kelly phoned O'Malley, who was in agreement. He was aware of what had been happening to the twins, so he thought it would be helpful if Kristy could keep an eye on the place to see if there was a problem. The two showed up at O'Malley's office. For the first time, Lucinda Johnson was able to see the twins together and get a careful look at them. "It's a good thing you don't dress the same," she said. "You'd look like seeing flipped images of the same person with Kelly's hair parted to the left and Kristy's part to the right."
It was almost time for McNulty and his client to show up. Kristy found a spot where she could observe and look like she belonged in the area. Soon, a limousine pulled up and two people emerged. The man she didn't recognize, but she believed him to be Ted McNulty. The woman she did recognize, as the TV news had mentioned The Contessa di Caesarini was in town. Why that constituted news was beyond Kristy's comprehension, but it was apparent the meeting was the reason why the Contessa had come.
McNulty and his client went into the building. They were soon ushered into O'Malley's office. Kelly was familiar the woman universally known as the Contessa. Born Gabrielle Dorn in Zurich, the daughter of a Swiss banker, later married to an Italian count much older than herself. No longer a trophy wife due to the Count's death in a skiing accident, the Contessa was best known as the leader of a cult worshipping the Roman goddess Juno, and drew frequent media attention for her denunciations of the Muslim religion.
"Let's get down to the business," McNulty said. "My client is interested in establishing her American headquarters in Chicago. You have a bit of property she believes to be suitable for the task."
"And what makes you think I might be interested in selling it?" O'Malley stated. "Unless you happen to know about a certain document that was stolen recently?"
"Don't be absurd. You've had time to draw up a new one."
"He's right," Kelly said. "Any will dated after the missing will supersede all others, provided it has clause saying so."
"Let us not waste more time discussing legal fine points," the Contessa said "Are you willing to sell the property?"
"I might," O'Malley said. "Buy not to anybody using him as an attorney."
"Are you suggesting I get a different representative?"
"I believe my client is saying no." Kelly said. She recalled Switzerland's three main languages before she continued. "I don't know how to say it in Italian, but I believe the French form is non and the German is nein."
"You have an insolent mouth, Signorina Flannigan," the Contessa said.
The meeting seemed to be slipping out of control. "We seem to be getting nowhere." McNulty said. "Perhaps we can discuss this some other time."
"I have nothing wrong with you, Ma'am," O'Malley said to the Contessa. "Perhaps with different representation we could more easily come to terms."
From there the meeting wound down. Once McNulty and his client were gone, Kelly sought out Kristy. After they discussed the meeting, Kelly realized Kristy hadn't seen the new office. "How about taking a look?" Kelly said.
The twins went to the office, which consisted of a reception area and two inner offices. "Are you thinking of taking in a partner?" Kristy said.
"I might," Kelly said. "Actually, the previous tenant had to vacate on short notice, so I got this place at a bargain price."
Abruptly, the door opened and three people with their faces obscured by balaclavas entered the office. They rushed at the twins, two on Kelly and one on Kristy. The biggest one pinned Kelly's arms to her side while the other stuffed a balled up scrap of cloth into her mouth. Kristy meanwhile seemed to be holding her own against her assailant who, if the body contours were anything to go by, was a woman.
Kelly's assailants had managed to tie her wrists behind her bag. The cloth in her mouth was held in place with another one. Her ankles were bound and she was carried out into the hallway, where something resembling a laundry basket awaited. She was blindfolded and set into the basket.