Jennings glanced at his watch, and could still see no sign of the Japanese woman returning. Something must have happened to her, he thought grimly. Better go and find out.
He glanced around to see if he was being watched, by any of the crew. So far, nobody seemed to be watching him, which was good. He'd done this sort of thing many times before. Sneaking into an enemy stronghold, getting the job done, and extracting safely out, without the enemy knowing he was ever there. It had worked very well for him, on his tours of duty.
He left the stern, and headed into the ship, still keeping a wary eye open. There were CCTV all over the place, and he made sure he avoided their aim. He was heading for the Captains Quarters, the passengers manifest should be there. That would tell him where the girl's cabin was located.
He checked out the crew's movements as he neared his objective. Grimly, he realised that the Captain's room was too well guarded. There had to be another alternative. Jennings quietly withdrew unseen. He went back to his own cabin, and sat on the bed, thinking. He glanced around the room, noted it was more than comfortable, and there was plenty of space to use.
There were built in cupboards that drew his attention. He opened one up, and glanced inside. Space was indeed plenty, but somehow, he wanted to try something. Jennings knocked on the cupboards wall, and sure enough, it sounded hollow. He checked for any hidden lever, or catches, and he found one. The wall moved, and he found himself staring into next door's cabin. Fortunately, it was empty, so there was no need for any polite excuses.
He put the wall back, and moved back into his cabin. Then, somebody knocked on his door. 'Come in, 'he called. He was suprised to see a young, pretty Thai girl enter. She smiled at his suprised face. What was also suprising, was that she wore the white uniform of the ship.
'Mr Jennings?'she asked.
For a moment, he didn't respond. *How many gorgeous girls were on this ship?* he almost thought out aloud. Then, he pulled himself back to reality.
'Yes, Miss. Can I help you?'
The girl introduced herself, but her name totally baffled him. She noticed that, and then told him, 'I have a few english friends. They call me Su, is that okay with you?'
Her English was excellent, and he smiled back. He felt totally ashamed of himself, that he didn't know any of her language. However, he asked again, 'Can I help you?'
Su brushed her long silky raven hair back from her face, and handed a piece of paper over. Jennings took it, and was still suprised, as he read a signal from his own HQ. He glanced curiously at her.
'How did you get this?'
Su smiled shyly, 'My real credentials are with Thai Internal Security. We offered your people assistance, as back up, should anything go wrong. '
Jennings raised an eyebrow at that, if this was true, then surely, he would have been briefed. He decided to play along, and watch things develop.
'That's a bit unusual, 'he admitted, 'but of course, if you'd like to help, I'd be happy to accept it. '
She could still see the sceptism on his face, and then insisted, 'Let me prove it to you. What can I do for you?'
Jennings thought for a moment, then nodded slowly, 'Okay, I have something for you. You know this ship's layout well?'
Su grinned, 'I've been on the Eastern Paradise for several months, so yes. '
Jennings then told her what he wanted her to do. 'I need you to find the passenger manifest for me, there's a young Japanese woman, her name is Kieko Yamamoto. I need to know which cabin she's in. Can you do that for me?'
Su nodded eagerly, she really wanted this man to trust her, and hopefully convince Jennings, that she was on the right side. Su handed him a walkie talkie, she showed her own.
'I'll contact you as soon as I get it. I have to get the information from the Captain's private room. '
Jennings nodded, 'I'll be waiting. '
Then, she left him. Su confidently made her way up to the bridge, the regular bridge crew hardly glanced at her, Su knew that they knew her face. Even so, she desperately tried to avoid the senior officers, especially Captain Liu, and his ominous colleague, Yee. However, in this scenario, Su had to accept this risk to prove her loyalty to the Englishman. She knocked respectfully on the door, and waited for Liu's voice to allow her entry. There was no reply. Su decided to take a chance, as she opened the door. Nobody challenged her, must be too busy, she was relieved at that. Sure enough, the room was empty. Su went to work quickly, she couldn't stay here too long. The passenger manifest was found easily enough, she read through, searching for the Japanese girl's name. Finally, she found the Yamamoto name, she took her walkie talkie, and spoke into it.
'I have found her, cabin 240, third deck. Have you got that?'
Jennings answered promptly, 'On my way, you'd better get out of there. '
Then, he was gone, already on his way. With a sigh of relief, Su put the manifest back, and was just about to turn and leave, when she froze in horror. Captain Liu, and Madam Chen closed the door, sealing her in. She was trapped!
'Thank you, my dear. ' Liu was glad the girl had been lured in, 'that should start things up very nicely indeed. '
Su realised she still had the walkie-talkie, maybe she could get a warning to Jennings. She raised the device , but her heart jumped, as Madam Chen suddenly produced a gun, and she held it unwaveringly at the pretty Thai woman.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you, my dear, 'Madam Chen smiled, eager to get started with the ropes on the girl. 'You can leave a message on it, but only when we tell you. 'She raised her free arm, and ordered, 'Hand it over. '
Helpless, Su had to obey, as soon as the walkie-talkie was taken from her, Madam Chen gave it to Liu, and promptly siezed Su's arms behind her. The girl gasped in shock at the Chinese woman's tight grip. Escape was impossible, as Su felt her wrists being crossed behind her back, then she felt rope being lashed around them. Su's expression was getting more frightened, as she felt the ropes tighten. Madam Chen made sure the knots were secure, and was satisfied to hear the girl grunt with pain, as she cinched the final coil.
Su then saw her ankles getting tied together, she gave a pleading look at Liu, who was merely enjoying her being trussed up.
'Please! Let me go!'
Liu and Madam Chen exchanged cunning, wolfish looks, but he did respond, 'No, my dear. We're going to keep you. A very pretty girl like you, is always much appreciated by our clients. You'll be amazed by our collection we have below, and you'll be joining them, very soon. '
Horrified, Su now knew, that her own briefing, had proved true. She was now their latest captive, it looked really bad for her. Just then, she remembered Jennings, and told them, still in a slightly shaky voice, 'You won't succeed. I have friends, he'll come for me. '
This made her captors smile even more, Liu grinned back, 'Believe it or not, my dear, I know he will, and we are all looking forward to it.' He then ordered, 'Gag her. '
Su just had time to yelp, 'No! Plea-mmmff!'before Madam Chen ruthlessly stuffed her favourite balled up cloths into Su's mouth. The Thai girl desperately tried to force it back out, but the Chinese woman kept her hand firmly sealed over her mouth.
'Fiesty, aren't you, my pretty?' she sneered. She tightened her grip on the girl, and her voice warned Su menacingly, 'Don't struggle, or you really will suffer!'
With a faint mumble of despair, Su did stop. Madam Chen made sure the cloth filled the girl's mouth, and was satisfied, the tongue was now useless. She then used another large, generous portion of black duct tape, to cover Su's mouth. Making sure it wouldn't peel off, she expertly pressed it in. Su's protests were hardly heard at all. Her eyes wide over the tape, Madam Chen chuckled, as she grabbed Su closer to her.
'We've only just begun, my dear. 'She showed Su more coils of the strong, white rope, that had been used on her, 'You're going to be so tightly tied up, that this is just the start for you. Many of our clients have an eager passion for tying up their slaves. '
She then started to wind the first of many loops over Su's upper body.
'Who knows? You may even enjoy it, whoever decides to buy you. '
This filled Su full of dread, a helpless kidnap victim, to be sold into slavery. She just hoped Jennings would notice that she'd been taken. She moaned faintly through the gag, as Madam Chen finished tying the ropes over, and under her chest.
'I'll take her below, 'the woman told Liu, and to Su's astonishment, easily picked her up, and placed her over the shoulder. Su was still mumbling feebly, but the gag was highly effective.
She felt herself being taken into some sort of lift, she also heard Liu's voice call after her, 'I shall see you very soon, my dear. I won't wait long to sample the goods. '
The lift doors sealed Su's muted cries shut.
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