Chapter Two
In no particular order, there were several customers Tommy Denton liked to see walk into his mother's diner.
Eve Regis was one. With her brown hair flipped at the ends, her long legs in a dress, or in pants like they were now, and a shirt that showed her torso even more so. She wasn't stacked like her friend Christy Grace was. He ranked Christy just below his fellow employee at the diner, Rosie Branson, as having the VA VA VA voom in the upper body.
But Miss Regis, she had the right set of eyes, and nice teeth, and her face was friendly and just like something off the cover of True Man, or For Men Only. Not really tough looking but confident. And she tipped well. Wish she had worn a dress this evening, he really dug her gams.
"Hi Tommy how's it going," she said to him as he walked past on the way to bus a table.
"Slow, hey where's Christy, Miss Grace I mean?"
"Probably laying around taking it easy this evening. I think we'll come in for lunch tomorrow, you know what the special will be?"
"Not for sure, Hey Rosie you got a customer," he said.
"I hear you. I saw you Miss Regis, I was hoping Tommy would wipe off your table while he was over here gabbing," said Rosie. She brought Eve a glass of water and got out her pad and pen to take an order.
"He's working hard," said Eve. "What's the special tonight?"
While Rosie rattled it off, Eve looked at the young waitress. Thick red hair and an upturned nose. A mass of freckles that gave her a tomboyish look. From the neck down that changed. Her starched white waitress outfit seemed a size or two too small. She wondered if Sara Denton had mentioned it to Rosie. She probably thought the miners and farmers; truck drivers and travelers who stopped in at Denton's Diner enjoyed the sight of the ripe young girl. Rosie was eighteen, and still held some baby fat, but not enough to wipe out the curves that showed up with the tight white top and skirt. Her legs were bare from the knee to the ankle where white socks and shoes took over. She had firm calves from riding her bike to work and back.
She took Eve's order and then Eve settled back and sipped the glass of water. She heard the bell above the entrance door. Two women walked in.
One was tall with black hair. The other slighter shorter then the first, with blond hair in a mass of tight curls around her head. Tommy checked them out. The one with black hair had a Jane Russell chest, no doubt about it. She looked disappointed she had to come into this joint.
The curly headed blonde was smiling, but like someone smiles at you when inside his or her head they are saying, "Hello Sucker." He still liked her looks, her dress fit snug, she had nice pins, from what he could see. He hoped when she sat down she'd cross her legs, maybe let her dress ride higher above her knee.
Eve watched them walk towards her. The blonde said to her.
"Good evening Miss Regis, I'm Linda Beck and this is my business partner Tina Jauron. We spoke on the phone two days ago, about me wanting to hire you and your helicopter."
Eve put the voice to the face. "Yes I remember. I'm having a late dinner, care to join me?"
"We can have coffee I guess," said Linda.
Tommy was keeping an eye on the trio. The blonde slid quickly into the booth opposite Eve, the black haired one with the big breasts sat on the outside, looking around like she expected to be bothered. Rosie came over with her pad and pen.
"What can I get you?"
"Two coffees, no cream," said Tina. "Say Red you and I have the same problem, fifty pounds of boobs in a ten pound sack."
Rosie's face reddened under her freckles. "I don't see how?"
"Well think about it, some fella in here eating his mash potatoes and one of your breasts pops through your shirt and hits em in the eye. Up goes your tip."
"I'll get your coffees," said Rosie and left.
"You always talk silly to highschool kids?" asked Eve.
"Someone's got to tell the kid. She looks like the choicest kind of jail bait, puts pressure on the men and boys that come in here to eat I bet," said Tina.
"She's eighteen and one of the smartest girls in school. She works hard and can't help it she was born with those looks," said Eve. "And some people can't help being born with a little less brains then the rest."
"You mean me?" said Tina.
"Now that you mention it."
"Please Miss Regis I apologize for Tina, she's had a rough day wrestling around with some work I had her do a while ago. Can I call you Eve?" asked Linda.
"What ever, why are we talking?"
Rosie brought the coffees and quickly left.
"On the phone you said it was impossible to hire out your copter for the job I needed."
"Yes. The Air Force doesn't allow private flights over the area you mentioned. I take phone company people on flights to check their lines, same with the Power Company. And I take a fair share of surveyors for the local mining companies. None of them could fly in the area you mentioned."
"A night flight, with extra money involved. The Air Force doesn't check that much, say a person flying low to the ground, under radar I guess they call it," said Linda.
"That's a big risk. I plan to live around here for quite a while. I like Utah, it's quiet."
"Where you from?"
"New York City. Joined the Army during the war and got in the Army Air Corps. I make a decent living out here," said Eve.
"Ah yes living. We live and we die don't we Eve. Tina do you have that cap on you?"
Tina opened her purse and next to her coffee cup gently laid a black leather cap on the table.
Linda said," you recognize that Eve?"
Eve picked it up. "Yes I do, a friend of mine was wearing one like it earlier today."
"Christy Grace? She rides an Indian motorcycle, and what, she had on black leather pants and a jacket. Is that what she had on Tina?"
"She was wearing it when I left her. Hope the guys didn't think she'd be better off out of it," said Tina.
"What is this? Have you done something with Christy?"
"Now who's born with less brains? You're thinking awful slow Eve," said Tina.
"Here comes your food Eve," said Linda. "You sit and eat that, then we'll leave and talk over our plans."
Rosie set out the meatloaf, mash potatoes, and green beans, and the glass of ice tea, and left without saying anything.
"Don't hurry, but really we need to get going before the guys think your blond friend would look better without those leather pants on," said Tina.
***
Christy still had her clothes on. Her arms and legs didn't work when they pulled her from the truck. Even with the ropes off she just could flop around on the hard floor, looking at the ceiling high above. One end of the broomstick tied across her mouth scrapped along the concrete floor as she shifted her head.
Some feeling was coming back to her limbs. She tried to reach up and take the gag from her mouth. She couldn't do it, yet.
"Got it rough do you doll? Here let me take that off."
It was the guy who had twisted the knife from her. He grabbed the back of her collar with one hand and under her right arm with the other and pulled her up. He fiddled behind her head and Christy felt the wood leave the top of her tongue.
"Get her a chair Spec."
When he let loose she almost fell, but staggered upright. The Spec guy scooted a wooden splat-back chair near her and the one guy sat her in it. Then a tin cup with a handle was stuck in her face, Christy grabbed it and drank. It was water, nice and cold. Things taste better when you think any moment you might die.
"How you feel?"
"I've been lots better. Now you tell me what this is about."
"Oh not yet, don't worry your pretty head about that. All things in good time."
"Can I get some more water?"
"Sure thing, Spec can you bring some over? And I guess we better get something to help her stay in one spot. Don't want to tempt you to run off, wouldn't work out for you."
Christy waited; the other guy came back with the tin cup and a metal pail. Whatever was in the pail rattled when it was placed down. Christy drank more water.
"This will do the trick Olin, you want to do it or should I?"
So Olin is the guy who flipped and took the knife away from me. You take six inches in height off a pro wrestler but keep the bulk and that's what this Olin mug looks like. Well Christy knew she could not fight him bare handed, so she didn't make a move when the one he called Spec pulled chains out of the pail.
"Got some padlocks we can link them together with," said Spec. He kneeled before Christy like he was working in a shoe store and crossed her ankles. He wrapped a length around them five times, then snapped a padlock through the links. The chain wasn't thick, more like the type you use on a dog leash. And the locks were small, Christy could snap either with a metal rod and some twisting. But she wouldn't do it with her legs alone. Or her arms as he pulled them behind the chair and looped chain around her forearms and locked them up. He did two turns around her wrists, then ran that chain under the chair and locked it to her ankles. He put a chain around her waist and fixed that behind her, he was out of fetters after that one.
"That good enough for you?" said Spec.
"You talking to me?" said Christy.
"He's asking me," said Olin. "She's a tiger but that will hold her. What's a pretty girl like you doing pulling a knife on people?"
"It seemed the right thing to do. Where's my bike?"
"I think I already have a buyer for it," said Spec.
"What!?"
"Oh no he doesn't mean that. Soon as your pilot friend gives us a hand we'll get that Roadmaster back to you. You can ride off into the sunset or where ever. Ain't that right."
"Sure sure," said Spec, not sounding sure at all.
There was the sound of metal rubbing on leather as Christy pulled on her binding. The chain was pulled tight over the leather jacket and pants.
"What you going to break free? Now that I would like to see," said Olin.
"Just trying to get comfortable," said Christy.
"I'll help you off with your pants and top if that will help," said Spec.
"No it might get cold in here. I see you have a bunch of Philco televisions in here. You steal them?"
"Let's say I got a bargain," said Spec.
"I've not yet owned my own TV, what you watch on those things?" said Christy.
"Milton Berle's good. You ready for me to gag her?" asked Spec.
"Go ahead I gotta make a phone call," said Olin.
"Look I'm not going to scream for help. What good would it do?"
"Gag her anyway, it will remind her to behave, use what you got Spec."
Olin left the scene to Christy and Spec. She took a good look at the guy. Black frame glasses, white work shirt with dark suspenders holding up dark work pants and fighting against a massive belly. He wore the type of shoes Christy called the shoes with a thousand eyes. They needed polishing.
"Just ran this handkerchief through the wash last night, so it should still be clean. Just open your mouth wide."
"You know how much trouble you're in for doing this," asked Christy.
"No I stay out of trouble. One way is by shutting up people who talk too much. You have nice white teeth, open up so I can see them all," said Spec.
"Can't you pull one of those TVs over here so we can watch? We can talk about what's on. You can show me wha-muff!"
Spec shoved the cloth into Christy's mouth. She tried to shake away from it, so he grabbed a handful of hair with his left hand and kept thumbing in the gag with his right.
"Just let it slide back in, no use to fuss."
"Agurr gulmph."
Spec took his thumb off the gag and let loose of her hair, then pulled out a tan colored piece of leather and took an end in each hand.
"Frosty gave me a piece of an old Bosal he used on one of his horses. He'll been showing you where you're going to be staying while your good looking friend does some work with us. This is going over that handkerchief in your mouth."
"Dew garlmuh."
"Between your lips, and there you can chew on that while I tie it in back. I like this blond hair. Before this is over you'll have to show me that body of yours. You look good with clothes on, bet you're better without. Let me know if I tie this too tight."
"Omomo hargull luguph." Christy protested, which got a laugh out of Spec. Guess he thinks she's funnier then Milton Berle.
"That's done. I mean you can still raise a racket if you want, but it won't get far. I got to go see about unloading all these televisions. If you can get out of those chains I guess we don't deserve to be in the hostage taking business. When you're struggling to get free, don't tip over. I hate to have you crack your noggin. You struggle too much and you might choke on the gag. Just take it easy."
"Tutulhag oom phongulmph."
"I could watch you wiggle like that all day, but I gotta make some money. Sit tight."
"Goo gulmph. Gog ack rerrer," said Christy to his departing back. Then she was alone. But not for long.
***
While Tommy bused her table Eve paid the $1.25 for her meal and left a seventy-five cent tip for Rosie. He watched her walk out the front door with the women, then took his tray of dishes to the back, put them by the sink and ducked out the rear of the diner. He shuffled around the side of the building to look at the parking lot. It was night, but he saw the three women getting into a four door sedan, he couldn't make out the model or license plate. Why did two of them get in the back seat?
As she climbed in the right side door Eve noticed the rope and cloth in the backseat.
Linda slid in the other side and shut the door, Tina got in and they took off. "Put your hands behind you," said Linda.
"What's this for," said Eve as she crossed her wrists.
"Since you’re not driving no need for you to watch where we're going." Linda slid a loop over Eve's wrists and began tying them. She got the binding too tight to tug.
"You'll have to open wide."
Eve let her slowly stuff her mouth with pieces of a man's cotton shirt. Then Linda took a strip of cloth and tied the ball of material past Eve's lips.
"Give us a song so I know how well that's working," said Linda.
"Urmmph umm."
"You can take a nap while we ride to see your friend Christy. I'll put this around your eyes so you don't have to bother trying to remember how we get there."
Linda blindfolded her, then pulled the woman's head into her lap and ran her fingers through her hair. "Just relax, we'll be there soon.
***
Christy heard them drive the car into the warehouse. She watched the big door close, then the woman that had used the whip on her got out, then a blonde she hadn't seen. They helped someone out of the back seat and Christy knew right away under the gag and blindfold was Eve. They walked her over to where Christy sat chained and took off the blinder.
Eve blinked, looked side to side at each of her kidnappers, then at Christy.
"Ummp urgah," said Eve to Christy.
"Ergah eayummph mum," said Christy.
"Hey Olin you around," asked Linda.
"I knew that was you driving up. Hey you got her with you. She willing to help us?" said Olin.
"We'll talk about it. Take their gags off."
The shirt came off Eve's mouth and the horse strap gag and cloth out of Christy's lips.
Linda did the talking.
"Starting in two days we need your helicopter. We will swap your friend for just two flights, about twenty nautical miles from here. To Dugway Proving grounds. Your blonde friend will spend time with Tina and a gentleman of our choosing. That will be out in the country, out of sight of even your copter. You will take me to a landing spot so I can retrieve something that's ours. Then after all is safe and sound, we'll take you to get Christy and leave you two girls to find your way home."
"You'll kill us if we don't," said Eve.
"Very slowly," said Linda.
"When I bring you back, safe and sound as you say. And you take me out in the countryside to get Christy, what's to stop you from killing us then and burying us? There's a lot of empty land in this part of Utah."
"It's a chance you'll take if you want your friend to keep her nursing job," said Linda.
"Here's my deal. I take who ever to get what you want. Two trips. When we make the last landing, you get off with what you have, and Christy gets on with me and we fly off. We won't go to the sheriff."
"Miss Regis you have a deal." Linda pulled out her gun. Take the chains off her, then strip and gag them both. Stick them in the back room, let them sleep on it."
Tina shoved Eve in the back. "You heard her, get it off."
Eve unbuttoned and slid off her shirt. She kicked her shoes off, unbuckled and stepped out of her pants.
"Get Spec out here."
"What you need?"
"You got a key for all these locks?"
Spec flashed a key ring.
"What we letting them go?"
"Change of costume and location. Get her out of the chair," said Linda.
Christy was unwrapped and stood up. Olin unzipped her leather jacket, Christy stepped away from him and undressed. Off with the jacket, the boots, the leather pants. Now she and Eve stood in their panties and bra, rubbing the bare flesh of their bodies.
"When we get them in the back want the chains again?" asked Spec.
"That might keep them awake tonight. Got any more rope?"
"Got a crate of clothesline in the other day. I'll fetch some."
After he left Linda said, "He's a handy guy to have around."
"Why didn't you hire some one else to do your flight?" said Eve.
"You fly a lot in this area, less suspicion to see you near where we will go. And you had a handy hostage in your blond friend. Ah here comes our rope," said Linda.
Olin unfolded a mean looking knife, took a coil of clothesline from Spec and began cutting it up. Tina took another coil and flicked out a knife to slice it up. Christy noticed it was her knife, the one they had whipped from her hand.
"Put your wrists together behind you, palms facing out," said Tina.
"Do a good job with those knots," said Olin. He began binding Christy.
"I'll check yours after I finish," said Tina.
To Eve, the knots felt plenty tight and rough on her skin. She saw Christy wince as Olin worked the last of her wrist binding tight.
"Under the knockers or over the knockers," asked Olin.
There was silence, then Linda said, "Both."
Rope went around their shoulders, just above their breasts. Then cord right under the bottom of their breasts.
"Get enough rope on them and they won't be cold tonight," said Tina.
"Guess we better tie some around their waist, keep their arms down," said Olin.
Specs loved watching them tie their legs. Eve had those long ones that he hungered for. Like the dancer in "Canteen of 1944" (Starring Ann Miller). They put the rope above her knees and tied it off. Then below the knees. He watched Olin work on Christy. The rope dug into the skin on her firm thighs. Then he knotted more cord below her knees. Both Eve and Christy had their ankles tied side by side. They were tottering, ready to fall.
Tina scooped up Eve and slung her, head down, over her back. Olin plucked up Christy and fitted her around his neck. "Lead the way Spec," he said.
It was a room he used for snoozing at his warehouse. Wooden frame door with no lock. Inside had hooks on the wall to hang clothes, a wooden cot. A filing cabinet he used to store booze. There was another door on the rear side of the room. Eve and Christy were sat on the cot.
They looked at their captors. Linda joined Spec, Tina and Olin in the small room.
"I have a job I have to do tomorrow, a delivery," said Eve.
"You'll get time to do that," said Linda. "Two days from now you work for us. And don't be looking for help. Your friend will be long gone from here. And we have your phone tapped. We got a plant with the local cops. And you'll be watched, not by one of us," said Linda.
"They'll be in here gabbing all night, making plans on how to get out of this," said Tina.
"I can help that," said Spec. They watched him open the door on the other side of the room, saw a room just big enough for a toilet bowl and a sink. Spec came out with two worn looking towels that needed to be taken to the laundry. He tore them up. Then he rolled up two handfuls.
"Golummp," said Eve as he shoved one in her mouth. He thumbed until just a bit stuck out past her lips.
"Humgealm," said Christy as the gag hit her tongue. Spec poked it back atop her molars. He used strips of the torn towels to tie the bundles inside the women's mouths. Eve and Christy chewed on the packing, trying to adjust it.
"They'll use their hands to pull those gags off soon as we shut the lights out," said Olin.
"I thought about that," said Spec. From his pocket he took two packages of black shoelaces that had yet to be opened. Christy and Eve made tiny noises of protest as he used them to tie together their thumbs and little fingers. The gang got a laugh out of him binding their big toes together.
"No need to make them mummies just yet," said Tina.
The "just yet" part was not reassuring to Eve and Christy. They were left, Spec turning out the light and shutting the door after they went out ahead of him. Eve and Christy sat in the dark, pulling on their binding.
***
"It's odd her leaving her bike out in the parking lot like that. She's never done that," said Tommy.
"She caught a ride, you saw her leave," said Rosie.
Rosie finished wiping down the tables while Tommy filled the salt shakers. The diner was closed; Rosie had just flipped the door sign over. They both put the chairs up on the tables.
"See you tomorrow," she said.
Tommy watched Rosie head out on her bicycle, then looked at Eve's motorcycle. He bet she wouldn't be back for it tonight. But why? Even though he had only received parts one and two of the Institute of Applied Science's Blue Book on Crime, he needed to start his first case as a detective.
***
Christy heard Eve snuffling in the dark. Eve leaned against her, then leaned the other way. Christy heard a loud grunt, then made out Eve's shape in the dark. She had gotten to her feet.
"Gump grump gommph," were the sounds coming through Eve's gag. She was hopping away from the bed. She hit the wall. Eve had noticed the hooks for hanging coats on this side of the room. She bumped her head along the wall until she felt the metal plate holding the hooks. Up and down went her head, she snorted through her gag as she tried to catch the torn towel on a hook.
"Argummph," she said as she felt it connect. She pulled her head around. It was hung up, now to get it off her face. Real quick, one two three, "Orgummh!" She had dropped as low as she could, almost fell over but kept her balance on her bound legs. The strip of towel had been yanked back up over her nose and onto her forehead. Eve shook her head free of the strip, spit out the towel in her mouth.
Christy heard her stomping her way back to the bed. Then she was smacked as Eve toppled on top her, her chest landing on Christy's face.
"Oh gosh. You all right?"
Christy squirmed while Eve fought to push her way off Christy without falling off the bed.
"Gahump gahup," said Christy with what she hoped sounded affirmative to Eve that she was all right. Eve battled to get off Christy and get more of her body on the bed. Her bound legs didn't work like she needed. She managed to get three-quarters of the way up, then pooped out.
"I don't know how much good that did, but without the gags we can try to figure out these jokers. That hopping to the hook thing is rough. I'm going to use my teeth to get a hold of your gag, then wiggle out of it, O.K?"
Christy grunted and shook her head yes, which Eve didn't see in the dark. Eve worked her way to where she believed Christy's head to be. She stuck out her tongue and tasted hair. She moved her tongue and lips, feeling for the gagging strip. Christy made a noise as Eve's mouth moved over her nose. Eve tried again. This must be the ear. Her tongue flicked over that, then felt the towel gag. She felt with her teeth. The material was tied tight around Christy's head, sinking into her skin. Gently Eve pinched with her lips and teeth. Christy held still, her breathing loud in the dark room.
"I got it," said Eve through clenched teeth. She had the towel strip that was part of the gag. She held on, now for Christy to go to work.
The blonde worked her head, slowly. She had to get the towel from behind her lips and down below her chin. Up and down while Eve bit firm on the piece in her teeth.
"Garr gaff gump." Christy worked her chin up and down using her lips to knock against the gag. The face strip came down to her chin. She battered the towel wad out of her mouth.
"Gosh. Yuck. Oh thanks. Now if I could bite the hand that gagged us in the first place."
"They may be listening so just mutter. I'm sorry I got you into this," said Eve.
"What? Come on it's not your fault. Nice to know they think you're a whiz at flying."
"Do the ropes hurt you as much as they do me?"
Christy shrugged her shoulders. "I'd bet more so," she said.
"I'd just rub myself raw. All right we know they are going to keep us alive for a while, so no need to hurt ourselves trying to get loose. After whatever they want is done, they'll bump us off," said Eve.
"Do you think they are Commie spies trying to get the Atomic bomb?"
"I don't know what else they would want in that part. I know it's a bombing range, I'm sure of that. But I've never heard a hint of atom bomb testing," said Eve.
"But you wouldn't would you?"
"No. Ouch these ropes are tight."
"Say when they get what they want and are ready to turn me loose. We meet in the countryside like they said. Maybe the sheriff can be waiting there," said Christy.
"I'm sure they are thinking of that. They'd be easy to spot.
"There's someone who wouldn't be so easy, some people I work with."
"Other nurses?"
"No. Well, in a way: a member of the Western Shoshone tribe. She's interested in becoming a nurse. Chellsie Eijup. She's a friend of Rosie Branson. Chellsie couldn't help, herself, but some of her tribe members would. She was supposed to meet me, well what is today? Wednesday, anyway talk to her; let her know what's happening. Tell her to contact Joe. He's a hunter with the tribe. Maybe he could pick a spot and set up a rescue," said Christy.
"But they wouldn't know me, would they believe me?"
"Yes, you and Rosie."
"I don't want to get that kid involved."
"I don't either, but who besides the police?"
They were quiet, then Eve spoke. "I've got a friend, you know the one I told you who moved out here to get away from some bad fellas in New York City?"
"She was a dancer," said Christy.
"Of a sort. She was known as the "Bazoom Girl" of burlesque."
"How in the world can she help us?"
"She knows bad guys. How they work and think. And I believe she owns a pistol," said Eve.
"This is bad, really bad. I've never had to handle anything like this," said Christy.
"Who would? We're going to get out of it. Those are some smart bad guys, we're the good guys. We know who wins. "
They lay there waiting for the lights to come back on.