Croonford
Detectives Case 31: Charity Gone Wrong
Story can
also be found here
“Wow, that was
tough!” Many Year 10 Croonford students cried as they exited their classes. It
was the due to their GCSE English mock paper which puzzled almost all student.
Except Jenn Thompson and the newest student, Richard Weaver who both breezed
the paper. Richard was Jenn’s problem: He was taking the same GCSEs as her and
in each class he either tied with her or score better marks. To make matters
worse, Richard also joined the school’s debate club and from once a rival to
Jenn, now was on the same team.
“Every little
bit - his grades, his debating speeches, irks me,” Jenn complained to Chelle
and Lin.
“Well, he has
his right to join this school and you can’t undo his intelligence,” Chelle
remarked. Jenn couldn’t find any counter-argument to that.
“And you
invited him to our detective group,” Lin reminded her. “He’s been really
helpful so far.”
Jenn wanted to
say that was her mistake when Chelle suggested they grab some food. With Lin
eating some close version of a Vietnamese Pho and Chelle and Lin with an almost
chilled vegetable soup, they were about to resume their discussion when the
student council co-president Cara Owens and Hugh Johnson came up to them.
“Tough paper
Year 10s? we got the perfect de-stressing event for you,” Hugh announced while
Cara placed three several sheets of A4 paper in front of the girls.
“Raising money
for the homeless of the town?” Chelle read the title. “’Course we’ll take part.”
Cara bending
over her breasts nearly contacting with Chelle’s arm told them to read on in
her Irish accent. Jenn had barely read the next page then shook head. “Girls to
be damsels-in-distress...bound and gagged?”
“By male
captors. Well, your fellow level mates,” Hugh nodded to the male students.
“How is this charit...”Lin
read...”the audience will donate based on the best looking DiD and all money
will go to the charity.”
“Where the hell
did you two geniuses get this idea from? Sound like...” Jenn was going to say ‘fetish’
then the student council leaders laughed.
“You three had
your share of it. There’s always the option to opt out. If not, fill in the
form on the last page and drop it at our council ‘post box’ end of today. The
teachers approved it. The session is this Saturday.”
“Your guys
going to be ‘captors?” The girls asked the question simultaneously as Mark,
Reinhard and Richard joined them.
“Yes, well the
rules state captors and DiDs will be chose by numbered tickets passed out on
that day,” Mark pointed at the related page.
“Well, were you
wishing to bind and gag me? You too Reinhard?” That caused the shortest boy to
turn red slightly thought truthfully, he wondered how it felt to truss up and
gag a girl.
‘You know it’s
a high likelihood we get it during our adventures and cases. But for charity?!
People run for charity, clean up an area but paying for the best DiD? DiDs
bound and gagged?! It sounds so ancient and sexist,” Jenn whined.
“You opting
out?” Lin asked, already filled in the form.
“Well...ok. don’t
want to leave you two out. But really hope my upcoming ‘captor’ doesn’t treat
me like a real captive.”
The Year 10s
naturally discussed more about this weird charity event. Hattie, the artist
drew various pictures of how she might get bound and gagged. “I’ve got some
experience for a short while,” Heather quipped, making Chelle cringe since she
was forced to do that. “I was a victim as well, having met the wrong drama
coach,” Bethan remarked, recalling sitting in her underwear bound to a chair
and cleave gagged. “My parents before they came here were tied and gagged by
pro-government actors. I know their story well,” Julia, the former Ugandan
added. One the boys’ side, many were naturally excited, wondering which girl
will be their ‘captive’ and how they would bind and gag their victims. Art Morton,
one time part of a school gang, gave detailed description that sounded like he
was a real captor which made many feel uncomfortable.
Saturday
arrived, too quickly in Jenn’s view. The rules allowed female ‘captives’ to
dress in either their school uniforms or any clothing. Jenn came in comfy blue
trousers and a light cotton shirt, Chelle in shorts and a sleeveless shirt
while Lin wore a jeans skirt and a purple spaghetti top which just managed to
hide her bra straps.
“Alright ‘captors’
and ‘captives’!” Hugh shouted in the microphone in the school hall. More like
damsels-in-distress, Jenn thought. “There are boxes containing cards at the
front. Everyone pick a card which has a number on it. We will call out numbers
and whichever boy and girl have the same numbers are the captors’ and ‘captives’
respectively. Read, and go!”
The students
rushed and many collided with each other despite the other student councillors
trying to curb that.
“27,” Chelle
read her out loud. “Oh, is that a good sign or what?”
“35,” Lin read
hers. “Are odd numbers a symbol of fun or doom?”
“13,” Jenn saw.
“I don’t believe in unlucky numbers. Or is it a negative time to come?’
With girls and boys
separated, the two student council co-president read out numbers in random
order. Mark was paired with Heather, Reinhard with Hattie. Chelle was paired
with Art Morton and Lin got some guy named Stuart Walter. “13,” Cara called.
“That’s me!”
Richard answered.
“Oh right, as
if it’s my dream to be bound and gagged by him,” Jenn whine softly. Richard did
not hear that thought he asked if she was alright when near her. The
co-presidents cut off her reply, informing all that the materials to secure the
‘captives’ could be found in the Year 8 classrooms. “There are dividers to
prevent you from copying other’s actions. You have one hour to decide how your ‘captive’
will be secured then return here. Go!” Hugh announced.
“Jenn, you look
distraught. Something worrying you?” Richard asked
She thought
quickly. Should I be frank and reveal what I think of him? Should I use facial
expressions? “No, it’s nothing. What are you going to do to me?” In front of
them were bundles of rope, several rolls of tape and pieces of cloth. No cable
ties, well they do bite into your skin. The councillors must have thought about
our comfort, Jenn mused.
“You can decide
how you’ll be bound and gagged since you’ve got the history with it.” She
accepted that then said worrying tape for her limbs would be fine. Richard
complied, not bothering to ask her and taped her wrists behind her back for
rounds.
“Hope that not
to uncomfortable? You don’t want your arms pinned to you right? You want a tape
gag?” Jenn shook negative, thankful the tape didn’t feel that sticky and
gestured to the pile of cloth. “Right, cleave gag?”
“No. had that
the last time round. So “ Richard applied an over-the-mouth_(OTM) gag which
certainly did not silence Jenn’s s speech although she played along. Finished,
neither ‘captor’ nor ‘captive’ silently thought they would gather the most
amount of funds and for Jenn this wasn’t in her mind.
Heading back,
they encountered the various pairs, especially Chelle and Lin. The former had
her wrists also taped up with tape around her lower arms, pinning them to her
back. She received a tape gag that went all the around her head, trapping part
of her hair. An additional strip of tape on her lips area. Lin was worse: She
received a poor rope harness around her chest, pushing her already C cup
breasts further out. She received several strips tape gagging her though her
bulging cheeks indicated she received a mouth stuffing. Her wrists and elbows
were bound with rope with one rope wound around her waist , attached to her
wrist bonds.
“Do you have
bind and gag my girl so tightly?” Mark asked.
“Hey, it’s not
so terrible as it looks, ok? She didn’t disagree with what I did. Your work
looks worse. “ Mark had used lots of tape securing Heather arms and wrists to
her back. tape above and below her boobs. Besides a single piece of tape and
light cloth for mouth stuffing, Heather was also blindfolded.
Reinhard asked
the same regarding his girlfriend. “Aw, don’t light it’s all for a good cause,’
came Stuart’s reply. He didn’t fully accept that though he thought he did nice
work with Hattie. Despite the fact she was in her school uniform, her blazer
was pulled tight against her by ropes which also bound her wrists behind her
back. Reinhard used cloth as a not so thick cleave gag for her.
“Alright
captors! There are small boxes for each person to collect. Go amongst the
audience with your captives and show them how they are damsels-in-distress
worth of donation. Audience, remember your donation is at least 1 per DiD. Go
for it!” Hugh announced. Baskets picked up, it was now a race to find who was
the best looking DiD. Richard guided Jenn through the mass of other Year 10 and
some Year 9 students, though after twenty minutes, they failed to gather any
donations.
Conversely, Chelle
and Art received 20 within ten minutes and Lin and Stuart got 28 in five
minutes. Suddenly, Mark and Heather moved into the lead, gaining 50 pounds and
5 pounds every few minutes.
“Looks like we’ll
win,” he remarked and Heather gave a muffled call in agreement. She was now
enjoying this act though not wanting it to happen as often as the detectives.
The session went on past three p.m. until suddenly, the hall lights turned off.
“Hey, did you
guys turn the lights out?” One participant called.
Just as the
co-presidents were going to answer, thick smoke filled the hall and the fire
alarm sounded.
“Quick! Head
for the fire exits!” Hugh shouted as loud as he could over the ringing.
“Undo the girls’
bonds! Help them out!” Cara added. Almost everyone collided into each other
despite mobile phone lights shining as everyone scrambled to the fire exit.
Despite cries and girls’ more collisions, all students managed to congregate in
the square just outside the school compound. Boys who failed to release their ‘captives’
quickly did, along with their gags. Luckily, there weren’t any passersby’s or
vehicles less the students were spotted and unwanted news arise.
“Everyone ok?”
Hugh called. Despites some light bruises and dry mouths they were.
“ Hey, where’s
Chelle?” Mark called as he gently pulled away pieces of tape from Heather’s
arms.
“Where’s Lin?”
Reinhard also called, as he massaged Hattie’s wrists.
“Aw, those two
probably off to a detective mission,” Cathy Staples called. Ignoring her, the
two male detectives scanned the area but couldn’t spot their respectively
girlfriends. Richard, having heard than, headed over to them with Jenn
following, removing a small piece of tape that got stuck to her wrists.
“Did you see
where they last were?” was the question the four of them asked simultaneously.
The dreading answer was no; the smoke and alarm caused too much havoc.
“It’s a false
alarm folks, “ Cara announced after checking with Ted Wiggins, the school
security guard. “Someone set smoke and pulled and alarm. We can ret..” She
noticed the teen detectives and along with Hugh, learnt about the missing
girls.
“Rat. It’s a
Saturday and it’s not easy contacting teachers. We still want to complete the
whole event. You detectives,” Hugh checked his watch. “One hour before we tell
the discipline masters and notify the police.”
With the clock
ticking down, the four teens quickly brainstormed. There were other exits
besides the nearby front gate and it was unlikely Chelle, Lin and their male ‘captors’
headed out via that way. ‘We’ll cover the other exterior exits,” Mark said,
indicating towards Reinhard. “You two want to help?”
“I’d like to go
back inside ad check,” Richard replied, which raised eyebrows though no
objections. As he entered, Jenn headed alter him.
“Which way to
the security guard’s office security?” he asked her. Richard wished to view
CCTV outside the school Wiggins, who had let them view the CCTV monitors
previously, rejected it this time, citing school regulations.
“What’ your
plan, Richard?’ Jenn wondered.
“First, tell me
what’s troubling you,” he replied.
“You are. You
were long my debate rival, now you’re on my debate team. You’re in my class,
scoring higher than me, it’s the competition...”
“Well, you want
me to change classes? Don’t think it’s easy as the teachers make the decision.
Leave the debate society? Not sure what other clubs interest me.”
“Uh...” Jenn
couldn’t think of a reply and hated it.
“Want me to
leave this detective group? Or we shouldn’t pair up. I can’t change how I work
in studies though you are the debate club president and team captain. You can
decide where I’ll be there.”
Jenn started
laughing and crying at how stupid her feelings were. “Ok, you’re still my
rival. What’s your idea, rival? We don’t have much time.”
Jenn found
herself following him back to the school hall. Richard explained that while
everyone exited through the fire exit, there could be others moving out via the
normal exits. “I may be wrong though one of the monitors in the guard’s room
did show a fleeting move towards the second door. It was a split-second view.”
“Well, I have
say that is an excellent detective-centred theory,” Jenn admitted as she helped
look around the hall exits.
“What do you
know about those two ‘captors’ for Chelle and Lin?”
“Art Morton was
a former school gang member until we shut down the group here. He used to, and
still does occasional use racist terms, irking many especial Lin. He may be the
perpetrator, though I doubt he’s so devious like pulling the fire alarm or
setting off smoke,” Jenn replied. “Stuart? I’m not sure. He won some Year 9
prize for subject I can’t recall; no one expect him to win that.”
“Found
something!” He called, holding up a watch, with one strap frayed.
“That looks
like Art’s watch!” Jenn exclaimed. They thus headed to the door where the watch
was found. “This just leads to the Art Room. Well, the staff are shifting the
Art Room to a higher level,” Jenn noted. She drew out her mobile phone and
activated the detection app Lin devised. No signal. A minute a few second
later, they heard a sound from a nearby closet.
“That could be
them!” Jenn exclaimed! After much pulling at the broken handle, out came no
other than Art Morton, covered in cloth, paint-soaked paper.
“Ow!” he cried as
he tumbled on the floor.
“ You!” Jenn
pointed as Richard held him down. “Where’s Chelle and Lin? Where are they?”
“I dunno. I was
trying to get Michelle and myself out through the smoke, felt something or
someone strike me neck and next found myself here. Please, help me up?”
“Oh, really
after you bragged how much you will be a real captor over the girls this week,”
Jenn countered.
“That was an
exaggeration. Why would be locked up in this closet if I wish to really hold a
girl captive?”
Jenn thought
quickly. “ You don’t know who hit you?”
“No, with the
alarm and smoke no.”
“Alright, get
to the outside square and tell your tale, oh this is yours, “ Richard tossed
him the watch. “Let’s search the Art Room,” he suggested.
“Could take up
more time,” Jenn noted. “Got to look for something unusual.” The pair moved
around quickly then Richard started touching surfaces. Thirty seconds later,
his hand touched a crack. Thinking it wasn’t anything, he was going to move on
until Jenn called out, “ I got a location on Lin! She’s somewhere there!” She
pointed to the crack. Richard immediate felt along the crack and found a handle
underneath the loose concern. He yanked it and the wall swung open like a door.
Inside, they
found a dusty room with Chelle and Lin on the floor rolling about. They were
still in their bonds and gags although Lin’s rope harness appeared tighter and
her knickers were unintentionally flashing. “Roll!’ A hooded figure called with
a camera in hand. As the figure moved, Jenn spotted the facial mask.
“You! Cat!” She
roared striking the figure, only to knock away the camera and hurt her small
frame and tumbling to the ground. Richard ran to her aid but was pulled away by
another unseen figure. It appeared the two teen detectives were physically
overpowered until...
“Get away from
her!” Mark shouted as he yanked and knocked the air out the hood figure.
Reinhard tried to help Richard though Mark quickly also tackled that guy. With
the hooded figure lying in agony, Jenn unceremoniously ripped off the face
mask.
“Stuart?! You
were the Cat all along?!” Jenn exclaimed.
“No, no I just
overheard you girls talk about that. I was just taking pictures of them, who
look perfect bound and gagged. You lot are in trouble for hitting me and my
brother.”
“You’re the one
trouble,” Jenn retorted. She was thinking of slapping him, though finally
resisted less she also get into trouble.
With their
parents and the discipline master notified, the unusual charity event resumed.
Chelle and Lin decided to sit out, though Jenn thought otherwise. “I’m your
captive,” she told Richard and her wrists were taped behind her back and
received an OTM gag, albeit a little tighter. Within half an hour, the results
were announced.
“Runners up,
Mark Cavendish and Heather Smith, 180!” Hugh announced.
“That’s not
exactly my surname,” Mark muttered as he collected the gift vouchers.
“And with a
grand total of 250, Nathan Sanders and Natalie Sang!” Cara announced.
“Well, I never
expected to cross the pond and become the best DID,” Natalie, the American
exchange student who also was in a rope harness, stuff tape gag and expertly
tied wrists remarked.
That event
over, the detectives met up at their usual headquarters.
“You sure
Stuart isn’t the Cat?” Richard asked.
“I didn’t get a
full look at his eyes. We’ll find out what he and his brother say on Monday. I’d
like to know how they exactly created the smoke, and never knew our school had
hidden chambers,” Jenn replied.
“And one that
blocked the signal of our identification chips. I got to work improving that,”
Lin added, rubbing her sore wrists.
“Speak of
which, what about the stuff the Cat left previously?”
“We’re working
on it, “Reinhard answered , heling his girlfriend rub her wrists.
“We’ll find
this fiend,” Mark added. Everyone nodded, not knowing their foe was listening
on their conversation. As they left for home, Richard called Jenn.
“Hey, how about
going out for a late afternoon drink? Would cure the ached after that short
fight.”
“I’m done with
my daily tea,” She cold replied.
“No, you know
that fresh fruit juice place? I’ll buy.”
“Alright.”
Michelle,
Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in a story title not
yet determined.