The Ides of August – Part 2
Saturday 15th August
1 am local time
Johannesburg
Charlotte sat
in the darkness, a set of headphones over her ears as she listened in.
“We are ready
to go on your mark,” a female voice said.
“Go – for the
Heart and the Strength.”
“For the
Heart and the Strength. Pride this is
leader, in position?” Charlotte listened in as her girls on the ground awaited
their target.
“Red in
position.”
“Blue is
too.”
“Green all
set.”
“Where are
you Yellow?”
Charlotte
listened as static buzzed.
“Where are
you Yellow?” Pride Leader sounded worried.
“I’m here
Leader, sorry took me longer then I thought it would to get here.”
“Leader I can
hear trucks…”
“Copy that
Red…Leader to pride, good luck and good shooting ladies.”
Back in
Johannesburg Charlotte said a silent prayer to the Goddess as she listened.
“Let the
first truck go round the corner.” Leader whispered…”NOW!”
Charlotte
could hear the crackle of small arms fire, punctuated by grenades going off.
“Leader the
lead truck is on fire…they are not going forward.”
“Copy
Yellow.”
Charlotte
heard a loud explosion.
“Oh crap Leader,
that last truck must have been carrying petrol.”
“I can see
the blaze Red…Good Job.”
Inwardly
Charlotte smiled as she listened to the firefight.
“Those men
from the second truck, they are in that ditch in front of you Green…”
“I can see
Yellow, but I’m pinned down here…can you clear them?”
“Can try…”
“Use a couple
of grenades - see if that will move them?”
“Got that
Leader.”
Charlotte
heard the explosions as the grenades did their work.
“That’s moved
them Yellow…”
Charlotte
heard a burst of machine gun fire.
“Oh crap I
think I just took a bullet in my buttocks…”
“That will
teach you to keep that big fat ass of yours down…”
“Thank you
for that Leader.”
From
Johannesburg Charlotte suddenly heard silence.
“Well done
ladies…” Leader called out. “Casualties?”
“I have one
dead one wounded.” Red reported.
“One dead
here as well.” Green reported.
“We are all
okay.” Blue radioed.
“Just my damn
arse.” Yellow called.
“I have two
lightly wounded.” Leader spoke. “Their side.”
“I got a prisoner…one
of the slit eyes.” Blue reported.
“Make sure
you finish off the rest…”
Charlotte
stopped listening; her people were in no position to look after the other side’s
wounded. It would be hard enough getting care to her own people, as well extracting
the prisoner for interrogation – and she had no stomach to hear what they were
doing.
Standing up
and looking out of the room window, she was pleased the first blow had been
struck. Now she had to let Piet see what
was going on…
8 pm Local Time
Ninja Akasaka, Tokyo
“I really
must thank you again for inviting me to join you, Yoshimi-san,” Louise said as
she sat at their alcove table, Victoria and Charlene sitting on the other side
of him. All three were wearing cocktail
dresses and high heels, showing off their legs as he looked at each of them.
“Please –
call me Taki,” Yoshimi said as he put his hand on Louise’s leg. “And the honour is mine – I feel I need to
protect you, as this can be a very dangerous city.”
“Somehow,”
Louise purred as she looked at him, “I feel I am safe with you.”
Yoshimi
smiled as he looked at his other two guests.
“What do you say ladies – after we go dancing, we return to my place for
a private drink?”
“Sounds
delightful,” Victoria said as she and Charlene looked at Louise, who smiled in
return as she looked at Yoshimi.
“So tell me,
Taki,” Louise said quietly, “why do those big strong men make sure nobody else
talks to us?”
“For your own
protection and mine,” he said with a smile, “After all, those I cherish, I wish
to keep safe.”
Louise
nodded, she understood that well enough.
11 pm Local Time
Central Tokyo
“You dance
extremely well,” Yoshimi said as he opened the door to his penthouse apartment,
Louise looking round as she walked in with Charlene and Victoria.
“And you live
extremely well – business must be good,” Louise said as she stroked her gloved
hand over the furniture.
“I cannot
complain,” Yoshimi said as he went to a well stocked drinks cabinet, and poured
spirits into four glasses, handing them round.
“So I was
wondering,” Louise said as she stood in front of Yoshimi, “how I could begin to
repay the kindness you have shown me?”
Charlene and
Victoria looked at each other as Yoshimi said “You are already repaying me in
many ways, young Louise, as you can tell if you wish to.”
“I can see
you are indeed pleased with me, but how much?”
“Enough,” he
whispered as he put his glass down, “to show you my skills. Can you tell how ready I am?”
She walked
over and stood in front of him, Yoshimi nodding as she looked into his eyes.
“Mmmmmm not
bad by the feel of it.” Louise ran her hand across the front of the Japanese
gangster’s pants, drawing instant daggers in her back from the eyes of the
other two.
“I don’t
think you’ll be disappointed Louise.” He pulled her lips close and kissed her
gently.
“Okay,” Lou
thought to himself, “this is the hard part girl, you have to convince him he’s
the greatest thing ever.”
Slowly
Louise’s black gloved hand ran itself up and down his fly, he felt the Japanese
guy harden even more, then using both arms he pulled the man close and kissed
him, his tongue exploring the gangsters mouth, his gasps of pleasure not merely
acting.
“Ahhh,”
Yoshimi said as he looked at her, “come with me.” Looking at the other two, he said “do not worry
–your time will come later.”
They watched
as he pulled Louise into an inner room, and pulled the screen across, before he
took her and kissed her again, his hands caressing her bottom as she started to
undo the fly of his trousers, and then stroked his member with her gloved hand
as her tongue played with his.
“So, Taki,”
she whispered, “what would you like to do to me?”
“I think you
know,” he whispered as he started to unfasten her dress.
“I think I
do,” Louise whispered back, as she started to kiss him again.
3 pm local time
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
“Not a bad
crowd in today John.” Piet said as he looked down at the beautiful dancers in
the blue outfits, performing on the field before the main game started.
“Yeah not
bad,” John said, “but it helps that the Bulls are playing some decent rugby
this year.”
“I saw the
game a couple of weeks ago, they gave the Lions a real working over.”
“I saw it on
TV,” John nodded, “this pack can dominate opponents totally.”
“Ja, you are
telling me man.”
“Tempted to
get your boots back out Piet?”
“No,” Piet
said with a smile, “I quit playing at the right time, too hard balancing
playing, training, and my work.”
“Let alone
having a social life?”
“Ja, it was
one of the reasons Charlotte booted me out, I never saw her. I was always busy
doing something else.”
“I took her
out for dinner Wednesday night…”
“Still trying
to find out what she’s involved in John?” Piet interrupted.
“Yes, I’m
still a bit curious.”
“That makes
two of us.” Piet stood up and applauded as the Free State Cheetahs took the
field.
“Here come
the Bulls.” John applauded heartily as the home team made their entrance.
“You see the
Free State Number 5 John? He’s the bastard who means I need to wear a partial
denture.”
“I was at the
game, he should have got a longer suspension for hitting you like that.”
“Ja, you are
telling me man.” Piet shook his head.
“So I take it
you’ve met Shirley Xavier yourself?”
Piet nodded
as the teams lined up for the kickoff. “Impressive woman, very no nonsense, and
John Hammond her partner is a nice guy, he lost out on an Irish cap you know by
having to go take on the Argies, rather than go on Ireland’s summer tour the
year of the Falklands war?”
“No I didn’t
know that.”
“Ja, sheer
bad luck.”
“So do you
buy Charlotte’s story about her company having an interest in the security of Mogolan
drift diamonds?”
“To a point…”
Piet stood as the Blue Bulls moved the ball through their backs.
“Oh – what
point?”
“Well,” Piet
said, “I do believe she has an interest in the safety of Mogolan diamonds – but
the business in Mazengwe…”
“She said she
tipped you off because of the link between Kimba and diamonds.”
“True – the
question in my mind was, how did she hear about the link between Kimba and the
way Mazengwean girls were sold into slavery.”
“She heard about
the story from the NY Times, apparently.”
“Hmm,” Piet
said, “so if she says she wants me to see something in Southern Mogola,
involving diamonds, I wonder if something else is going on as well.”
John
nodded. “Look, I checked a few things
out, there is something unusual going down, but we have no idea what. When is she inviting you?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Call her –
say you have a new assistant to break in.”
“Oh – who?”
“She will
call you tonight to see if it is on – COME ON!!” John called out as the Bulls scored a try.
“John, is she
in trouble?”
“I don’t
think so no – by the way, talking of Mazengwe, have you heard anything of a
group of women taking on the local warlords?”
Piet looked
at John. “How the hell did you hear
about them?”
“So you’ve
heard of them?”
“I think I’ve
met some of them – why?”
“I had a tip
off they were interested in Mogola as well – they call themselves the Sisters
of Maisha apparently.”
“Maisha? Shirley Xavier has a girl called Maisha who
lives with her – she was one of the girls sold into slavery. Probably just coincidence.”
“I’m sure,”
John said, “well, we shall see…”
11 am
The Farm
“Welcome,”
Diana said as Julianne stepped out of her car, Helen and Doc getting out with
her. “Where’s Carina?”
“Coming with
the others – she wanted to make sure the kids were settled, and needed to find
out from Jan where she and Cassandra are going to be.”
Juliette came
into the farmhouse and poured herself some coffee.
“Are you sure
this will do it?”
“I really
hope so. Once Sandy is here, we can go
and collect the guests. Did they bring
the cars?”
“In the barn
– Heather will work on them once she’s here.”
“Good,”
Juliette said as she played with the ring on her finger, “let’s now hope
everyone plays ball…”
3 pm
Park Avenue
Sitting in
her den, Shirley smiled as she looked at Charlotte.
“I listened
to the recording of the fight.” Shirley spoke. “Tell your team well done, and
pass on our condolences and thanks regarding the two dead on our side.”
“I’ve already
done so.” Charlotte answered. “Agnes was Ndebele, she was a widow with no
children thanks to Mugabe’s thugs. Sarah
was only 15, but she joined when we freed her in Mazengwe, I’m trying to trace
any family that are left.”
“Two very
brave women. If you find them, ensure
Sarah’s family know of her sacrifice.”
“Indeed
Madame.”
“So who was
the Leader?”
“Itsy Buthelezi…”
“The Zulu
princess?”
“Yes, Itsy
came to us a few months ago, I don’t know if it’s the fact she’s a university
graduate, or inherent respect for the Zulu royal family, but her compatriots
there voted for her to command.”
“Well she’s
very good at it.”
“I know, I’m
sorry she had to deal with their wounded like that, but in African jungle
warfare, the Geneva conventions mean nothing.”
“Yes I
understand as well, I don’t like it, but yes in the circumstances…”
“Itsy is
smuggling her prisoner south across the border, where I can get a chopper to
them, we should have him here in Johannesburg in 72 hours…can you send me a
Cantonese speaker please?”
“I’ll send
Helen, her business here will be done by then, and get Penny to you as well,
you might appreciate her expertise in obtaining information.”
“That sounds
like a good plan to me Madame.”
“Now, of the
other matter?”
“I’m meeting
Piet tomorrow for him to be taken by two contacts to the site. He’s asked to bring a photographer with him –
a young woman called Elizabeth.”
“I smell a
plant, Charlotte.”
“As do I
Madame – but my hope is as she sees this, she can help bring some more powerful
forces to bear on this situation.”
“Very well
then – I trust your judgment on this one Charlotte, but watch your step.”
“I will
Madame – and thank you. I’ll make
reservations here for Penny and Helen.”
“Good luck,”
Shirley said as she ended the call.
6 pm
Beverley
“Well, the
kids seem happy enough to be sleeping over,” Rick said as he put the car keys
into the bowl in the kitchen.
“True – and
it gives us a night to work on things,” Cassandra said as she came in. She and Jan were both wearing polo shirts and
shorts, while Rick had on a t-shirt and jeans.
“We’ll go
through to the den,” Cassandra said, “you can start sorting out some food.”
“Yeah, yeah –
I get to cook,” Rick said as he went into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he saw some steaks and
took them out, when there was a knock on the front door.
“I got it,”
he called out, and went to answer the door.
In the porchway stood two women, both of whom pushed him back in as they
came inside. They were dressed
identically – black high necked jackets and knee length skirts, with blue
scarves tied as cravats around their necks, dark stockings and black leather
pumps with four inch heels.
They also
wore black leather gloves, and dark stockings over their heads, which held
their black hair down. One carried a
sawn off shotgun, and the other a small bag – and both had brooches on their
jackets in the shape of cats.
“Quiet,
asswipe,” the one with the gun said as the second woman pushed Rick into the
main room, and pulled his hands behind his back, securing them tightly together
with some rope.
“What the
hell is going on here,” Rick said quietly as the woman tied the ropes off.
“We do the
talking mister big shot screen writer – I’m Miss Panther, and this is Miss
Puma. Heard of us?”
“I may have,”
Rick said, thinking this was another game.
“Now where is
Miss Hollywood?” Miss Panther said as she held her gun against Mike’s head.
“Oh come on
Cassie, twice in one week is once too much…”
“What’s once
too much?” Cassandra asked as she wandered in from the den with Janice.
“Oh…” Rick’s
voice dropped.
“My…” Janice
put her hands up.
“God!...”
Cassandra all but fainted.
“We hear that
you’ve been enquiring about us bitch?” Miss Puma said as she grabbed the
actress and threw her into an armchair.
“You mean
these are the…”
“The real
thing…yes we are.” Juliette allowed herself a smile under her mask as she looked
at Rick. “Our friend said you wouldn’t
stop asking – now see what’s happened.”
Cassandra
watched as the woman called Miss Puma pulled Jan’s wrists behind her back and
secured them with rope.
“You wanted
to know what it feels like to be a Pussycat,” Miss Panther purred. “Well you and the fucking FBI bitch will find
out. You are both going to help us do a little bit of work. Hubby here will be
put on ice, you both co-operate, he lives, your kids live, YOU LIVE…Now do I
make myself fucking clear?”
“Yes.” Jan
nodded.
“Perfectly,”
Cassie was studying every detail of how the bandit spoke, how she moved,
everything.
“Good – we
start by all of us taking a little trip.
Don’t worry – you’ll be back before the kiddiewinks if you behave. Bind the bitch, then blindfold all three
fuckers.”
Miss Puma
quickly bound and blindfolded Cassandra, as Janice watched her escort the other
two out, and then followed Miss Panther as she closed the door. They were made to sit in the back of a black
SUV, and Miss Panther sat with them.
“Not a
fucking word,” she growled, all three nodding as Miss Puma drove off…
7.30 pm
The Farm
“Out, all of
you – and no fucking about,” Miss Panther said as she pulled Cassandra from the
car, and then Rick, while Miss Puma pulled Jan from the other side.
“Where the
hell are we,” Rick said as he was pushed across the courtyard.
“You’ll see
soon enough, fucker,” Miss Panther said as she and Miss Puma walked them across
and into the farmhouse. As Jan felt her
feet hit the wooden floor, she heard a girl with a southern accent say “Well
now, sugah, look who has come to visit.”
“Miss
Bobcat,” Jan said, “Shit – they’ve brought us to their centre of operations.”
“Well done,
Fucking Bitch Ingrate,” another voice said as the blindfolds were removed, Rick
blinking as he said “oh shit…”
“A very fair
expression,” Miss Panther said as she walked round. “So, Miss Hollywood, you have your wish – we
are the Pussycat Gang, and you are going to do every fucking little thing we
tell you, got it?”
Cassandra
looked at the nine women, identically dressed, two of them checking firearms
before putting them into a bag, four of them looking at her from behind chairs,
and the final one joining Miss Panther and Miss Puma. She had the most incredible high heels on, as
she looked at them and said “so this is Cassandra Stone – I thought she would
be taller.”
“Patience,
Miss Lynx,” Miss Panther said, as Cassandra looked at her. This was the one rumoured to be the true
psychopath – yet dressed as she was, she could not quite believe it.
“What are you
going to do to us,” Jan said as she looked round.
“Nothing, so long
as you do as we say,” One of the women at the guns said as she came over, and
then hit Jan in the stomach with her gloved fist. “Apart from you that is,” she then said as
she looked at Rick. “Miss Tigress, Miss
Bobcat – make sure our guest is comfortable upstairs.”
“This way,
dahlin,” one of the two women said as they took Rick by the arm and walked him
upstairs.
“As for you
two cock suckers – sit down,” Miss Panther said as they were pushed into a
chair, and she sat, looking at them with the gun across her lap. “I know Agent Carter has looked forward to
this meeting without others for some time, but you intrigue me, Miss Fucking
Hollywood – why are you so anxious to meet us?”
“Well,”
Cassandra said, “you have heard of the film they are making about you?”
“It has come
to our attention,” Miss Puma said as another woman stood with her, “and it is
fair to say we are fucking angry about it.”
“Well, I
don’t want it to be another blood fest – I want to try and understand why you
do what you do?”
“You mean
apart from being fucking badasses?”
“Yes,”
Cassandra said as she wriggled round, “why do it? It can’t just be about the money, so I need
to know – and now, I’m just scared shitless you’re going to kill me.”
“Kill
you?” The final woman laughed as she
said “if we were going to kill you, we would not have brought you here.”
“You’re – not
going to kill us?”
“Not unless
you give us a good reason to – no,” Miss Panther said, “you and FBI cow here
are going to help us, and then if you behave, hubby gets to be safe and
sound. You’ll use the same codenames as
two of our members, and take their places.
We have clothes upstairs for you to wear, and you will look fabulous –
or you’ll be a fucking fabulous corpse for your children to see.”
“Look, I’ll
do whatever you want, just say the word.”
“Well I
won’t,” Janice said, “I won’t be a killer for you.”
“You’re not
going to be – we’ll explain later, so quit your moaning, and shut the fuck up.”
Jan looked at
Cassandra, before she said “all right, what do we have to do.”
“Well,” Miss
Panther said as she sat back, “why don’t you go and get changed first? Miss Lynx, Miss Cheetah – escort our guests
to the room, and make sure they see her mother fucking husband first.”
“Let’s go,
shitheads,” the two women said as they pulled Cassandra and Janice to their
feet, untied their wrists, and walked them up the stairs. As they looked in one room, they saw Rick
lying on a bed, his arms and legs apart as the two masked women secured him spread
eagled to the bed, a large strip of tape covering his mouth.
“Just stay
calm, Rick,” Cassandra said as she and Jan were pushed into another room. Laid out on a bed were two outfits, identical
to those worn by Miss Lynx and Miss Cheetah, as well as stockings, shoes and
two black wigs. Makeup was also arranged
on a side table.
“We’ll come
for you in a little while,” Miss Lynx said before she closed and locked the
door.
“Fucking
hell, Cassandra,” Jan said as she sat down, “what kind of shit have we landed
ourselves in?”
“I have no
idea,” Cassandra said, “but my god, they know how to make an impression. Rick…”
“And the kids
– Cassandra, I don’t think we’ve got a choice in this, but if we do this, it
must NOT get back to my superiors, or Adam.”
“No – no of
course it doesn’t,” Cassandra said as she started giggling.
“What the
hell’s so funny?”
“I’m sorry – it’s
just – can’t you feel the buzz? I
immerse myself in a role, and this…”
“Cass,
they’re the Pussycat Gang – it could end up a massacre.”
“I know – so
let’s pray it’s not, but we don’t have a choice, do we? They have Rick – and I want to see my kids
tomorrow.”
Jan nodded
and stood up, looking at the clothes.
“They look like they are our size – bet that bitch the Hand told them,
or took some photos of us.”
“We’d have
known.”
“Not with
her,” Jan said as she started to remove her top. “Well, sooner we do this, sooner we find out
what crock of shit is going down tonight.”
9 pm
Miss Panther
looked up as the two women came down, dressed identically to them, the black
wigs on their heads, putting the soft leather gloves on their hands.
“Excellent,”
she said as they came to the bottom of the stairs, “you look just like us, as
is the idea. Just remember who is
staying here, and what that means.
“For tonight,
Agent Fucking Bitch Impossible, you will be known as Miss Wildcat, and you Miss
Hollywood will be Miss Serval. Now, let
us review the plan for tonight. Miss
Leopard?”
“Bags are
packed and checked.”
“Miss Civet?”
“I have
everything I need primed and ready to go,” Helen said, feeling part of the team
as she looked through the mask.
“Miss Puma,
Miss Cheetah?”
“Vehicles are
primed and ready to go.”
Cassandra
watched as they talked, and noticed Miss Panther’s hands, but said nothing as
she listened.
“Very well
then – as you know, our target is the State Street Diamond Centre. To effect entry, we have two preliminary
targets.
“First target
– Miss Cheetah, Miss Bobcat, you will take Miss Wildcat with you. When we depart, you head to 14 Chappie Street
in Boston. Make sure the lady of the
house knows just how much trouble her husband has got into.”
“Understood,”
Miss Cheetah said, “and if there is trouble?”
Miss Panther
merely raised an eyebrow under her stocking mask, as Jan looked nervously at
the group.
“The rest of
us head to 131 Orange Street in Chelsea, where we will have an evening of
pleasant discourse and discussion with the family.”
“Really,”
Cassandra said.
“No of course
not you stupid cow,” Miss Lynx said in a slightly angry tone, “we make It very
clear to the head of security what will happen if he won’t do exactly what we
say.”
“I want both
groups,” Miss Panther continued, “to converge on the diamond exchange for seven
thirty. By then, the two gentlemen
should be in work, with the very definite message that if they do anything to
raise the alarm, their families die instantly.
“At seven
thirty we enter from the rear entrance, and begin to secure all staff. Miss Bobcat, Miss Cheetah – security issues?”
“Plan in
place and ready to roll, sugah,” Miss Bobcat drawled.
“As we do
this, Miss Civet and Miss Oncilla will be preparing our little surprise. That will happen at eight thirty, and then we
have thirty minutes to clear everything out, and depart the building by the
rear. We all return here.”
“And what
will we be doing while all this is going on,” Cassandra asked.
“You’re the
fucking actress,” Miss Leopard said, “so you’ll have a gun – act the part and
impress us.”
Cassandra
swallowed and nodded as Miss Panther stood up.
“Final preparations, ladies – I want us ready to move out at 11 on the
dot.”
“Looks like
I’m getting the lighter load,” Jan whispered as she watched Miss Cheetah open a
small case, and take out a hypodermic syringe.
“Who’s that
for?”
“Your fuck
buddy, Miss Serval,” Miss Cheetah said as she took a bottle, and out some of
the clear liquid into the syringe, “we’re going to have him sleep for a few
hours. He’ll live – just be stiff and
sore.”
“Let me go
with you, to tell him it’ll be all right,” Cassandra said as she stood up. Miss Cheetah looked at Miss Panther, who
nodded as she said “very well – come with me.”
The two women
walked upstairs, Cassandra nodding as she came into the room and Rick looked
up.
“Csseee?”
“It’s me
darling,” she said as she sat on the bed, and stroked his head. “They’re going to make sure you sleep until I
get back. When you wake up, we’ll talk
about this, but I’m really sorry you got caught up in this.”
Rick nodded
as he watched Miss Cheetah put the needle into his arm, and then his eyes
flickered as he slipped into unconsciousness.
“Right,” Miss
Cheetah said with a smile, “let’s check everything is ready.”
As Cassandra
and Jan watched, the other Pussycats checked and re-checked everything, and
then ensured it was all packed.
“All right
ladies – final checks on each other.
Make sure you have left all personal items behind, and that nothing is
out of place.”
They watched
as the women checked each other, and then Miss Bobcat checked them.
“Very well,
blindfold them.”
Cassandra
nodded as the black cloth was tied over her eyes, pulling the stocking against
her closed eyelids, as Jan slipped her stocking mask off, along with the others,
and put on the dark glasses.
“I hope you
know what you’re doing,” she whispered to Juliette.
“We do – good
hunting,” she said to Jan, Heather and Jo, while Diana grabbed Cassandra’s arm
and helped her to stand.
“Don’t move
until we say, arse licker,” she growled as Juliette said “all right – let’s go
to work.”
Sunday 16th August
10 am Local time
Tokyo Hilton
“How are
you,” Natalya said as she came into Louise’s room.
“A little
sore, but for a Yakuza head he was surprisingly gentle – the other two may wish
to make me commit seppuku though,” Louise said as she sat down.
“So what is
the outcome from your night out?”
“He’s asked
me to move in with him and the girls.” Louise said as she sat drinking his
coffee.
“That was
what I was both hoping for and fearing Lou.” Natalya sat down next to him and
poured herself a cup. “On the one hand,
it gives us access, on the other it goes above and beyond…”
“Well it’s
your decision what I do.” Louise sipped his/her drink, “but something big is
happening at his apartment tomorrow. He’s told us all to make sure we are out
shopping, and he’s even provided credit cards to make sure we have plenty to
spend.”
“Now that is
interesting news…”
“Thought it
might gain your attention,” Louise said with a smile.
“I need talk
it over with the others…shit I really need to ring New York as well...”
“You look
worried,” Louise said with a smile.
“I am.”
“I take it
you’d like me to plant a few listening devices?”
“Yes….but
they can’t be bog standard bugs, his people are bound to sweep…As I said I need
to ring New York and hope and pray that Madame can get what we need here in
time.”
“And if he
calls?”
Natalya sat
back and looked at her watch. “It’s just
after eight in the evening there. Give
me an hour.”
“As you wish
darling,” Louise said as she went back to her room, and opened her laptop.
She waited a
few minutes until Shirley answered her call.
“Natalya –
what news from Tokyo?”
“We have a
possible in on Yoshimi, Madame – but I wish to discuss the matter with you
first?”
“Ah – so the
bait has been taken.”
“Indeed – our
operative has been invited to move in with him and the other two.”
Shirley sat
back and thought for a moment. “Is she
willing?”
“She is – but
I am unhappy to send her in without an exit strategy.”
“I understand
– and approve. Issue her with a panic
device.”
“She also has
found out a major meeting is taking place tomorrow – she has, I believe the
expression is, been told to clear out with the others.”
“So we need
to monitor. I anticipated the
possibility – call Niki, tell her I have authorized distribution of pack
C. I also want the purse radio on
constant monitoring as a back up – and tell her to be careful.”
“And if an
exit is required?”
“Natalya, I
authorize the use of any means you deem necessary.”
“I understand
Madame – I will keep you posted.”
“Good hunting
Natalya – we will talk again.”
Ending the
video call, Natalya dialed a number on the cell phone.
“Nikki? I have been authorized to draw pack C – can I
have it here in an hour?
“Thank you –
I will see you then.”
1 pm Local Time
Tokyo
“Okay Louise,
these are the gizmos.” Niki Abata said as she reached into her Jameson bag and
handed over a small box.
“They aren’t
very big are they?”
“Exactly,
position these in the living room and the kitchen. Make sure they are out of
sight,” Niki added as Louise looked at the devices.
“The signal
suppressor you can hide in your room.” Natalya added, “That ensures these are
invisible to conventional scanning for bugs.”
“Just make
sure no one sees you planting them.” Niki smiled. “You know I don’t know who
makes these. But damn they are incredible.”
“Aren’t they
just?”
“Natalya do
these do both visual and audio?” Louise asked.
“Yes so point
them like this so we see who is in the room and not just a wall.”
“Gotcha.”
“Now this,”
Natalya said as she handed Louise a gold bracelet, “is your lifeline. As you know, your purse has a transmitter in
the clasp, and that will be on at all times.
This, however, is a panic button.
If at any time you are in danger, press hard on the identity plate – it
contains a beacon, and we will come and get you out.”
“In what
way,” Louise said as she looked at Natalya.
“With extreme
prejudice.”
Louise nodded
as she looked at them. “Well then, I had
better pack and prepare. Pray to God you
never hear this go off.”
2.30 pm Local Time
Lobby, Hilton Tokyo
“There she
goes,” Niki said as she and Natalya watched Louise check out, and follow the
man carrying her suitcase to the waiting car.
“Nice
bracelet,” Natalya said, “and so useful.”
Niki nodded
as she dialed a number. “Begin tracking
and recording of target,” she said, and then ended the call.
“Now – we
wait, and I hate that,” Natalya said as she sipped her drink.
“Amen to
that,” Nikki added.
“Invite Miss
Tanaka to join us for lunch tomorrow – she needs to know the steps we have
taken.”
12.30 am
Chappie Street, Boston
“I still wish
you’d given me some warning,” Jan said as they pulled up outside the house in
the stolen black car, “Juliette nearly made me crap my pants.”
“And Sandy
didn’t,” Jo said as she looked at the three storey building.
“No comment –
especially with Heather here.”
“We needed to
surprise you, so that Cassandra did not think you were part of the group,”
Heather said, “at first, we were going to leave you behind, but in the end…”
“What did you
do to Rick anyway?”
“A sedative –
it lasts for about fifteen hours, so we should be back by the time he wakes
up.”
“So, who’s in
here?”
“On the
second floor,” Jo said, “lives Donald O’Shea and his wife Mary. Donald has been a very naughty boy with the
local bookmakers, and is in heavy to one of the local bosses.”
“And he is
about to discover,” Heather said with a smile, “that the Pussycats have bought
his debt out, and they have a job for him.”
“Let me guess
– he’s the security guard for getting in?”
Jo and
Heather nodded as they pulled the stockings down over their heads. “Ready for some fun, Jan?”
“Oh hell yeah
– what will you tell Cassandra?”
“That you
were made to stand guard while we had our sick little way,” Jo said. “Shall we?”
“Oh yes,” Jan
said as she picked up the sawn off shotgun, “I have some things I need to get
out of my system.”
The three
women got out onto the dark street, and made their way up the fire escape at
the side to the second floor, waiting as Jo forced a window open and they
entered the main room.
Heather
switched on a torch, and motioned to the other two to follow her as they went
to the main bedroom. As she opened the
door, she saw a young couple lying on the bed.
The man was wearing a grey t-shirt and checked shorts, the woman a white
vest top and knee length cycle pants.
“Aw, they
look so cute,” Jo said as she leaned over and whispered in the woman’s ear
“wake up sugah, ah’ve got a surprise for you.”
Mary O’Shea
mumbled something and slowly opened her eyes, looking into Miss Bobcat’s
stocking covered face as she smiled back.
“Surprise,
sugah,” she said as she pointed the gun at her stomach, “now wake that pisspoor
fucking excuse for a husband up, there’s a good gahl.”
Nodding, she
slowly sat up, taking in the other two shadowy figures as she said
“Donald… Donny, for Christ’s sake wake
up.”
“Whaassitt,”
Donald said as he reached over and turned on the bedside light, and then sat up
suddenly.
“Hello
asshole,” Miss Cheetah said, “I’m Miss Cheetah, this is Miss Bobcat and Miss Wildcat,
and we are part of the Pussycat Gang.”
“What that
means,” Miss Wildcat said, “is if you make any noise, you die. If you make the neighbours come and complain,
they die. In fact, if you do anything
other than exactly what we tell you, you and your wife die. Am I making myself clear, fucker, or do I
need to draw a diagram?”
“Oh god,”
Mary whimpered as she held her husband’s arm, “no, not us…”
“Ah think
they got the message,” Miss Bobcat said as she aimed the gun in her hand at
them. “So, face down on the bed, hands
behind your back, and once we have you nice and tight and compliant, we’ll all
have a little chat. Won’t that be fun,
sugah?”
“Miss Bobcat
gave you an order,” Miss Wildcat whispered as she ran the barrel of her gun
down the inside of Mary’s leg, and then said “Move, fuckers.”
12.45 am
Orange Street, Chelsea
“Nice house,”
Miss Lynx said as she looked at the peach coloured wooden exterior, “shall we
say hello?”
“I think we should
– take the blindfold off Miss Fucking Hollywood.”
Cassandra
blinked as the pressure was taken off her eyes, and she looked out of the SUV
window at the darkened street, and then at the stocking covered faces with
identical black hair.
“You’re with
us, Miss Serval,” Miss Panther said as she got out of the vehicle, holding her
gun as Miss Leopard pulled Cassandra out.
“Hold that fucking gun as if you mean to use it, and keep fucking quiet. Miss Leopard?”
The three
women walked up to the front door of the house and waited as Miss Panther
opened the screen door and rang the doorbell.
She kept ringing it until she heard a male voice saying “all right, all
right, I’m coming,” and the inner door was opened by Ron Esmond, an old checked
dressing gown wrapped around his body.
“Yes, what is
it… oh shit,” he said as the three impeccably dressed women walked in, one of
them putting the business end of a sawn off shotgun against his belly.
“Good evening
Mister Desmond,” Miss Panther said, “and how are you this evening, you fucking
little shit?”
“Whhhhoooo…”
“Hush,” Miss
Leopard said as she placed the end of the gun in his mouth, and Miss Panther
signaled outside, while Miss Serval looked round. He watched as five more women, identically
dressed and masked, walked in, the last one closing the door behind them.
“My name is
Miss Panther, we are the Pussycat Gang, and you are going to do exactly what we
say, aren’t you dickhead?”
Ron looked at
the eight women, and then nodded slowly as Miss Panther said “Good – Miss
Serval, secure him while Miss Leopard keeps him quiet. Miss Puma, Miss Tigress, Miss Lynx, and Miss
Oncilla – invite the rest of the family to join us. Miss Civet, disconnect the phone and any
security devices.”
The other
women nodded as Cassandra laid her gun down, opened one of the bags that had
been placed on the floor, and watched as Miss Leopard slowly made Ron turn,
before she grabbed his wrists and pulled them behind his back, using the rope
to bind them tightly together as the gun stayed in his mouth.
“Don’t move,
mother fucker,” she growled as she pulled his arms into his sides with more
rope, as upstairs she could hear muffled screams and movement, before Soo
Esmond was forced down the stairs, wearing a white knee length nightdress, by
Miss Puma. Miss Tigress followed with
Wilma, in a pair of black silk pyjamas; Miss Lynx forced Jade down the stairs
at gunpoint in her green combat patterned top and shorts, as she looked round,
her eyes wide in fear; and finally Miss Oncilla brought down Carol, in a pale
blue vest and shorts, who was sobbing as she held herself.
“Shut the
fuck up, you bunch of mewling quims,” Miss Panther shouted as Miss Serval tied
off the last knot, Miss Leopard nodding as she removed the gun and pushed Ron
towards his family. “We are the Pussycat
Gang, and if you’re really good and really fucking lucky, you’ll get to tell
people you met us – a rare privilege.”
“And if you’re
luckier still,” Miss Lynx said as she stroked Jade’s cheek, “we’ll be really
nice to you.”
“Phone and
internet disconnected, and alarm disabled,” Miss Civet said as she walked in.
“Oh shit,”
Ron said quietly, “what are you going to do?”
“Who knows,
the night is young,” Miss Panther said, “but right now, your four whores need
to be kept secure. Take care of it
ladies.”
1.30 am
Chappie Street
“Hmmggdddd,”
Mary O’Shea said as she knelt on the floor of her front room, her arms pinned
tightly to her sides by the tight ropes that had been wrapped around her upper
body, above, below and between her breasts.
Her wrists were pinned together behind her back, and the rope that ran
from then down and between her legs was rubbing against her body, the knots driving
her crazy as they pressed on her clit.
Her legs were
tightly bound at her ankles, knees and thighs, but that wasn’t the worst
thing. Not even the fact that the woman
that called herself Miss Wildcat was kneeling behind her, caressing her thrust
out breasts in her leather gloved hands as she squeezed and teased.
No – it was
watching the other two intruders, Miss Cheetah and Miss Bobcat, as they took
turns to punch Donald in his stomach, his gasps as they did so growing
quieter. He also had his arms bound
tightly together behind his back, and ropes holding his arms to his sides as he
knelt on the ground.
“Your fucker
is a strong man,” Miss Wildcat whispered into Mary’s ear as she closed her
eyes, unable to stop herself from groaning now as the leather gloved hands
squeezed again.
“Enough,
enough,” Donald said, “what the fuck is it you want?”
“Well, right
now dickhead,” Miss Cheetah said, “we need you to shut the fuck up and listen.”
“Enjoying
yerself sugah,” Miss Bobcat said as she knelt in front of Mary, and put her
hand between the bound woman’s legs, smiling as she felt how damp the young
woman was. “Wahl I see you are – would
you like me to help you along?”
Mary looked
up, the white tape covering her mouth as she nodded.
“I have a
better idea sugah,” she said as Miss Cheetah made Donald stand up and shuffle
over to his wife, before she pulled his pants down.
“Oh god, no
don’t make her…”
“Shut up,
arsekisser,” Miss Wildcat said as she yanked the tape away from Mary’s mouth,
“give your fuckbuddy a real good time, honey.”
“No – please
don’t make me…”
She felt the
barrel of the shotgun as it was inserted into her bottom, pressing on the rope,
as Miss Wildcat said “do it, cocksucker – and do it right.”
Nodding, Mary
slowly began to kiss and lick her husband’s cock, shivering as she felt it
harden under her teasing, and then slowly began to suck on it, hearing his moan
as he grew in her mouth.
The three
women all watched as she soon brought him to a climax, and swallowed, as Miss
Cheetah tape gagged Donald. Pulling him
back, she threw him onto a seat as Miss Wildcat re-gagged Mary.
“Now,
fucker,” Miss Cheetah said, “let’s talk about why we’re here, and why if you
love your wife, you’re going to do exactly what we say…”
“Listen
carefully,” Miss Wildcat said as she slowly pulled the crotch rope to and fro,
sending Mary into a frenzy as her climax quickly followed.
“And you know
why you’re going to do this,” Miss Cheetah purred as she held Donald’s chin
up. “Because we own your ass, that’s
why.”
1.30 am
Orange Street
“Mmmwhtsgnngnn?”
“Be brave,” Soo
said as she looked at Carol, her mouth and head covered by the band of silver
tape that was wrapped round her head, holding in a pair of her own used
hose. The eighteen year old was kneeling
with her sisters, all of them gagged in the same way, with their arms bound
with bands of rope that held them to their sides, and forced their chests out.
They were
also frogtied, their ankles lashed to their thighs and ropes above and below
their knees, watching as Miss Lynx took a pair of scissors and cut their pants
away.
“Please,” Ron
said as he sat on the chair, Miss Serval and Miss Leopard covering him with
their guns, “they’re just children.”
“Oh I know
that,” Miss Lynx said as she slowly turned and looked at Soo, “but that does
not mean their cocksucking mother and ass licking whore fucking father have to
protect them all their lives. They need
to be exposed to the many experiences life has to offer.”
“Observe,
Miss Serval,” Miss Leopard said, “The Beast is here.”
Cassandra
watched the woman as she smiled and stood up, heading upstairs before she
returned with three electric toothbrushes.
She passed one to Miss Tigress and one to Miss Oncilla, before she
turned hers on and ran it across Jade’s breasts, Miss Tigress doing it to Wilma
and Miss Oncilla to Carol.
“Oh god,
please,” Soo said as Miss Panther and Miss Serval looked on.
“Oh be quiet,
pissdrinker,” Miss Puma said as she stroked her gun along Soo’s sides, and then
between her legs as she sat there, “time for your little girls to become
women.”
“For fuck’s
sake,” Ron cried out, “don’t – I’ll do anything.”
“I’m sorry,
fuckface,” Miss Lynx said as she looked at Ron, “were you telling me to stop?”
“Please…”
“Remember – Daddy
did this,” Miss Lynx said as she rammed the electric toothbrush into Jade’s
passage, watching the blood seep out as she closed her eyes and screamed.
“Now isn’t
that better,” she said as she moved the toothbrush to and fro, Jade starting to
shake as her body responded.
“Now that’s
an idea,” Miss Oncilla said as she thrust her toothbrush into Carol – and then
said “Well now, little sis has been popped already. I wonder when that happened?”
“Carol?”
“HMMMGDDDDDD”
the young girl said as she started shaking, and then screamed as she had an
orgasm, Jade not far behind her.
“What about
you, big sis,” Miss Lynx said as all three converged on her, “ready?”
“Npplsddnntttt…”
“Oh shut the
fuck up,” Miss Tigress said as she thrust her toothbrush in, Miss Lynx walking
behind and thrusting hers between her butt cheeks as Miss Oncilla watched.
“Oh my god…”
Miss Panther
and Miss Puma looked at Miss Serval, before the leader smiled and said “is
there something you wish to say Miss Serval?”
“I…” She moaned again as Miss Leopard turned and
looked at her.
“What do you
wish to do?”
“Take this,”
she said as she handed the gun to Miss Leopard, and then walked in front of
Soo, kneeling down and looking at the young woman’s face.
“You are a
very beautiful young woman,” she said as she stroked her cheek with her gloved
hand, “and you speak very well. Tell me,
are you skilled with your tongue?”
Miss Panther,
Miss Leopard, Miss Puma and Miss Civet watched as Soo slowly nodded.
“Blindfold
them,” she said quietly as she looked round.
Miss Panther nodded as cloths were produced and tied over their eyes.
“Use that
tongue, those lips,” she cooed as she slipped the top of her hose and her
panties down, and positioned herself so that Soo felt Miss Serval’s clit on her
lips. Miss Leopard handed her back the
gun, as she pressed it against the mother’s head and said “do it.”
“You need to
enjoy yourself as well,” Miss Civet said as she opened Ron’s pants, and pulled
his dick out, while the others stood and watched Miss Serval slowly smile and
start to moan…
8 am Local Time
Pretoria
“Good Morning
Sir,” John Vosloo said as he entered the office of the Chief of Operations,
came to attention and saluted.
“Ja Good
Morning.” General Hendrik Botha returned the salute. “How was the game?”
“We played
well and won comfortably.” Colonel Vosloo smiled.
“Alright now
we have the civilities out of the way,” Hendrik said as he sat down and
indicated John should do the same, “why did you ask me to come in on a Sunday
morning John?”
“Well,” John
said as he crossed his legs, “I spent last night talking with some old
acquaintances on the phone, Russian Intelligence, MI6, and CIA. We swapped some
notes and I think we have some sort of answer to my questions on Charlotte
Gordon.”
“And those
answers are?”
“The CIA
think that a group of female police and intelligence people, joined with
certain elements in the criminal fraternity last year to bring down that whole
Mazengwe and slavery mess.”
“I seem to remember
that being said at the time.”
“Well, the CIA
also think what was at the time a marriage of convenience has evolved into
something more permanent, that there exists a shadowy coalition of women
dedicated to ending the abuse of women and children in certain parts of the
world.”
Hendrik say
forward. “You mean a group that acts
outside the existing structures…”
“And outside
the law Hennie.”
“And it’s
your thought that both Charlotte Gordon and her employer are part of this
coalition?”
“I think they
are part of its public face yes.”
“So why
Mogola? It might not be perfect, but its standards of human rights and freedom
are higher then a lot of its neighbours.”
“That is
where I get into the realm of pure conjecture Hennie, but I think something is
happening somewhere in Mogola, somehow word has got out to this group of women
and they are acting to close it down.”
“Any idea
what?”
“Our Russian
friends have heard whispers about some Chinese elements having gone into free enterprise,
but using their governments resources. MI6 has been watching some slightly
shadowy Japanese businessmen who have been using London as a staging stop on
visits to Mogola.”
“So if I get
this straight,” Hendrik said as he sat back, “the Oriental’s are pulling some
kind of shit in Mogola, and these women are trying to stop it?”
“That’s my
best guess currently Hennie.”
“And
Charlotte Gordon?”
“If you want
to expose wrongdoing…”
“Make sure
that an internationally respected, and trusted, journalist breaks the story.”
“It’s only a
theory Hennie,” the captain said, “but the pieces all do seem to fit.”
“Well it’s a
pretty good theory John, the question is do we need to take any action?”
“I was hoping
you might have a word with our political masters and ask what action they wish
taken. In the meantime, I’ve put someone next to Piet van der Byl, and I’m
maintaining surveillance in London.”
“Just in case
you are wrong John?”
“As you say
Sir, just in case I’m a mile wide of the mark.”
“Alright. I’m
seeing the Minister and the Chief tomorrow morning, let me have all this on
paper John and I’ll show them.”
“Thank you
Hennie.” John stood up and said “Tell
me, off the record, what if I’m right?”
“Off the
record?”
John nodded
as he looked at his superior officer.
“Then good
luck to them – if it’s the same women who brought old man Kimba down, then
these bastards deserve an ass whipping of the highest magnitude.”
8 am Local Time
Johannesburg
“So you’re my
new junior,” Piet said as he looked at the dark skinned woman, sitting with him
at the roadside café. She was wearing a
short sleeved blouse and shorts, and looked like an eager cub reporter with her
shoulder bag and glasses. “So what do I
call you – Liz, Lizzie, Elizabeth, or Lieutenant?”
“What works
best for you, Piet?”
“Liz it is
then,” Piet said as a car drew up, and Charlotte Gordon got out.
“Hello Piet,”
she said as she reached down and kissed him, “so is this the eager office
junior?”
“Liz, meet
Charlotte. Charlotte, Liz.”
“Well, I hope
you got those coffees to go,” Charlotte said, “we need to get you to the
airport. Get in the car, both of you.”
“Yes, boss,”
Piet said as he picked up his rucksack, getting into the car as Liz followed
him. She sat next to a young woman, who
looked at both her and Piet.
“This is
Maria,” Charlotte said as they set off, “she will accompany you to the plane,
and be on the flight with you. We’re
going to fly you to just before the border, and you will be taken from there to
see what you need to see.”
“No clues?”
“All I know
is it involves diamonds and some Eastern influences. The rest is up to you, Piet – and Liz of
course.”
“How long?”
“We’ll have
you at the border by nightfall. I’ll be
informed when you are on your way back – but trust these women. They will keep you safe.”
Piet nodded
as the car came to a halt, and they got out, a small plane waiting on the
tarmac.
“Go – and
good hunting,” Charlotte said as they climbed in, the plane taxiing off as soon
as they were strapped in and the door closed.
She watched as the plane took off, and then looked at her phone.
“Penny,” she
said as she answered the call, “Helen is heading over as well – I’ll meet you
both at the hotel tomorrow…”
3 am
Chappie Street
Mary could
hardly believe what she was hearing as the masked women talked to her husband,
while Miss Wildcat was searching their bedroom.
“You mean,
you bought my debt out?”
“That’s right
arsefucker,” Miss Cheetah said as she stroked his leg, “so now we own you, and
you are going to do what we say. Do
this, and the debt is written off.”
“And your
sweet little fuck lives, sugah,” Miss Bobcat said as she looked at Mary, and
ran her hand between her bound legs, pulling the rope between them as she
moaned.
“Frsrhssskdnld,,
whtrrthtlgnnnNNNNNNNN.”
“Oh – there
she goes again,” Miss Bobcat drawled as Mary shook, then fell over onto her
side.
“That’s the
deal – you go to work as normal, and at seven thirty, you open the rear
entrance and let us in. The Security
Chief won’t stop you – in fact, he’ll be right with you.”
“Esmond? That’s where the rest of you are, isn’t it?”
“That’s right
– so there’s five women you need to keep in mind while you do EXACTLY what we
say, understand?”
Donald slowly
nodded before Miss Bobcat shove a sponge ball into his mouth, and wrapped tape
tightly round his head. “Now sugah,” she
drawled, “why don’t we pass the time telling your dahlin little fuck here just
what a naughty boy you’ve been, hmmm?“
3.30 am
Orange Street
“Well,
Hollywood,” Miss Panther said to Miss Serval as they stood in the kitchen,
“think you have a better idea of why we are what we are now?”
“Oh fuck
yeah,” Miss Serval said quietly, as she saw Miss Lynx looking in a bag, “it’s
not just the money is it – it’s the power, the feeling that you are in total
control - that’s a lot to do with it as
well, right?”
“A very great
deal with it,” Miss Panther said as Miss Lynx said “Ah – here it is. I hoped we had brought it with us.”
The two women
looked as she picked up the double headed dildo, and looked along the line.
“No, I think
you girls are suitably subdued,” she said with a smile, “but you, mommy
dearest, I think you deserve a fucking reward for helping Miss Serval to feel
so relaxed.”
Soo was
pushed over onto her back, her frogtied legs pushed apart as she said
“whtrudngg” before Miss Lynx eased one end into her passage, moaning softly as
she did so, and then looking at the mother.
“Oh you so
fucking deserve this,” she said as she moved between the older woman’s legs,
and then smiled as she heard the muffled scream when the other end of the dildo
was forced into her.
“FRFKSSKKLFTHMLLNNNN.”
“Shut up,
fuckface,” Miss Tigress said as she hit Ron in the stomach again, “and enjoy
what you can hear.”
“Yes,” Miss
Leopard said with a sigh, “the control, the power is exhilarating, and you feel
it as well, don’t you?”
Miss Serval
nodded looking at Miss Civet as she reached under her skirt, some of the others
following suit.
“Oh I
understand now,” she moaned, “but why did you start?”
“I leave that
to the fuckers giving you this job to decide,” Miss Panther said, “the truth
will never be known.”
Hearing Soo’s
muffled screams, Miss Serval nodded – she really did feel she understood them
better now.
5.30 am
Chappie Street.
Mary looked
at her husband, still trying to digest how much trouble he had placed them both
in, as he finished putting on his uniform,
“I’m sorry,
I’m really sorry,” he said as he went to stroke her cheek, but she turned her
head away, looking instead at the three masked women.
“Miss Wildcat
will drive you to work in your car,” Miss Cheetah said, “if you raise the
alarm, or call the police, we will know – and she will die, and the other women
will die. Just remember that, and the
fact you debt will be paid in full.”
Mary just
shook her head as Miss Wildcat took Donald out, and they heard a car driving
away.
“Now, sugah,”
Miss Bobcat said as she looked at Mary, “we need to get you really cozy – and
we have a little present for you. Our
way of thanking you for been such ahn ahmazing fucking host. Miss Cheetah, if you would be so kind?”
“My pleasure,
Miss Bobcat,” the other masked woman said as she took a vibrator from the bag,
pulled Mary’s crotch rope to one side and thrust it in, making her call out as
she put the rope back, and then rolled her onto her stomach, pulling her ankles
and hogtying her.
Mary shook
and then screamed out again, as Miss Bobcat and Miss Cheetah smiled, then
started to play with themselves.
As they both
worked themselves into a climax, a cell phone buzzed, Miss Cheetah looking at
it.
“Time,” she
said as she took a black case from the bag, and injected the sedative into
Mary’s thigh, watching as she slipped into unconsciousness.
“He dies
doesn’t he,” Jo said as she removed her stocking mask, and put on her dark
glasses.
“Oh yes – she
deserves better,” Heather replied. “Come
on – we have a rendezvous to keep.”
6 am
Orange Street
“NNNNFFFF.”
Jade screamed
as the rope was yanked tightly up by Miss Oncilla, pressing hard on the joggers
she was wearing and rubbing on her crotch, which was still sensitive after the
events of the last few hours. Her arms
were pinned together behind her back, ropes holding them together around her
elbows and her wrists, the crotch rope tied between her elbows.
The ropes
around her chest were also pressing on her body, her breasts throbbing as they
rubbed through the t-shirt she had been allowed to put on. She looked at Wilma and Carol, the two
sisters looking back at her as they had the same feelings.
“mmm?”
The three
girls turned and looked as Miss Panther and Miss Leopard escorted Soo down the
stairs. She was wearing a short sleeved
blouse and a black leather skirt, but from the way she was walking, and the way
her chest was forced out and encircled on all sides with white rope, they knew
she had the same torture they were going through.
“They look so
cute,” Miss Puma said as she ran her gun across their breasts, the touch of the
metal on their sensitive nipples making them shiver even with the cloth stretched
tight over them.
“All right
fucker,” Miss Panther said as Ron walked slowly down the stairs, dressed for
walk, “you will go in your car with Miss Puma and Miss Leopard. Your fuck sows,” she said as she looked at
the tape gagged women, “come I our vehicle with me and the rest of us. If we see any sign of the police or the alarm
being raised, if you do not have that door open at seven thirty, they die – and
you die when we come in as well.
Understand?”
Ron slowly
nodded as they were all blindfolded, and Cassandra was surprised to find
herself blindfolded as well.
“All right,”
Juliette said as she put her dark glasses on, “move out.”
7.15 am
State Street Diamond Exchange
“Well,” Miss
Oncilla said as she looked at Miss Civet, “they should be getting started in
there. Excited?”
“Oh yes,”
Miss Civet said quietly as she poked the barrel of her gun into Carol’s ribs,
making her squeal through her stuffed mouth and the tape.
In the car,
Miss Wildcat, Miss Cheetah and Miss Bobcat were checking and rechecking their
weapons.
“He went in
the front?”
“As did
Esmond – Miss Panther is moving out.”
In the SUV,
Miss Panther said “Miss Oncilla, Miss Civet, wait a moment until we secure the
entrance, then bring the ladies in before you get to work.”
They nodded
as they all removed their dark glasses, and pulled the stockings back over
their heads, before Miss Lynx removed the blindfold from Miss Serval’s eyes.
“Pussycats,
move out.”
As six
emerged from the SUV, three emerged from the car, each carrying a sawnoff
shotgun, half carrying bags as well.
“O’Shea!”
Donald slowly
turned as he saw Ron Esmond approaching him as he stood by the back door.
“What are you
doing here?”
“I think you
know sir,” Donald whispered, “I… I had a
visitor during the night.”
“You as
well?”
Donald nodded
as he said “Boss, they have my wife…”
“They have my
family,” Esmond said as he looked round.
“Do what you have to do, and may god have mercy on us both.”
As he turned
and walked away, O’Shea looked at his watch, and then typed in the security
number for the rear door, standing back as it opened and nine of the she devils
walked in, their hips swaying in the skirts, their faces covered, their looks
alike.
“Thank you,
fuck face,” Miss Panther said as Miss Cheetah and Miss Bobcat grabbed Donald by
the arms. “Miss Tigress, stand guard for
the moment.”
The tall
Pussycat nodded as she stood by the door, the shotgun nestled in her hands as
they walked onto the floor of the exchange.
A number of security guards turned as they heard the shot fire into the
air, and Miss Panther called out “ATTENTION FUCKERS AND WHORES – WE ARE THE
PUSSYCAT GANG, AND IF YOU WISH TO LIVE TO SEE MORNING COFFEE, DO EXACTLY WHAT
WE TELL YOU!”
“No fucking
way,” One of the guards said as he drew his gun – only to fall to the ground as
Miss Leopard fired her gun, his head exploding as the bullets hit.
“ANY MORE
FUCKING HEROES? GOOD – ON THE GROUND
NOW! MISS BOBCAT, MISS CHEETAH –
SECURITY ROOM.”
Two of the
Pussycats peeled off and walked to a side room, Miss Bobcat kicking the door
open as Ron Esmond looked at them.
“They know,”
he said quietly, “they won’t stop you, and the alarm has not been raised.”
“Good
fucker,” Miss Cheetah purred as Miss Bobcat threw a large roll of duct tape at
Esmond, and then pointed to the two security men. “Tape them up Dahlin – and then tape your own
legs.”
On the shop
floor, the remaining guards and the staff that had arrived were on the floor,
their arms been secured behind their backs with zip ties and their ankles
forced together, before tape was pressed firmly over their mouths by five of
the Pussycats.
“Guard them,”
Miss Panther said to Miss Wildcat and Miss Serval, the two women looking at
each other before they looked round and started to poke the captives with their
guns.
Hearing the
whimpering of two women, Miss Serval stopped and said “If you two bitches don’t
shut the fuck up, your brains will decorate the floor, understand?”
“Miss
Leopard, inform the others they can come in please. Miss Lynx, Miss Puma – greet the staff as
they arrive. Everyone else, make sure
the floor is quiet.”
The group
walked round as Miss Oncilla and Miss Civet dragged the Esmond girls and their
mother in, and took them to the open area in front of the vault, forcing them
to lie down before binding their legs and then hogtying them.
“To work?”
“To work,”
Miss Civet said as she opened her bag, and took out several packages. “Take these and attach them where we
discussed previously.”
8 am
On the street
outside, everything looked normal, as one or two at a time the Exchange staff
arrived at the front door, rang the security buzzer and then passed in – only
to be grabbed by Miss Lynx and Miss Puma and propelled to the floor, where Miss
Panther and Miss Leopard secured and gagged them.
Miss Serval
and Miss Wildcat looked at each other, understanding they had no choice as they
stood guard, while in the security room Miss Bobcat and Miss Cheetah were
destroying records and disabling cameras while the security man and Esmond
watched, tightly taped and gagged.
Miss Tigress
watched through the rear door, which had been almost closed to, before Miss
Puma came to her.
“Take my
place at the front entrance – you deserve a little fun as well.”
As Miss
Tigress walked in, she noticed Donald O’Shea fiddling with the hasp on the zip
tie securing his wrists together. “Don’t
even think about it,” she growled as she looked at him, and then pressed the
gun into his back as he loosened the tie.
“Problem,
Miss Tigress.”
“No,” she
said as the front door opened and another two women were thrown to the floor,
“not any more.”
The blinding
pain was the last thing O’Shea felt as the lower part of his spine was blown
away, as well as most of his stomach.
“That fucker
thought we didn’t mean business,” Miss Lynx called out as Miss Wildcat stared
at her, “discussion? No? Good – now shut
the fuck up and keep quiet.”
“Hmggdddd,” a
young woman said as Miss Serval looked at her.
“God? God’s not here,” she said as she looked at
her, “we’re the Pussycat Gang, and we’re God’s nightmare.”
In the vault,
Miss Oncilla and Miss Civet moved Soo to be with her daughters behind a set of
desks, before Miss Civet ran the wires from the various devices to a control
box. Wiring them in, she crouched behind
the desk and nodded to Miss Oncilla.
“Fire in the
hole,” she called out as she walked into the front, Miss Panther nodding as she
looked at the others.
Miss Civet looked
at the clock. “Five… Four… Three… Two…
One…”
The bang was
barely heard in the street outside, while inside Miss Leopard fired a shot into
the air and shouted “SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!”
“Alarms,”
Miss Cheetah said to Miss Bobcat.
“None
triggered – we blocked them all sugah,” Miss Bobcat said as she turned and
looked at the other captives.
“Excellent
work,” Miss Panther said as she joined Miss Civet, and looked at the three open
vaults. “Ladies – take a bag and grab
everything. We are on the clock. Miss Tigress, Miss Lynx – lock the front
door, and take over guard duty while Miss Wildcat and Miss Serval assist us in
here.”
“Go and
help,” Miss Puma said as the other two women walked in, and took a bag from
Miss Oncilla. They entered one of the
vaults, looked at each other and started to empty the diamonds into the bags.
They worked
as a well oiled machine, three pairs in each of the vaults, handing the bags to
Miss Oncilla and Miss Civet as they placed them in larger canvas holdalls. As they filled them, they took them through
the trading floor to Miss Puma, who took them and loaded them into the SUV
alongside Miss Cheetah.
Eventually,
the last of the diamonds were tipped into the bags, and the Pussycats left the vaults,
Miss Wildcat and Miss Serval carrying the last bag between them.
“Nobody
move,” Miss Panther called out as Miss Bobcat came down from the security room,
“or we come back and find you – and we have copies of the staff records.”
The masked
women walked out of the exchange, loading the last bag into the SUV.
“Miss
Leopard, take Miss Wildcat, Miss Serval and Miss Puma in the car,” Miss Panther
called out, “everyone else in here.”
The two vehicles
moved out along Chatham Street, turning right and heading along the front of
the exchange on State Street as Cassandra felt the blindfold over her eyes
again, Jan nodding as the cars went onto Court Street, then Cambridge Street,
and south on the I28.
11 am
The Farm
As the car
pulled up outside the main building, Miss Leopard turned and looked at Miss
Serval and Miss Wildcat.
“The
blindfold stays until you are inside,” she growled as the doors opened, Miss
Wildcat and Miss Puma walking Cassandra inside and then removing her blindfold.
“We’re back,”
Cassandra said as she and Janice removed the stockings.
“Go and get
changed, Miss Hollywood,” Miss Leopard said as she indicated the stairs, “you
will all be returned safely, as promised.
The two women
slowly walked up, and looked at each other as they removed their wigs.
“Rick…”
“Never tell
him what you saw or did today, whatever it was,” Janice said as she sat and
removed the heels, “I just regret the two deaths.”
“But… Oh my god Jan, the power I felt…”
“Yeah – yeah
I felt it too in the other house,” Jan said, “but now I have to go and try not
to anticipate the call that is coming.”
“I won’t say
anything,” Cassandra said, “if you won’t.”
Jan nodded as
she said “let’s get changed and hope Rick is awake.”
“Ah there you
are,” Miss Panther said as they came down, “here – a glass of champagne to
toast your night.”
“Are you not
having some,” Jan said as she took the glass.
“Later –
drink now, I insist.”
Jan and
Cassandra looked at each other, and then drank the champagne – Jan instantly
feeling light headed as the glasses were taken by Miss Lynx and Miss Tigress.
“Do a good
job, Hollywood,” she heard Miss Panther say as she and Cassandra sat down, “or
we’ll call again…”
“You know
she’s going to kill you,” Sandy said as she looked at Juliette.
“Possibly –
get the three of them into a car and back to Cassandra’s place.”
“We’ll do
it,” Helen said as she and Doc removed their masks. “I’ve had a text from Madame – I need to be
on a plane to Joburg tonight to deal with something at that end.”
“Helen, thank
you for all your help,” Juliette said, “we’ll be in touch with your share of
the takings in due course.”
“My pleasure
– come, Anna, I need to consult with Catherine before I head off, and you need
to talk to young Kylie.”
“Doc!”
“Yes,
Juliette?”
“Good work,”
she said, Doc smiling as the two of them went upstairs.
“I’m going to
cook some lunch,” Diana said as she walked off, and the others removed their
masks and wigs.
“Not a bad
send off for your Freshman year, Jo,” Cari said as she looked at her friend.
“Yeah – we’re
heading back Tuesday so that I can start packing. I have to report to campus on the 28th.”
“Well, I’m
back on the 30th, and you start back on the Monday Abby.”
“Yeah –
summer’s coming to an end,” Abby said as Helen and Doc carried Rick out of the
farmhouse, “let’s help with the two sleepyheads.”
Noon
Manchester Beach
“Hey there,”
Doc said as she walked up to where Chet was sitting with Harry and Sarah,
“Sorry I’m late – I had to take care of something with Juliette before I came.”
“Oh yes,”
Sarah said as she looked up through her glasses, “anything interesting.”
“She asked if
I’d help with an upcoming shoot,” Anna said as she sat down, and unfastened her
shorts, pulling them off to reveal her bikini briefs. “Right now, I just want to relax and soak up
some rays.”
“You may not
get the chance,” Harry said as he looked towards the road, “the rest of the
gang is arriving.”
“Hey,” Nikki
said as she walked over, carrying a drinks cooler with Pepsi, “this was a
fantastic idea, a Sunday afternoon on the beach.”
“Yeah – glad
we thought of it,” Jeannie said from the arms of House, as he laid her down on
a blanket that Barbara put down, before she, April, Annie and Caroline took a
picnic table a little way away and left the youngsters alone.
“Dad still at
home Becky,” Doc said as Becky and Ama carried over a picnic basket.
“Yeah – he
heads back in a weeks time.”
“So do we,”
Chet said, “once we see Blair settled in.
Hard to think the summer is nearly over…”
“It’s hard to
think the summer is nearly over,” April said as she sat at the table, “I need
to take Pepsi to be fitted for a new uniform next week.”
“So do I –
well, for Ama,” Caroline said as she poured a cold drink.
“Look at
them,” April said as she glanced at the group, “they’ve grown so much over the
last year, haven’t they?”
“I know,” Barbara
said, “we’d only just arrived in New York this time last year, and since then
our lives have changed completely.
“That’s true
of all of us,” April said. “I mean, last
August I was just a florist, so proud of Nicola for getting into the school, and
now I advise leading families, Grant is part of a racing syndicate and happy as
Larry, and Pepsi – well, Pepsi is happy, has a boyfriend who is British
aristocracy, and has great friends.”
“They all
do,” Annie said, “and we’ve all changed as well.”
“Amen to
that,” Caroline said as she sipped her drink.
“So when will we start meeting for coffee again?”
“I’ll ask
Sandy about Friday – it’ll be good to start meeting again.”
“Anna can I
ask a personal question?” Sarah asked.
“Sure,” Doc
said as she looked over and raised her sunglasses, “what is it?”
“You and
Chet…how often do you…?”
“Not as often
as I think we’d both like…it’s the penalty of him living in Chicago and me in
New York…Why?”
“Because I
want Harry to…well you know what…and while I’ve given him chances, he’s not
taken any.”
“Oh?” Doc sat
up and looked at her friend.
Sarah looked
at the other girls and said “Is it because I’m not slim like all of you, do you
think?”
“Sarah,” Doc
said as she sat up, “have you looked in the mirror? That puppy fat of yours has all but gone. You
are gorgeous.”
“But I’m
still no pinup like you.”
“Only because
you don’t wear makeup, and well that one-piece does nothing for you.”
Sarah sat up
and looked down at her bathing suit, “I know, but its all my mom will let me
have.”
“Look I have
an idea, while the guys and the others swim, let’s shoot over to the Richmond
house, you are about Heather’s size and I know she has some amazing bikinis.”
“Are you sure
she won’t mind?”
“No, look
I’ll tell the others we will be gone an hour, I won’t say why, but I want to
see their faces when you come back.” Anna giggled.
“All right
then,” Sarah said as they stood up, Doc going to talk to the other girls before
they walked to the road.
“Hey – where
are you two heading?”
“Annie, any
chance you can drive us to Sandy’s place?”
“Sure – I
want to catch up with her anyway,” Annie said as she stood up. “Back in a little while?”
“Take your
time,” Caroline said as they headed off.
1 pm
Beverley MA
“Ohhhh,” Jan
said as she slowly opened her eyes, and sat up, “I am going to kill her later…”
Rubbing her
eyes, she looked round and saw that they were back in Cassandra and Rick’s
holiday home. They were on the couch
opposite her, sitting side by side with their eyes closed.
“Hey,” Jan
said as she slowly stood up, “wake up, both of you.”
Rick stirred
first, opening his eyes and then looking wildly round. “What the hell… We’re back?
Jan what happened last night?”
“Rick, it’s
best you don’t ask,” Jan said, “have you got any bottles of water in the
icebox?”
“Yeah –
yeah,” Rick said as he looked at Cassandra, and gently kissed her on her lips.
“Hmmm do that
again,” she whispered, and then opened her eyes, looking round as she said “Oh
thank god – we’re home? It’s over?”
“I think so,”
Jan said as she came back in and handed them each a bottle of water. “And we’ve survived – you can’t say that
about many people who meet them.”
“What
happened? I saw you dressed like them,
and then I woke up here.”
“They put you
to sleep for the night – and, well, I saw what they do, and I have a better
idea now of why they do it.”
“Did you…”
“No I didn’t
kill anyone,” Cassandra said as she held the bottle of water, “but I don’t want
to talk about it just now, Rick. Can you
forgive me for putting you in danger like that?”
“Of course I
can – we’ll talk about it when we’re ready,” Rick said as they hugged, while
Janice went to answer the knock on the door.
“Hi mom,”
Katy said as she hugged Janice. “I had
so much fun last night. Did you have
fun?”
“Sort of,”
Janice said as Orlanda showed Cassandra’s kids in. “I hope we’re not too early,” she said as she
looked round.
“Not at all –
we were just going to have lunch. “Rick said as he went into the kitchen, and
whispered “once I throw these steaks out…”
1.30 pm
The Richmond Holiday Home
“Hey Annie –
when did you get back in town?”
“This
morning,” Annie said as she hugged Sandy, “I’m meeting up with Cari and the
others later, but right now for some reason these two wanted to come here.”
“We need a
favour,” Doc said as Sarah looked round, “is Heather around?”
“She’s out
back with the kids – why?”
“I wondered
if I could borrow one of her outfits?”
“Sure – I’ll
tell her where you are.”
“Thanks,” Doc
said as she dragged Sarah into the bedroom.
“Wow – this
is their holiday home? Where do they
live normally?”
“Fifth Avenue
– that’s Alexandra Richmond.” Doc said as she looked through Heather’s clothes.
“All right,
Anna Carlton – why are you going through my sister’s things.”
“Oh hi Jo,”
Doc said as Sarah started stuttering, “I want Sarah here to look fantastic, so
I was going to trade up her outfit.”
“hmmm –
you’re a very good looking young woman, Sarah.”
“Bbbuuttt
you’re Jjjjjj…”
“Yes, this is
Jo Smith, the Fitzstuart Woolens model, and we are going to look after
you. Jo, what do you think?”
“Hmmm – with
her skin tone, the Electric Blue, but come here and sit down, Sarah, and we’ll
see what else we can do…”
2.15 pm
Manchester Beach
“House
flies back tomorrow?” asked Nikki.
“Yeah I was
just lucky they let him fly home from training camp for this weekend.” Jeannie
smiled at her boyfriend as he trod water in the sea with Chet and Henry.
“And you fly
out to the coast yourself…”
“Yeah but
I’ll be in LA while he’s in the Bay Area.”
“That sucks!”
“Tell me
about it.” Jeannie rolled her eyes.
“So what are
you out there for?”
“I’m shooting
a layout for Vanity Fair, and doing a little TV.”
“Or in other
words she’s having another day at the office.” Becca said as she plumped
herself down on a towel.
“Yep.”
Jeannie smiled. “But it’s so worth it…”
“Looking
forward to school starting Jeans?”
“Yeah in a
way, but it’s going to be strange without Jo there.”
“Agreed.”
Nikki nodded. “I think the whole school will miss her.”
“Ah, but we
are Sophomores – all those lovely little freshmen to lord it over…”
“No we won’t
Rebecca Morse,” Pepsi said, “they will be Angels as well, after all.”
“I know, I
know – I guess.”
“Well Abby
should be in the air right about now…” Jeannie looked at her watch.
“Still
envious Jeans?”
“Of what?”
“That she’s
flying to Barbados to do a second Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoot?”
“Not really,”
Jeannie said with a smile, “I have sort of heard through the grapevine that I
might get an offer next year.”
“Hey well
done that girl.” Both Becca and Nikki high fived their friend.
“Another trip
to LA, Barbara? Think of those air
miles.”
“I’m thinking
of those miles in the air,” Barbara said
with a sigh, “do you know going out to LA for the wedding was the first time I
actually saw some of the city despite been there every two months for the last
year?”
“Ah but what
a wedding,” Caroline said.
“Wouldn’t
know, I wasn’t there,” April said with a smile.
“Ah sorry
April…”
“Hey - I was up at Curragh supervising the Italian
garden. Trust me – Grant and I had just
as much fun there.”
“Hey – did I
miss much?”
“Nah – just
discussing… Who is that with Doc?”
“Chet,” Henry
said as he looked up the beach, “who is that vision with Doc?”
Chet looked
up from the shoreline, and started to grin.
“Oh come on Henry – can’t you tell?”
Henry stared
at the two girls walking down, his jaw dropping as he said “Sarah?”
The young
girl was wearing a blue bikini, and as she got closer Henry could see the
carefully applied make up, her hair combed out and falling over her shoulders.
“Oh my
goddess,” Pepsi said as she saw them walk over, “so that’s where you went to?”
“Hi H,” Sarah
said as the two boys came up, “Sorry, I felt I had to change.”
“Well, I’m
glad you did,” Jeannie said as she looked over, “You look good girl.”
“Thanks,”
Susan said with a blush, “what do you think H?”
“Henry thinks
you look fabulous as well,” Chet said as he looked at his friend, “and he wants
to tell you about it as you walk along the beach. Isn’t that right H?”
“Yeah – yeah,
if you want,” Henry said as he took Sarah’s hand.
“I’d like
that very much,” Sarah said with a blush as they walked off.
"Why did
Sarah want the makeover?"
"Because
H has been a little bit slow in coming forward if you get my meaning?"
Anna smiled.
"She
looks incredible..." Chet mouthed the words.
"Hey!
Remember you are MINE!" Anna dug him in the ribs with her elbow.
"Her Mom
is a little over protective."
"Well
her mom needs get used to the fact that Sarah is becoming a gorgeous girl...and
if I think she gets her way, a beautiful young WOMAN."
“You’ve never
met her mom,” Chet said with a smile.
4 pm
State Street, Boston
Adam looked
over as Jane pulled up outside the diamond exchange and got out.
“Hey – sorry
to pull you away from Katy.”
“It’s all
right – Cass said she would watch her until I got back. How bad is it in there?”
“Two dead,
both security guards, but the people are really shaken up.”
“So what did
they do this time?”
“Let’s see,”
Adam said as he looked at his notes.
“After midnight last night, three of them broke into the home of one of
the security guards and held him and his wife hostage. At the same time, the rest of them took over
the home of the security chief, and held him, his wife and his three daughters
hostage.”
“Not the
manager?”
“Nope – first
he knew as when he walked in this morning and was forced in by two of
them. From what Ron Esmond, the security
chief said, they came and went by the rear entrance – and access to that…”
“… is
controlled by security,” Janice said as they went in. “So they forced the security guard to open
the back door, and Esmond to disable the security system?”
“That’s about
right – but they seem to have brought in an expert this time. They arrived here at seven thirty – with
Esmond’s family – overpowered everyone, then blew the doors to the three main
vaults simultaneously. Whoever did it
was good – minimal noise, and minimal damage, but they emptied the vaults.”
“So who
died?”
“The security
guard they forced to open the back door, and one other – looks like they tried
to fight back. Police found his wife
trussed in their house – apparently they bought out a gambling debt he ran up.”
“The family?”
“Alive,” Adam
said, “but – well, Miss Lynx was at their house.”
“Let me guess
– no clues?”
“Unlikely –
you should have brought Cassandra here, let her see the aftermath.”
“She’s not
authorized to visit a crime scene,” Jan said quietly as she looked at the blood
stain. “Have you called Tom?”
“Yeah – 0900
tomorrow for briefing. Right now, I
don’t think there’s a lot else we can do here.”
6.30 pm Local Time
Barbados
“Welcome to
Barbados ladies.” The limousine driver smiled a warm friendly greeting as Abby
and Diana stepped out of the terminal building.
“It’s nice to
be here.” Diana smiled back as the man took their luggage.
“You been
here before?”
“Not in many
years, and my daughter never has.”
“Well the place
has changed a bit…”
“But the
people are still as friendly.” Diana watched as Abby paused to sign a couple of
autographs.
“Sports
Illustrated have you booked into the Royal Westmoreland…real nice place.”
“Well, I for
one am looking forward to a few hours down time,” Abby said as she got into the
back of the car.
“My poor
daughter,” Diana said as she sat beside her, the driver grinning as they set
off.
As the car
swept up the drive to the main buildings, Abby smiled and said “well, it looks
nice enough.”
“It is,”
Diana said as the car stopped, and the young man opened the door for them, a
maid coming out of the villa.
“Countess de
Ros, Countess de Ros, on behalf of Sports Illustrated welcome to the Royal
Westmoreland. We hope this villa is to your
liking.”
As they
walked in and looked round, Diana nodded.
“Oh yes, very much to our liking thank you.”
“A private
chef will call later to cook for you tonight, but for now please, relax and
unwind – there is a private pool through there.”
“Sounds good
to me,” Abby said as she removed her linen jacket.
“allow us to
unpack for you,” the maid said as she and the young man took the bags to the
bedrooms, Diana selecting a wine and pouring a glass as Abby went out and sat
by the pool.
“I could get
to like this place,” she said as her mother came out.
“Indeed –
very acceptable for your last week before school.”
8 pm Local Time
The South Africa/Mogola border
The jeep
pulled up into a compound, surrounded by trees, and as Piet and Liz got out
they could see groups of women carrying supplies out of a number of trucks.
“Oh my god,”
Liz said as she looked round, “who are these people?”
“They call
themselves the Sisters of Maisha,” a woman with a New York accent said behind
them.
“What the…”
“Hi Piet.”
“Hi Jane,”
the big man said as he embraced the American journalist. “They invited you
along on this shindig as well eh?”
“A certain
well-known hacker, who shall remain nameless, told me where to be and when.
From the reading material she supplied for my in-flight entertainment, it looks
like we have another Mazengwe type situation going on…”
“We do?” Liz
asked.
“Oh I better
do the intros,” Piet said, “Elizabeth this is Jane Molloy of the New York
Times. Liz is my camerawoman Jane.”
“Greg, the big
guy over there is mine.”
The man waved
as the women went about their business, taking no notice of the group of
journalists.
“So this is
the Sisterhood I have heard about,” Liz said to herself as she watched.
“They look
like they know what they are doing.” Piet nodded at the women unloading
weapons, ammunition and other supplies.
“I overheard
one of them saying they lost two dead a few days ago.” Jane looked sad. “Apparently they attacked a supply convoy –
whatever it is going on down here, they’re fighting a guerilla war.”
“I hear
accents and languages from all over the southern half of this continent.” Piet
observed.
“Do you think
they have political aims?” asked Elizabeth.
“Beyond
bettering the lives of other women, and stopping the abuse of children?” Jane
shook her head, “No I think it isn’t a political thought that has brought these
women here, it’s been the sights and sounds of suffering and death. These girls
simply want to try to help stop that.”
“Most of them
have lost husbands, children, other relatives to the cruelty of men,” a tall
woman with a well educated English voice spoke, “They simply want, for the
first time, to fight back. They follow The
Heart and The Strength – the core of our movement.”
“And you
are?”
“Your guide
for the next part of the journey, we have to progress on foot from here, at
night, for reasons that will become clear.”
“We are
unloaded Leader,” a woman called out.
“Alright we
move out, and you,” she pointed to the four journalists, “please keep your
bloody heads down.”
A group of
twelve women approached, each carrying a rifle and a backpack, as the tall
woman picked one up herself. She
signaled as they started to move into the jungle, six in front of and six
behind Piet, Jane and the two photographers.
“Lovely,”
Greg said, “a nighttime yomp through the jungle.”
“Bear up,”
Piet said, “could be worse. Could be
under fire.”
9 pm Local Time
Great Westmoreland, Barbados
“Hey
Countess…Hey Stick.” Esther Lowenstein stood and kissed both women as they came
into the bar.
“Hey
Essie…long time…” Diana smiled.
“I know,” the
veteran model said, “but with me based in Atlanta, I don’t get to New York
much.”
“You’d never
know,” Diana said as she sat on the stool, “you still have the strongest
Brooklyn accent I ever heard.”
“Yeah,”
Esther smiled, “when your Mom and I were both still modeling Abby, she always
swore she needed an interpreter to talk to me…”
“Or for us to
talk in French…at least I understood your French.” Diana laughed.
“So who is
the photographer Esther?” Abigail asked.
“Rick Dean…”
“Oh no!” Abby
groaned…”anyone but him.”
“Yeah I sorta
hoyd about Fiji last year, that’s why I’m here, make sure he doesn’t fry your
ass this time.”
“GOOD!”
Mother and daughter replied in unison.
“Hey Stick!”
a tall brunette came in and kissed Abby.
“Hey Itchy.”
“Hello Olga.”
Diana spoke as the model kissed both other women.
“Did Esther
tell you who our photographer is?”
“Yep…I take
it you…?”
“Two years
ago in Minorca,” Olga said as she shook her head, “worst shoot of my life.”
“What is
everyone talking about?” a tall blonde with an Australian accent said as she
joined them.
“We are
exchanging Rick horror stories Kooks.” Olga smiled.
“Oh don’t
tell me…” the Australian rolled her eyes. “He once had me standing in the way
of a Japanese typhoon till he got the shot he wanted.”
“At least he
didn’t fry you on a rock Beth.” Abby shook her head.
“Alright gals
the drinks are on me.” Esther beckoned a barman over. “Get it out of your systems tonight –
tomorrow, I’ll be on his ass so much he won’t try anything.”
10.30 pm Local Time
Mogola
“Take cover!”
Piet heard the command seconds before he heard the sound of the low flying helicopter.
“Down!” Piet
felt Liz’s hand on his back pushing him into the bush and to the ground.
For what
seemed an eternity Piet lay there, but it was perhaps only for a minute before
he heard the command to stand up and start marching again.
“They must
have figured out we were using these trails,” the Leader spoke, “that’s the
first time we’ve encountered one of their choppers down here.”
“We need to
use the alternative routes back,” one of the soldiers said, the Leader nodding
as they headed down the path.
“Who are
they?” Jane asked.
“The slant
eyes,” one of the women answered, her tone full of hostility.
“Slant eyes?
You mean Chinese?”
“Not just,
the poor Mogolan's have unwanted Japanese guests as well Miss Molloy,” the
Leader answered. “These ladies can’t tell the difference so we just call them
all slant eyes.”
“So what are
these people doing?”
“If I told
you now that would spoil the surprise wouldn’t it?” the Leader grinned. “In the
meantime use this.”
“I hardly
think I need to shine my shoes…” Piet said as he looked at the tin of shoe
polish.
“It’s not for
your shoes man, it’s for your damn face, you whiteys stand out like a beacon
from above,” one of the other women laughed.
“Ja okay, I
get the point.” Piet started to cover his face before passing the tin to Jane
and her photographer.
“You,” the
Leader said as she walked with Liz, “you reacted with instinct when the
helicopter came over, as a soldier would.
Where did you serve?”
“Army,” Liz
said as she looked round.
“Before or
now? You dress as a photographer, but
you act and look round like a soldier.”
Liz looked at
the young woman, before she said “and if I was?”
“Then I would
ask you to watch what we show you carefully, and ask yourself – if not us, then
who? I would also ask you to remember
the camera you carry has an internal battery, and you do not have a charger
with you.”
Liz smiled,
and said “I ensured it was fully charged before we left.”
“Then I hope
you find what you are looking for,” the Leader said with a smile as they moved
on.
Monday 17th August
1 pm local time
Tokyo Hilton
“My thanks
for the invitation,” Tamiko Tanaka said as she entered the suite, wearing a
white blouse and a knee length black leather skirt.
“And my
apologies if we have appeared to keep you in the dark,” Natalya said as she
made a low bow. “We are now, however, in
a position to pay the debt of honour we owe for your help and hospitality. You have met Niki before, but allow me to
introduce Jill Hudspeth.”
“An honour,”
Tamiko said as she bowed her head, Jill and Niki bowing in return.
“To business
– We have managed to get both visual and audio scanning devices into the home
of Yoshimi, and we understand he is holding a meeting in one hour – a meeting
that has led to his usual entourage being ‘invited’ to stay well out of the
way.”
“How
exciting,” Tamiko said, “and for food?”
Natalya
turned as she heard a knock on the door.
“That will be it now – if you will excuse Jill and I for a moment?”
“Of course,”
Tamiko said as she sat next to Niki, smiling as she watched the young woman
check the surveillance equipment.
“So Miss
Abata where are you from?” the Lady Yakuza asked as they sat waiting.
“Originally
Hawaii, fourth generation American born and bred. I’m ethnic Japanese, but
otherwise an all-American girl.”
“I guessed
that was maybe the case, your Japanese is too good…”
“Yeah none of
my family speak the language - I had to learn it from scratch.”
“So how did
you end up in Tokyo?”
“I worked for
Madame in Los Angeles…when it was decided Xavier International needed a
presence here I volunteered and got the job.”
“Well a happy
coincidence.”
“That woman’s
smile reminds me of a snake.” Jill nodded at Tamiko Tanaka as she and Natalya
brought in the lunch.
“Very
observant,” Natalya said as she laid the tray down, and then handed plates
out. “Fresh from the market today – I
hope you approve.”
Tamiko smiled
and nodded as she helped herself, the others sitting and talking before Niki
said “I think his guests have arrived.”
The four
gathered around the screen as Yoshimi welcomed his two Chinese guests, and
showed them in, other men standing around.
“For the sake
of the Russian in the room can you please translate Niki?” Natalya asked.
“At the
moment it’s just social pleasantries, our man is boasting about his stunning
new girlfriend.”
“I wonder how
shocked they would be if they really knew what was in Louise’s panties.” Jill
laughed.
“So who
exactly is in the room?”
“Most of
these guys are his chief henchmen Natalya.” Tamiko looked closely at the
monitor. “These two Chinese though I do not know.” She pointed at the screen.
“I know the
smaller one.” Jill looked hard, “his name is Wei Liu he’s with the Chinese
Embassy.”
“Now what is
a diplomat doing at a meeting of gangsters?” Natalya asked.
“He’s
probably there to translate.” Jill speculated. “Note that the other Chinese was
served first with his whiskey, I’ll give you good money he’s someone big from
back home.”
“Hmm – Niki,
can you do a screen capture and send to Madame for visual identification?”
Niki nodded
as she froze the frame and typed, then returned to the scene.
“Do we have
time to make coffee?” Natalya asked.
“Yes, these
social formalities will go on for a few minutes yet.” Tamiko looked up from the
screen. “There is an etiquette to a meeting like this that has to be observed.”
“Jill will
you help me then.” Natalya smiled at the British woman.
“Do you think
Madame can do the identification,” Jill said as they went to the small kitchen.
“If she does
not know, we have two options available.
The first is to run through the facial recognition software, but that
would take time.”
“And the
second?”
“Ask Cathy
Lu,” Natalya said. “Either way, if he is
known, we’ll have an answer soon.”
“Pleasantries
appear to be over,” Tamiko said as Jill and Natalya came back over.
“What is
being said now?” Natalya asked as she began to serve coffee.
“They just
started talking business.” Tamiko accepted a cup. “Our people want to know why Mr.
Big from China hasn’t used his influence to help in their purchase of an office
building in Shanghai?”
“He’s
explaining that he can’t be too overt in greasing the rails for them.” Jill
smiled, “but his translator is being rather more diplomatic in how he explains
it compared to what his boss originally said.”
“So why are
they buying property in Shanghai?” asked Natalya.
“It’s as good
a way as any to launder their cash,” Tamiko explained, “My father has done the
same. Given both the rise in property values and rents, it’s actually a very
solid business move.”
“If as a
foreigner you can get permission to buy… Yoshimi is peed off how long things
are taking.”
“I understand
that Niki, I have certain connections who have been trying to do the same thing
in various countries and meeting the same obstacles.” Natalya nodded.
“Side bar
from NY, we have a name and role. Le Yi,
deputy secretary for rural development in Beijing.”
“Now why
doesn’t that surprise me,” Natalya said, “not high enough to know the benefits
of real power, but close enough to want it.
Things are coming together.”
“Now he’s
saying that if they want him to keep financing Loadstone, then they had better
see some benefits soon.”
“Did he say
Loadstone?”
All three
other women nodded to Natalya.
“The Chinese
are explaining that one of their supply convoys was attacked, and that they are
afraid to move product until they have rid the area of bandits.” Jill
explained.
“Oh that’s
made him angry. Look at that look in his eyes.” Tamiko pointed.
“So I see,”
Natalya nodded.
“So what is
Loadstone,” Tamiko asked.
“We believe
he is financing someone to run a mining operation in the African country of Mogola,
amongst other things. Loadstone is his
little joke, I suspect.”
“Gold?”
“And
diamonds,” Natalya said as she sipped her coffee, “and other things.”
“What is this
about?” asked Niki, “Mr. Big is saying that a cargo will be being dropped off
at dawn local time the day after next at Tofino…Where the hell is Tofino?”
“It’s not
here in Japan Niki,” Natalya smiled as her associate pulled out a map. “It’s on
Canada’s west coast, on Vancouver Island.”
“Our Chinese
friend is saying that 20 head have survived, that the crew have had to dispose
of 12 carcasses…Are they talking about cattle?”
“I wish they
were Niki.” Natalya shook her head.
“So what is
it they are moving?” for once even Tamiko seemed inquisitive.
“Young women
and girls…the Chinese are in the slavery business as a by-product of
Loadstone.”
“Oh good
grief!” Tamiko looked amazed, “And the Death Dragons know this?”
“Yes…it was
our clue that something was happening when we liberated one of the girls.”
“But who
would…?”
“I suspect
that they have customers in both the Chinese and Occidental communities. Some
see nothing unnatural in slavery, others see it as a perk of being rich that
they can actually own other human beings.” Natalya smiled grimly.
“Bastards!”
Tamiko said the word slowly. “I may be a gangster, but there are things even I
will not do.”
“Indeed –
Madame has similar feelings, but you understand now our need for caution in
approaching this problem.”
“That attack
on the convoy – would you know anything about that?”
“We are
taking steps to get word out of what is happening in Mogola.” Natalya said,
“and more than that I cannot say. I asked
for your understanding, and now I ask for your help. Soon, we will be in a position to move on
multiple fronts. When the time comes, we
humbly ask your family to aid in our endeavour.”
“I thank
you,” Tamiko said quietly, “I must speak to my father, but I personally will
give all I can.”
“We can ask
no more – save to ask if you care for more coffee as we watch?”
6 am local time
Mogola
As dawn broke
the Leader called a halt. “Put up the camouflage nets…sentries two hours on,
four hours off…radio report our progress. See if we can feed our guests as
well”
Quickly the
women soldiers went about their tasks, four sentries taking up positions, as
the radio operator got in contact. The party sat in the bush until a net was
set up, and then took shelter under, the others splitting into two groups and
resting.
“Well Liz are
they what you expected?” Piet whispered.
“No,” the
officer shook her head, “they look and sound like any group of women you might
pick out at random anywhere, but they act and react like battle hardened combat
veterans. Our army would long for soldiers this good.”
“Ours as
well.” Jane joined the conversation sitting on the ground under the camouflage
netting. “Whatever training they put
these girls through, it is effective. I
think they could teach the USMC a thing or two.”
“What’s that
song they are singing?” Piet asked as the women started to sing a lilting
little tune.
“We call it
The Song of Maisha,” one of the women said as she brought the journalists some
biltong to chew on, and a can of tuna each to supplement the dried meat. “It is
so we remember why we are here.”
“What
language is the song in?” asked Jane.
“It’s Zemba,”
Piet listened, “it tells of a story of a girl seemingly abandoned and alone,
but she gets rescued and adds her blade to that of others to seek revenge and
justice.”
“Damn, but it
sounds so sweet…” Greg laughed.
“No, it’s not
sweet at all.” Elizabeth listened carefully.
“It describes how they kill those who try to oppress them, to ensure the
freedom of all. In this, they follow
those who have gone before.”
As they
listened, Jane shivered.
“Consider
some of your own songs, Miss Molloy,” Liz said, “I once heard a song called
Strange Fruit, by a singer called Billie Holliday. A haunting, beautiful tune – and then you
read the lyrics, and realize they are talking about lynching coloured people.”
She looked
through the net, and said “these are women with a mission and a cause, and the
conviction to follow through on both. In
a way I admire them.”
“Well,” Piet
said, “I suggest we try and get some sleep.
I think we still have a long march ahead of us.”
Noon Local Time
Mogola
The guards
were changing places quietly, Greg and Piet sleeping deeply, while Liz lay on
her side with her eyes closed.
“So why are
you here Leader?” Jane asked as they lay hidden from both the rays of the sun,
and overhead surveillance. “I can tell you are from a different background to
the rest of these women, what brought you here?”
“I’m not sure
I really wish to, or can, tell you,” the Zulu closed her eyes.
“Let me make
an educated guess…you were raped?”
“You must be
a great journalist,” the Leader said as she sat up and removed her dark
glasses.
“Not really,”
Jane said quietly, “just been there, done that. It was the one thing I could
think of that might drive a woman like you to do this.”
“How old were
you?”
“16.” Jane
shook her head. “Two men dragged me into the woods in Central Park, cut my
jeans off…fucked me hard…then ran off.”
“Were you a
virgin?”
“No…”
“I was,”
Leader said as she blinked back her tears, “Among my people, especially in my
family it is important a woman goes to her husband untouched. To my father, to
my family, my having been raped made me worthless as a potential bride…no man
now wants me, or will take me.”
“Oh surely
not…”
“Miss Molloy,
Africa is not the United States, we have different customs, different ways…”
“Well why not
leave Africa, a beautiful, intelligent woman like you?”
“Maybe one
day, but my therapist had heard of the sisters, she knew someone who knew
someone, and I was persuaded to visit Mazengwe. Among these women I refound a
reason to live, a cause to fight for, and yes maybe to die for. I might not be
the daughter my parents hoped proudly that one day I might be, but I hope I can
maybe make them proud in another.”
“I think if
they knew, they would be proud.”
“I know not –
one day, but not today. Rest Miss
Molloy, we move off soon.”
Liz lay
still, having listened to the conversation.
She liked this Leader, and had a feeling she knew who she was, but was
not certain. If she was right,
however, then her father would be proud…
10 am local time
Barbados
“Hey Itchy,
Hey Kookaburra.” Abigail greeted her fellow models as she entered the tent
where the hair and makeup teams were based.
“Hey Stick.”
Elizabeth Pollard said as she walked over and kissed the American.
“Right you
are all here.” Esther smiled as she entered with Diana. “I have had a sharp
word with Rick, I’ve told him I don’t need dehydrated or pissed off models, and
he’s agreed to use one of his people as a stand-in while he’s setting up and
lighting the setups.”
“Well that
will help.” Olga Michikova visibly relaxed.
“There aren’t
any hurricanes coming in either are there?” Beth asked.
“No!” Essie
smiled, “no climate extremes.”
“So can we
see the suits please?” Abby asked.
“Naturally –
gather round ladies.”
“Wow!” Beth
whistled as Esther unpacked them carefully. “I wore these at Bondi I’d soon
have a full dance card.”
“They are
pretty amazing.” Esther looked happy. “I think as usual the swimsuit edition
will provoke more than a few cancel my subscription messages.”
“The
moralists may not like it darling, but as you were telling me earlier, it is
the magazines biggest selling edition of the year.” Diana smiled.
“Well hair,
makeup girls, then let’s see how you look in these.” Esther clapped her hands,
and then looked at them all.
“What,”
Elizabeth said, “have I a smudge on my face or something?”
“Okay girls I
hate to say this, but are you all shaved?” Esther asked.
“Armpits,
legs, yep.” Abby nodded.
“I don’t mean
there, I mean here.” Esther pointed.
“Not this
morning.” Beth grinned.
“Well I think
ya betta girls.” Esther shook her head, “These suits are going to be ruined if
the odd…”
“We get the
picture Essie.” Olga smiled. “Do each other?” she offered.
“Suits me
Itch.” Abigail smiled.
“I’ll get
everyone out while youse do it.” Essie looked serious.
“Alright
everyone.” Diana pointed, “All out while the girls do this.”
The girls
found some razors and cream and very carefully got to work as Diana stood
guard.
"Hey
Kooks, careful please, last thing I need is a shaving cut down there."
Abigail grinned as the Australian shaved her.
"Yeah
Essie might just about skin you alive..."
"Not to
mention what my mother would do Itchy."
All three
women laughed aloud.
"The
things we do in the name of beauty." Beth shook her head as she inspected
her work. "Okay I think you are good to go Stick."
"Thanks."
Abby pulled her panties on and gathered a robe round her. “Your turn now.”
11 am EST
St Angela’s Academy
“Come.”
Wilhelmina
looked up as Annie came into her office, smiling as she said “Good morning,
Wilhelmina – I understand you wanted to see me.”
“Ah yes – how
was the Athletics camp Annie?”
“Busy,” Annie
said as she sat and crossed her legs, her skirt falling to the side as she did
so. “So what did I miss while I was
away?”
“Well, for
one thing we have appointed a new Dean of Students.”
“Really? Well, who is this paragon of discipline going
to be?”
“Good morning
Annie.”
Annie turned
as the blonde haired woman walked into the room. “Good choice,” she said with a smile, “no
wonder Cari said this was going to be an interesting day.”
“Well, this
is part one of the surprise,” Grace said as she sat down, “I hope you’re ready
for part two.”
“We have two
new teachers who will be reporting next Monday,” Wilhelmina said, “and Grace
and I were discussing the possibility of you acting as a mentor to them while
they adjust to our way of working.”
“Of course –
where are they coming from?”
“My old
school,” Grace said, “and we’re taking an apartment a few streets from
you. We’ll be arriving on Saturday
night, but I’ll take occupancy tomorrow before I fly back.”
“Well then,
you are coming to dinner tonight in the village, no questions asked – Caroline
and Ama would love to see you before you go.”
“Thanks, I’ll
call Ju and let her know. Now, while
you’re here, I wanted to discuss your role on the athletics team for next
year…”
4 pm local time
Johannesburg
Penny looked
up as she heard the knock on the door, and walked slowly over, drawing the shiv
from the back of her jeans as she did so.
“Yes?”
“Special
delivery from New York.”
Looking
through the peep hole, Penny smiled as she replaced the knife in her waistband,
and opened the door.
“Here you
go,” Helen said as she handed over a brown bag, “Fresh from the cutting room.”
“Domme
Assassin 4 – thank Maddie for me when you see her,” Penny said as she hugged
the brunette. “How was your flight?”
“Long –
fortunately, I slept for most of it. I
had a rather busy night beforehand.”
“So I heard
from Madame – she and Catherine put the initial estimate at forty million.”
Helen let out
a low whistle. “I hope Cathy doesn’t
mind me accepting my share…”
Another knock
on the door made both women turn, Helen drawing a thin knife and standing by
the door as Penny said “Yes?”
“I come from
the Heart and the Strength.”
Nodding,
Helen sheathed the knife as Penny opened the door, letting Charlotte in.
“Okay welcome
to Joburg ladies.” Charlotte said as she hugged both Helen and Penny.
“It’s a big
city,” Penny looked out of the hotel window, “I’ve never been here before.”
“It’s a
bloody, damn dangerous city as well,” Charlotte removed a pair of .38’s from
her bag. “I got you both permits to carry those as well,” she handed over some
documentation.
“Has it got
worse since the last time I was here?”
“How long ago
was that Helen?”
“Two years
ago…”
“Oh yeah, it’s
got a lot worse since then. Muggings, Car-jackings, Armed Robberies, Murders,
this place can make the Wild West look like a kiddie show.”
“Noted,”
Penny slipped the gun into her Jameson bag.
“Our prisoner
should be here in the early hours of the morning. I’ve arranged for him to be
taken to an abandoned farmhouse West of Pretoria, its isolated and I have it
guarded, you should be able to do your interrogation in peace and quiet.”
“I brought
leather fetish gear with me,” Penny spoke.
“Knowing I’d
be working with Penny I bought some for myself as well.” Helen smiled.
“Well if you
want to wear it fine, but I think our Chinese Soldier boy might miss the point.”
Charlotte half smiled.
“I wouldn’t
though….” Penny almost purred at the thought of Helen in fetish wear.
“Look you two
sort it out between you,” Charlotte laughed, “Just remember this is about
information, and that the SAIS have probably made you both and are asking why
you are visiting me?”
“Hence the
wigs, the false passports, etc.” Helen smiled. “We should be in and out of the
country hopefully before they even really start asking the right questions.”
“Exactly –
I’ll have a car take you out tomorrow at dawn.
Right now, let’s go and eat – I’m starving.”
“What word
from the raiding party?”
“Should
arrive about midnight tonight…”
9 pm Local Time
South Mogola
“So why move
only at night?” Jane asked as the party made their way along the trail, “I’d
have thought with this jungle cover…”
“In this day
and age of satellites and heat imaging, even moving at this time is dangerous
Miss Molloy,” the leader spoke grimly, “but this at least cuts down some of the
risks.”
“Are you
telling me they have access to spy satellites - these people you are fighting?”
“We don’t
know, but they are very well funded so we take as few chances as we can.”
“You know
this begins to sound more and more like a war zone…”
“It is Liz…we
are fighting a war to stop the exploitation of women and children.”
“So Leader
what has these people so damn interested in this part of Mogola?”
“Just wait
until you see Miss Molloy.” Leader smiled.
“She doesn’t
believe in sharing information does she?” Liz whispered to Jane.
“No – but she
has a point. Look at Greg – he’s worked
in Iraq, Afghanistan, and he’s nervous.
Something big is going down here…”
“Ja,” Piet
said as he walked behind them, “this is like the time I tracked the
Russians. Leader, how long?”
“Two hours –
the walk will be worth it.”
“What is that
rumbling sound?” Piet spoke quietly.
“What you are
here to see.” One of the women spoke as they walked along.
“Are we close
then?” Jane asked.
“Goddess no,
we are still about an hour’s walk away,” another of the women soldiers replied
with a smile.
“Dear Lord,”
Piet shook his head, “this must be huge if we can hear it this far away?”
“Well let me
tell you it’s not a small operation Mr. van der Byl.” The Leader spoke.
“Alright everyone be on alert in case there are any enemy patrols out.”
“Yellow is reporting
a contact west of here.” The radio operator spoke. “She has two wounded, but no
deaths.”
“Halt,” the
leader called out before she squatted and started to think. “Alright she needs
these medical supplies and you as well Mabetha.” She pointed to one of the
women. “You three,” she pointed, “work your way to Yellow’s position asap…we
will continue on and hopefully join you round dawn.”
“Why did you
send that woman Mabetha?” Liz asked.
“She’s a
trained nurse, she can help the wounded.”
“And the
other sides wounded?”
“They never
have any wounded.” Leader smiled a trifle savagely.
“Oh,” the
implication hit Liz.
Another hour
later, The Leader called a halt and motioned to the other women to move to the
sides. Crouching in the bush, Piet and
Jane looked at the brightly lit compound in front of them, and the hillside
that was as well lit.
“I don’t get
it,” Jane whispered, “what are they… Oh my god, those are slave workers.”
“Indeed,” the
Leader said as the water cannon blasted the hill side away, and the supervisors
forced the poorly dressed workers to sift the mud.
“Oh dear Lord
is that what I think it is?” Piet asked.
“It is indeed
Mr. van der Byl…Welcome to hell.”
Piet looked
carefully at the floodlit worksite, noting carefully those extracting the gold
bearing ore from the mudslides, the armed guards watching everything. The clang
of the stamping mills as they crushed the ore.
“Men,
children, older women – where are the younger girls?”
“In time,
Miss Molloy, please take the notes you need to take.”
Both Jane and
Piet watched as the water cannons blasted into the hillside, not caring if
workers were still there. Liz had to
stop herself from cursing as she took shots of one poor man caught in a
mudslide, slowly disappearing under the flow as his fellow workers were forced
to watch.
The mud
flowed down to where press gangs of men and boys were forced to sift out the
rocks. Jane could see the rags that
barely covered their emaciated bodies, as boys who looked to be about six were
forced to carry rocks half the size of their bodies across the compound.
One boy fell
to the ground and was shouted at by one of the overseers, before he took a club
and started to beat him. Liz’s grip
tightened on her camera as Piet said “take the shots, Liz – retribution can
come later.”
The Leader
nodded. “If we could, we would take
retribution now, but we would not survive the reprisal – and there is much for
us to seek justice for.”
“Okay from what I’m seeing, are they using
cyanide?”
“With slave
labour you think they are worried about health and safety issues?” Leader asked
sarcastically.
“Damn…” Piet
cursed silently. “Don’t they realize the damage they are doing?”
“Do they
really care?” Jane asked as Greg and Liz kept taking pictures.
As they
watched, the rocks were taken from the carriers by older women, who put them on
the conveyor belts that took the rocks to the stamping mills, the crushed ricks
sifted, sorted and carried off by more children.
“I see men, I
see children, I see older women,” Jane said, “where are the other women, and
where did they come from?”
“I will
answer the second question first – from the local villages, if we could, we
would take you to the empty villages – but they have been burnt to the ground.”
“And the
other women?”
“Do you have
what you need here?”
Piet and Jane
nodded as Leader indicated they should follow her. As they walked round, they saw the open space
where other men, women and children were sleeping in the open.
“We have
picked a good night to visit,” Leader said as they stopped on the other side of
the compound, “in the sense of you can see the whole depth of their depravity.”
Jane watched,
and then covered her mouth as she saw the young girls and women being herded
onto lorries, dressed in threadbare clothes, their arms secured and hoods over
their heads.
“Oh goddess,”
she whispered under her breath, “I prayed I would never see anything like this
again…”
Liz and the
Leader looked at her, as she said “The Mazengwe business – I was brought in
after I was sent a film of an auction in New York. The girls there were treated like that…”
She looked
down the line, the faces of the women soldiers barely visible, but she could
see the sadness and the anger in their eyes.
“Take your
pictures,” Leader said, “and then my duty is to get you both safely back over
the border.”
“What do you
intend to do about this,” Piet said quietly.
“For now, we
can disrupt them, cut off their supplies – but we are few, and we must pick our
fights with care. Others are
investigating those who are responsible – but the story must be told.”
“For the
Heart and the Strength,” one of the soldiers said.
“Yellow has
reported,” the radio operator said, “supplies have arrived, and she thanks
you.”
“Send word to
meet us at the dawn rendezvous,” Leader said quietly, “come – we must go now.”
“Liz?”
Piet put his
hand on the young woman’s shoulder, to see she was crying.
“Yes – yes,
we must go,” she said as they turned and walked into the bush, before an
explosion made them turn.
“Dynamite –
they use it when the cannon cannot move the rocks. And no – they do not warn the workers.”
Tuesday 18th August
6 am local time
As they set
up camp, Piet sat with Liz under the camouflage next.
“Penny for
them?”
“Piet,” Liz
said quietly, “what I have seen tonight – it was all I could do not to grab a
gun from them and start shooting myself.”
“But you
understand why they did not?”
“I
understand, but I do not have to like it,” Liz said quietly. “I do not know what role your Charlotte plays
in this group – but whatever it is, my admiration for her has increased
dramatically. These women are looking to
avenge a wrong – and I commend them for that.”
“So what are
you going to tell John?”
“The truth,”
Liz said as she looked out from under the net, “and I will ask if we can
support them, in whatever way we can.”
“I’m not sure
he’d allow that – this is a sovereign country, after all.”
“I know,” Liz
said quietly, “I know.”
“What are you
talking about,” Jane said as she joined them.
“The things
we saw – does it sicken you the way it does me?”
“More so – I
really thought we had ended the human traffic, but even so…”
“Rest,”
Leader said, “we need to return you to the pickup point by dawn tomorrow, and
we have a ways to go yet.”
10 am local time
West of Pretoria
The pick-up
truck pulled off the road and along the dirt track, the driver waving at a
couple of women as they worked by the side of the road, tilling the ground.
The farmhouse
stood next to a number of barns, an older woman coming out as the truck came to
a halt outside, and the two Western women got out.
“Welcome,”
she said, “come in, I have food and drink ready for you, and a room for you to
prepare in.”
“Where is
he,” Penny said as she and Helen walked in, carrying two small bags with them.
“In there,”
the woman said as she pointed to a barn behind the house, and on the monitor
screen they saw the young Chinese soldier, lashed to a chair with a black hood
covering his head. Two women stood
either side of him, holding sub-machine guns in their hands.
“Excellent,”
Penny said as she accepted a glass of iced tea.
“We will change, and get to work immediately.”
“Well, once
we have accepted your hospitality,” Helen said, bowing to the woman as she
accepted her drink. “Work like this
should not be rushed, Penny.”
“True –
forgive my eagerness,” Penny said.
“It is all
right – you are young, and have a life ahead of you. I am old, and live to serve now.”
Helen and
Penny nodded as they relaxed, and watched the young man.
“Thank you
ladies,” Penny said as she and Helen walked in, “we are ready to begin now.”
The two armed
women stood to attention and looked at the two Westerners. Penny had her red hair pulled back from her
head and tied in a severe ponytail, wearing a high collared sleeveless leather
catsuit with knee length laced leather boots, the four inch heels clacking on
the stone floor. Black eye shadow made
her eyes look stronger, while the deep red lipstick made her mouth look full.
Helen had on
a black wig, cut in the style of Liza Minnelli in Cabaret, and a black leather
cheongsam style dress, with long leather gloves, and over the knee leather
boots. She had black lipstick on, and
smiled as she brought a riding crop down in the palm of her gloved hand.
The two armed
guards smiled and nodded as they stood to attention, and moved outside, Penny
walking round and stroking her head over the top of the man’s hood.
“He’s
demanding to know who’s here,” Helen said as she stood behind the man.
“Well, let us
introduce ourselves – remove the hood.”
Helen
loosened and pulled the hood off to reveal the dirt encrusted face. Walking round, she joined Penny as he looked
wide eyed at the two women.
“How old is
he?”
“I don’t
think he’s much older than twenty, maybe twenty one?”
He shouted at
both of them in Cantonese, Helen saying “he still wishes to know who we are.”
“Tell him we
are from the commanders of those who he fought,” Penny said, “tell him he has
been brought here to answer our questions, and if he does so he will feel no
pain.”
As Helen said
this, he looked at the two women, and spoke again.
“I have
nothing to fear from two weaklings.”
“Oh dear,”
Penny said as she stroked her gloved hand down his cheek, then drove her fist
hard into his stomach, making him gasp. “Please
tell him that it is women who have been fighting him, and they have gone easy,
to allow for his youth. I will make no
such consideration.”
As she hit
him again, Helen heard him say, “I am a prisoner of war, I demand to be treated
as such.”
“War?” As Penny heard the translation, she purred
“But you are not at war with a country, are you? China has not declared war, as far as I am
aware, on the country of Mogola.”
“But I was
posted there, my orders were clear.”
“And your
orders included warring on women and children?
So, first question – who gave you those orders.”
“My name is…”
He groaned as
Penny hit him in the stomach again, before Helen pulled his head back and
pressed the riding crop against his throat.
“My friend
will not ask again – who gave the orders?”
He stared at
them both, refusing to say anything.
"Shall
we start with something easy then?" Penny purred. "What is his name,
rank, and unit?" She carefully watched the man’s face as Helen translated.
"He says
he isn't going to tell us and that he insists on talking to the Chinese
Embassy, or our government."
"Oh
dear, he really doesn't get the shit he's in...Does he? Allow me to show him."
Reaching
between his legs, she squeezed hard on his scrotum as Penny said, “tell him we
are not a government or a power as he understands it. Tell him he is not in the hands of a country,
but of a force of nature.”
As Helen
talked, the man winced and looked at both of them.
“Tell him I
have his manhood in his hands, and unless he starts talking, he will never have
children, because he will not have the ability to do so.”
He paled as
he heard that, but replied “I demand to speak to my embassy.”
“Not going to
happen,” Penny said as she squeezed hard, and the man called out in agony
before she let go. Tipping him onto his
back, she removed his boots and socks, trying not to notice the smell of the
holes in them, before she said “tell him if he does not answer, you will use
that riding crop on his feet. What is
his name?”
“Go to hell.”
“Oh dear, oh
dear, oh dear,” Penny said as she looked at Helen, then took the crop and
brought it down on his feet, hearing his screams.
“Tell him we
have a reply who say that to us – you’re already there. What is your name?”
He said
nothing, only grimacing as Penny flogged the soles of his feet again and again,
the blood starting to pour from the cuts until he screamed out.
“I think he’s
willing to talk now,” Helen said as Penny lifted him up, “what is your name?”
The soldier
stared at them both before he said “Chau Chen, Corporal, 9th Battalion
Red Guard.”
“Very good
Corporal Chen,” Susan said as she stroked his chin, her smile evil, “and what
was a loyal soldier of the Red Guard doing in the African jungle?”
He looked at
her before screaming in pain as Helen pinched a nerve cluster in his neck. “My friend asked you a question, Corporal –
what were you doing in the Mogolan jungle?”
“Escort…. Escort duties for a supply colony.”
“Was this
done with the knowledge of the Mogolan government?”
“No,” he
panted in pain, “we operated in secret.
We were informed it was for a secret mission in the jungle – a training
facility had been set up for jungle warfare.”
“Is he
telling the truth,” Penny said as she looked at Helen.
“I think so,”
she said as she pressed his shoulder again, and he relaxed, the pain subsiding.
“What were
your orders for the convoy,” Penny asked as she walked over to the table, and
opened a small canvas pouch she had placed there.
“I am
Corporal Chau Chen, 9th Battalion…”
“I know who
you are,” Penny growled as she walked back over, the leather of her catsuit
squeaking as she knelt in front of him and took hold of his foot, “what were
your orders?”
“I
cannot… I cannot…. NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
The last
scream came as Penny took the pliers she was holding and removed the nail from
his little toe, holding it up as Helen stared at it.
“What were
your orders?”
“Go to hell…”
“Did he
really say that?”
“I believe he
did, Mistress Penny,” Helen breathed, unusual feelings stirring in her as she
watched her remove the next toenail, while she wrapped her arm round his neck
and cooed “I really think you should answer her questions – she is a most
determined woman.”
“You… You are committing a war crime in using
torture…”
“And you are
not a soldier fighting in a war, little fool – at best, you are duped, at worse
you are a mercenary who is involved in the enslavement of men, women and
children. You do not deserve this.”
Moving
quickly, Penny removed the rest of the toenails, and then walked to the desk,
returning with a bottle of clear liquid.
“My friend is
serious and deadly,” Helen whispered into his ear, “what were your orders?”
He watched as
Penny removed the stopper from the bottle, and allowed two drops of the clear
liquid to drop on the exposed nailed – making him jump and scream in agony.
“What were
your orders?”
“To… To escort the convoy to the destination,
ensure the goods delivered to the local commanders, and escort the return with
loads to the port.”
“And where is
this port,” Penny asked as she dripped some more vinegar onto the freshly
exposed nail beds.
“Ahhhhh –
please, no more,” he screamed as he gave some co-ordinates.
In the main
farmhouse, the older woman smiled as she watched, and then took the handset as
it was offered to her.
“Yes?
“Yes, we are
watching as well – everything is being recorded?
“She is very
skilled – a pity she is a European. She
could teach us much.
“Very well –
for the Heart and the Strength.”
In
Johannesburg, Charlotte watched on her screen, and dialed another number.
“You know who
this is?
“Good – send
eyes to these coordinates and inform me of what they see…”
“Now,” Penny
said as she caressed the young man’s cheek, “allow me to introduce you properly
to my friend. You may have heard of her
– she is known as Wúshēng de Sǐwáng.”
The soldier
turned his head suddenly and looked at Helen, who nodded as she said “for your
continued health, therefore, you will tell me who ordered this unit to this
place to carry out this work?”
“No – to say
the name is to invite my own death…”
“You are
likely to die anyway,” Helen said as she translated Penny, “what is his name?”
“AAAHHHHHH,”
he screamed out as Penny sliced down his chest with a scalpel, “it was Lau Po –
he had connections in my battalion, and paid for us to come here.”
“Is the name
known to you,” Penny said as she looked at Helen. The other woman nodded as she said “middle
ranking party official in the Defence Ministry.
That actually makes sense.”
She walked
over to Penny, and said “I am straight, but are you as turned on by this as I
am right now?”
Penny nodded
and smiled as she said “a pity – you look amazing in that outfit.”
“As do you –
but I cannot beyond this,” Helen said as she gently kissed Penny, and then
moved back. Penny sighed and smiled, as
she said “a great pity indeed – it means I get to give you some pleasure
instead,” she said as she walked over to the young soldier, and pulled open his
pants, taking his cock out and starting to kiss and suck on his member.
“OH god –
what are you doing…”
“Allowing you
a moment’s pleasure in thanks for what you have said,” Helen said quietly, reaching
between the flaps at the front of her skirt and starting to play with herself
as Penny aroused their prisoner more and more.
Eventually Helen let out a long sigh as she shook, as the prisoner
finally gave into Penny’s mouth, her lips forming a tight seal as she swallowed
– and then bit down with her teeth, making him yelp as she released him and
stood up.
“There – you
have been rewarded for your words today,” Penny said after she had rinsed her
mouth with water.
Helen heard
him speak and said “what happens to me now?”
“Now – tell
him he has been rewarded by us, but others wish to show him their feelings for
what he and his colleagues have done.”
He paled and
looked at them as Penny walked to the door, and banged on it, the two armed
women walking in.
“No – grant
me a quick death,” he shouted as Helen looked at him.
“No,” was her
quiet reply as she and Penny bowed to the two women, and walked out, the
soldier shouting after them as they closed the barn doors.
5 pm local time
Johannesburg
Penny stepped
out of the shower, drying her hair off as she looked out of the window, when
she heard a knock on the door.
Wrapping her
dressing gown round herself, she walked over and looked through the peep hole,
then opened the door to let Helen in, wearing a simple white dress.
“Hello,” she
said quietly, “how are you feeling?”
“Better for
the shower – you?”
“I need to
ask you a question,” Helen said quietly.
“Okay – ask
away…”
“How much of
that was acting when we kissed Penny?” Helen asked as she blushed.
Penny looked
at her, and then replied “Honestly? Virtually
none, I find you both personally and sexually highly attractive Helen.”
“I sort of
guessed that.” Helen smiled and blushed all at once. “Do you want to know a
secret?”
“If you want
to tell me one? Then Yes.”
“I’m still a
virgin.”
“You mean no
man…?”
“I mean no
person, neither man nor woman, has ever…” Helen walked over and kissed Penny,
taking her completely by surprise. “Losing my father in the way I did,
channeling all my energies into my work, I’ve played the sexy roles, but no
I’ve never done anything.”
“Well,” Penny
said quietly, “Do you want to?”
“With you?”
“Yes with
me.”
“Then,” Helen
said quietly as she stroked Penny’s cheek, “the answer is yes…Ever since
Curragh Park I’ve been dreaming about you, what kissing you would be like, what
your touches would feel like.”
“And you
never told me? Why?”
“Because
properly I am a servant first to my Master, and now to Catherine. Truthfully in
the culture I have been brought up in I should ask Catherine and his
permission.”
“Have you?”
“No…I feel
for the first time in many years that this is a decision I make on my own, I
don’t simply follow my orders.”
“Well that’s
good.” Penny pulled Helen close and started to kiss her again passionately. “Allow me to give you some more education…”
“Tell me
darling,” Penny said some time later as she lay under the sheets cuddling her
lover. “If either Catherine or your Master ordered you to kill me, could you do
it?”
“I am sworn
to obey every command that I am given by them Penny…”
“Are you
saying you would kill me?” Penny sat up in shock.
“Yes…and then
I would kill myself seconds later.”
“Are your
oaths that serious Helen?” Penny said as she snuggled back down into her lover’s
embraces.
“They are, I
owe my life, my existence, my everything to Catherine and my Master, the
Honoured Father, and they command my soul.”
“You would
kill the one you love?”
“I would have
to Penny. But as I said it would be the last thing I ever did.” Helen kissed the
other woman. “But it is unlikely – to do
that, you would have to greatly upset them, and given the good relationship
between your Madame and my master, as well as between Juliette and Catherine,
it is highly unlikely.”
Looking at
Penny, Helen said, “What if it was you who was ordered to kill me?”
“It would not
be me,” Penny said quietly, “but I know what you mean. I pray that does not happen…”
Noon
Beverley, MA
“What time is
your flight,” Juliette asked Grace as she packed her cabin bag.
“Out of
Boston at nine, and home by noon tomorrow.
I’ll spend most of tomorrow with the agent Missy and Grant found, and
then packing up my personal stuff for the moving team to collect on Friday
afternoon. I’m renting the house out
fully furnished.”
“When do you
meet with Sarah and Harriet?”
“Thursday
morning - the students who sat exams are
collecting their results, and I’ve been asked if I can go in then. Gives me a chance to clear my desk as well.”
“Have you
made the right decision Grace?”
“Yeah – yeah
I have,” the blonde said as she looked at Juliette, while Carina played with
Judith in the background. “I need the
change, and this will be a new challenge as well.”
“But you will
say goodbye to your friends over there?”
“Oh yes – and
I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me over this summer Ju – all
of you.”
“Come on
Palomino – this is you finding yourself again.
Grab your coat – I’m buying you lunch before you drive down to the
city.”
1 pm
Xavier International, NY
“Well, at
least we have local support in Tokyo now when the time comes,” Shirley said as
she sat with Heather and Susan, Maddie on the computer screen. “Any word from South Africa yet?”
“Nothing
yet,” Susan said, “but I wasn’t expecting a report until later. As we have not heard from Charlotte, I
presume both that Piet and Jane are safe, and that Penny and Helen are still
having a chat with the soldier.”
“Okay –
Natalya reports all is quiet with Louise, which is also good. That leaves one question.”
“Which is?”
Heather asked.
“This party
being landed on the Canadian West Coast? What should we do?” Shirley asked.
“The logical
thing is to alert the Canadian Coast Guard.” Susan looked up.
“I was
thinking that as well.” Heather spoke.
“The only
trouble is that we have a special knowledge of what the right questions are to
ask, the Canadian authorities do not know what we know, and I’m not sure I wish
to share that information with them.”
“What
resources do we have in the area Maddie?” asked Susan.
“None I’m
afraid, we do anything up there we send someone up from the LA office.”
“Alright - can
you get staff up from LA in time Madeline?” Shirley asked.
“No.”
“What about
if I send you the corporate jet?”
“If it can
get into the little airport at Tofino…?”
“Susan?”
“I’m already
on it Madame.” Susan smiled as she opened her own computer.
“Now
uniforms, etc.?”
“I can
organize all that from here Shirley. One great thing about Hollywood, you can
get any uniform very easily.”
“Alright I
will co-ordinate things from here Madeline…Heather will work her usual magic,
and Susan will see to the jet.”
“I’ll
organize the interception party.” Maddie smiled on screen.
“Jet will be
in the air in 30 minutes Maddie,” Susan called out. “Landing at Ontario
Airport.”
“Okay Susan.
That works, it’s a bit less obtrusive out there then at LAX.”
“Alright
ladies to work.” Shirley broke the video link.
“We’re going
to need somewhere for these girls to be taken when we get them out,” Heather
said, “somewhere for them to rest and shelter.”
“I know –
which means we need to get them down to a safe house somewhere. New York is too far away and too difficult –
unless…”
“Unless we
can get them here directly from Tofino by plane – how hard would it be to get a
charter plane out there?”
“We’ll need
to keep them there for at least twenty four hours to treat any immediate
concerns. Susan – see if a suitable
building is available near the airport.
Heather, if she finds one, can you get a booking made out for forty
eight hours?”
“Or access
permits – I’ll work with her.”
“Good – that
gives us time to plan for the next stage.”
10 pm Local Time
Southern Mogola
They moved
quietly along, the Leader and her fellow women watching nervously, continually
looking up and around, while the four journalists were lost in their own
thoughts.
“Well Jane?”
Piet asked quietly as they pushed on through the darkness.
“I’m not sure
I have the words Piet…” Jane looked up,
the tear stains running down her blackened face, and said “Haven’t we progressed
as a human race beyond this?”
“Evidently
not.”
“Well when we
are back across the border and I can sit down and write this, I just hope that
I can maintain enough objectivity to produce solid journalism, and not just
hyperbolic outrage.”
“It’s not going
to be easy.” Piet nodded his head.
“So I know
this is only the sharp end of the problem. Do you think…?”
“I think more
will be revealed to us. Expect a package
at some point with more evidence.”
“And if one
of us doesn’t get it?”
“This time,
we share everything. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“Your friends
don’t believe in non-intervention do they Piet?” Liz asked.
“From what
you saw you have to ask that Liz?”
“No.” Liz
looked downwards. “I’m just glad some people have the courage to confront this,
despite what our laws say.”
Piet looked
at her, and whispered “What is John going to say about this?”
“I have
absolutely no idea,” Liz replied, “but we must do something. We must.”
The Leader
held her hand up, and motioned to everyone to get into the bush either side of
the track. Motioning to two of the
women, they crept forward, Jane catching a glimpse of the moonlight on a blade
as she watched.
“What is it,”
Greg whispered, as they heard shouts and two muffled screams.
“We can
progress,” one of the women said as they emerged from the bush and walked on,
passing the two women as they threw the two dead soldiers into the leaves, the
Leader nodding.
“Won’t they
be found?”
“Not
immediately – and the animals will feast first,” she said as they pressed on.
Wednesday 19th August
6 am local time
The South Africa/Mogola border.
The group
emerged from the bush, the women coming and greeting the Leader and their
comrades as they walked along.
“We have
returned you safely,” she said as she turned to the four guests, “stay, and
take food with us before you return.”
“Thank you,”
Piet said as they sat themselves round a fire, accepting the coffee and food as
it was handed to them.
“You have now
seen what we seek to end,” the Leader said as she sat with them. “Those who sit above me wish you to tell your
readers what you have seen, so that the truth may be known.”
One of the
Sisters came over and handed the Leader a sheet of paper, which she glanced
at. “When you reach Johannesburg, there
will be further information waiting for you, concerning those we believe are
behind this atrocity. As you name them,
so we will move against them.”
“Can you hope
to shut that mine down?”
“We can do
our best,” the Leader said with a grim smile.
“May I speak
with you – privately,” Liz said as she stood up. The Leader nodded as she walked to one side,
Piet watching as they spoke in low tones.
“She’s not
really a photographer, is she?”
Piet looked
over at Jane and slowly shook his head.
“Not professionally, no – but she does take a good picture.”
Nodding, Jane
bit into her bread, washed some coffee down her throat and said “anything she
can do to end this, I’d support her in this.”
As Liz walked
back, a truck drew up.
“Your
transport awaits,” the Leader said as she looked at them. “Thank you for coming.”
“No – thank
you for showing us,” Jane said as she shook her hand, as did Greg and
Piet. Liz stood to attention and bowed,
the Leader bowing in response.
“You know who
she is, don’t you?”
Liz simply
nodded as the truck drew off, the Leader turning and shouting “reports, now…”
2 am
Park Avenue
“Okay I found
a boat we can use.” Susan rushed in. “It might not be a real Canadian Coast
Guard Cutter, but in the dark it will do nicely.”
“Crew?”
“Not needed –
two of Maddie’s team are qualified pilots for these boats.”
“Have you got
a trace on the ship Heather?” Shirley asked.
“Yeah I’m
pretty sure I have the right one, it’s an old little tramp steamer, just the
sort of thing I’d use.”
“And you can
trace it back to Mogola?”
“That’s what
makes me pretty sure it’s the right vessel Madame.”
“When will
our crew be in Tofino?”
“About 20
minutes time…”
“Good
Susan…and the ship Heather?”
“It’s a few
hours out still, probably five hours or so.”
“I know it’s
been a long hard night ladies…but WELL DONE!” Shirley smiled.
“Yeah now let
us just hope everything goes to plan.” Heather looked at her screen.
“Well contact
the plane and give Maddie’s team all the info.”
“Doing so as
we speak.” Susan looked up again.
“Okay I have
satellite surveillance set up…”
“How the hell
Heather?”
“Just say a
Chinese satellite is doing multiple jobs tonight.” Heather grinned.
“Right – I’m
going to organise some coffee, and then we’ll see what happens…”
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