Game Day · Bound · Part 2

Game Day · Bound · Part 2 (2/2)
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The first strike takes Anne’s breath. Oh, it stings, but it is more the humiliation of it. Not like the games they play at the office, this is a near total stranger. And this isn’t some sexual game to Ms. Claxton, this is her job. Somehow that makes it more exciting to Anne.

Ms. Claxton is a professional, her strikes are slow and deliberate, never hitting the same spot twice. Anne’s backside is wonderfully warm, her nerves tingling with life. It ends a bit too soon.

“I trust we won’t have to repeat this?” Ms. Claxton said.

“No Ma’am, next time I’ll try the pillory.” Anne said.

“I was joking of course, a pillory would be barbaric.” Ms. Claxton said.

Ms. Claxton presses her hand to Anne’s forehead before Anne can react, then holds up a small mirror. Anne sees the large red X left by the stamp.

“It wouldn’t do to be disciplined twice for the same transgression, now you had better get to class.” Ms. Claxton said.

Anne steps back into the hall with no time to return to the dorm. Being late for class would earn her another strike, then she’d only be one strike away from, well, something she doesn’t want to find out. She’ll have to go to class dressed like this. The students who pulled this prank will get their laugh.

The next day Anne only has one lecture in the afternoon. Jeanie asks Anne to be her partner for today’s nursing class, Anne sees it as an opportunity to meet more students.

On the way Anne has visions of Jeanie taking her temperature or bandaging a wound, but no. Anne tries to adjust the hospital gown for maximum coverage, but her effort is thwarted when Jeanie takes the slack out of the strap dragging Anne’s hand, and last free limb, to the side of the mattress, then tying it off to the bed frame under the watchful eye of her instructor.

“Very good, carry on.” The instructor said and walks away.

“Funny, you didn’t mention tying me to a bed.” Anne said.

“Caring for patients in restraints is part of my certification, and I can’t thank you enough for helping.” Jeanie said. “Do you need to use a bedpan? Then I could check that off my list.”

“You just plan to leave that unchecked.” Anne said.

“That’s okay, we still have three hours. I’ll start with feeding, and then give you a sponge bath. I’ll be right back with your meal.” Jeanie said.

Anne quickly estimates the distance to the nearest exit and pulls hard on the cuffs around her wrists and ankles, the straps hold firm. She drops her head to the pillow in defeat.

After a full day of classes and full evening of cheer practice, Anne is thankful it’s Friday, except for the fact they are running out of time and there has been little advancement in the case. Anne and Jeanie head to the cafeteria for a snack then back to the dorm. Assuming they are in for the night, Anne follows Jeanie’s lead stripping out of her school uniform and into pajamas. Anne dons a two piece satin in royal blue while Jeanie chooses sweat pants in school colors with a white tank top.

“It feels good to relax.” Anne said.

“I forgot to tell you something.” Jeanie said as someone knocks on the door. She opens it and four guys in pajamas rush in and begin tying the girls up. “We have a pajama party every Friday night after practice.”

Anne and Jeanie are taken to the basement of the dorm, which includes a large open carpeted space with a couple of game tables and some furniture. The floor is filled with the hogtied cheer squad, their roommates, and player’s girlfriends.

Anne can’t help notice the variety of sleepwear choices. One piece, two piece, sweats and tees, it must be the only day part with no dress code. The boys lay them on the floor among some other girls and place them in hogties.

“I should have warned you.” Jeanie said.

“This certainly makes up for the lack of alcohol on campus, but aren’t you concerned with play kidnapping when there is a student missing?” Anne said.

“What student?” Jeanie said.

“Carol Bosley.” Anne said.

“I know her. She’s not missing, she’s on vacation.” Jeanie said.

“No talking,” a guy said and presses a strip of duct tape over Anne’s mouth, then does the same to Jeanie.

The break she has been waiting for was in that little package of adorable goodness this whole time, and now a common hardware store item is denying Anne access to the information. A guy describes a series of challenges or something that is about to take place. It’s going to be a long night.

The party goes into the early morning while Anne pushes ping pong balls with her nose, plays Jenga with her toes and bobs for objects buried in cotton balls. When she is not gagged she’s too far from Jeanie to talk, and since there is no kidnap victim in danger why not enjoy it.

The party comes to an end and the girls are delivered bound and gagged back to their dorm by two of the guys, the knot binding Jeanie’s hands is loosened and they leave. Anne watches from her bed as Jeanie works to loosen the rope. Ten minutes later her hands are free and Jeanie begins removing the rest of her ropes, then peels the tape from her mouth.

“Gotta pee.” Jeanie said and runs out the door.

Fifteen minutes later, an eternity in bound and gagged time, Jeanie returns and begins the process of releasing Anne, saving the wrists for last.

Anne rips the tape from her mouth. “How do you know Carol Bosley?”

“We’ve hung out before. I know Carol’s boyfriend, Bob Eckert.” Jeanie said.

“And Bob goes to school here?” Anne said.

“He goes to All Saints with Carol. Her half-brother Steve Isaac goes to school here. Carol likes to play tie up games, and Steve is into furry play, so Bob thought it would be fun to kidnap her from All Saints in her badger costume and bring her here, then their dad picked them up. He had some business emergency in South America and thought it would be a great opportunity for them to see the Rain Forest even though they’re missing a week of school.” Jeanie said. “Did you think she was really missing?”

“There was talk.” Anne said.

“On social media maybe, some people have nothing better to do.” Jeanie said. “Is that why you’re here? Are you a cop?”

“I’m not a cop.” Anne said.

“A detective, that’s so cool.” Jeanie said.

“Let’s just say I’m a concerned citizen.” Anne said putting on her school uniform.

“Where are you going, is there more to the case? What’s the plan?” Jeanie said.

“Why don’t you stay here and get some rest. When I come back we’ll have lunch before we go to practice.” Anne said.

Anne crosses campus to the Administration building to meet with Coco and Delilah, and relates Jeanie’s story.

“That explains what happened to Carol, but how is that connected to the game?” Coco said.

“What was the half-brother’s name again?” Delilah said.

“Steve Isaac.” Anne said.

“I’ve seen that name somewhere,” Delilah said flipping through a folder, “he’s John Rowe’s dorm mate.”

“Our bookmaker?” Coco said. “That can’t be a coincidence.”

“You think John started the kidnapping rumors? Some students believe she is being held to influence the game.” Anne said.

“Control the odds, that’s why the house always wins, but if John is betting he would need someone to place the bets for him.” Coco said.

“University records don’t go much beyond admission applications, so I asked Blake to check out John Rowe. He makes a lot of calls to the EU, more than a college boy would make to his mother, and he has a half-brother named Aaron Stone. Aaron is the starting quarterback for All Saints.” Delilah said.

“And it was just starting to make sense.” Anne said.

“Unless someone is really planning to throw the game?” Delilah said.

“Your closest to the players here Anne, think you can wrap this up?” Coco said.

“I’ll call you if I need you.” Anne said.

Anne returns to the dorm for Jeanie and the two go to the cafeteria for lunch.

“How big is the betting here?” Anne said.

“I don’t gamble, some of the girls do it to fit in with the players, just a few dollars. Not like the boys.” Jeanie said. “But the two schools don’t often meet in a play-off game, so I hear it’s gotten a little crazy.”

“How serious do the pranks get?” Anne said.

“We kidnap each other’s mascots, not each other.” Jeanie said.

“Right. Do you know when Carol is coming back?” Anne said.

“Tomorrow morning.” Jeanie said.

“Game day,” Anne said, “we better get to practice.”

The final practice lasts longer than usual, the players and cheer squad are both on the field as they will be for tomorrow’s game. It’s after dark when practice ends. Anne and Jeanie head back to the locker room to shower and change.

“Where can I find John?” Anne said.

“He’s the towel boy, he’ll be in the team locker room doing laundry.” Jeanie said.

“Okay, you go back to the dorm and I’ll be along shortly.” Anne said.

“What are you going to do?” Jeanie said.

“Place a wager.” Anne said.

Anne makes her way down the hall to the team lockers. The main lighting has been turned off for the night creating alternating areas of light and dark. She opens the door enough to stick her head in. Seeing no activity Anne enters and walks through the dressing area, pausing at each row of lockers to check the aisle.

“Help you?”

Anne is startled by the voice from the shadows.

“Are you John? I wanted to place a bet.” Anne said.

“How much?” John said stepping into the light.

“That depends, what’s the spread?” Anne said.

“Puritan is favored by twelve.” John said.

“I thought Aaron would be the favored Quarterback, he is family.” Anne said.

“What do you want?” John said.

“You seem like a smart guy, I figured this fake kidnapping was just convenient cover for something that would bring a much bigger payday than a twelve point spread. The exchange rate with the Euro isn’t what it used to be.” Anne said.

“Who are you?” John said.

“I’m Anne, from the cheer squad.” Anne said.

“Well, Anne from the cheer squad, you seem to have it all figured out. I do have an arrangement with a couple Puritan players to ensure the underdog wins, so Aaron will have his glory, even though I should be the star quarterback.” John said.

“The kidnapping rumors were meant to whip up the betting frenzy, then you place your own side bets against the underdog knowing they will win.” Anne said.

That was the original plan. Sadly, I won’t be paying out winnings after all.” John said.

“If you’re taking all the money, why use players to throw the game?” Anne said.

“Like you said, he’s family. All I can offer you is a comfortable place to sit out the game.” John said.

John grabs Anne, pushes her face down onto a bench and straddles her hips. At 6’2” he has both weight and leverage advantage. He drags Anne’s arms behind her back and binds her wrists from a roll of white sports tape.

He wraps tape around Anne’s legs at the ankles and knees, then hauls her to her feet and covers her upper body and arms in the white adhesive.

“You don’t have to do this John, we can work out a deal.” Anne said.

“By the time they find you I’ll be in Europe with my girlfriend, that’s the deal.” John said. He plasters several strips of tape over Anne’s mouth.

A door slams in the darkness. “Another customer, I’ll be right back,” John said. He shoves Anne into a locker and slams the door.

Anne struggles in the dark tight space. He must have used the whole roll of tape, the wrappings have no slack, and Anne can’t get any meaningful leverage on the locker door to try and force it open. Yelling for help is out. Anne must wait for John to return for her and hope he comes to his senses.

The latch slides and the door swings open, it’s Jeanie.

“Seems I’m always untying you.” Jeanie said pulling the tape from Anne’s mouth.

“Get out of here, John might be back any minute.” Anne said.

“Towel boy got himself locked in the towel room.” Jeanie said.

Coco, Delilah and Anne sit in Dean Saunders’ office Sunday morning.

“John Rowe is suspended and authorities notified, the two players have been disciplined and the missing young lady is safely back on her campus. Mr. Rowe admitted his half-brother wasn’t involved, so the game will go on as scheduled. Well done ladies.” Dean Saunders said.

The ladies say their goodbyes to the Dean and leave the administration building. Jeanie is sitting on a bench, Coco and Delilah go ahead to the car.

“I got used to standing on your shoulders, can’t you stay for the game?” Jeanie said.

“We have another assignment. You’ll be great, but not if you’re late.” Anne said.

“I’m going.” Jeanie said and the two share an embrace.

“Hey,” Anne said as Jeanie walks away, “if you’re ever contacted by someone named Blake, take the call.”

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Game Day · Bound · Part 2 (2/2)
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