Mistaken Identity · Part 1 (1/2)
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It was a dull weekday morning and Lily Maxted was making her way to work through the inner city streets.
Lily was a slim, taller than average girl in her early twenties. She had a thin pleasant face with a pointed chin and short, slightly wavy brown hair. Though no beauty, some might have called her attractive in a quiet way. Today she was dressed for work, wearing a wide woollen skirt, simple white blouse and a warm brown cardigan. Because rain had been forecast later she wore a blue plastic raincoat that rustled as she walked. She carried a leather handbag with a long strap.
She was a good natured but shy girl who did not form relationships easily. She did not have a boyfriend. Lily had had only three sexual experiences in her life and had enjoyed none of them. For this she unjustly blamed herself and did not consider an inept, bungling partner.
She was a computer data processor for a financial investment firm. Not a very demanding job but she did it well. She was quite intelligent, a quick learner and hoped to rise in the world of computers. Her employer was a forceful lady named Sarah Wassmann. A woman of great knowledge of the world of computerised finance, both national and international. Though it was felt that some aspects of what she did would not stand too close scrutiny.
But Lily, as a simple processor on the lowest level of Sarah’s organisation knew nothing of this. Though she worked in the same office building as this great entrepreneurial lady she hardly knew her.
She reached the office. It was a good address, expensively equipped internally but a very simple and unadorned building outside. She turned down a side entry to the unobtrusive doorway by which she always entered the building.
Sarah Wassmann always insisted on the tightest security. Lily’s practice was to knock twice on this secluded door. It opened into an anteroom which led to the main data storage room at one end of which was the desk of Moya Morris who was Ms Wassmann’s very effective second in command. Normally, on hearing the knocks Moya would go through the anteroom, open the door, admit Lily and re-lock it.
Ms Morris herself was a solid, thickset, active woman in her very early fifties. A square, very determined face with black hair which was always secured in a tight bun on the back of her head. She was something of a genius with computer records and all the girls in the office were in awe of her.
But this morning she did not come as usual to open the door to Lily’s knock. The girl was puzzled and finally touched the door knob. Incredibly, it was unlocked. She pushed it open and, after some hesitation, stepped inside.
She stood in the anteroom wondering what next to do. She was always indecisive when events did not follow their usual pattern. Then the door to Ms Morris’s office opened and a woman came out.
Lily had never seen this person before. She was in her late thirties, with an a firm athletic figure. A square forthright face framed by short fair hair, she looked a capable woman who got things done. She wore a thick grey overcoat, buttoned to the throat and a narrow brimmed hat pulled down over her face.
“Good morning Lucy, “ she began, “I wondered when you’d get here.”
Lily was feeling uneasy. She ignored the mistake over her name and hesitatingly asked, “Who’re you? And where’s Mrs Morris? She usually lets me in.”
“She’s at her desk. She’s not letting anyone in this morning. But perhaps you’d better come and have look at her.” And with that she clamped her hand on Lily’s upper arm. The plastic material crackled as she did so. She was obviously a very strong person. "This way dear.”
Lily did not like the way things were going at all. “I don’t think,—“ she began. The woman tightened her already tight grip.
“I said ‘this way,’” the woman spoke firmly and hustled Lily through the doorway into Ms Morris’ office.
The chair behind the desk in Moya Morris’ domain was the most expensive and comfortable in the building. Shining tubular steel framework and soft black leather padding on the arm rests, back and seat. She claimed she needed it because she spent so many hours in it and had to relax from time to time. This morning she was seated in it but certainly not relaxing.
She had been tied to her chair and gagged. Lily gaped at the sight.
Wide blue duct tape had been used to secure her to her privileged seat. It had been wound several times around her forearms, anchoring them firmly to the leather topped armrests. Her waist had been bound to the steel back shaft a dozen times and longer lengths had been used to bind her ample thighs to the comfortable seat. Her skirt had been lifted and more tape used to tie her legs above the knees. Finally her ankles had been secured by repeated turns halfway up her calves. Lastly, a very large and efficient gag had been put in her mouth and held in place by more tape around her head and under her bun.
Moya Morris was certainly not going anywhere for a while did not look happy about it.
“As you can see,” smiled the woman, “Ms Morris is a little tied up at the moment, if you’ll excuse the joke. And sadly, it becomes necessary to tie you up as well. Put your handbag here on the desk.” Lily shuddered but did so. The woman seized her by the other upper arm and spun her around facing the wall. “We can use the same material as we’ve used on your friend here.” She picked up the half used roll of duct tape from Moya’s desk. “And I’d advise you not to struggle or fight me. I can tie you up unconscious just as easily. I’m quite used to handling ladies like yourself.” Lily believed her. She had no intention of fighting this woman.
Swiftly, she set to tying Lily up. First she crossed her hands behind her back and wound several turns of duct tape around her wrists. Next she lashed her arms to her sides with more tape. Her plastic waterproof crackled and rustled as she did so. “Matches the colour of your raincoat darling, doesn’t it?” was the comment. “And now, one thing more. We'll have to gag you.”
“Please,” Lily cried, “I won’t call out. I’ll…..”
“Hush darling,” the woman had taken a rubber ball gag from a bag on the desk. “Open your pretty mouth and then let your jaws relax. You’ll be more comfortable.” She forced the soft ball into her mouth and secured the catch behind her head. Lastly she she picked up Lily’s handbag and hung it around her neck by its strap. “There now. Ready for shipment.” Lily wondered what was meant by ’shipment.' She took the captive by her forearm and pushed her forward. “Let’s go.”
The two left Moya bound and fuming silently at her desk, walked the length of the data storage room, through the door at the end and entered the ladies' staff room.
Lily’s two fellow processors, Myra and Betty were already there, both seated on the staff lounge. Myra, a tall thin girl with long dark hair, Betty, somewhat shorter and more solidly built had a round, often smiling face and short wavy brown hair. Both were dressed for the bleak day outside in woollen winter overcoats, each fully buttoned.
And both these young ladies were tightly bound and gagged. They had been trussed with lengths of soft white rope. There were several unused pieces of this on the staff room table. Their wrists had been firmly tied behind their backs by several windings and held in place with multiple knots. Their arms had been lashed to their sides with more rope and tightened by cinches under their armpits. Finally their legs had been secured by more bonds above the knees and around the ankles. Their captors had been lavish with their use of this cord and the girls looked like carefully wrapped parcels tied up with white string.
Lastly, each girl had a large dampened wad of folded towelling forced into her mouth, held in place with several strips of adhesive surgical tape across the lower part of her face. Clearly, these two young ladies, like Moya Morris back in her office, were completely immobilised and had nothing to say about the matter.
Myra had accepted her situation and was lying quietly without moving, though her eyes bugged widely above her taped mouth. Betty however, was struggling against her bonds and mewing against her gag. The woman escorting Lily looked critically at them both. “Something remains to be done here,” she commented.
“You sit here Lucy,” she said, pushing her captive down onto a low stool in the corner. Lily wondered at the continued mistake about her name.
The woman picked up a length of white rope from the table, looped it around Myra’s waist, pulled her along to the end of the lounge and firmly tied her to the wooden armrest. Next she did the same thing to Betty. The two girls were now seated at opposite sends with almost a metre between them. “Just to stop you two darlings wriggling around, getting back to back and then untying each other,” it was explained.
Betty continued to writhe and mew through her gag. The woman took her chin in her hand, “You can just stop that Missy. For a start, it’ll do you no good. You’ve been tied up by experts. And furthermore, we’ve got chloroform to quieten you down with if you persist.” Betty stopped.
“As you can see, these two aren’t going anywhere for a while.” She pulled Lily to her feet. “Now then,” she said,”Let’s go and see the boss lady.” And with that she hustled her captive out the door.
The two walked along the corridor to Sarah Wassmann’s office at the end. This room was the most opulent in the whole complex. One of the largest, it had a polished wooden desk, paintings on the walls and was thickly and expensively carpeted. Ms Wassmann liked to do herself proud and the money she made enabled her to do this.
Sarah was proud of the success of her enterprise. She was a heavy solid woman of forty eight. A thick torso, perhaps heavier than she should have been, a square determined face, unwavering dark eyes and thick dark hair cut in a sensible short trim. To give her her due she exercised whenever she could and was sensible with what she ate. She could be described as vigorous active woman in excellent health. She was tertiary educated and had risen to great heights in her profession.
Today things were not as usual in Sarah’s office. She had arrived at her customary early starting time but from there her normal routine had altered very much indeed. Lily and her captor entered the main door.
Two men were in the room with Ms Wassmann. Both wore dark grey boiler suits and had uniform peaked caps pulled low down over their faces. They looked like contract tradesmen or cleaners and as if to support this they had hand tool-boxes with them. Both wore dark glasses.
These two had made Sarah Wassmann stand on the plush carpeting in the centre of her office. They had tied her wrists behind her back and were now tying her arms to her sides, using soft white rope from the tool-boxes, similar to that used to bind the two girls in the staff room. Sarah was wearing the custom tailored dark grey business suit she always wore in the office. The men were using the rope extensively make a secure job of binding her and, like her two data processors, she was beginning to look like a well wrapped package. And like the girls she had been gagged with a large damp wad held in place with strips of tape.
“Well Sarah,” the woman greeted her familiarly, “Tightly bound and gagged I see. You’re about to go on a journey. You and your little friend Lucy here.” Sarah’s eyes narrowed at this misuse of Lily’s name.
“We’ve just finished her,” one of the men murmured. He picked up Sarah’s wet raincoat from her desk and draped it over her shoulders, fastening it by the top front button. “We’re ready to go.”
“Good. Let’s be on our way.” The woman pushed Lily toward the door. Sarah remained firmly standing where she was. Obviously she was not going anywhere at the behest of these people.
The woman reached inside one of the tool-boxes on the desk and took out a long, flat plastic box. She turned to the obstinate Sarah. “In this,” she said, “Is a needle containing a very strong sedative. One injection into your neck and you’ll become very groggy and drowsy. Then you’ll simply go in any direction you’re pushed.” She smiled, “You’ll be a lot more comfortable if you remain conscious and come along with us. You’ve really got no choice you know.” Sarah glared at her but appeared to accept this.
The whole party of five then left the office.
They walked along the hallway to the lift at the end and took this down to the garage on the basement floor below. In this was a large grey unmarked panel van. The back door was opened and Lily and Sarah were forced to get inside. A thick blanket had been spread on the floor and they were both made to lie down on it. Their legs and ankles were then bound with more white rope from the tool-boxes.
“I’ll travel with them,” said the woman, sitting down on a seat running the length of one side of the van. “You two just get us there.” The two men nodded and got into the front seat. The van was then driven out of the garage and into the morning traffic.
The drive lasted over five hours. The two captives, bound and gagged, did not know where they were being taken. Though Sarah sensed there was a lot of highway driving involved and lastly, travel over country roads. She guessed they had been going westward.
The van finally stopped. The back door was opened and the two passengers were lifted out and their legs unbound. They found themselves in a large rectangular garage complex. It was very long with a workshop area at one end. There were several vehicles parked along one side. Two women were standing there to meet them.
One, obviously in charge, was in her early forties. Trim, yet solidly built, her wide face framed by short, very fair hair. She carried a clip board and wore glasses. The other, equally solid but slightly shorter was of African background and looked very strong. Both were wearing green uniforms, clearly well made and of good material. These were of calf length and secured by wide, tight belts around the waist.
“Good afternoon people,” the lady with the clipboard said, “You’re earlier than expected.” She looked at the two captives, “And I’m sorry but there’s no chance of dealing with these two today.” She looked sharply at Sarah, wearing her raincoat draped over her shoulders and at Lily who still had her handbag hung around her neck. The two were starting to look around at their surroundings despite both being bound and firmly gagged.
The over coated woman who had accompanied the pair on their journey seemed nonplussed. “But we were told they’d be processed at once.”
“Sorry, but it can’t be done today,” the uniformed woman with the clipboard was adamant, “Tomorrow morning, first thing without fail. And meanwhile, they’re both showing too much interest in the surroundings here.” She nodded to the dark girl who produced two soft black hoods which they draped over the captives’ heads. “And now we’ll escort them to their quarters.”
Lily and Sarah, bound, gagged and now blindfolded were seized by the upper arms and hustled out of the garage area. They were guided along several long corridors and then heard a lock click then sensed they were being ushered through a doorway.
They were in a large rectangular room, about three and a half metres wide by about nearly five long. It had a smooth concrete floor and long barred horizontal window high up on what was obviously an outside wall. There was a table and two chairs at one end and what appeared to be an ablutions area at the other. It consisted of a recessed mirror and wash basin in the middle with a curtained shower area on one side and a door, presumably a toilet, on the other. Two tubular steel cot style beds were in the centre. Everything was neat, tidy and clean.
“Well ladies,” said the green uniformed woman, “This is where you’ll spend the night. And most of tomorrow too.” She, assisted by her African companion and the over coated woman began to untie the two captives. The lengths of rope and the duct tape which was cut off with scissors were collected in a bag. Sarah’s raincoat was tossed onto one of the beds. Lily’s handbag was left around her neck.
Their gags were removed. Sarah glanced at Lily then began to speak as if she had something to say. “I think you’ve made a mistake here. It seems…”
“Hush darling,” said the uniformed woman said, “Or we’ll quieten you down with an anaesthetic. Any mistakes can be sorted out later."
“That’s it girls,” said green uniform when all was done. “You’ll find the beds soft, warm and comfortable. Towels and washers folded in the cabinet under the basin. Reading matter the little cabinet in the corner. We’ll give you dinner in about four hours. Enjoy.” Everything seemed to have been provided for their comfort. “Oh, and we’ll be in later in the evening to bed you down.” What was meant by this last was not made clear. But they said no more. All three left the room, locking a solid looking door in the outer wall as they went.
Lily and Sarah Wassmann stared after them. Sarah picked up her raincoat and hung it on a peg on the side wall. Lily spoke for the first time.
“What is this place?”
Sarah smiled. “It’s a place I’ve heard of vaguely but never been sure exactly where it is. I suspect it’s in a remote part of the western mountains. Very few people know anything about it. But I do know there’s a lot of big money – international money – gone into it.”
“One thing I do know is not to talk about it when we get out. This lot can make people disappear as if they’d never existed.” She winked at Lily.
Lily was simply relieved to learn they might ultimately get out of here. And she was gratified to be getting on so well with Mrs Wassmann. She had hardly known the woman and had heard she was a stern forbidding person. Here she seemed kindly enough.
“Why have we been brought here?”
“I know why I’ve been brought here. They want information.” Sarah shook her head, “What I cannot understand is why they’ve gone to the trouble of bringing you along. You can tell them nothing.” She smiled, “I suspect they’ve made a mistake.”
“They keep calling me Lucy for some reason.”
“Then I know they’ve made an error,” Sarah laughed. “They’ve mistaken you for someone else. I tried to tell them that a while ago.” She smiled again, “I could've told them that back in the office if they hadn’t been so quick to gag me. Then you’d have ended up bound and gagged in the ladies’ staff room with Myra and Betty
Mistaken Identity · Part 1 (1/2)
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