37: All Dressed Up

Summary: In the midst of their GCSEs, the girl detectives and Richard are invited by Maddie, Jenn’s classmate to her family housewarming. All proceeds fine until the house lights go off.

“Jenn?”

Jenn looked up from her revision notes and books, seeing Maddie Ranson, her classmate standing next to her.

“Where are the other two girl detectives?” Maddie asked.

Jenn raised her eyebrows – despite being classmates for around four years, Maddie never spoke to her. Nevertheless,  Jenn spotted Chelle and Lin across the school library.

Taking the trio outside, Maddie started. “My father got our home redecorated and it looks like a new residence. I’m inviting all our classmates,” she gestured to Jenn. “Would you two also like to come?” She looked directly at the other girls.

“Maddie we’re in the midst of our…” Jenn countered.

“I know, I know. My parents know. However, it’s only an hour or so and dad has antiques from historical eras we’re studying for our history exam. Interested?”

Jenn gave a reluctant nod and Chelle said ok. Lin was not interested in history but did not want to leave her detective friends out.

“What about Mark? What Reinhard?” The 11B girls mentioned their boyfriends.

“Oh, sorry the guest list is full.” The girls pondered and still agreed on her invitation.

“Great, I’ll text you my home address. Oh, by the way, it’s a formal dress code. Dad has some VVIPs there. Hope you have evening gowns.” Maddie disappeared.

Gown?! Jenn cried silently. I don’t have any gowns. Why must it be an evening gown? Meanwhile, her detective colleagues started talking rapidly. “Oh, I’ve a maroon gown. Just have to ensure it’s not that dusty,” Chelle said.

“I’ve a dark purple strapless gown resting in my closet,” Lin added, “Wait, Jenn, something wrong?”

The shortest girl detective gave the reason. “I only have simple dresses. Even for events like relatives’ weddings, I wear dresses. Can’t I go in them.”

“Well, you will look out of place amongst your classmates. A gown doesn’t hurt. I know a not to expensive dress shop. Want to go shopping with me?”

Lin was the ladies fashion expert. Jenn took a moment then nodded.

As the girls returned to revision, the thoughts of Maddie’s invitation lingered in Jenn’s mind. After so long, Maddie finally talked to her and it was an invitation to her home. Why? She finished up her revision then took her school laptop outside the library. She searched Maddie’s name but only found her classmate’s social media accounts on the first page. Jenn then narrowed down the search to ‘Ranson’, Maddie’s surname. She scanned through the results and on the bottom of the first page she saw a Wikipedia and a House of Lords transparency link. Clicking on the later, her heart leapt, finding Lord Ranson of Eastbury. The text read that this Lord was the Second Earl of Eastbury, but he decided long ago not to publicly use those titles. “Edward Ranson inherited half of his father’s inheritance and he invested in that fortunate constructing museums housing family and collected antiques. Despite being a crossbencher in the House of Lords, he rarely sits and uses his own money  not government expenses to travel to London.” Jenn clicked on the Wikipedia article and saw the same information albeit without a picture. Wow, Jenn thought. Maddie’s father is wealthy then she spotted a pdf document on the search. It was a recent court case between Edward Ranson and his older brother the First Earl, Robert ‘Ranson. Many lines were redacted but the gist was it was a dispute over their father’s will.

At the shop, Jenn and Lin looked up at the gowns on display. “Can we focus on strapped gowns? I don’t want my bra straps to show,” Jenn requested.

“You can always wear a strapless bra or an adhesive bra,” Lin suggested but the answer from her friend’s look said it. There weren’t many gowns with shoulder straps, Jenn concentrated on the thick strap ones and there were only a red gown and a beige gown. The chest area of the red one was a little revealing in Jenn’s view so it was the latter.

“The slit here is rather long, will my pants show?” Jenn wondered meaning her knickers.

“It’s called a high slit. No, not unless you walk improperly or lift it up high,” Lin answered. Jenn thought then chose it. The gown on display naturally wasn’t Jenn’s size but after a hated measurement  of her small frame, another was produced. The sales assistant instructed her how to put it on and she rented it instead of purchasing it still hating the formal dress code.

After shopping, Jenn called all the teen detectives for a meeting They all told their parents they were revising and in their headquarters, Jenn summarised what she had discovered.

“Well,” Chelle remarked after scanning through that pdf document.” We have stumbled across a family dispute. It could turn out to be detective case.”

Jenn didn’t like that; she wanted a simple evening and rush back to revision.

“Are you sure it’s Maddie’s father? There could be other Mr Ranson’s,” Reinhard wondered.

“We’ll find out that evening,” was Chelle’s simple answer.

“It’s time for gadgets then,” Lin said opening a nearby drawer.’

“Wait, you invented gadgets with GCSEs going on?” Mark asked.

“Made last year.” She smiled at her boyfriend. They look like Smartie Tubes? First brown one, ‘The Crackling.’ Throw the ‘Smarties’ on any surface and they will blend with the colour. Anyone stepping on them will created a large crackling noise, notifying you to move if needed. Second black tube, ‘Glow in the Dark’. Throw them again on any surface and they’ll glow in darkened areas. You will need these special glasses to view the glow.” She handed over three transparent glasses to Chelle, Jenn and Richard. “Very useful when you find yourself in low-light or very dark areas. Now just do not eat these fake Smarties. It will cause a person to vomit or give him or her a bad stomach ache instantly.”

Jenn kept them still hoping it wouldn’t turn out into an adventure or case. “Next, could you girls hand your purses, hope you’ll be using these that evening.”

She produced three microchip-like items and attached one to the inside her purse. Pressing on side of the attached device, it emitted a continuous shriek until she pressed that part. “The shriek can be changed to a cry ‘I’m stolen!’ if you press the bottom of the chip or ‘Help me!’ if you press the other side. Great if the purse may be stolen or you’re in danger.”

“Do I get that?” Richard asked.

“Well, I’ve not invented that many of this device.”

Then evening before the housewarming, Jenn finished up her revision then look at the dress lying on her bed. Grudgingly, she put in on and got right the second try, also remembering to wear knickers that won’t sow a visible panty line. She re-watched a YouTube video how to walk properly in a gown and how to lift in when going to the loo. She searched her range of footwear and found a pair that nearly matched the colour of her gown. Her mother told her not to stay too late and Jenn promised not to.

Mark and Reinhard despite not invited decided to watch the guests arriving. They found an eatery opposite Maddie’s place. “Wow, and I thought Lin’s house was large and majestic. This is grandiose, a place fit for a king.”

“You’ll score well in your GCSE English mate,” Mark remarked. “Definitely a symbol of wealth here.”

Reinhard prepared the telescope his girlfriend invented and just as it was set up the first guests arrived. They were all dressed in suits and dresses, giving the image of upper-class individuals. Reinhard now believed the mansion was quite definitely the home of an aristocrat.

“Here comes the students,” Mark noted. Maddie’s classmates were all in suits and gowns like the upper-class guests. As a taxi pulled up, Reinhard peered close through the scope. Chelle was the first to step out in her maroon thin strap gown and one-inch heels. Next came out Lin in her purple strapless gown, hair let down walking in heels half an inch taller than Chelle’s.

“Close your mouth boy,” Mark advised his classmate whose mouth was wide open. “It isn’t prom yet.”

Jenn gingerly came out last, holding the sides of her rented gown and wearing white flats. Inside, they were all greeted by the majordomo. If the exterior was rand, the interior was majestic, with decor from medieval and medieval modern times. Her father is definitely the Second Earl and a member of the House of Lords, Jenn thought. She spotted trays of food and putting those thoughts aside she headed there. As she picked up an open-faced chicken sandwich, Richard’s voice boomed behind her.

“Beautiful gown, Jenn.” He was wearing an all-blue suit with a blue tie that had yellow diagonal stripes.

“Thanks Richard, only if you aren’t wearing it. Want to leave by next hour?”

She’ll never get used to wearing anything but jeans and trousers, he nearly shook his head. “Alright, we’ll share a taxi.”

Just as she picked up a fruit juice, another voice boomed. Jenn spotted a man in a suit and bow tie, exactly like the picture in the House of Lords transparency website.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all, especially students taking their GCSEs,” how kind of him, Jenn thought dryly. “Welcome to the Ranson housewarming. It’s the same residence however, we renovated and redecorated much. As you also can see, there are antiques on display, many my team collected. They will shortly be moved to our various museums. Feel free to look around and ask me or my family members any queries.”

Chelle took a walk to see the various exhibits. Lin, totally uninterested in antiques, started talking to some of her science club members. Jenn finished her drink and sandwich then spied Maddie across the room, wearing a sky-blue strapless gown. “Nice place,” She started then slowly asked if Maddie’s father was an Earl and member of the House of Lords.

“You checked upon me yes to your queries. My may hold those titles, but as you discovered he just calls himself ‘Mister.’ My family is ultra-wealthy, I can’t hide that but I never wanted to be part of it. I work odd jobs, never wish for my father’s inheritance. I…”

“You’ve never talked to me then suddenly I’m invited into your home along with the other girl detectives. Why?”

“Well, I… hey are you interested in that rifle?”

“I may not be a military fanatic but it from the First World War? We studied that in history class.” Jenn asked.

“Yes, it’s my great great grandfather or uncle – not sure which – rifle. Usually, rifles aren’t kept by soldiers but he fought with distinction using so the army let him use it. Amongst the items on display here it is the most expensive.”

“So, I was asking…” Before Jenn could complete her sentence, she felt dizzy, her mind turned blank and the mansion lights turned off.

When she awoke, Jenn only saw a darkness. Slowly, she regained full consciousness. She quickly realised the darkness was not due to any blindness but a blindness dark piece of cloth wrapped around her head. I’m blindfolded! Jenn also felt an adhesive stuck on her lips and her wrists were secured behind her back with ropes. Her wrist bonds were further secured with rope tied around her waist. More ropes were tied around her ankles. Bound, gagged and blindfolded, what a way to spend an evening.

Just as she started to struggle, a human arm touched her. “Jemm, ist thatm um?”

“Maddiemm?” Jenn replied and shifted further. She moved her arms and felt the knots of her classmate’s wrist bonds and started tugging at them. Getting the cue, Maddie also felt and found Jenn’s wrist bonds and tugged at the knots. After a minute they faced each other’s back-to-back, working on the knots. The two teenaged girls worked furiously at their knots. After eight sweaty minutes, Maddie’s knots came free first and Jenn heard a ripping sound.  “Thanks Jenn!” Maddie called then fingers then peeled off Jenn’s tape gag and quickly pulled down her blindfold.

“It’s great to see and talk again. Do work on wrists bonds again, Maddie.” It took around three minutes before Jenn’s hands were free. Both girls picked at the knots on their ankle bonds and quickly they could fully move. “But where are we?” Maddie asked, Jenn noticing there was no blindfold around her neck.

In the mansion, there lots of calls and cries from guests and some staff when the whole place plunged into darkness. As Mr Ranson tried to keep calm, servants scurried to gather flashlights, while the majordomo rushing to check the circuit breakers. After fifteen minutes and three checks, the circuit breakers appeared fine. Just as the majordomo felt really frustrated, the lights return.

“Where’s Madeline?” Mrs Ranson called across the room.

“Where’s Jenn?” Chelle called.

“What happened to some of our antiques?!”

“Bell, could you handle this missing person’s case from the Ranson family? I’ve still have to write up the report on the drug case we solved.” Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Nikki Heath called.

“Sure thing Boss,” Detective Sergeant (DS) Bluebell Ransom responded. She preferred to be called this shortened name as opposed to her first name. Police Constables (PC) had already congregated when she arrived. She instructed some PCs to cover all exits, others to cover the grounds and brought in a few with her. Blubell was glad Mr Ranson was wise to prevent anyone from leaving. As DS Ransom announced that everyone would be questioned, there were groans from the students taking their GCSEs.

Jenn and Maddie saw their surroundings were all pitch-black. The girl detective searched around and was glad she found both her purse and Maddie’s. Everything was inside but there was no phone signal and as she checked her phone Maddie tapped her arm.

“I think we’re in an underground bunker dating back to the World Wars. It was an air raid shelter then an ammunition storage facility.”

“Well, whatever. Let’s find a way out of here.”

Jenn shone her phone around, finding that they were in a small chamber and there was only one tunnel to her left. Advising Maddie to dim her phone torchlight, she got on her knees and elbows, leading the way. It initially was wide for them but narrowed quickly, however, Jenn was thankful for her small frame. As she crawled further, she saw a light at the end of the tunnel and quickly whispered to Maddie to halt. Jenn inched closer to discover if it was a way out or if it was danger. There was a large chamber below her with figures huddling around crates. Suddenly, she heard voices then saw dark figures moving items. All of a sudden, a figure rose up, stared at her direction and shouted.

“Back! Go back, Mads!” Maddie crawled back but was not used be on all fours moving back. Her left heel then struck part the tunnel’s wall and the shouts grew louder. Jenn then collided with Maddie and a dark-clothed and masked figure appeared and grabbed Miss Ranson’s ankle.

“Got free eh, birds?”

DS Ransom finished interviewing Mr and Mrs Ranson and the household staff. With the with the assistance of a senior PC, started questioning the quests. She understood the students were sitting for exams, so allowed them to go home after interviewing them and taking their contact details. “I saw Jenn talking to Maddie over that corner near an antique.,” Richard said in his statement recalling from photographic memory. Another few guests also mention feeling sleepy. “Get Forensic scene investigators (FSI) here immediately!” DS Ransom told the PC.

Jenn and Maddie were dragged by masked men through the tunnel then leftwards through another shorter tunnel into a larger chamber than where the girls started. Both girls were forced down and instead of ropes, the girls’ wrists and ankles were secured with cables ties and taped gagged again. As one flipped Jenn over, her gown flared up, exposing her beige knickers and a gagged cry.

“Add more boss?” One thug asked while the girls gave muffled cries.

“Nah, go back and secure the antiques.”

The FSIs after testing the various guests, reported that the guests had inhaled some form of sleeping gas and another trio noted that there were marks on the floor and wall where the rifle antique was and the girls were standing. Acquiring a knife and a crowbar, she and two other PCs pried around that area and finally, traps doors opened, a smaller one in the wall and a larger one where the antique was. DS Ransom ordered her PCs to search the wall tunnel while she entered the floor tunnel.

Jenn wished she had her other gadgets as being bound with cable ties was far harder to get out than ropes. She tried the old trick of twisting her arms from back to her font but with her restrained ankles, she only got aching muscles. Meanwhile, Maddie kicked off her heels and using her hands, she drew out an object from one and used it to cut off her ankle bonds. Managing to draw her restrained hands in front, she reached over and cut off Jenn’s restraints.

“Wow, thanks Maddie,” Jenn remarked as she tore off her gag and removed all restraints from restraints her classmate. “Did you make this gadget?”

“Just an old razor blade I carry for self-protection. Came in useful. Looks like another chamber in this bunker.”

“Let’s find a way out.” Jenn pushed at the ‘panel’ they were brought in and thankfully it wasn’t sealed. She scanned the tunnel for any thugs, then grateful her purse and phone weren’t stolen, gingerly crawled out. As she did, she threw some of the ‘glow in the dark smarties’ on the floor.

Bluebell Ransom discovered a labyrinth of large and small tunnels as she descended. She wasn’t as small as the teenagers so she found difficulty moving through it and after finding two tunnels, she picked the one to her right. Jenn had led the way back to the large chamber she saw earlier. There was a ladder and they discovered there were no more crates as Jenn spotted earlier. “They said ‘antiques’, it’s a good guess that they stole my dad’s antiques,” Maddie remarked.

“Which means there’s some tunnel large enough to carry them. Could you check that section?” Jenn asked.

“There’s so tunnel, but it pretty high up and narrow,” On the other hand, Jenn found an easily-opened tunnel within reach and in her view, wide enough for them or a large to bring up items. Jenn climbed in first, then helped Maddie up. There was a long ladder and even in a gown and heels, the girls could easily climb. It appeared four levels up and the girls managed up to three levels. Meanwhile, DS Ransom found a small chamber with pieces of rope and packing tape on the floor. Moving through another tunnel, she turned to find another small chamber.

“Come on, Maddie, it looks like just on more level,” Jenn called. Jenn saw there was some man hole and unscrewing it appeared with all her might, it opened after three turns and Jenn felt a rush of cold wind as she peered up. No one else looked present so both girls came up. “This looks like my back garden,” Maddie remarked, brushing her gown.

“And these rightfully belong to me,” a loud voice said.

“Uncle Rob?” Maddie exclaimed. As the dark figure moved closer, both girls were grabbed from behind and hand gagged. One henchman snatched Jenn’s purse and emptied one ‘Smartie Tube’.

“Police! Release those girls!” A female voice yelled and a PC appeared shining her flashlight.

“Oh, how you going to stop us? My men are armed.” All the men raised submachine guns and handguns at her and her approaching colleagues. With the PCs unarmed, there was no way they could argue. Suddenly, the thug holding Jenn held his stomach, releasing her and started to vomit. Suddenly, taser shots rang out and the henchmen all collapsed on the ground.

“You’re under arrest for attempted kidnapping and stealing personal property,” DS Ransom announced as she handcuffed the first. Earl of Eastbury.

“Horrible uncle,” Maddie remarked as the girls sat in the open ambulance.

Jenn returned to the question why she, Chelle and Lin were suddenly invited to Maddie’s house.

“You win. I long suspected there were many attempts to steal Dad’s antiques. Besides the court case you read, there have been break-ins recently. I wanted you three girl detectives to spot anything peculiar here.”

“You could have told us that earlier!”

Maddie admitted her mistake and said inviting her class was the cover story. She promised to speak to Jenn and keep no further secrets from her. DS Ransom, noting it was late, told them she would clear the matter after their GCSEs. Jenn gratefully rushed back home, took off the gown and returned to revision.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in ‘Missing in Action’.

36: The Next Generation

Summary: No longer suffering from the tabloid disinformation, Michelle and the other teen detectives have to focus on their GCSEs while Michelle’s sister Kate attempts to be a girl detective.

Chelle, Lin and Jenn were in the detectives headquarters revising for their GCSEs. Despite adding a portable heater, the converted caravan was still chilly. They congregated here as other study areas such as the libraries and school were far too crowded or noisy. Their boyfriends decided to study elsewhere or had other activities to tend to. To brave the cold, Chelle and Jenn wore thick jumpers with equally think long-sleeved shirts and still scarfs around their necks along with jeans for the winter. In contrast, besides a long-sleeved blouse and a jumper, Lin wore a below knee-length skirt with dark purple 60 denier tights and boots.

As they all were buried in their books and notes, the sound of the doorbell jolted them. Knowing their long-time nemesis the Cat was still not discovered, Lin slowly got up and checked the CCTV camera she and Reinhard enhanced last December. “Chelle, it’s your sister.”

“What the…Kate how did find this place?” Chelle asked ‎incredulously. Besides a few adversaries and friends, the detectives always kept the location of their headquarters cum science lab a secret.

“It’s nothing difficult. I’ve always noticed you turning towards the same road after school or during the weekend,” her younger sibling answered, unbuttoning her coat to reveal a dress that reached almost reached to her ankles, her legs encased in dark blue 80 denier tights.

“Oh crap. So much for thinking I was discreet,” Chelle felt defeated.

“Do I have to sign some confidentiality document is it you have to kill me before I leave?” Kate laughed.

“What brings you to our humble liar?” Lin asked.

“Well, I just finished meeting up with friends and thought I see how my big sis is coping with her revision,” Chelle gave a weak smile in return. “I’ve got your favourite flourless chocolate cake in the oven and should be ready in an hour to keep you going.” Chelle smiled happily.

“Yum!” The other girls cried as Kate placed her mobile phone on the table. The news report and clip showed that some unidentified figure had been raiding homes in the Baltic States and Poland, stealing bras and sometimes knickers of young girls.

“Kate, we’re studying for our GCSEs and we’re definitely not travelling to Eastern Europe,” her elder sister argued.

“Oh, just to let you all know. Your cake should be ready by the end of the hour, don’t be too late.” Kate waved and exited.

Ten minutes later, the Summers’ sisters took a taxi back home as a bus would not be that warm. Kate was always engrossed with her mobile phone but instead of listening to music or playing games, Chelle noticed Kate scanning through various international news sites covering the bra and knickers thief. Kate continued to be fixated on the news articles as they walked up to their home. While taking the cake, she continued playing a longer video clip of the similar stealings.

“Kate, what’s got you? It’s a case in Eastern Europe.” Chelle asked as she came down, changing her jeans to joggers.

“True, but the modus operandi is so perfect and despite extensive policing, no police force can capture him or her, no victim could describe what this thief looks like.”

“It’s very typical, Kate. Look, this is occurring thousands of kilometres away. Try finding something closer to home.”

Kate didn’t reply and sisters just ate their cake with tea and coffee. With Chelle returning to her studies, Kate still glanced at the news reports then finally changed out of her dress and tights. Despite her sister’s argument to ignore it, the news of the bra and knickers thief stayed much in her mind.

At school, while the Year 11s were naturally given more mock exam papers and revision classes, the Year 9s were started on advanced topics that they might face in their GCSEs. After Kate faced a tough maths class, she bought a bowl of chicken pasta and activated her phone. Several news sites repeated the same old news but English versions of German news sites like Der Welt and Der Spiegel stated that there were stealings of young female teenagers’ underwear, an exact copycat of those in Eastern Europe. Several reporters screamed it was the work of the bra and knickers thief.

“Hey, Kate you listening to your usual music…oh!” Kate turned to face her classmate and close friend Stacey Barker. Stacey pulled Kate’s phone to properly read the news. “Oh, yucks, “she remarked which drew the attention of their other class and level mates. They all read the articles then added their views.

“Eek,” Helen French, another classmate, shook her head. “Definitely a guy, someone with a fetish with girl’s undies,” she argued. “Don’t this thief steal my bra and undies, ” Harriet Stone a fellow choir member stated. “My sisters and cousins gifted me lovely underwear and bikinis last Christmas.” The sole Afghan girl in Year 9, Zahra spoke in her thick accent that her mother’s and sister’s underwear and clothes were stolen as they fled the country. As word spread, all Year 9 girls and some boys agreed the shadowy thief had a fetish while other boys like the act as they had tried viewing girl’s undies during sports.

With these comments flooding her mind, Kate only managed to listen to the other subject teachers. Coming home earlier than Chelle, she finished most of her homework then took out an old notebook. How did he know the residences contained young teen girls or teen underwear? Why could no one identify this thief? How could he move so easily between residences and now countries? Kate surmised there could be assistants aiding him, or multiple thieves performing similar crimes. That however did not explain the ghost-like figure for this fetish lover. Kate heard Chelle return home but decided against discussing these questions with her. She returned to her maths questions and took a longer time to solve them, her mind just filled with what she wrote in her notebook.

After dinner, returned to her room and while she checked her homework she turned to her phone. The Sky News Europe section flashed, “BREAKING NEWS: Underwear thief overpowers a teenaged girl from Berlin, restrained her and stole almost all of her underwear. Our German correspondent is now interviewing her.

“I had just returned home,” the girl, Sofia Hoffman, said through a translator. Suddenly, a leather-covered arm pulled me inside my house. I struggled but he was very strong. Still managed to pull off his glove, scratched his hand, but he didn’t scream much. I was roughly pushed into a chair, taped up all around, gagged with tape. I saw him march upstairs as I struggled to get free. He came down with a thick sack and left. It was only an hour later that my brother helped free me and I discovered most of my bra and panties were stolen!”

The reporter asked if she heard any accent from him and Sofia replied he didn’t speak at all even when she scratched him. The police took swaps of her fingernails, clothes and the tape but the victim just wanted him caught as her parents weren’t wealthy enough to help her replace all stolen underwear.

Poor Sofia. Kate saved the video clip even though she didn’t think there was any peculiar info. There was nothing new the next two days so Kate focused her choir activities. Then news broke that the masked thief struck at Frankfurt, this time blindfolding the fourteen-year-old after she broke free from the chairtie, also stealing all the underwear from her drawers. Hours later, the French newspaper Le Monde broke a story that there was such a case in a town in the Alaace region. “Police are investigating if it is the same person or a copycat.”

“Either this fetish loser is like Superman, flying by himself at top speeds or someone is transporting him in fast private jets,” Stacey guessed as Kate showed her the latest news.

“Or there could be multiple thieves, all performing the same crime in various cities just at different times,” Kate added.

“That would require precision coordination,” As Stacey said that Kate drew a map where the stealings occurred.

“You know Kate you’re so deeply engrossed in this. You’ve certainly caught the girl detective bug from your sister.”

“I thought of getting you involved in this.” Her best friend remarked there were school activities and studies to worry about.

Undeterred, Kate looked at the map she drew during her free time and kept scanning the news online. European police forces such as France’s Police nationale, the National Gendarmerie, Netherlands’ Korps Nationale Politie and Span’s Cuerpo Nacional de Policía were placed on higher alert. Borders and ports of entry saw an increase in checks, casing annoyed travellers. Eurpol was also on alert. Where will he or they strike next? Kate looked at her map then back to her questions several times.

Kate woke up on Saturday to shocking news: the bra and knickers thief struck at Penzance, in Cornwall, UK. Then, just a few hours, there was a similar case in Torquay in Devon. The Devon and Cornwall Police were setting up checkpoints and checking almost every vehicle for anyone hidden. The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire went on major news networks, reassuring thee public that all police forces were aggressively searching for this criminal. Under much questioning, he advised girls to keep their clothing stored and all to watch for any suspicious individuals in their neighbourhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Summers watched the news with their daughters but the parents didn’t register much concern. “Well, he’s definitely here. I really want to investigate,” she told Chelle, in her elder sister’s room.

Chelle knew what sister meant instead said, “What?”

“I want to be a girl detective.”

“Kate, I’m sure the police will tackle this and it’s happening further away…”

“Oh, don’t give me that protective-big-sister nonsense. I’m no longer the little sister you’ve to protect at the park. I’ve faced danger: I was bound and gagged before. That pervert could strike here.”

Ok, I suspected you had really deep interest in this thief long ago. What do you need? Are others joining you?”

Kate replied she was by herself on this and had investigate the actions of the thief. “Well, being solo isn’t a huge challenge. I’d recommend you meet Lin to get equipped with gadgets – they have been so invaluable in many of our cases. If the criminal strikes near us, you might formally introduce to DCI Nikki Heath who will aid you and arrest him.”

Kate indeed met up with Lin who was elated there was another girl detective. Kate was quickly equipped with the fake foundation powder kit, the recording device for her phone cover, the identification device to attach to her clothing, the laser pen, the ink-and-pepper spray pen and the portable net. “Oh, you don’t have earrings,” Lin was about to issue her with the radio earrings.

“I’ve never found the time after mum told me I was too young a few years ago.”

“No worries, I’ve got these,” Lin handed over what looked wireless earbuds. “I made this last year for the boys after they said the devices clipped to their shirt collar failed to work occasionally. They look like your normal ear buds but there’s markings to differentiate them. There are other gadgets but these are the essential ones. Good luck.”

Filled with gadgets, Kate returned to her questions. She decided that given the time interna; of the similar acts across towns and cities, it had to be different individuals stealing young teens bras and knickers. They must be situated in these towns and cities then, someone must be ‘activating’ them, some main controller. But how can I prove it? Kate wondered.

She turned to reading her Modern History textbook. After finishing several chapters, she turned on the Wi-Fi on her phone and clicked on Sky News. She gave a short squeal as the breaking news said the bra and knickers thief was finally caught in East London, after coordination between Met Intelligence and Frontline police officers. “The suspect will be held with much intensive questioning from our detectives,” the Detective Chief Superintendent declared. Kate paused that video, thinking. Great work for the Met, teen girls throughout the UK can relax. Or can they? It appeared far too easy – why couldn’t European police capture him while the Met could?

Kate went out to purchase toiletries for herself and just so happened to bump into DCI Nikki Heath. After introducing herself, she discussing the shadowy thief issue and her theories. “Those are plausible theories, but my superiors required strong evidence-based theories. Luckily, he’s caught so these can put aside.” Kate brought up her opinion that the arrest was quite simple and the real culprit may be lurking. Nikki pondered then said that’s a possibility.

The possibility increased the next morning as the news stated the suspect was not the bra and knickers thief but some low-key criminal attempting to copy the stealing. Girls in the UK were shocked again with many placed their bra and knickers under lock and key and families installing more house alarms. Then the stealing occurred: this time in Birmingham, close to Croonford The thirteen-year-old girl Katy was thoroughly shocked so her parents had to explain. Just getting out of the shower, the masked man tackled her despite her striking him hard twice in the stomach, he managed to twice pin her down, wrap tape all over her legs, bind her wrists behind her back and her cries were cut off as he wrapped tape around her head twice. Katy was sat up and wailed as he dumped all her underwear even the clean pair she was going to wear in a sack a disappeared.

Creep, Kate thought still wondering how he knew which household to strike. How did he successfully enter without making noise? Kate looked and her eyes rested on her Facebook app. Quickly thinking, she used her spare email to set up an alternative Facebook account including pictures of her room, clothes and adding where she lived. Thirty-six hour later, Chelle was out late revising maths with her classmates. Kate’s mother also had to head out to meet old friends. After acknowledging her mum to lock up windows and doors, Kate settled down, spending time watch TV and reading links on her phone. Around ten minutes into reading international news, Kate heard a minute footstep but as she was about to turn, a thick leather hand cupped over her jaw. A ferocious struggle ensued yet Kate managed break free and ran. The intruder was faster and snatched Kate carrying her in a tight hug. “Ok, whoever you are, I give in,” she panted following the plan she devised.

Without a word, Kate was dumped on the nearest chair and quickly restrained her to the chair, her legs opened wide and bound to the chair legs, naturally creating a large upskirt for the intruder to stare at. A large round of tape was stuck around her lower head, trapping her read hair then the intruder silent headed upstairs.

Kate immediately struggled, but while the tape bonds weren’t terribly tight, she couldn’t remove them after several attempts. After some painful twisting, she pulled out the laser pen and with her free hands and fingers, she attempted to the switch. Lin had warned her if the laser was incorrected fired, her burning skin would be painful. The moment she thought she correctly positioned the pen, she heard the thief’s soft footsteps and quickly hid the gadget.

The fully dark-covered thief stood directly in front of her and held up her old white knickers with diamonds patterns and a matching AA cup bra. “Is this all?” The intruder finally spoke, with a Brummie accent.

Those were her oldest set of underwear and she outgrew them. “I’m cleaning up my drawers, so my underwear is stored in storage.” In gap speak that turn out as ‘I’m cleammning up mmmy drammwers, so mmy undemmrwear is storednm im storage.’

“What?’ The thief then tore off part of the tape gag. With the sting of the adhesive, she repeated herself clearly. In response to his ‘where’, she said she couldn’t fully describe the location and had to show him. There was nearly a minute of pause, then he tore away the chair bonds, leaving Kate’s wrists still bound.

“Don’t try to escape,” he growled. Kate silently hoping her plan was in motion, took him upstairs, then past the bedrooms, she brought the thief to a large closet. “Inside, it’s not locked” she announced as she worked the laser pen back into position. He yanked it with his free hand then releasing his grip on Kate, he pulled with both hands. The door swung open and smelly cooking pots fell on him, pushing him down on the ground with a loud cry. At that moment, with the aid of the laser pen, Kate’s wrists bonds snapped free. She stamped one foot on his back and yanked off his full-face balaclava. Pulling out the other pen, she squirted pepper spray and ink at his face. “That’s for stealing girls’ underwear!” She shouted, then kicked his ribs hard. “And that’s for looking up my skirt!” Without, access to her phone, she used the radio ear buds to call her sister to call the police.

Kate’s hunch was correct, there were many of such thieves located across UK and European towns and cities. “After much intensive interviewing of the UK bra and knickers thief, Romanian police raided Brasov, arresting the kingpin controlling all the bra and knickers thief, With him arrested, police forces can identify the remaining dormant thieves,” the Sky News reporter announced.

“Wow my sister took down not just a thief but a former SRR soldier,” Chelle remarked, referring to the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, Britain’s unit where personnel move stealthily. “And helped bring down a whole gang of thieves. Catherine Jo-Anne Summers, you make me extremely proud. Would you like to formally join our detective group?”

“Well, it was trilling, I’ll consider but I do love choir.”

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in ‘All Dressed Up’.

35: Framed Part 2

Summary: Lin and Reinhard close in on the source of the doctored pictures. Jenn and Reinhard find lady who claim she was framed at work and thus incorrectly charged.

The prologue is adapted from Frank Knebel’s story The Frame Up Chapter 1.

The fight on the train is inspired by James Bond’s From Russia With Love.

Prologue:

Mr Justice Launer unfolded the sheet of paper had handed to him and read through it twice. His gaze shifted to the jury foreman and cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is this your verdict?”

The jury foreman rose.

“Yes, your honour.”

“The defendant will please rise,” said Launer.

The defence lawyer, Sean Paulson, a tall, bespectacled, fair-haired young man put his hand gently on the arm of Kerri Richardson, and they rose from their seats at the defence table. They presented a stark contrast in physical appearance together. Though not ugly, he was gangly and rather awkward looking, his long limbs seemingly ill at ease at being attached to his body. On the streets, he would have been noticed, if at all, as an egg-headed young man who needed to get more sun and exercise.

On the other hand, Kerri Richardson had perfectly proportioned face, with her dark eyes and hair, pert nose, full lips, and creamy complexion thus would have brought a smile to any men she passed. Even though the plain navy-blue suit she wore in the courtroom had been chosen to de-emphasize any sensuality, it could not hide the trim waist, prominent breasts and shapely legs of its occupant.

“The foreman will read the verdict,” intoned Mr Judge Launer.

“We, the jury, find the defendant, Kerri Richardson, guilty on all charges.”

Kerri Richardson sagged slightly against her barrister and squeezed her hands. As the judge thanked the jury for their time and efforts, there were smiles from some victors in the gallery.

“Your Honour, defence intends to appeal the verdict,” said the tall young barrister.

Mr Judge Launer nodded while writing something a yellow pad.

“So noted, Mr. Paulson. The jury has returned a verdict of guilty in this case. However, I’m troubled by some of the evidence presented here by both sides, so I’m going to delay full sentencing for one week. This will allow some time for further investigation by the police and additional evidence to be developed. The clerk will notify both parties as to a time for a sentencing hearing on…”

The judge flipped a few pages in his calendar book.

“…next Wednesday, the 23rd.”

“Your Honor, because of the defendant’s previous attempts to delay trial and follow her bail conditions, we request that she be held in custody,” The prosecutor argued.

The judge looked down at his notes. He looked thoughtful then nodded.

“Though it is regrettable, I feel that under the circumstances Mr. Hazen’s point is valid. Defendant is remanded in custody. Court is adjourned.”

The clerk called for the room to rise as the judge left the bench through the door to the judges’ chambers.

Kerri looked up at Paulson.

“What does it mean, Sean?”

“It means you’ll be held in jail for now,” he said softly.

Kerri looked horrified.

“But I didn’t do it, Sean! I didn’t!” she protested. “How can they lock me up for something I didn’t do?”

Constable Louisa Cole stepped forward. Except for having blue eyes, Louisa was very similar to Kerri in height, build, and abundant good looks. In her right hand, she held a pair of handcuffs. Kerri gasped when she saw them.

“I’m sorry, Miss Richardson,” Louisa said gently. “Regulations state I have to cuff them behind your back.”

Something had indeed snapped in Kerri Richardson. The hateful taunting in the courtroom and the sea of jealous female faces had convinced her that everyone was against her and even rejoiced in seeing her railroaded. A desperate plan formed up in her mind as the Constable guided her along the quiet corridor to the cells, Kerri slowed and let her head fall forward.

“Are you all right, Miss Richardson?” asked the Constable.

“S…something in my stomach,” Kerri replied dazedly. “It hurts.”

“Come on. The nurse’s office is just down the hall.”

Kerri nodded. She was breathing in short gasps, her eyes almost closed. They walked on a few more steps when she almost doubled over and groaned.

“Just a few more steps!” urged Louisa. “You can make it!”

Kerri groaned again and fell against the Constable. Louisa tried to lift and pull her into the office, calling for the nurse as she struggled on. A pretty, cheerful-faced, sandy-haired woman in her late twenties wearing a white nurse’s uniform appeared at the door. Lorna Leeson was a former dancer who had taken up nursing when a knee injury ended her career.

“What’s wrong?” she asked the Constable.

“I don’t know,” Louisa replied. “She got a pain in the stomach and started to collapse.”

Kerri groaned again and doubled over more. Her knees buckled.

“Let’s get her up on the examination table,” Lorna directed. “You’d better take the cuffs off so we can lift her.”

Constable Cole nodded and stooped to unlock the handcuffs. As she and the nurse tried to lift Kerri, Louisa had the fleeting glimpse of the holster strap that ran over her taser hanging loose. Before she could respond, Kerri doubled over again, slipping out of her grasp. When she and Lorna lifted the prisoner again, Kerri rose up quickly. In her hand was Constable Cole’s service taser. She waved it from side to side, alternately pointing it at both.

“All right, nurse,” she said, breathing hard. “Close the door.”

Lorna Leeson, shocked, obeyed as Louisa Cole raised her hands.

“Now don’t do anything you’ll regret,” Louisa cautioned. “Nobody’s hurt so far and we can all just forget this if you’ll hand me the taser back.”

“I’m not giving you the taser,” said Kerri. “The only thing I regret is to be accused of faking legal documents I never saw and thinking that this trial would clear me. I’m not going to prison for somebody else’s crime.”

“But this won’t do you any good!” said Lorna, her hands also raised now. “You can’t possibly get out of this building like this.”

“You’re right. I can’t. But you can.”

Louisa swallowed hard, realising what the sentenced lady meant.

“Take off your uniforms,” Kerri ordered the two ladies.

Louisa Cole reached for the top button of her uniform shirt. Lorna glanced at the Constable and did the same. As the two women undressed, Kerri pulled Lorna’s desk chair into the centre of the room, then grabbed a first aid kit from the wall. She opened it and removed some rolls of cloth bandages. Finally, she picked up the handcuffs from the examination table. Her two prisoners were now reduced to their knickers and bras.

“That’s enough,” said Kerri. She tossed the cuffs to Lorna. “Cuff the Constable’s hands behind her back.”

The nurse cuffed her wrists and directed by Kerri, tightened them a couple more clicks.

“I’m sorry to have to do this to you, Constable,” Kerri apologized. “You’ve been good and I used that to trick you. And now I have to be sure that those cuffs are tight. Your wrists are dainty and I can’t have you getting away.”

She handed a roll of bandages to Lorna.

“Put those in her mouth, then cover her mouth with the medical tape.”

Lorna had no choice but to obey. When the entire wad would not go in, Kerri allowed her to reduce the size of the roll and cut off the excess. Then Lorna cut several pieces of adhesive tape from roll and sealed the Constable’s mouth. Handing her another roll of bandages, Kerri ordered her to loop the cloth around Louisa’s body and arms just below her breasts and just above her waist.

“Now help her up on the table.”

Lorna helped the bound woman onto the exam table and ordered by Kerri, bound her legs at the knees and ankles with more bandages. Louisa Cole sat helplessly on the table as Kerri turned her attention to the nurse.

“Sit in the chair,” she said pointing with her free hand.

“Don’t you think that…” Lorna began.

“Quiet!” snapped Kerri. “Put your hands around the back of the chair.”

The back of the chair was narrow enough that Lorna’s hands met without straining. Kerri crossed the nurse’s wrists and began looping them with tape.

“If you were going to try to tell me that this plan is crazy, you don’t need to,” said Kerri. “It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But I’m started now, and there’s no turning back. I’m just glad I don’t have to hurt either of you.”

She finished tying Lorna’s hands, laid the taser on the desk, and began binding her ankles with more tape. The young nurse watched her with anxiety, yet more with sympathy.

“What’re you going to do?” she asked.

Kerri kept quiet. Finished with Lorna’s ankles, Kerri unrolled more bandages and used them to tie Lorna to the chair. She did a thorough job, looping the woman’s body at her waist, bottom of her ribs, below and above her breasts, and finally over her lap, around her thighs and the chair seat. She wadded part of one of the bandages.

“Sorry,” she said to Lorna, “but I have to gag you too.”

Before she opened her mouth for the wad, Lorna said softly:

“Good luck. whatever your doing.”

Kerri stuffed the wadding in Lorna’s mouth, sealed the gag with tape, and then used more to cover her eyes. She then rolled Louisa Cole over on her tummy and used one more strip of bandage to connect the Constable’s bound ankles to her handcuffed wrists. She also blindfolded her with tape.

“This is to make sure you stay on the table,” she explained. “Please don’t hurt yourself trying anything heroic.”

Her prisoners secured, Kerri quickly stripped off her own clothes and put on the Constable’s uniform which somewhat fitted. There was a mirror on the closet door and in its Kerri noted that the resemblance between her and Louisa was striking. The only thing wrong was her shoulder length hair. She crossed to the helpless Constable and removed the rubber band that held her hair in a bun. Tying up her hair completed the transformation. A quick search of Lorna’s purse produced a pair of sunglasses, which would help to hide any differences. Kerri replaced the taser in the holster she now wore and went to the door. She turned back to the two bound women.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be found.”

Picking up her own clothes, she glanced into the hallway and it was empty. She slipped out and walked in the opposite direction of the courtroom. At the end of the hallway, she opened the door and went from the building into the sunlight.

***

Chelle told Lin the restrictions her mother placed on her. “Don’t worry, Richard saw someone we will talk to. Not a likely source but we’ll interview him.” That hardly comforted Chelle, neither did the constant questioning from students.

Lin and Reinhard met up with Richard to tap his photographic memory. After giving them a detailed description of the second person in the tabloid headquarters, he added, “If it’s fine Jenn and I can’t join you.” He explained that Jenn had informed him of a case she wanted to investigate. “Ok, no worries,” Lin replied.

The mystery surrounding Jenn’s case when he met up with his girlfriend after their History mock paper. “You know the law internship I participated in? It ended abruptly due to this.” She played a news video covering how Kerri Richardson’s or trussed up a court guard and nurse, took the officer’s taser and escaped. “Kerri was one of the friendliest solicitors at Barnes & Horton. She was going to teach me intellectual property law. Across the time I was there, she showed no indication in falsifying legal documents, embezzling funds or any of the charges in the news.”

Before Richard could ask, the next bell rang. After school, Lin and Reinhard planned to survey the Daily Mail to catch hold of this unknown person. “I know, you’re going to ask me what we can do that the police and authorities are conducting,” Jenn continued her discussion as she pulled up her coat and held her school skirt down less the wind blew it up.

“They’ll hold a fixed assumption that Kerri is guilty and running to escape fines and imprisonment. We’ll look at it from her perspective.”

“And your first move is?”

“Returning to the firm to hand out thank-you gifts,” Jenn answered.

Lin and Reinhard didn’t spot that specific person for two days and the latter felt they were chasing ghosts. On the third day, the fortunes changed as they spotted him exiting from a side door. Both teen detectives immediately closed in and peppered him with questions.

“Hey, hey stop accosting me. I’m just a normal civilian,” the dark-clothed lad protested. After Lin asked him again, he lowered his tone and said, “I’m just an intern there. The Chief Editor liked me so am in his personal office. Yeah, I know bout the photos; know the exact source.”

“Who is it? Where can we find this person?”

“There’s no name and the source is secretive. You can meet me at the second train station tomorrow at 9:30.” He passed them a business card.

“Good to see you again you again, Jennifer, ah thank you for the chocolates,” the solicitor smiled. Jenn gave out Ferrero Rocher to every lawyer she learnt from during her internship. Finally, she reached Kerri’s empty desk and quickly took pictures of it to compare with what she saw previously.

“Looks the same, the same, hey I recall she always kept a light-blue folder on the right corner standing up.” After eliminating various reasons, she told Richard they had to monitor the staff.

There was just his name, Richard Head and his email address. Both science wizards spent the rest of their Friday afternoon looking up any more information online on Mr Head but found no LinkedIn, no Facebook, no X.com and nothing else. “Are we seriously trusting this Richard? Which intern seriously doesn’t have any online profile?” Reinhard asked in a call.

“Some people like privacy. If we detect nothing, we’ll leave the next station.”

While her friends were investigating, Chelle was still at school re-sitting for her mock English paper. Her early paper scored lower than expected resulting in her English teacher’s shock. This time she focused and really answered questions properly. Afterwards, she headed to the loo and but just as she unlocked the stall door, the toilet lights went off and a masked figure pushed her back down into the stall. A thick cloth was quickly stuffed in her mouth and her wrists were roughly secured with a make cloth handcuff. Despite massive struggling, the assailant was able to pull down her tights partly and just as he reached for the waist band of her exposed knickers, Chelle gave a massive kick striking the assailant who ran off, only with a picture of her undies. Naturally, it was reported and with the school gates closed and school Wi-Fi temporarily down, it took the school disciplinary team nearly an hour to catch the perpetrator.

“This your idea of watching the staff?” Richard asked as Jenn walked up with as long wrapped up package slung over her shoulder.

“We’ve done worse as previously,” Jenn replied, assembling the telescope Chelle previously used. Its magnification was now increased to 5X and Lin had added a cheap night vision device to it. As Jenn focused the telescope, Richard poured out a cup of organic hot chocolate. They first watched the staff leave through the exits. Jenn turned the telescope upwards and over ten minutes all lights went off. Five minutes later, just as Richard wished to leave, he called Jenn. “There’s a light on and a figure, definitely male figure on the extreme left corner.”

Jenn looked through the telescope for the next minute, switching off the night vision system. “That figure is Marcus Horton, one of the senior fellows. But staff don’t usually work so late in this office.” She looked through the telescope again but only the light was on. Ten minutes and drinks of hot chocolate, the building was dark. Almost immediately, a car sped off from the garage and the detectives knew who to look into.

Exactly at half past nine on Saturday, Lin and Reinhard met up with Richard Head. Before they wanted to know what train tickets they should purchase, they were surprised to be handed train tickets.

“We’ll be taking a sleeper train, no the destination isn’t far off, Mr Head saw Reinhard’s mouth open. “Just somewhere near Brum, this sleeper train does stop there.” Five minutes later, they found themselves in a cabin with two bunk beds and a third opposite with a drawable partition, definitely for Lin. He said it’s just near Birmingham so hopefully won’t have to use the beds, the detectives silently thought.

As that train moved away, Jenn and Richard were at a breakfast and brunch eatery. Officially, they were there revising for their GCSEs – they told their parents that. Unofficially, they, especially Jenn, were looking into Marcus Horton.

“Right, his work profile is super perfect; rose from Oxbridge law, no legal internships, excellent record as a solicitor, called to the barrister’s Inn of Court earlier than his counterparts. Successfully argued many banking law cases. I call it Richard’s law of impossibility,” Richard drank his coffee after that.

“Right. He started the firm first before William Barnes joined. Now I recall, there was a heated argument on the second day I was there and before they took it to a private room, it was about getting a third partner and the solicitors outside were discussing which amongst them will be chosen.”

“Fine, still doesn’t say how that is connected to Kerri’s charges and her running away. What’s your thoughts?”

“We go to Mr Horton’s residence and talk to him. He listed his road names on his LinkedIn’s profile, there shouldn’t .”

It was nearly ten when Reinhard announced he was hungry. “Let’s go to the dining car shall we?” Richard Head suggested.

“You two go; I’m fine,” Lin remarked. As the boys went her eyes turned to the single bag Head carried. The main zip was locked with small combination lock and opening the side pockets, there was nothing. She felt the whole bag yet couldn’t identify its contents. There’s something strange and I can’t figure it out.

Twenty minutes later, the boys return but Reinhard suddenly declared he felt sleepy and immediately dozed off on one of the bunks. Lin immediately rushed over and his pulse felt fine. She was about to check his eyes when she heard, “Get up girl.” Lin turned to see Head pointing a taser at her.

Jenn was correct, there weren’t many residences along the road where Mr Horton stated he lived. Coincidentally, the court nurse Lorna Leeson who was also bound and gagged by Kerri appeared out the first house. In a short chat with the teen detectives which heard of, she reiterated her belief Kerry was not up to anything evil and told them what Kerri wore originally. “Marc Horton lives at number fourteen.”

As they approached that particular house, the gate and door were wide open and before Richard could call, “take caution”, Jenn darted inside. Kerri was there, dressed back in her clothes sans tights loudly shouting and pointing the stolen X26 taser at Marcus Horton.

“Jennifer, you shouldn’t be here,” Kerri shouted. However, the high-flying school debater lunched into a calm debate on why Kerri should not threat the firm’ co-partner though he did falsify her files. This took just under ten minutes just as Kerri dropped the taser but found herself back in police handcuffs.

“What did you do to my boyfriend?!” Lin shouted at the taser-wielding guy.

“Oh, just making him sleep. Now, go lie down close to him, undo your top and unzip his jeans. You two would make a front-page picture for the Mail, perhaps even better than your shorter girl friend, he cackled.

“So, this is it, humiliating our detective group. If you know us, we also have gadgets. Why don’t you search me first?” Lin said. Head initially didn’t respond initially, but nodded and approached Lin, keeping the taser pointed at her. He reached into her trousers’ right pocket and found a small purse, disregarding it. He reached into the left pocket and the fake wallet clamped down on his fingers causing him to scream.

Lin immediately kicked the taser from his other hand but she received a hard kick in her lower torso. This spiralled into an enormous fight with Lin using her Taekwondo skills versus Head’s skills which she quickly realised were karate and general fighting. Within two minutes, Lin thought she had the upper hand, he – left hand free of the ‘mouse trap gadget – slammed her hard against the wall. Despite the pain in her back, Lin rose and pushed him against the opposite wall. It had turned now from a martial arts fight into a tight tackle. Suddenly, Head hand grabbed the kicked taser and growled, “Got you now, bitch.”

Lin responded with a ferocious kick to his crotch which not gave him sharp pain but threw him with enormous force against the ladder of the bunk beds. Dashing over, she found knocked out cold. “No one calls me girl or bitch,” she spat at him. Then, feeling his pulse, she glad she didn’t kill him; she needed to gain information from him. She found a wallet thick with large pound notes but suddenly there was a knock on the cabin door.

“Is everything fine? I heard sort of a commotion coming from here,” the train manager asked.

“It’s alright, ” Lin answered quickly. “Just that boy slamming the walls. Say, I know it’s against the schedule and regulations, but could you stop the train at the next stop? My boyfriend needs to tend to family crisis.” The manager shook his head but Lin dangled £100 in her sore hand, “we can slow the train to the lowest speed, “he consulted his map. “twenty minutes time.”

After thanking him, Lin rushed over to her boyfriend. She called his name three times before his eyes fluttered open and he mumbled, “nice sandwiches”, “nice coca cola”

“Reinhard, are you feeling ok? We have to move in less than twenty minutes.” She received a ‘yes’, gave him a drink of bottled water then turned to the unconscious assailant. Holding the fallen taser, she slapped Head’s face until he feeling, regained consciousness.

“You injured my balls,” he croaked.

“Ok, Rich Head,” Lin nearly wanted to call him ‘Dick’ but that would sound crude. “Who really are you? Did you take and photoshop the pictures of Michelle are Mark?”

He fell silent and in response, Lin jammed the taser into his chest. “Ok, ok yes I took the pictures at long range, phtoshopped them and wrote the article very fast. Was hired by someone took take them.”

“Who!”

“I don’t know, I kept receiving messages from several phones numbers. One was threatening my folks if I didn’t do it. It’s the truth.”

Lin slapped him again, found his hankie, stuffed it in his mouth and wound his scarf around his hands. Five minutes later, these came off and all three managed to jump across to the train station. Lin handed the taser to the now-fully awake Reinhard as she bought tickets for a train head back the other direction. At that stop, she thankfully found a taxi whose driver silently was amused she had arm around one boy’s shoulder and a hand near another.

“Where to, lass?”

“Croonford, police station.”

Epilogue:

“My name is Louis Gabriels and I took of Michelle Summers and Mark Cavendish, photoshopped them and wrote that frontline Mail article. I would sincerely like to apologise for the emotional distress placed on them, their family and disinformation it caused….” The broadcast was closed and the news presenter turned to world news.

“Well, that is much closure,” Chelle remarked as she pulled out her earplugs. The student who tried to take pictures of her private parts was immediately expelled and charged for molestation by a youth court. They verbal harassment against Chelle and Mark had stopped although there were random cases of bullying.

“So much for faking his name as Richard Head. Should have suspected he was related to the chief editor,” Lin added. Louis Gabriels was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and depending on Chelle and her parents, he might be charged with invasion of personal privacy. “I hear based on out town’s disgust, there’s an investigation into the Croonford Mail’s journalist practices and the parliamentary CMS committee is calling them for an inquiry.” Lin meant the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

“I hear you solved your case Jenn,” Chelle called. Jenn explained that Kerri Richardson was charged for attempted assaulting of a court police officer and nurse. There was a serious charge of steal an officer’s firearm and impersonating one. However, with Jenn’s and Kerri’s statements regarding Marcus Horton, there were warrant-based raids on his residence and work office, with the recovery of devices to alter bank accounts and evidence explicitly showing he doctored Kerri’s documents. With him arrested, Kerri’s legal team got her a large fine, week-long community service and original charges dismissed.

“Everything is resolved but we still…” Chelle’s statement was interrupted her phone buzzing. “Mum wants me back home,” she explained.

Chelle noticed a red Nissan parked near her residence. In her living room, tea and cakes were out and there was a man looking younger than her father seated. Before she could ask, she smelt a familiar odour and from a corner came her mother, another woman and to her shock, Mark.

“I meet up with Maria weekly for our women’s’ charity,” her mother explained. “I only got to know she had a son Mark, your boyfriend. Now, I get to meet him. It’s a small world.”

Chelle rose and greeted Maria and her husband Gavin. Then, noticing, her boyfriend, she raced over and they hugged with the parents applauding.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in a story, title not yet determined.

34: Framed Part 1

Summary: A tabloid starts showing pictures of Michelle and Mark sleeping together. The rest of the team attempt to prove the pictures are doctored and uncover the source of the pictures.

Previously on Croonford Detectives:

Just as they both sang along to another hit, ‘Little L,’ Chelle’s shoulder straps fell. What the couple didn’t know was they were being photographed far away.

“What happened?!” Lin exclaimed to her classmate over English breakfast.

“It was an accidental wardrobe malfunction, ok? It just took some sewing to get the zip fixed.”

“Oooh, what colour undies were you in?”

“Lin…”

and

“Mark, don’t go out in such weather. Are you tired?” He explained he had a strenuous rugby game yesterday and his back was aching a bit. He started to sit down but she told him to lie down on her bed. He indeed did and she started massaging his back. More than 30 minutes later, Chelle had turned face-to-face and they were locked in a passionate embrace deeply kissing each other on their lips. They stay like this for the rest of the late evening but what the pair did not suspect what their actions were photographed by a long-range camera.

The printing press and online news at the Croonford Daily Mail was always working in the early morning. The Chief Editor had added the usual British and International stories but a particular one with several pictures was placed on the front page. I’m sure it’ll be a hit for the whole town and the wider region, he smiled then went to grab an early morning coffee.

Later that morning, Chelle and Lin were taking the usual school bus together. They used to talk softly but today fell quiet as they were now in Year 11 and some mock exams were on today Their silence was suddenly broken as their classmate Hattie handed Chelle her mobile phone. Chelle’s eyes widened as she saw the Mail’s front page, ‘Famous local girl detective having underaged sex with her star rugby boyfriend.’

“That’s a..” She nearly completed the sentence then remembered no one was allowed to talk loudly in the bus. Minutes later, she passed through the school gates and usually students were focused on last-minute revision. Now a bunch surrounded her and peppered her with questions regarding the news article. Some immediately asked if the article was true and Chelle immediately denied it. Others, especial boys, asked how was the sex, how long was it and used dirty terms and whistled how cute she was banging a rugby star or how daring it was. Statements like ‘screwing him, ‘how was the foreplay’, ‘was it just normal sex’ or ‘any bun in the oven’ were asked or rather shouted at her.

Chelle ran away but the other students still called out those questions and it took Lin much loud retorting and almost physical pushing before that crowd dispersed. Chelle thankfully found herself quickly amongst female group. Even then, Bethan and Heather did ask her how truthful the news article was. They quickly accepted her answer and Julia and Hattie comforted her, with the former suggesting they focus on their upcoming English mock exam paper. Chelle did but part of the way, she pulled out her mobile phone and despite the low battery, she logged onto the school Wi-Fi and read that news article. From the two pictures with her and Mark at her home, they managed to write nearly two thousand words out of it. She constantly cursed silently until the morning bell rang.

Following her classmates, Chelle was lost in thought, troubled by this fictious article. More questions rang out from both her male and female classmates and even with Lin physical and verbal shielding, Chelle’s ears still heard a cacophony of questions regarding sex with her boyfriend. Not listen of comprehend what the students were saying, their teacher Mr Lambeth informed them loudly that their mock GCSE English paper. “Remember to leave your mobile phones in your locker and definitely no hidden pieces of paper or notes on your skin. Of course, a single bottle of water. Good luck.”

Minutes later, after all students locked up their phones, Chelle’s class joined with Jenn’s class in this mock exam paper. Chelle could tackle the first few questions fast then encountered several medium and long essay questions. She tried to answer them, however, she could only write half the questions length of the A4 paper then her mind wondered to the tabloid article and how much it would affect her and Mark. Unable to concentrate, she raised hand and soon locked herself in toilet stall. Her mind was full of the fake news though finally relieved herself. Back at her assigned desk, Chelle wrote more lines for the essay questions though her mind was still filled with the fake news article, particularly the photos. Why? Who was trying trouble me in my GCSE Year? Me and my dear Mark.

With the cry of ‘pens down’, Chelle’s answers were collected with her mind still on the fake news. Knowing that classmates and students would surround her and blast her with questions and sex-related comments, she dashed to the hideout she found several years ago – an unused room close to the rooftops. Sitting on the only chair there and without any electronic devices, she just stared at the walls, then the floor particularly her school shoes then closed her eyes. Her mind was again full of the article until she heard a voice.

“Chelle, Chelle, I know you’re in there, open up,” Lin called. One second later, she did and questioned how her close classmate and fellow teen detective knew she hid here. “I’ve always seen you run up here and a checked out the place myself,” Lin grinned. “Come on, our Maths mock paper will be starting soon and it’s chilly here.” Lin also gave her friend an energy booster bar and plain water. Chelle liked maths since Year 9 and managed to answer many questions until she saw those on trigonometry. Instead of asking for a toilet break again, she just kept looking at the questions. Initially, the article still was on her mind until she managed to write an answer to one question. This trend of new article and looking at questions continued until Chelle wrote answers to the questions, though didn’t check her work before it was collected.

“Thanks, Hattie, I’ll return your charger quickly,” Chelle told her classmate.

“Anything, for a girl detective.”

It was lunch break and Lin suggested the teen detectives meet in one of the gardens far away from any other students. Everyone came except Mark was there which further depressed Chelle. Lin had to call Chelle’s name before she could focus. “Reinhard only focused on the images…”

“And looking at the first,” he continued his girlfriend’s sentence. “There are small, no, minute streaks here. You weren’t going to…?” He didn’t want to say she was taking of her bra.

“No, my dress fell down suddenly, that’s it.”

“What I’m saying is that this photoshopped.” There was a silence. “The second one,” he enlarged the photo as large as he could, “doesn’t appear so. I need my personal laptop which has Photoshop and I can check both.”

“The article, really is poorly written,” Jenn spoke up. “Using present tense, short sentences, poor adjectives until you reach the, well, sexually-suggestive parts. I know it’s the Daily Mail but it’s also like written by a poor English writer.” Jenn ended that taking a scoop of Scotch Broth. There was nothing further, so the sixteen-year-olds finished their lunch in silence and returned to their classes. It was revision classes but Chelle just half-looked at her notes and books, spent the rest of her time thinking about Mark.

The last bell rang and she ran through the student crowd, with many yelling questions about the tabloid article. Suddenly she collided into her own boyfriend.

“Mark, where on earth were you?”

He drew her to the nearest corner and explained he was harassed and bullied much in between his English, Maths and Physical Education mock exams. “My classmates and rugby mates said really dirty words especially regarding my.” he said several slangs regarding his private part. “It’s worse than horrible, Chelle, how could the media write this nonsense?”

She told him that Reinhard highly suspected the images were photoshopped and Jenn noted it was poorly written. Both agreed that they were trapped and went their ways. Just as Chelle step outside, she saw a crowd of reporters and cameramen surrounding the gates. Knowing why they were there, she rushed back inside and exited via the eastern side gate, hailed a taxi, and slouched. As she alighted, she saw her mum chasing away reporters and yelling at camerawomen. As they were gone, she called her older daughter in.

“Michelle,” Chelle immediately noted that her mother rarely called her by her full first name. “Can you explain this?”

Her mother had paper copies of the mail and other newspapers that had the same story.

“Mum, these photos are clearly fake. the…”

“Who is person appearing in both pictures?” Maggie Summers pointed at the pictures.

“He’s…my boyfriend, Mark.”

“Boyfriend?!” Chelle summarised how she met Mark at school, found much in common with him, dated and he has been a terrific assistant for the detective group.

“How come I’ve never met him?”

“I was planning to…”

Her mum held up her hand and picked up the Mail article. “What exactly where were you two doing here?”

Chelle again explained she and Mark were dancing to music and suddenly her dress slipped and fell. “You know, the one I had you repair the zip.” She vehement asserted she was not taking off her bra as depicted.

“And this one?”

She explained due to the weather she told Mark to stay at her place. They were cuddling and hugging. “Nothing else occurred not what is written.”

She also had to answer what age she was in the images.

“Michelle, photoshopped or not, the damage is severe. Photoshopped or not, you two will likely be investigated for underage sex. I want you to cease seeing Mark after school and stop all your detectives’ activities; it’s your mock exam period.”

Chelle started to shiver from this announcement and that she might be investigated for underage sex. “Go to your room to clean up,” her mother suggested. Nearly slamming her door and not responding to her sister’s call, ‘I baked a fruit cake’, she threw herself on her bed and for the first time in years, Michelle Sarah Summers cried.

Reinhard decided to work at Lin’s house as he knew his father would bring his rowdy drinking buddies around. He did take his time and while Lin also knew how to use Photoshop, she considered him the expert. After forty-five minutes, he took drink of Jasmine tea then announced, “They both are most certainly photoshopped. The first shows Chelle arms bent at her back, except they aren’t her arms. Someone ‘cut away’ her real arms and inserted someone else’s, the shades and lines are a giveaway. For the second, it’s trickier. They are of cuddling but Mark’s hand which is reaching for his belt again isn’t his. This one is a little smaller that his hand around Chelle’s. I’ve managed actually reverse them to the original.”

Lin kissed him and declared that they should go to the Croonford Mail to present this. Contacting the others, Jenn said she was heading for a short law internship and Richard would cover for her.

“Wow, I expected an army of police or lawyers, not teenagers from the local detective group,” The Chief Editor, Jonas Gabriels, puffing out cigar smoke which the teens hated. “What ya have?”

Lin presented the different images and together with her boyfriend, they strongly asserted that the images were manipulated with and therefore fake. “Yea, yea, I’ve heard this line before. We can use any image we get for articles.”

“Who gave you those photos? Who?” Lin raised her voice and asked this twice.

“Calm down. Don’t you know the media, journalists never disclose their sources.”

“Your staffers write with poor grammar and poor spelling?” Richard showed a tablet copy with all the mistakes underlined in red.

“We might write too fast but the message is clear. Now anything more, I prefer proper professionals.”

Jenn was walking up the lane leading to the law office when she heard a muffled cry and angry shouts. Searching the nearby hedges, she finally found a young pre-teen lying flat on the ground with duct tape wrapped all over her. A tattooed and bearded man towered over her and noticed Jenn.

“Release the young girl!” Jenn cried.

The man leaped over the hedge and drew out a knife. “You going to make me girlie?”

Jenn knew she couldn’t physically tackle a knife-wielding thung so turn a special dial in her watch. A shrieking anti-rape alarm sounded and seconds later, sirens blared and two Constables rushed over. With one arresting the thug, the other questioned Jenn and she headed to the law offices, happy that matter was resolved.

Lin was fuming after not able to resolve the fake news at the Mail headquarters. After the boys managed to calm her down, Richard spoke up.

“Did you see the other person besides Gabriels in the room? Far left corner, he kept looking up every now and then. Yeah, it was his office, but there was someone else.”

Reinhard thought for a while then agreed that was a black hair person, almost hidden.

“Fine,” Lin declared. “We’ll trace him and see what his job scope is.”

To be continued.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in ‘Framed Part 2.’

33: Underneath the Mistletoe

Summary: As the girls go Christmas shopping, they encounter a group of younger girls with a family history in girl detective work. They join the young ladies to reveal stolen funds for an orphanage. Chelle and Lin try to get Jenn her first actual kiss.

Author’s note: The characters of Katy, Amanda, Louisa and their other younger female friends are those of Waistknot used wih his position.

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we’ve no place to go. Let it snow!”

“Ah thank you miss., ah thank you miss,” the homeless man playing the Christmas song greeted Chelle and Lin as they donated money. The pair were in Birmingham for Christmas shopping. It was not just any normal Christmas shopping as they were looking for gifts for their boyfriends, having lost a monopoly game against them. Jenn also lost a literature quiz to Richard, her new date and promised the pair she’ll join them later.

“”Ok, where do you want to head to?” Lin enquired as they step out of New Street station.

“Bullring of course,” Chelle replied telling her that she was aiming to get Mark a shirt or sports sweatshirt. With Lin following her, Chelle picked out a nice red sweatshirt for her guy, a set of new cutlery for her mum and a new tie for her father. Lin on the other hand was looking for computer components which Reinhard were seeking after and she was aiming to find stuff for new gadgets. After searching the shopping centre, Lin decided to head outside. She as well managed to pick out a gift for her guy and items which she felt would help form a new gadget.

“Ok, where’s Jenn…hey did you see that skip move?” Chelle pointed.

“Oh, what Americans call a dumpster. Yeah,” Lin replied and the pair moved towards it. Just then, they heard young female voice and out came one dark-haired girl emerged then two blonde-haired girls also emerged.

“Katherine, you’re lucky the skip we found was clean,” one of the blonde-haired girls said.

“Yeah, all I got was your bust in my face!”

“Well, who’s idea was it to hide in a…hey it’s the Croonford Girl Detectives!” The other blonde-haired exclaimed.

“Well, we’re certainly famous, ” Chelle remarked extending her hand to greet them. “You are?”

“I’m Katy Liggot, ” the black-haired girl introduced herself.

“I’m Amanda Butterfield, ” the first blonde-haired girl shook Chelle and Lin’s hands. Lin noticed the young girl had a prominent bust line.

“And I’m Louisa, Amanda’s cousin. Ask Katherine, she’s the brain’s behind the op,” she gestured to her friend.

“Well, we’re wannabe girl detectives. My nan, Mandy’s and Louisa’s nan were girl detectives in the 50s and told us three much about their various exploits. They sadly passed away a few years ago and we decided to carry the torch, after all we all are named after them. We’re looking into…”

Just then, Jenn walked up to the group and after introductions, she suggested getting a hot drink as the weather was getting chilly. The female detectives found a cafe and over mugs of hot chocolate and tea for Jenn and Louisa, Katy continued.

“We’ve been shopping at the gift store down the road,” Katy pointed at the shop down the road. “It always provides funds for the local orphanage. However, donations for the orphanage this year suddenly dropped. I’ve asked the store owner Mr Chris Hughes and he says it’s due to profit loss. His tone and facial expression told me otherwise. I then saw him leaving the store early many times, unusual for his normal schedule. Not wanting us girls to ask him that issue, we decided to hide in the skip I cleaned up to see…”

“Spy,” Amanda interjected.

“Yeah, spy on him. Today, we spotted him starting work nearly starting work around an hour later than usual.”

“Right,” Chelle nodded after taking a drink. “It’s frankly sounds a little flimsy. What exactly was his facial expressions, how different was his tone?”

“His tone was an annoyed one, different from his usual calm or jovial voice. His eyes were moving up and down. He really left the store early across early across the last three weeks and really came late today.” Amanda and Louisa nodded. “Will you help us?” Katy asked.

After Chelle glanced to her fellow detectives and the trio nodded simultaneously.

“We’re far from home. We’re actually here for Christmas shopping,” Lin stated, “That won’t stop us though it’s easier if we act as supporters or mentors. What do you say?”

Katy, Amanda and Louisa took a few moments to silently ponder then nodded. “Katherine, I’m not hiding in that skip again,” Amanda informed her friend.

“Ok, let take a rest then plan our next move, “Katy replied. The younger girls exchange contacts with Croonford girl detectives, thank them then left.

“Well, we’ve met an almost mirror image of ourselves,” Chelle remarked.

“Indeed. Jenn you were quiet throughout. Something on your mind again?” Lin asked.

“Oh, I’m here to find a Christmas gift. I’ve bought presents for my father, the male members of my wider family but never for a guy I now call my boyfriend. I should have won that quiz.”

“It’s never easy, Jenn,” Chelle remarked. “You have thought of what he likes of course?

“What he likes, well, he has everything that I was thinking about. Books, music CDs….”

“Anything you think that draw you two closer?” Lin wondered/

“Let me wonder around Brum, alone,” Jenn replied, placed several pounds down to pay for her drink. ” I don’t think the Cat is here.”

She did wonder around the city centre exploring several bookstores and music stores. Everything she looked at she knew Richard had due to their discussions. Do I go somewhere else to find a gift? Or do I get him a non-physical item?

“Maybe we could help Jenn to get her a present for Richard,” Lin suggested as they walked out of Croonford train station.

“What do you have in mind?” Chelle replied. “What we know about Richard is what we know from Jenn and what we’ve seen since he joined our group and our school.”

“We don’t have to find what he likes. It’s Christmas time. We can…” she whispered into her classmates’ ear and Chelle’s eyes widened.

Jenn travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon, hoping to find a gift. Spending most of the afternoon there nothing appeared suitable though she manged to find gifts for each of her parents and herself. This is way difficult than debating, drama or studies she thought silently.

Chelle and Lin arranged to meet the younger girl detectives the next day, informing Jenn. As they walked into the station, Chelle brought up Lin’s idea. “Mistletoe?! Like the town centre mistletoe?”

“Sure, everyone kisses under it. Reinhard and I missed it last as he was visiting his mother.”

“Well, Jenn isn’t a fan of traditions; you know she hates Halloween,” Chelle pointed out.

“She hates ghouls and monsters. A kiss under the mistletoe will seal their love for each other,” Lin stated. “If not the town square, we can plant one in another area.”

Just over an hour, they met Katy and Amanda, the former explaining Louisa will join them later. “So, before any further moves, we’d like to know, what it is like to be a girl detective?” Katy asked.

“There are fun times, challenging moments…” Chelle answered.

“And scary times but very rewarding moments at the end,” Lin completed the answer.

“Were you lot bound and gagged?”

The two older girl detectives smiled. “Many, many times, ” Chelle smiled. “With various restraints and gags and often down to our underwear to humiliate us.”

Katy and Amanda’s eyes blinked. “My nan was strung up bound and gagged in just her undies near the electric cables of bumper cars while investigating stolen valuables at a carnival,” Katy recounted.

“Mine also present there and dunked in a tank by innocent carnival visitors until saved. Later she and other girls investigating were restrained to carousel horses in intimate positions as well as gagged, the carousel spun wildly until rescued.”

“And my nan was bound and gagged more when investigating the ownership of an aerodrome. She literally had to land a plane, luckily with much assistance, solo.”

“It looks like your grandmas had great adventures as girl detectives. So, before this case, have you solved any previous?” Lin asked.

“Nothing much really, ” Katy answered. “Catching classmates cheating in tests.”

“Finding out who placed a dead rat in our Maths teacher’s bag, “Amanda added.

As Louisa and Jenn joined them, the younger girls gave their update. Chris Hopkins again was late for work this morning and according to Louisa he left the store earlier than usual with sack over his shoulder.

“Sounds like he’s Santa Claus,” Lin commented. “Seriously, you three are forbidden from enter his store now?”

Amanda replied that they had questioned Mr Hughes was very much annoyed with them. With the Croonford girl detectives deciding to enter the store, the six girls headed there. As they walked, Katie asked what else they require as girl detectives.

“You might t need a scientist,” Chelle pointed at Lin who explained she made gadgets which helped the girls hunt suspects and free themselves when restrained and gagged.

“Oh, there’s another classmate of ours, Melinda Royer who is keen on science and use a self-made camera to find who planted the dead rat. “Her granny was also with mine solving the stolen valuables from the carnival. However, she’s focused on school and school activities now. What else do we need?”

“You may need a friend from the police force,” Jenn finally spoke. “We have a Detective Chief Inspector who supported use on many cases as well as her assistant, a Detective Sergeant.”

The three younger girls noted that on their phones with Louisa remarking some of the local police were friendly others dislike young students. As they approached the store, Chelle told the girl detectives in training to wait outside less Hughes spot them.

“Hi girls, welcomes to Hughes gift store,” Chris Hughes greeted the Croonford girls. The girls in return browsed around for the shop for nearly thirty minutes until Hughes asked if they were going to buy anything.

As Jenn quickly picked a thirty series of Christmas cards. Chelle decided to comment. “The store is packed full…”

“…With non-Christmas gifts,” Lin completed the observation.

“Well, one must be prepared,” Hughes replied. “A good number of items are from Halloween and this Summer, still good to purchase, any takers?” The girls were looking at his eyes which were moving only very slightly, indicating he might be under stress.

Jenn notice the size of the store and Hughes was the only staff. “You work alone?”

“Nice to be alone, you going to pay for that?”

Jenn paid and the girls left meeting the younger girls who took them to Malaysian Delight in Chinatown for lunch. While waiting for their dishes, the Croonford girls updated those from Brum. In return, the younger ladies told them they did research on the store and Chris Hughes. The store originally sold electronic equipment and was owned by Hughes’ brother who died in combat in Afghanistan. Hughes himself served but was dismissed after a positive drug test and he did have a store assistant.

“Hmm, either he didn’t want to tell us he had a store assistant or he didn’t want to go through the store history,” Jenn remarked as her plate of Hainanese Chicken Rice arrived.

“Maybe he’s on drugs, though what we saw from his eyes can’t explicitly indicate that,” Chelle said after drinking her cup of teh tarik.

“It doesn’t explain why he leaves early and heads different routes and comes in late,” Amanda noted as her plate of beef friend rice which she was sharing with Louisa came. Chelle chose Hokkien Prawn Mee while Katy, having learnt tried the food of South East Asia before, picked Char Kway Teow. The six girls discussed the case and decided the investigation would mostly lie with the Brum girls. The Croonford girls recounted more of their exploits while in return Katy and Amanda gave further detail how their grandmothers helped a young female pilot, Clovis ‘Piper’ Merriwether get men arrested for illegal estate development and manipulation of a public land status. The Croonford girls gave them more advice how to be a successful girl detective and left.

“So, Jenn, any luck in getting a present for Richard?” Lin asked as they passed through the gates of New Street Station. Jenn shook her head.

“Can we help out?” This came from Chelle.

Jenn shook her head. “If worst comes to worst, I’ll just give him a card.” Lin turned to Chelle, saying silently their plan was in motion.

Amanda and Louisa returned to their homes in the Selly Oak region while Katy lived at Edgbaston. Katy, thirsty after lunch, let her friends go ahead as she headed to a nearby drink shop to quench her thirst. As she headed back, she caught a glimpse of Chris Hughes. With adrenaline pumping, she ran after him, watching her pace, so as not to alert him. As she ran, she noticed a backpack on his shoulders that was really pack full. Katy ran but Hughes quickly turned a corner. As she headed there, he was nowhere in sight. Damnit, she sighed.

“Thanks for borrowing your mistletoe, Mrs Brown,” Lin thanked her nearby neighbour. She caught up with Chelle who found an ideal place to hang the mistletoe which had little passer-by’s. “They still might not kiss each other, especially Jenn,” Chelle pointed out.

“Well, at least they’ll give each other a deep hug,” Lin replied.

“Where did he head to again Katherine?” Amanda asked.

“Along Temple Street, I lost him as he turned into Temple Lane.” Katy was in a Skype conference call with her fellow young girl detectives as it was 1°C outside now.

“Maybe he was going to a pub; there are several in that area, “Louisa pointed out.

“With that bag pack full? There’s something mysterious inside.” Katy continued saying they should return the next day to shadow him and attempt to discover what he was carrying.

“In this weather?!” Louisa exclaimed.

“Weather never stopped your swimming training Lou. It didn’t stop the Croonford girls,” Katy replied then worked out her plan.

Jenn was in her room watching the weather change. Everything she looked at she knew or highly suspected Richard. I’ll get him something somehow, she thought.

Katy headed back to the exact spot in Birmingham City Centre early morning and walked all the way up to where Hughes disappeared and moved further. Louisa was correct; there were shops, offices and some pubs there. Nothing appeared out of the order so she quickly returned to where she started and found Amanda. “Lou haas to tend to household chores, she’ll join us later. Miranda passed me this,” her friend gave her a short pole.

“It’s a telescope she made, though good up to 50 metres. Now, where are we heading?”

“Back to near his store, let’s try to stay hidden.” Katy rushed toward there with Amanda lagging.

“Hurry Mandy!”

“I’m in a dress and the wind is blowing fast!”

“You’re just like your granny , be practical next time.” Katy slowed down as she was half a block near Hughes’ store. The owner suddenly exited his store and Katy noted it was just 9:15 am. Watching her pace again, she trailed Hughes who again was carrying a bag, albeit with his left hand. She soon found in deep inside Brum’s Chinatown. She followed him past the Chinese Supermarket and then lost sight of him again. No way, I’ll find you she thought, then found herself lost amongst the Chinese population. Katy moved past them, searching until strong hands grabbed her, one hand covering her mouth tightly. Despite furious struggles and kicking, she was dragged to a side.

“Pesky little girl,” she heard Hughes’ voice in hear ear. “Stalker as well. You must learn a lesson.”

Katy was unceremoniously placed down on cold floor. Immediately, her thin arms were yanked behind her back and she felt adhesive tape of some kind binding her wrists together. Another round or two tape secured her arms to her waist. Katy was kicking but after he slapped her bum, she gave in. He next bound her ankles knees together.

“This is totally u…mmmmmph!” Hughes pulled off her scarf, made a quick knot and after lifting her head and jammed that knot into her mouth, tying it at the back of her head.

“Imm canmmm explmmm!” Katy shouted through the make-shift gag but again he spanked her again telling her to shut up. Just then, she heard a buzzing tone of a mobile phone. “Yeah…next drop? Broad street, where. Ok, will be there ASAP.” After one last spank, he left. Katy immediately struggled against the bonds however, he had made them really tight. Her struggling continued for more than five minutes until she heard Mandy’s and Louisa’s voices. “Goodness!” they both exclaimed, as she felt the tapes cut away.

“We need to get to Broad Street now! He’s delivering some sort of package there!” Katy cried, spitting out threads from hr scarf,

“You mean like this?” Louisa shone her phone torchlight which revealed the bag Hughes was carrying earlier. The trio cautiously approached it less it contained dangerous material. Unzipping it, they found loads of money and sweets. “Strange,” Amanda remarked. “Just like Christmas gifts.”

“Well, let’s get to Broad Street,“ Katy repeated.

“I’ve contacted the police, a DI Branson will meet us,” Louisa added and Katy noted she was holding a penknife. Outside, they encountered that police detective and updated him. Examining the contents with rubber gloves, he declared, “these are counterfeit notes and…” he sniffed the sweets. “…is actually cocaine. Thanks girls, I’ll take it from here.”

“We want to follow,” Katy quickly said.

“Alright, get in my car.”

Broad Street is a nightspot area and also the centre of Birmingham’s banking and financial centre. DI Branson parked at the start of the street and told the girls to stay inside. Quickly walking down, he showed his ID to pedestrians but all never saw any bag or suspicious package but as he neared an eatery, he saw a bag under a mistletoe similar to what the girls passed him. He entered and as he exited with it, a booming voice shouted, “leave the bag where it is!”

Hughes’ hand was in an arm lock over Amanda’s neck and a knife was in his other hand.

“Listen, release the girl. You are jeopardising an innocent civilian!” Branson shouted bag.

“Drop it or the lass get her throat sliced!”

Without any taser or firearm, Branson complied but a cry went out and Amanda immediately stomp her boot hard on Hughes’ foot hard. Katy and Louisa tackled the store owner down with all their weight and the former slapped his face hard. “That’s for binding me up and spanking me!” She yelled.

Branson rushed forward and handcuffed him. “Thank you, ladies,” he nodded as sirens wailed in the distance.

“Passing money and drugs. His son was under threat and thus was under much pressure,” Katy updated Chelle and Lin via WhatsApp call. “The police busted the supplier of cocaine and the counterfeit creator though Hughes is facing trial for what he did to me and threatening Mandy. We have to be witnesses.”

“It always happens in the aftermath. Congratulations on your first case,” Chelle replied then ended.

“Ok, let’s put Operation Mistletoe in motion,” Lin declared.

<em>Come to Barkson’s Lane after noon</em>, Jenn received the vague message from Chelle as she returned from food shopping with her mum. She received no reply after asking why but ever so curious, she headed out, hoping the snow will be light. Making her way there just in twenty minutes, she found it deserted save one old lady with her trolley. Is this a joke, she wondered as the cold struck her face. Suddenly she saw a Mistletoe hanging from a tree. Simultaneously, a noise emitted and a figure approached from the other end. Jenn quickly pulled out the pepper spray Lin invented.

“Mark? Did you call me here Oh hi, Jenn, “Richard greeted and she relaxed.

“Oh, see that?” He pointed at the Mistletoe. “You know the significance?”

“Yes, I do, I’ve read about Norse culture when I was young Richard,” she replied.

“Well, we could follow the tradition…or if you’re not ready just a nice embrace.” The two debaters, once rivals, stared each other then for no explicit reason, Jenn walked slowly forward, arched her head up and kissed Richard on his cheek. He responded with two kisses, one of her forehead and one on her nose. The both greeted each other ‘Happy Christmas’ with their breathes visible.

There were clapping and as the couple turned, they saw Chelle and Lin emerge. “You two! You set it up!” Jenn pointed.

“Like it?” Lin asked.

“Well, it’s a lovely Christmas gift,” the lanky lad remarked.

“I…I agree. Let’s get to where’s it warm,” the shortest girl detective suggested as her boyfriend embraced her.

The six teen detectives headed to Lin’s house since their portable heater at their headquarters was not strong enough. Pearlyn Chan allowed them, suspecting Chelle and Mark were together and not knowing Jenn and Richard’s status. The teens gathered in the dining room and immediately presents were presented. “Oh, wonderful! thanks Chelle,” Mark leaned and kissed his girlfriend after pulling out the sweatshirt. “Lovely, ” Reinhard remarked as he found the multi-USB adaptor Lin bought. He kissed her deeply to signify his appreciation. “I know that kiss meant a Christmas gift to you,” Jenn looked at Richard. “But after scourging many stores, I found Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day after you told me that you copy got torn.”

“That’s perfect!” Richard hugged her in response. It was now the boy’s turns to reveal their presents for their girls. Mark got Chelle a watch with their names engraved at the back. Reinhard got his girl a testube rack after one testube of hers cracked. “Jenn, hope you like Cliff Richard’s Songs from Heathcliff, you did say one song from your copy got spoilt.”

“We can listen to it together!” Lin then turned on her mp3 player which was loaded which Christmas songs. The detectives started singing together and after the player stopped, fruit juices were served and they all wished each other Merry Christmas.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in ‘Framed Part 1.’

32: Complex Love

Summary: Michelle suspects her history teacher is in trouble and finds herself in a cult that changes women. As Halloween approaches, Reinhard meets an old friend and Lin gets jealous. Meanwhile, Jenn discovers she has much in common with Richard and ponders an actual relationship.

Warning: Adult bondage only on an adult.

“Michelle, that’s a well-argued essay, you just need to re-check the dates of the English Civil War,” Charlotte Hawkins, her Canadian history teacher remarked after handing back Chelle’s essay. Hawkins, who used to teach Geography now switched to History.

“Ok, Miss Hawkins, I’ll work on that,” Chelle replied then noticed her face was quite blank.

“You alright, Miss?”

There was a pause. “Just the strain of mark student essays. Do pick up your class essays later on Friday.” Hawkins turned quickly and Chelle took a metal note on her teacher’s look and reminded herself to pick up those essays; she was the class history rep.

That Friday, Lin finished school early having finished all her science practical really fast. Returning home, the first thing on her mind was: Halloween. There was the annual town festival with scary movies shown and later a competition for the best-dressed couple with costumes on. Lin planned that she and her boyfriend would wear werewolf costumes. She had some of the material for the costume and face paint those still required other items. That meant a shopping trip.

“Lin Ling , please just go to the store and return home immediately. Don’t get into any detective cases or get hidden in another chamber. Your father and I will be away late October and I want you home after school and the weekends,” Pearlyn, her mother stopped her.

“Yes ma. This time I’ve got Reinhard with me.”

“Well,” she knew her daughter’s growing attachment to the half German, half Jamaican boy. “I’m sure he’ a responsible and caring young man. I still don’t want you to fall into trouble, understand?”

“Yes, mama.”

Lin summarized what her mother said when she met her boyfriend. “Well, let’s make sure students don’t keep you hostage and take pictures of you.” He as mentioning the two perpetrators, Stuart Walter and older Year 13 brother Harry. Both students were quickly expelled from the school. Under intensive questioning, neither claimed to actually be the Cat, the detectives’ long-term nemesis or have any association with that person. That left the teen detectives with still another dead end regarding their foe.

As the two scientists headed to a store for costumes and paint, Chelle did of course collect her class history essays from the exterior pigeon holes, shelves that teachers and students would place their assignments for marking and collection. As she did so, Miss Hawkins rushed out of the teacher’s office.

“Miss…” Chelle started.

“If it’s essays or topics, I’ll discuss it later,” She walked raidly then literally moved fast towards the exits. Chelle instinctively rushed after her but could only not the direction her history teacher took and some T-shaped outline under Hawkin’s trousers.

The store which Lin chose was packed with customers since Halloween was coming up. She and Reinhard managed push through instinctively the crowd to find the relevant costume section. As she started browsing the shelves, a cherry voice called out, “Reinhard, bist Du das?”

Lin turned and saw her boyfriend chatting rapidly in German to a girl his height with blonde silky hair reaching her shoulders and light blue eyes. The girl was less muscular than she was and had breasts just a little smaller than as hers. Reinhard and the new girl kept chatting for more than ten minutes despite Lin kept trying to interrupt. Finally, he turned.

“Oh, my manners. Lin , this is my old kindergarten and primary classmate, Karin. Karin’s father is a German diplomat and her family now posted to the UK. She’s up her to find an old friend she met while living in India. Karin this is my schoolmate and…girlfriend, Lin Ling.” He started rattling off in German and explained Karin’s English was not so strong.

“Very nice to meet you,” She greeted in accented English and had trouble pouncing her name.

“Just call me Lin,” She suggested then Karin continued rattling in her mother tongue.

“She says I was always a man of culture because I’m dating a Chinese girl.” Lin just returned to shopping and tried to get Reinhard with her. Karin again started chatting to Reinhard, thus steering him away. Lin therefore did all the shopping though could help see how the two former students were immediately close and to her it appeared more than a rekindling of a friendship.

Chelle had homework and her media club activities to keep her busy during the weekend. Nevertheless, she was still thinking what her history teacher was wearing underneath her trousers. A quick Internet search yield nothing plausible, so she contacted the other detectives. Her boyfriend Mark apologised as he had extended rugby training. Jenn send short reply stating she had debate practice. In the mid-afternoon, Lin answered.

“T-shape, image underneath her trousers?” Lin repeated. “Haven’t any immediate idea. How far away were you?”

“Not that far. She was moving fast.” Chelle also described the pale look on her teacher’s face. “It can’t be just here undies, right?”

“G-string? Nah.” Lin laughed over the phone then updated her classmate on meeting Reinhard’ old classmate. “They seem not only like old schoolmates but like animals immediately mating together.”

“Mating, Lin are you jealous?”

“She’s blonde, blue eyes, his height and they were yapping in their own language…”

“You are jealous Lin, Take it easy. He’s just met her and didn’t say he’s breaking up with you right?”

“Err, no. But… Are you going to the town festival this Halloween?” Lin quickly changed the subject.

“Perhaps. Cath’s got a choir performance around then and my whole family’s going to support her.” Chelle was referring to her younger sister.

Jenn indeed had debate practice on and she was acting as one of the adjudicators. The two opposing teams were the junior debaters and the seniors, with Richard included. There were several practice motions, one in particular was ‘This House believes spanking is harmful for children’s upbringing’. The junior team was supporting while the senior was in opposition. Jenn tried to judge fairly but couldn’t help be amazed by Richard’s speech, his counter-arguments and closing speech. Finally, the junior team won.

“I really have to say those were exceptional arguments,” Jenn admitted, walking up to Richard.

“Why, thanks. I actually don’t believe what I said after being spinked growing up.”

Jenn’s eyes widened. “You were spanked as a child?!” She pulled him aside. “I was spanked by my dad until my early teens.”

“Ouch, ouch, ” Richard replied. “We’ve got much in common, don’t we? We love musicals, we love oldies and we were spanked by our parents.”

Jenn wanted to laugh but instead asked. “What else do you like or hate?”

“I hate Halloween,” the lanky lad pointed at the art work on the wall. They were in a room also used by art students. “Never a fan of ghouls and scary acts. I like the company of people who shared the same tastes as I do.”

“I detest Halloween as well. Are…you asking me out Richard?!” Jenn couldn’t believe where a simple praise led to.

“Let’s go again, shall we? This time a proper date. We could…” Jenn mumbled an excuse and darted for the ladies, locking herself in the nearest stall. Oh gosh, some boy I treated as a rival and now he has much in common with me and is asking me out? Jenn sat there then got out then splashed water on her face.

“You two were discussing more than his debate arguments?” That came from Bethan.

Jenn nodded.

“He told you something about himself, right?”

Jenn couldn’t answer despite usually being able to.

” You found he’s the person you like? He asks you out?”

Jenn nodded then asked how Bethan’s bisexual life was.

“Oh, I’m putting the bi part away, found a neighbour. Jenn, if you do like him, go out.”

Jenn walked back her mind buzzing and nearly collided into Richard.

“How about seeing another musical? This time say London’s West End?”

Jenn agreed really wondering what she got herself into.

Chelle didn’t have history class on Monday but still was wondering what that figure or clothing was underneath Miss Hawkin’s trouser. She took Hattie who was a keen artist aside and described as best as she could what she did not saw not mentioning any names.

“Oooh, mystery,” Hattie remarked, kept quiet aftere that and expertly drew what Chelle described.

“I’ll buy you a…” Before Chelle could complete her sentence, there was a commotion and shouts, “she’s back!” That person was Molly Peacock, once part of the Cat’s group and attempting to seal Jenn underground. Naturally, the first student Molly met with was Jenn.

After their maths class, Chelle caught up with Lin and showed her the drawing. “Well,” Lin examined it. “Still looks like some sort of underwear. Maybe some type of knickers I’ve not seen yet?’ Lin remarked. She was constantly engrossed with fashion and knew many brands and styles. “You said she look pale?”

“Quite white, well I didn’t stay long enough to have a good look. You have any new gadgets for long-range observation, do you?” Chelle asked.

“Meet me in the science club room after school.”

Chelle did and Lin pulled out a cylindrical object from a drawer. “A telescope, well one you can keep under your coat. Original range 200 metres, I managed to increase it to 350 and magnified by three timex,” Lin proudly declared and showed her how to use it.

“Nice, what about the set of parabolic microphones you created earlier?” Chelle wondered

“I haven’t charged that up and plan to create a successor. What do you plan do really?”

“Follow Miss Hakins to her home or where she’s staying. I suspect there’s trouble brewing there. You joining? I’ll rope in Jenn.”

“That’s still a speculation. Course I’ll join when I retrieve my guy from his German bird.”

“If he’s really silently breaking up with you. Tread carefully.”

Chelle’s history class was focused on post World War Two superpower relations and she was doodling on her spare Foolscap paper knowing much on the topic from her father. Her focus was focused more Hawkins’s appearance and behaviour. She again was appeared really pale in her face and arms and was talking more rapidly than before. There were calls from students, “Miss Hawkins, please slow down,” and she did though quickly returned to speaking fast. As Chelle was worried about her history teacher, Lin was similarly wondering what was on Reinhard’s mind. On their chemistry practical – his class joined with hers – she noticed him looking bored after finishing the experiments and kept looking at his watch.

After school, she immediately corned him. “What you up to this afternoon?”

“Meeting Karin for coffee.” Damn! I knew it.

“How long? Where?”

“Shouldn’t be long, an hour. She said she’ll get to me.”

Richard also met up with Jenn and informed her that he did manage to secure West End tickets to Les Misérables.

“Gosh, how did you manage to find them?”

“Actually, my parents had them then last-minute decided not to attend. Don’t worry, I didn’t tell them who I plan to join me.” He handed her ticket.

“Either that happen or you pull other strings.”

“No really. They love…”

“Alright,” Jenn accepted then quickly shivered, “What’s the dress code?”

“I doubt it’s strict or definitely not casual.”

Chelle finished her English class fast then at her locker, she changed out of her uniform into jeans, shirt and her coat then exited the school grounds. Waiting at a shaded corner, it took more than five minutes before Miss Hawkins walked out. Chelle was thankful that Hawkins was not driving or she would have to find another method of shadowing her. Waiting a few seconds, Chelle proceeded to follow her teacher who moved rather fast covering several blocks by two p.m. Hawkins hailed a taxi and Chelle likewise did so and found Hawkins alighting in the outskirts of the next town. As her teacher entered what appeared to be an abandoned building, Chelle pulled out the telescope which also had an in-built camera added.

Lin waited and timed Reinhard. A quarter of an hour passed, then twenty minutes , then thirty minutes, then finally when an hour passed, she sent him a WhatsApp message. No instant reply. She sent another two messages with no response. Gritting her teeth, she dialled his number first receiving an engaged tone then there was an answer and before she could speak, there was laughter and she heard the sound of a cappuccino machine. Knowing where he was, she stormed out of her house.

The building that Miss Hawkins entered appeared without windows but after checking the corners, Chelle spied a single small, dirty window. Extending the telescope to its furthest magnification, she slid back into a side lane and focused on that window. Seconds passed and suddenly the frame of Hawkins appeared, her back turned. Chelle immediately took pictures, spotting her teacher twirl rapidly then started to remove her top, then unclip her bra. ok, Chelle thought, so she into some foreplay or just having adult fun with her lover. Hawkins appeared to have removed all her top clothing and her arms shifted downwards. She’s taking off her lower clothing, wish the rest of the window frame didn’t block my view, Chelle thought. Suddenly, what appeared like thick curtains covered the glass and stay there. Oh well, Chelle thought, at least I’ve some pictures.

Lin practically barged in the coffee shop, spotted her target and as that girl Karin left, Lin dragged Reinhard out of his chair and announced like a school teacher, “you are coming with me.” She literally yanked her surprised now supposed boyfriend for a short taxi ride and taking him up into her bedroom,

“What…how did you find me?”

“Which coffee shop doesn’t have that distinctive cappuccino machine sound? Is that the way you’re breaking up with me?”

“What?!” Reinhard shivered then Lin replayed the sound of him laughing on the phone.

“I can explain…” He was shivering faster now.

“Oh sure. Laughing how you’ll rather date German girl.” Lin replayed his laughter on her phone.

“No, no! You got it wrong! I was laughing at an old joke she told when we were in Primary school! I turned my phone off during our meet up, that’s all!”

“Oh really…” Lin started to describe Karin’s looks, her cherry voice her body language.

“Lin! What! I’m not breaking up with you! Karin is just old school friend!!!”

They stared at each other for over two minutes silently then Lin broke the silence. ” Alright, I believe you. I was having a huge feeling of jealousy. Let’s work on the werewolf costumes.”

Reinhard didn’t move and didn’t say a word. Lin handed him her desk mug and he slowly drank. “I’m sorry as well. Uh…I have to admit? Karin likes to attend the Halloween event. If you dislike, I’ll inform her.” He drew out his phone but Lin stopped him.

“She can come. Now, let’s work on the costumes.”

Two hours later, Lin managed to meet up with Chelle with Reinhard promising her not to meet up with Karin. “Nice,” Lin pointed at the photo of Hawkins unclipping her bra. “Look like the latest Victoria Secret design. Pretty expensive though. Maybe I should have taken history instead,” Lin laughed.

“What are your actual thoughts?” Chelle asked seriously.

“Like you summarised earlier, she’s having fun with her lover, stripping. The curtain closing could they were going to have sex,” Lin responded, never shying away from using the word ‘sex’. “She may have some trouble with her relationship, however, I’m not sure you can connect it to what you saw. Have you told Jenn or Mark?”

“Mark again in busy with rugby practice. Jenn says she’s busy.”

Jenn in fact had been constantly searching the Internet all Saturday for the actual dress code for West End Theatres. After an hour of intensive searching, she found many stating there was no set dress code and no one often came in casual wear. Jenn’s second worry was that it is a date, well not formally declared though not like the outings last time. Opening her closet, she just looked at her range of clothes and finally settled on the same maroon short-sleeved dress she wore last time. As it was an evening event and it wasn’t that cold, Jenn added her only skin-tone 30 denier tights and a matching cardigan. Taking a train and the London Tube, she reached the relevant theatre thirty minutes ahead of opening time.

Before she could look around, Richard’s voice behind her boomed. “Good evening, Jenn, you look beautiful.”

“Really Richard.” She quickly changed her tone and remarked, “Thank you very Richard,” trying to initiate a distasteful start. In truth, besides her clothing, Jenn had only clipped her hair, wore flat-heeled shoes and added lip gloss – she never had a makeup kit. The pair immediate heard calls and shout and saw Londoners dress early in Halloween costumes.

“Let’s get inside,” Richard suggested, lightly touching her back and Jenn didn’t shrug it off. Inside, they chatted a little about their favourite literature poems and debate topics then properly entered the hall. The curtain officially open ten minutes later and Jenn was fixed in with the acting and singing. She did see Les Misérables as a child though it was a short version which she disliked. This cast captivated her with their movement, words and vocals. Part of the way through the song “Who Am I?”, Richard’s arm covered the top of her seat. When the cast sang “Master of the House”, his hand touched hers and despite Jenn noticing, she just didn’t flinch or tell him to withdraw.

At the twenty-minute interval, Jenn felt thirsty and silently Richard asked her was she would like from the drinks stand. In typical fashion, it was filled with soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices. “Bottled water, please.” That was her only statement and after she took a large drink, she rushed to the loo and again locked herself in a stall. Oh gosh, I’m not just focused on a musical I love but allowed a boy to touch my back and touch my hand?! and i this the date I wish? In Year 10 when GCSEs are approaching? Furthermore, the guy used to be my rival.

“Hey you alright?” Jenn just nodded in response to Richard and settled in her seat. She again was focused during the second act and again Richard’s hand touched hers. Finally, the musical ended and the pair noticed it was 10 p.m. “We got to touches run to catch the train.” They did and after a breathless dash, they found their train was delayed. “Food?” The lanky lad asked, pointing to a small Cantonese eating.

Chelle decided that despite the poor evidence, she would follow Ms Hawkins again. That arose on the Halloween weekend when she spotted her teacher exited the school earlier than most staff. Hawkins appeared walk randomly then again hopped into a taxi. Chelle found one and the driver without question followed the other Taxi. After a fifteen-minute drive, her drive announced, “this is as far as I can reach Miss; we don’t cover the next area.” Chelle noted the direction that Hawkin’s taxi took as she paid and after a frantic walk, she finally spotted Hawkins turning the corner and entering a shop with the sign ‘Hardy’s Products’. Chelle tapped a text message then dashed into the store.

It was a store for women’s fashion except that there were few clothes on display and those that were announced pretty revealing. I don’t think even Lin would want to wear them, Chelle thought.

“Hey girl, we’re closing early,” a voice called. Chelle replied saying she won’t be staying long. Where could Miss Hawkins have gone? After moving past the few clothes, Chelle found herself in the fitting rooms. Every cubicle’s door was open except one which was appeared closed. Chelle immediately called and knocked and with no reply, she pushed at the door and found it empty. As she stepped in, the floor creaked under her weight and it opened and Chelle fell in.

“Arhh!!! Woooh!!” The attendees at the town Halloween event shouted eerie calls as they gathered. “Well, we have stiff competition,” Reinhard pointed out as he as adjusting his werewolf costume.

“Oh, we’ll earn a spot,” Lin replied. “So, where’s old classmate?”

“Karin said she’s coming…ah,” he pointed at the approaching figure. The voice of the even emcee drowned out the trio’s greeting and the lights dimmed.

Chelle fell onto some hard ground with the obvious trap closing. Miraculously, she fell herself only with light bruise on her buttocks. After rising, through the dim light, Chelle saw the outline of naked figures, no naked women! Her mind buzzing at the sight, Chelle saw there was only a one small corridor in front of her. She pulled out her pen torchlight to improve illumination thus finding a further narrow corridor with rows of thick doors. Each were padlocked and there was an eerie silence from the first few doors but there was a ghost-like cry from the fifth door. Chelle used her laser pen then after much tugging, that padlock fell away. Opening the door, Chelle gasped.

The Halloween event participants screamed at the clips – the organisers showed just clips to prevent copyright claims, of various Halloween movies and horror shows. Lin was watching the clips and Reinhard’s Karin’s behaviour. Reinhard appeared to focus on the screen then occasionally smiled at his old classmate who returned the smile. Just as they were showing clips of the Scream series, the German girl told Reinhard she was going to find the toilet. That’s great, Lin thought silently, that leaves me with him, three is always a crowd. As the clips shifted to the low-rated Scream 3, Reinhard looked at his watch and muttered he was going to search for his friend. “Oh, forget it, girls always take time in the toilet.” Either he didn’t hear her comment or it was too noisy, he just moved off with Lin chasing after. Reinhard quicky found her within fifteen minutes, where some stranger in a Joker mask was fondling her, who in turn appeared hands bound behind her back and a cloth wedged in her mouth.

Charlotte Hawkins was chained to a wall and slightly raised, arms and legs spread out in a spreadeagle position. Without looking around, Chelle called, “hang on!” and dashed forward. Before she could attempt to free her teacher, arms grabbed her and a thick-gloved hand covered her mouth. Despite intensive struggling and muffled cries, Chelle was secured to chains in the opposite wall. The two strangers with ghost masks conversed rapidly in a language Chelle could not identify. Just as they secured the teen detective, they disappeared, shutting off the lights in that room.

“Are you alright Miss Hawkins?” Chelle called out in the darkness and received a weak affirmative reply. Hawkins said she dated a French Algerian boyfriend Aziz and every date seem fine until it turned into a dominance and submission relationship and she played the submissive person. She had accepted all his gifts, go to meet him in obscure areas and today she was informed to meet him in the store above and quickly she found herself here.

“I think something terrible is…” Before she could continue, the lights snapped back on and the two cloaked and masked individuals returned. One headed over to Hawkins and locked some device over her head. The other stuff a smelly cloth in Chelle’s mouth and wound duct tape around her lower jaw. With the gags in place, the pair disappeared.

Chelle was about to call out through her gag then spotted her teacher – the two figures forgot to switch the lights off – was now partly undressed. Chelle saw Hawkins was gagged with a harness gag, a black ball with a fairly air hole. tube Her magenta bra was clearly exposed, with one strap forced down, exposing part of her C-cup breasts. Her knickers were missing; there was a metallic strap around her hips and another strap was attached passing down her vulva, barely covering part of her labia.

“Whmmt izzit that Miss Hawmmkins?” Chelle asked through her gag.

“Chastity Belt. ” Hawkins could pronounce that term well despite the kinky gag. “You can call me Charlotte.” Charlotte explained that her boyfriend locked her in that device as part of the dominant-submissive act they were in. It also had some dildo which he could activate causing her to wince. Chelle quickly realised that was what she initially saw and what she photographed. No wonder Lin and I couldn’t identify what that was. Then what explained her pale look and her rapid talking? Chelle wondered.

“I …” Just then the two thugs re-entered and released Charlotte from her chains and with her muted cries, she was dragged off and the lights were now turned off. Plunged again in darkness, Chelle twisted her chained arms and wrists willy though couldn’t reach her hidden gadgets. Suddenly, there were cries from another area and the girl detective hasten her attempts. After five tries, she managed to free her wrists fetters and despite with leg irons locked on, she manage to run towards the direction the two thugs took her teacher. She quickly found herself in a makeshift medical operation room. Two strangers were hunch over a semi-naked Charlotte Hawkins, holding medical scalpels. They were focused on her crotch with her legs spread wide in a V- shape formation. Besides the pair, there were other cloak- figures with ghost masks on and chanting some song with lyrics Chelle could not identify.

Just as one of those cloaked figures ran up attempted to push her away, there were cries of “police! You’re surrounded!” Officers swarmed in and within minutes the strange gang was arrested just in time before Charlottle Hawkins faced an unwanted medical surgery.

“Thanks for the message, sorry I couldn’t meet you earlier,” Mark, Chelle’s boyfriend hugged her as the familiar face of DCI Nikki Heath appeared. “Thanks Michelle,” Charlotte Hawkins said in weak voice as officers helped her out.

“Danke,” Karin thanked her old schoolmate and told him she’ll be heading back to London. Reinhard had managed to pry that costumed guy away and release Karin and luckily a police officer was around to arrest that person.

“You could stay for a while. I’ll buy everyone coffee,” he nodded to his girlfriend. He and Lin won fourth place in the costume competition.

“No, you belong here, I don’t,” she waved and disappeared. He stared, hand stretched out until Lin tugged him and said, “I need that cup of coffee.”

“FGM?! Female genital mutilation! That group wanted to disfigure your teacher’s genitals?!” Lin exclaimed days later as she and Chelle shared a pumpkin tart.

“Yeah, some small ultra-radical cult that cuts women’s genitals for their reasons of submission. Charlotte Hawkins was not only was locked in a chastity belt with an in-built dildo but also constantly given a drink laced with drugs that would affect her looks and speech, also turning her more submissive.

“Oh yucks,” Lin responded upon hearing that. “Relationships are not about submission…hey Jenn,” the third girl detective slipped into the next chair.

“I know, I wasn’t free last two weeks.” Jenn gave a quick summary from what she learnt after debate practice, the musical and the brief touch and the close eye contact she had with Richard during their meal before their train ride. “I…I now have a boyfriend,” she finally announced before finishing the glass of water in front of her.

“Congratulations!” Her fellow detectives hugged her.

“I’m not sure how to continue with it,” Jenn added.

“Relationships aren’t easy Jenn. You have boyfriend who don’t meet up for days, ” Chelle replied.

“You have boyfriends who fantasise about other girls. Love is so complex, ” Lin also added.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in ‘Underneath the Mistletoe’.

31: Charity gone wrong

Summary:  The team participates in an unusual student council-organised charity event where girls are held as damsels-in-distress (DiD) bound and gagged by male captors and audiences pay for the best-looking DiD. Everything runs smoothly until Chelle and Lin go missing.

“Wow, that was tough!” Many Year 10 Croonford students cried as they exited their classes. It was the due to their GCSE English mock paper which puzzled almost all student. Except Jenn Thompson and the newest student, Richard Weaver who both breezed the paper. Richard was Jenn’s problem: He was taking the same GCSEs as her and in each class he either tied with her or score better marks. To make matters worse, Richard also joined the school’s debate club and from once a rival to Jenn, now was on the same team.

“Every little bit – his grades, his debating speeches, irks me,” Jenn complained to Chelle and Lin.

“Well, he has his right to join this school and you can’t undo his intelligence,” Chelle remarked. Jenn couldn’t find any counter-argument to that.

“And you invited him to our detective group,” Lin reminded her. “He’s been really helpful so far.”

Jenn wanted to say that was her mistake when Chelle suggested they grab some food. With Lin eating some close version of a Vietnamese Pho and Chelle and Lin with an almost chilled vegetable soup, they were about to resume their discussion when the student council co-president Cara Owens and Hugh Johnson came up to them.

“Tough paper Year 10s? we got the perfect de-stressing event for you,” Hugh announced while Cara placed three several sheets of A4 paper in front of the girls.

“Raising money for the homeless of the town?” Chelle read the title. “‘Course we’ll take part.”

Cara bending over her breasts nearly contacting with Chelle’s arm told them to read on in her Irish accent. Jenn had barely read the next page then shook head. “Girls to be damsels-in-distress…bound and gagged?”

“By male captors. Well, your fellow level mates,” Hugh nodded to the male students.

“How is this charit…”Lin read…”the audience will donate based on the best looking DiD and all money will go to the charity.”

“Where the hell did you two geniuses get this idea from? Sound like…” Jenn was going to say ‘fetish’ then the student council leaders laughed.

“You three had your share of it. There’s always the option to opt out. If not, fill in the form on the last page and drop it at our council ‘post box’ end of today. The teachers approved it. The session is this Saturday.”

“Your guys going to be ‘captors?” The girls asked the question simultaneously as Mark, Reinhard and Richard joined them.

“Yes, well the rules state captors and DiDs will be chose by numbered tickets passed out on that day,” Mark pointed at the related page.

“Well, were you wishing to bind and gag me? You too Reinhard?” That caused the shortest boy to turn red slightly thought truthfully, he wondered how it felt to truss up and gag a girl.

‘You know it’s a high likelihood we get it during our adventures and cases. But for charity?! People run for charity, clean up an area but paying for the best DiD? DiDs bound and gagged?! It sounds so ancient and sexist,” Jenn whined.

“You opting out?” Lin asked, already filled in the form.

“Well…ok. don’t want to leave you two out. But really hope my upcoming ‘captor’ doesn’t treat me like a real captive.”

The Year 10s naturally discussed more about this weird charity event. Hattie, the artist drew various pictures of how she might get bound and gagged. “I’ve got some experience for a short while,” Heather quipped, making Chelle cringe since she was forced to do that. “I was a victim as well, having met the wrong drama coach,” Bethan remarked, recalling sitting in her underwear bound to a chair and cleave gagged. “My parents before they came here were tied and gagged by pro-government actors. I know their story well,” Julia, the former Ugandan added. One the boys’ side, many were naturally excited, wondering which girl will be their ‘captive’ and how they would bind and gag their victims. Art Morton, one time part of a school gang, gave detailed description that sounded like he was a real captor which made many feel uncomfortable.

Saturday arrived, too quickly in Jenn’s view. The rules allowed female ‘captives’ to dress in either their school uniforms or any clothing. Jenn came in comfy blue trousers and a light cotton shirt, Chelle in shorts and a sleeveless shirt while Lin wore a jeans skirt and a purple spaghetti top which just managed to hide her bra straps.

“Alright ‘captors’ and ‘captives’!” Hugh shouted in the microphone in the school hall. More like damsels-in-distress, Jenn thought. “There are boxes containing cards at the front. Everyone pick a card which has a number on it. We will call out numbers and whichever boy and girl have the same numbers are the captors’ and ‘captives’ respectively. Read, and go!”

The students rushed and many collided with each other despite the other student councillors trying to curb that.

“27,” Chelle read her out loud. “Oh, is that a good sign or what?”

“35,” Lin read hers. “Are odd numbers a symbol of fun or doom?”

“13,” Jenn saw. “I don’t believe in unlucky numbers. Or is it a negative time to come?’

With girls and boys separated, the two student council co-president read out numbers in random order. Mark was paired with Heather, Reinhard with Hattie. Chelle was paired with Art Morton and Lin got some guy named Stuart Walter. “13,” Cara called.

“That’s me!” Richard answered.

“Oh right, as if it’s my dream to be bound and gagged by him,” Jenn whine softly. Richard did not hear that thought he asked if she was alright when near her. The co-presidents cut off her reply, informing all that the materials to secure the ‘captives’ could be found in the Year 8 classrooms. “There are dividers to prevent you from copying other’s actions. You have one hour to decide how your ‘captive’ will be secured then return here. Go!” Hugh announced.

“Jenn, you look distraught. Something worrying you?” Richard asked

She thought quickly. Should I be frank and reveal what I think of him? Should I use facial expressions? “No, it’s nothing. What are you going to do to me?” In front of them were bundles of rope, several rolls of tape and pieces of cloth. No cable ties, well they do bite into your skin. The councillors must have thought about our comfort, Jenn mused.

“You can decide how you’ll be bound and gagged since you’ve got the history with it.” She accepted that then said worrying tape for her limbs would be fine. Richard complied, not bothering to ask her and taped her wrists behind her back for rounds.

“Hope that not to uncomfortable? You don’t want your arms pinned to you right? You want a tape gag?” Jenn shook negative, thankful the tape didn’t feel that sticky and gestured to the pile of cloth. “Right, cleave gag?”

“No. had that the last time round. So…” Richard applied an over-the-mouth_(OTM) gag which certainly did not silence Jenn’s s speech although she played along. Finished, neither ‘captor’ nor ‘captive’ silently thought they would gather the most amount of funds and for Jenn this wasn’t in her mind.

Heading back, they encountered the various pairs, especially Chelle and Lin. The former had her wrists also taped up with tape around her lower arms, pinning them to her back. She received a tape gag that went all the around her head, trapping part of her hair. An additional strip of tape on her lips area. Lin was worse: She received a poor rope harness around her chest, pushing her already C cup breasts further out. She received several strips tape gagging her though her bulging cheeks indicated she received a mouth stuffing. Her wrists and elbows were bound with rope with one rope wound around her waist , attached to her wrist bonds.

“Do you have bind and gag my girl so tightly?” Mark asked.

“Hey, it’s not so terrible as it looks, ok? She didn’t disagree with what I did. Your work looks worse. ” Mark had used lots of tape securing Heather arms and wrists to her back. tape above and below her boobs. Besides a single piece of tape and light cloth for mouth stuffing, Heather was also blindfolded.

Reinhard asked the same regarding his girlfriend. “Aw, don’t light it’s all for a good cause,’ came Stuart’s reply. He didn’t fully accept that though he thought he did nice work with Hattie. Despite the fact she was in her school uniform, her blazer was pulled tight against her by ropes which also bound her wrists behind her back. Reinhard used cloth as a not so thick cleave gag for her.

“Alright captors! There are small boxes for each person to collect. Go amongst the audience with your captives and show them how they are damsels-in-distress worth of donation. Audience, remember your donation is at least £1 per DiD. Go for it!” Hugh announced. Baskets picked up, it was now a race to find who was the best looking DiD. Richard guided Jenn through the mass of other Year 10 and some Year 9 students, though after twenty minutes, they failed to gather any donations. Conversely, Chelle and Art received £20 within ten minutes and Lin and Stuart got £28 in five minutes. Suddenly, Mark and Heather moved into the lead, gaining £50 pounds and £5 pounds every few minutes.

“Looks like we’ll win,” he remarked and Heather gave a muffled call in agreement. She was now enjoying this act though not wanting it to happen as often as the detectives. The session went on past three p.m. until suddenly, the hall lights turned off.

“Hey, did you guys turn the lights out?” One participant called.

Just as the co-presidents were going to answer, thick smoke filled the hall and the fire alarm sounded.

“Quick! Head for the fire exits!” Hugh shouted as loud as he could over the ringing.

“Undo the girls’ bonds! Help them out!” Cara added. Almost everyone collided into each other despite mobile phone lights shining as everyone scrambled to the fire exit. Despite cries and girls’ more collisions, all students managed to congregate in the square just outside the school compound. Boys who failed to release their ‘captives’ quickly did, along with their gags. Luckily, there weren’t any passersby’s or vehicles less the students were spotted and unwanted news arise.

“Everyone ok?” Hugh called. Despites some light bruises and dry mouths they were. ” Hey, where’s Chelle?” Mark called as he gently pulled away pieces of tape from Heather’s arms.

“Where’s Lin?” Reinhard also called, as he massaged Hattie’s wrists.

“Aw, those two probably off to a detective mission,” Cathy Staples called. Ignoring her, the two male detectives scanned the area but couldn’t spot their respectively girlfriends. Richard, having heard than, headed over to them with Jenn following, removing a small piece of tape that got stuck to her wrists.

“Did you see where they last were?” was the question the four of them asked simultaneously. The dreading answer was no; the smoke and alarm caused too much havoc.

“It’s a false alarm folks, ” Cara announced after checking with Ted Wiggins, the school security guard. “Someone set smoke and pulled and alarm. We can ret..” She noticed the teen detectives and along with Hugh, learnt about the missing girls.

“Rat. It’s a Saturday and it’s not easy contacting teachers. We still want to complete the whole event. You detectives,” Hugh checked his watch. “One hour before we tell the discipline masters and notify the police.”

With the clock ticking down, the four teens quickly brainstormed. There were other exits besides the nearby front gate and it was unlikely Chelle, Lin and their male ‘captors’ headed out via that way. ‘We’ll cover the other exterior exits,” Mark said, indicating towards Reinhard. “You two want to help?”

“I’d like to go back inside ad check,” Richard replied, which raised eyebrows though no objections. As he entered, Jenn headed alter him.

“Which way to the security guard’s office security?” he asked her. Richard wished to view CCTV outside the school Wiggins, who had let them view the CCTV monitors previously, rejected it this time, citing school regulations.

“What’ your plan, Richard?’ Jenn wondered.

“First, tell me what’s troubling you,” he replied.

“You are. You were long my debate rival, now you’re on my debate team. You’re in my class, scoring higher than me, it’s the competition…”

“Well, you want me to change classes? Don’t think it’s easy as the teachers make the decision. Leave the debate society? Not sure what other clubs interest me.”

“Uh…” Jenn couldn’t think of a reply and hated it.

“Want me to leave this detective group? Or we shouldn’t pair up. I can’t change how I work in studies though you are the debate club president and team captain. You can decide where I’ll be there.”

Jenn started laughing and crying at how stupid her feelings were. “Ok, you’re still my rival. What’s your idea, rival? We don’t have much time.”

Jenn found herself following him back to the school hall. Richard explained that while everyone exited through the fire exit, there could be others moving out via the normal exits. “I may be wrong though one of the monitors in the guard’s room did show a fleeting move towards the second door. It was a split-second view.”

“Well, I have say that is an excellent detective-centred theory,” Jenn admitted as she helped look around the hall exits.

“What do you know about those two ‘captors’ for Chelle and Lin?”

“Art Morton was a former school gang member until we shut down the group here. He used to, and still does occasional use racist terms, irking many especial Lin. He may be the perpetrator, though I doubt he’s so devious like pulling the fire alarm or setting off smoke,” Jenn replied. “Stuart? I’m not sure. He won some Year 9 prize for subject I can’t recall; no one expect him to win that.”

“Found something!” He called, holding up a watch, with one strap frayed.

“That…looks like Art’s watch!” Jenn exclaimed. They thus headed to the door where the watch was found. “This just leads to the Art Room. Well, the staff are shifting the Art Room to a higher level,” Jenn noted. She drew out her mobile phone and activated the detection app Lin devised. No signal. A minute a few second later, they heard a sound from a nearby closet.

“That could be them!” Jenn exclaimed! After much pulling at the broken handle, out came no other than Art Morton, covered in cloth, paint-soaked paper.

“Ow!” he cried as he tumbled on the floor.

” You!” Jenn pointed as Richard held him down. “Where’s Chelle and Lin? Where are they?”

“I dunno. I was trying to get Michelle and myself out through the smoke, felt something or someone strike me neck and next found myself here. Please, help me up?”

“Oh, really after you bragged how much you will be a real captor over the girls this week,” Jenn countered.

“That was an exaggeration. Why would be locked up in this closet if I wish to really hold a girl captive?”

Jenn thought quickly. ” You don’t know who hit you?”

“No, with the alarm and smoke no.”

“Alright, get to the outside square and tell your tale, oh this is yours, ” Richard tossed him the watch. “Let’s search the Art Room,” he suggested.

“Could take up more time,” Jenn noted. “Got to look for something unusual.” The pair moved around quickly then Richard started touching surfaces. Thirty seconds later, his hand touched a crack. Thinking it wasn’t anything, he was going to move on until Jenn called out, ” I got a location on Lin! She’s somewhere there!” She pointed to the crack. Richard immediate felt along the crack and found a handle underneath the loose concern. He yanked it and the wall swung open like a door.

Inside, they found a dusty room with Chelle and Lin on the floor rolling about. They were still in their bonds and gags although Lin’s rope harness appeared tighter and her knickers were unintentionally flashing. “Roll!’ A hooded figure called with a camera in hand. As the figure moved, Jenn spotted the facial mask.

“You! Cat!” She roared striking the figure, only to knock away the camera and hurt her small frame and tumbling to the ground. Richard ran to her aid but was pulled away by another unseen figure. It appeared the two teen detectives were physically overpowered until…

“Get away from her!” Mark shouted as he yanked and knocked the air out the hood figure. Reinhard tried to help Richard though Mark quickly also tackled that guy. With the hooded figure lying in agony, Jenn unceremoniously ripped off the face mask.

“Stuart?! You were the Cat all along?!” Jenn exclaimed.

“No, no I just overheard you girls talk about that. I was just taking pictures of them, who look perfect bound and gagged. You lot are in trouble for hitting me and my brother.”

“You’re the one trouble,” Jenn retorted. She was thinking of slapping him, though finally resisted less she also get into trouble.

With their parents and the discipline master notified, the unusual charity event resumed. Chelle and Lin decided to sit out, though Jenn thought otherwise. “I’m your captive,” she told Richard and her wrists were taped behind her back and received an OTM gag, albeit a little tighter. Within half an hour, the results were announced. “Runners up, Mark Cavendish and Heather Smith, £180!” Hugh announced.

“That’s not exactly my surname,” Mark muttered as he collected the gift vouchers.

“And with a grand total of £250, Nathan Sanders and Natalie Sang!” Cara announced.

“Well, I never expected to cross the pond and become the best DID,” Natalie, the American exchange student who also was in a rope harness, stuff tape gag and expertly tied wrists remarked.

That event over, the detectives met up at their usual headquarters.

“You sure Stuart isn’t the Cat?” Richard asked.

“I didn’t get a full look at his eyes. We’ll find out what he and his brother say on Monday. I’d like to know how they exactly created the smoke, and never knew our school had hidden chambers,” Jenn replied.

“And one that blocked the signal of our identification chips. I got to work improving that,” Lin added, rubbing her sore wrists.

“Speak of which, what about the stuff the Cat left previously?”

“We’re working on it, “Reinhard answered , heling his girlfriend rub her wrists.

“We’ll find this fiend,” Mark added. Everyone nodded, not knowing their foe was listening on their conversation. As they left for home, Richard called Jenn.

“Hey, how about going out for a late afternoon drink? Would cure the ached after that short fight.”

“I’m done with my daily tea,” She cold replied.

“No, you know that fresh fruit juice place? I’ll buy.”

“Alright.”

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in a story title not yet determined.

30: Resort and Mystery

Summary:

With the fear of the Cat hanging over them, Chelle, Lin and Jenn join their female schoolmates at a resort where locally a case looms. Jenn receives shocking news from Richard.

Author’s note: While this story is pro and anti-British Royal Family, it does not reflect the view of the author.

Warning: Young damsel humiliated.

On a Discord server centred on the British Royal Family, there was a heated argument going on, particularly Her Majesty the Queen Camilla. One user FrankJ was an extremely supportive of the Queen, citing her relentless work for the Royal Family and the United Kingdom.

Another , MikeW, was in contrast, against the Royals, also specifically the new Queen.

FrankJ: She’s devoted to duty, the appointments she holds and given..

MikeW: Appointments?! What, the simple baby-carrying, ribbon-cutting events? He used expletives, cursing her and her appointments.

FrankJ: I don’t write your kind of language. Her appointments are all honorary, given mostly by the Monarch, in this case her husband. They are not ‘ baby-carrying, ribbon-cutting events’ rather engaging and further understand communities, individuals, providing moral support.

MikeW countered with more degrading words and swear words and the debates still intensified until MikeJ uploaded a photoshopped image of Queen Camilla sitting with knickers down. The user added , ‘Sitting on the throne’.

FrankJ: *In Caps* YOU WILL REGRET THAT!!!

At a small eatery in Croonford, the teen detectives were gathered. Jenn, dressed in an unusual clothes – black shirt, black jeans, even black summer coat hanging over her chair.

“Jenn, we’re teen detectives,” Chelle smirked. “Not secret agents. And you don’t have to look at the clientele every few minutes. I don’t think the Cat is amongst them.” As Chelle pulled up the straps of her beige dress, Jenn still glanced around. She also had repeatedly told what how she was stunned and trussed up previously.

“If anyone is, I have my ink and pepper spray pen ready and my guy has his net right?” Lin patted her boyfriend’s shoulder. Reinhard nodded and was more focused on Lin’s clothes, purple top and jeans mini-skirt.

“Yeah, thanks for the protection and confidence. Yet, the Cat has quite definitely returned, targeting us.”

“We’re a team,” Chelle’s boyfriend Mark noted after drinking his coffee. “We’ll defend each other and find out who this person is. Maybe we need a break…”

“Hey you lot,” they heard a familiar voice and saw Julia Humes, Chelle and Lin’s classmate. “Hey, boys, girlie chat. You mind?”

The three boys all raised eyes though moved to a nearby table.

“Heard you want to take a break. I’ve got the ideal idea. My aunt has finished remodelling her resort down at Cornwall and allows me to head there for a relaxing time. It’s a mini-country club – game stations, gym, sports hall, tennis courts, food outlets and of course swimming pool. I’ve invited some of the girls from our year – Hattie, Bethan, Heather and others. It’s the perfect way to relax before term starts. You three want to come? Or stuck here with your detective work?”

“Well, wish the weather was warmer. Sure,” Lin replied.

“It’s a deal.” Chelle stated confidently.

Jenn took a few seconds to ponder then agree.

“What about the boys?” Chelle nodded in their direction. “Are they invited?”

“I’d like to keep girls -only. Just us lot. I’ll text you the address and where to meet up. Oh, with the pool there don’t forget your bikinis.” Julia darted off.

“Bikini…got to check if my black pair needs dusting off,” Chelle remarked.

“Oh, have a nice purple one,” Lin added.

Jenn fell silent and the boys re-joined them.

“Girls only? Sound sexist,” Reinhard added.

“Don’t worry pal,” Lin squeezed him. “I’ll text you pictures of me at the pool,” she teased.

“What if some event crops up?” Richard wondered.

“We’re going to relax not find a case. If there is any” Chelle declared.

As the teen detectives dispersed, Lin caught up with Jenn. “Something on your mind?”

“You know me. I’m not comfortable wearing a bikini even if it’s with all girls.”

“You did eventually wore when we were in Penang.”

“Yeah, still not comfortable. I think I hide that one away.”

“Why don’t we go shopping again for another. Please, give it a try?”

Lin took her to a cheap swimwear store with plain designs. Jenn looked at the white or beige ones and ruffled a few ones. She made her decision in 10 minutes. “I really don’t think I can wear a bikini. I don’t have…”

“The body for it?”

“Don’t say that!” Jenn cried then thankful they were alone/. “Ok, yes, it’s more I just don’t feel comfortable with it. I’ll wear a swimsuit ok?’

“Thanks for let’s us stay, Aunt Judy,” Julia told her aunt as the girls entered the resort. “Wow, it’s really vast.”

“Everything in order, except the swimming pool. Repairmen are fixing it and shouldn’t take long. Enjoy your time girls, just don’t make too much of a mess.”

Pool’s out for a while yay, Jenn cheered silently. The others didn’t seem too elated hearing that. As Julia, stated, Hattie, Bethan, Heather were present as well as Madeleine Ranson and Lorna Cheatle. Both were in Jenn’s class with Lorna having just recently shifted to her class. Jenn had talked briefly with Maddie though Lorna seemed to keep her distance from her classmates.

“Alright, what ya all want to start with?” Julia asked after they dumped their bags in rooms. Lin and Heather decided to try the sports hall while the others stayed in the games room. Jenn tried her hand at snooker then gave up and switched to floor chess set with she and Bethan were lying on the ground laughing. The girls met together for lunch and as Jenn scooped more jerk chicken on her plate, Bethan poked her.

“Hey, hey Chelle and Lin, this is up your alley.” It was a news clip from the local channel.

“In breaking news, local resident Michael Water’s ten-year-old daughter Amelia has gone missing. Police are not ruling out a kidnapping at this stage. In world news..”

“Missing child? Perhaps, perhaps not,” Chelle replied.

“Very vague information and we’re resting,” Lin added.

“Yeah, I mean we’re on holiday,” Jenn agreed.

“I though you lot pick out any police stuff that pops up in the news,” Lorna remarked with Jenn raising her eyes at her.

The rain suddenly poured down, resulting in everyone staying indoors. After a round of <span class=”mw-page-title-main”>table shuffleboard and teams playing on pinball machines, the girls sat on bean bags sofas and watched a series romantic dramas. As the credits rolled on the 2005 film The Wedding Date, the weather cleared and the girls decided to explore more of the resort. They quickly found an adventure park and just as they change to sports gear, Julia nudged Lin and passed her one earphone.

</span>

“The police are treating ten-year-old Amelia Water’s disappearance as a kidnapping. At present, they have very little leads except her father Michael of Orange Lane had a online dispute. Amelia was last seen playing in the garden on her home has was wearing a yellow floral dress, is 4’7. Anyone who has seen her can call…”

Lin passed on the news to her fellow girl detectives, stating it was worth looking into.

“Well, we first have to head to this Orange Lane,” Chelle remarked.

“Hey, we’re on holiday,” Jenn protested but after the girls played on childish bouncing castles and chasing each other through a man-made maze, Jenn turned to Chelle and Lin and announced, “Ok, we can head down there before dinner. But darn, this is supposed to be a break.”

The trio left as their female schoolmates either smiled or shook their heads, expecting them to investigate the kidnapping. Orange Lane turned out to be a downward-sloping lane and the Water residence was at the end of it.

Michael Waters was a heavily tattooed man working on machines thus not extending his hand to greet the girls.

“I just had the coppers visit me, why would I wish aid from three lassies? Man, you are one hot chick even though ya a Chink,” he nodded to Lin. Lin was about to react when Chelle pulled her arm said they could assist and asked what the online dispute was about.

“Oh the ****ing media reported that. It’s…” There was the roar of a thunderstorm.

“Let’s resume this tomorrow. See ya girlies,” He waved.

“Hot Chick?! Chink?! I’ll show him who I am,” Lin lifted her arms to flex her muscles.

“His constant swearing and calling us lassies and girlies is so degrading, almost misogynistic,” Jenn shook her head. “Are we seriously helping him? Let’s return, before we’re drenched.”

After dinner, the girls again congregated in the mini theatre and Lin not interested in war movies, turned to her laptop to read some science articles when she switched to the news site.

“We just received a message from an unknown sender. Viewers may find it offensive so be warned.”

The screen changed to a darkened room and a dim light shone. A muffled masked man started, “If the foul-mouth MikeW wants his daughter back, he should apologise for that humiliating picture of he posted of Queen Camilla publicly and the Queen herself. If not, his daughter will continue to sit like in his image.” The camera shifted to the young girl as described earlier. She was sitting on some wooden chair, her mouth cleaved-gagged with a thick piece of cloth, arms were wrench behind her back and legs were tied with thick rope against the chair’s legs. What was the humiliating part was that her knickers were pulled down to her ankles.

Lin quickly called her fellow detectives and replayed the video with Jenn shaking her head.

“That is totally disgusting,” Jenn remarked and briefly covered her face. “No child should receive that kind of humiliation in front of a camera, even as its due to a dispute between adults online.”

“Well, the facts are a little clearer now it was an argument about the Queen, “Chelle pointed to the screen. “And MikeW or Mr. Waters uploaded some image, definitely photoshopped, that wasn’t real and attracted the fury of this kidnapper. ”

“How’re we going to proceed? It’s still vague who this kidnapper is,” Jenn argued.

“I’ll go meet Waters tomorrow morning you to might want to check what the local police know.”

“Well, no tall Chinese girl and no short one,” Michael Waters remarked as he shook hands with Chelle and gave her a cup of coffee. She grimaced, instantly knowing it was from some instant can yet immediately started with the issue at hand.

“Oh yeah the bloody news, the cat’s now out of the bag.” Waters took a drink and Chelle noticed his used of ‘less’ offensive words. “Yeah, it was a heated debate over the horse-face woman holding the title ‘Queen’ which only should go to a proper monarch. So after a while, I uploaded this,” he pulled out his phone and showed her the image. Chelle only momentarily raised eyes at the insulting image.

“What are you Michelle? Pro or anti -Royal?”

Chelle said neither although personally was leaning to the Royals having influenced from her parents. She queried the origin of the Photoshop and learnt the discussion was on Discord.

“I didn’t make it; found it somewhere on the ‘net. Now, it was to aid my fight with that pro-Camilla user. Now, instead of continuing, he kidnaps my Millie.”

Chelle expressed sympathy then wondered how his daughter was easily taken. “Haven’t a clue, lass. There’s my garden, the fence isn’t that tall. She always loves to play there. I didn’t hear any cry from her that day then suddenly she was gone.”

Chelle looked at the garden for a few minutes then with Waters heading inside, she snapped a few pictures, thanking him and left. Meeting up with the others, they didn’t have much to tell.

“The Detective, DI Scott Maddison, on the case hardly spent time with us and even when we mentioned our work, he didn’t hear of us, even when we mentioned Nikki’s name.” Lin referred to their long-term police ally, DCI Nikki Heath.

“Well, it’s not always the police are friends,” Jenn shook her head. “Ok, as I said, no child should suffer over adult disputes. How do we proceed from here?”

The answer was obvious – to check out the original discussion on Discord. That task fell to Lin and while Chelle watched Jenn played around of table chess with Hattie and improved her snooker skills. Finally, she joined her fellow detectives.

“It is a complex scroll but here’s the discussion,” Lin pointed. They read through the debate with Jenn noticing the good strong arguments provided by the user FrankJ vs the simple words and coarse language used by Waters. The discussion ended with those capital letter, ‘YOU WILL REGRET THAT!!!’

“From one threat to a kidnapping,” Lin just remarked. “Something on your mind Miss Summers?”

“There’s something odd. I just can’t place it.”

With no clear path to thread, Lin made a call. “Hey how’s the resort? How’s pool?” Reinhard asked.

“Hold your horses. my boy,” Lin answered and she knew he like that. She quickly asked him how one could trace another’s IP address from instant messaging apps,

“That’s a tough one,” he answered. “Never heard of that though there may devices out there. You want me to find and get back to you?”

Lin said no then there was excitement from Chelle. “It’s this!” She held up her mobile phone and the other girls squinted. Chelle enlarged the image to the full. “See that? It’s a torn orange piece of cloth. And it matches…She lift open Lin’s laptop, “the avatar of that person.”

“Ok, ” Jenn still not convinced. “So what? We’re looking for someone wearing orange?!”

Chell noted that the residences here mostly had low fences and clothes were strung up to dry on washing lines. We’ll just check the local area if there’s a torn clothing matching this. If nothing, we’ll leave the authorities to handle this.”

The three girls had a tight time frame as the news came that swimming pool was almost fixed. As Chelle mentioned, the residences were few and had low fences. The girls covered the various houses in less than an hour and as Jenn wished to return, Chelle called the girls over.

“See that?” She pointed at the house with the only cement wall. The other girls watched and an orange T-shirt fluttered in the wind with one corner clearly torn.

“Ok, looks like it. So what? We ring the door and ask the owner about his shirt?” Jenn wondered, however, Chelle darted off towards that residence. It’s going to be another bound and gagged time, Jenn guessed.

The residence looked a little wealthier than the others the girls walked pasted and had no immediate neighbours. After searching around, Chelle found the doorbell. Immediately, the large gate swung open exposing a clean-shaven man, a stark contrast from Mike Waters. He had a slight limp.

“Ah, I don’t get visitors at this time of the day. Girl Guides? Nah.?” The owner started.

“No, well, there’s a young girl kidnapped due to…”Chelle replied.

“Ah some debate. Please come in. It’s not that warm but I don’t like standing around. Jenn suspected something but her fellow detectives already entered.

“I have some Chinese tea. It’s becoming my favourite,” He had non-Chinese pot and poured tea into mugs with handles.

“So where…ah yes, the poor child. What a way to pay for the parent’s actions,” The owner continued. “Then, what brings you three to my place?”

“Well, we met the father of the girl and am assisting him,” Chelle answered. Where are you going with this? Jenn wondered.

“Ah, the wonderful world of…detectives work. I always wanted to be one when I was young age,” he continued. “So, what did you girls find?”

“Oh, nothing much,” Chelle answered. “Just a torn orange cloth like the shirt you have hanging,” Jenn, having spent much time with suspects, saw his eyes twitch.

“Oh, that, I torn it on a sharp garden stick,” he remarked though at a quick view, he didn’t have any such stick in his small garden. Before Lin could open her mouth, she knocked her given mug and fell down on the ground.

“Lin!!” Both Chelle and Jenn cried simultaneously and bent down to check her.

“Oh, she’s fine. Just knocked out for around ten minutes.” The pair looked up and the man now held some small handgun with a suppressor attached at them. He threw cable ties and a piece of cloth. “Why don’t you two bind and cleave gag your friend. I’m sure you two know how.”

“You’re the FrankJ user!” Chelle shouted.

“That’s a little too loud for me. Why you gag yourselves.” He threw them a roll of tape. As Chelle reluctantly stuck a piece over her lips, he waved his weapon, telling her to spread a long strip all over her head. That took up almost the tape. “Well lucky you,” he pointed to Jenn who had to cleave gag herself. With the unconscious Lin in their arms, the girls were forced inside and down narrow steps into a dark basement.

Chelle and Jenn immediately heard muffled sounds but an immediate call of ‘quiet’ from their captor silenced the room. “Over there, bind her hands to the railing, then her ankles,” he ordered.

As Chelle did so, she tried used her legs to swim at him but he was quicker and pushed her down on the ground. “You two as well!” As Jenn lay in fear, He drew out more cable ties and soon Chelle was strictly hogtied. Suddenly, Lin stirred.

“Ah, sleeping beauty awakes,” he muttered and warning Jenn to keep lying down, he moved over to stuff cloth into Lin’s mouth, sealing it with a round of tape, just like Chelle’s gag.

“Now for you,” He yanked the shortest girl detective up and was going to truss her up, Jenn decided a unusual move.

“Mimter, I thinmmk we camm taammlk this outmm,” she said through her gag.

He had finished binding her wrists behind back then stopped. “What did you say?” Jenn repeated herself as best as she could through the cleave gag, hoping he wouldn’t tighten it.

“Oh, I don’t fall into the ‘let me go and I won’t tell’ trick,” he said, restraining her ankles.

“Nmm, Immnk we canmmm tak abmmout thismmissue u hadmmonline,” Jenn again hoped it came out right.

He paused, then pulled her into the only spot of light in the basement. “Oh, you’re trying to discuss the matter. You were quiet earlier now you want to talk?” Just then, the muffled sounds came again.

“You stay put. Try to move to your friends, you’ll forget about speaking,” he warned and headed up.

Jenn took that seriously and called as best to her friends to check on them. Chelle had rolled a little though not much given the threat and gave a gagged ‘ok’. Lin, still weak from whatever sedative he added to her tea, gave the softest positive groan. As stated, the captor returned, moved to an side where Jenn suspected the little girl was held then returned. He check on Chelle and Lin then moved to Jenn.

“Ok, you want to talk, talk.”

Jenn gestured for her gag to be lowered but that wasn’t going to happen.

“Lookmmm, the Royals aremm nicemmmolks n I’mmmsure yu eally ike em,” Jenn said . Gah, I’m a debater but never debated with cloth wedged between my lips.

“They are beyond nice! They are wonderful! The country would tear apart without them.”

“U stronglyyyy believe inmm Queen Camilla?” Gah, even though this gag isn’t the tightest, my words sound alien, she thought.

“Yes! I do. You read the Discord discussion.” Jenn nodded in response, trying to prevent her throat from drying out.

“ThmmMichael has poommmr undermmmmhstanding of thee Queennn’s bmmmground, herrrappointments, herrole,” Jenn continued, actually not agreeing with what she said. Gash, I sound worse than I was when I was a kid. Can’t he remove the gag?

“And he swears way too much!” Jenn nodded. Meanwhile, despite the strain of the hogtie, Chelle managed twist her watch with laser beam. Just as she tried to turn her finger to push the relevant button then the argument restarted.

“He swears like a gangster. And posted that uncouth picture,” The captor continued.

“N U retaliated takin hiss daughtar, putting er in same positione as the picture?”

“I’m teaching him a lesson! Respect the Queen! Apologise to her!”

“You shouldn’t go to that extreme, mistreating a child…” While that came out properly, Jenn started to drool at the sides of her gag. The captor stared at her for a few seconds, then lowered her gag.

“Tha..anks,” Jenn coughed hoping to receive watere though he only wiped the side of her lips and asked her name.

“Jenn, you think it’s right to insult the Queen?”

“No…and neither should you response humiliating a child,” Jenn replied as best as she could with a dry throat. Nor should you truss and gag us up.

“You question me?’ Before Jenn could respond, there was a loud knock. “Dominic Hudson! This is the police! Come out and release Amelia Waters!”

“Release…mmmpph!” Jenn’s words were cut off as he wedged the cloth back between her lips and tighten the knot. Great, and I thought the talk was going fine.

The captor stared at the stairwell, then at Jenn who gave a muffled ‘released her’ twice before slumping down, exhausted from her dry mouth and throat. Slowly, the captor headed to the other side of the basement and out came the young girl i his arms.

“Jenn Thompson, that was really a great move,” Chelle remarked as the three girl detectives sat in the police van. “Talking down a captor.”

“With a gag on,” Jenn drank more from the given water bottle. “I don’t think I want to try that again, even with a cleave gag.”

The girls were thankful that the police dismissed them after a short statement–police had tracked the video the captor Dominic Hudson sent to the media. The trio made it back in time at the resort with Julia excitedly declared the swimming pool was ready. “Get your bikinis on!”

As they headed to the changing room, Lin cornered Jenn. “Don’t worry, no one is going to tease you over a normal one-piece.”

At the pool, Julia and Hattie were tightening the string of their bikini tops, less they get a wardrobe malfunction. Both were wearing G-string bikinis, Hattie in scarlet while Julia was in orange with triangular bra cups. Behan was wearing a lime green strapless bandeau &gt; also with a G-string bottom. Heather was in a aqua blue bikini, the cups further emphasising her C-cup breasts. Maddie Ransom was wearing a push up brown bikini while Lorna was in an all black halter white random white patterns.

“Hey where’s Jenn?” Chelle asked as she adjusted her black halter top.

“Probably taking her time to put on her suit,” Lorna called. Lin, in her dazzling purple strapless two-piece shot her a glance then headed to find her friend. Suddenly, Jenn emerged from a corner, wearing a T-shirt over…

“Jenn? Are you wearing a bikini under that?” Bethan called. Not answering, Jenn nervously removed her shirt, showing the white bikini she bought before the trip to Penang.

“She is! Let’s get into the water!” Heather led diving straight in and one by one, all the students dived or slid in and splashed around.

“Jenn, you really took a turn wearing it,” Lin remarked as they hung on one side of th pool.

“I still love a good swimsuit,” Jenn remarked, looking down at her bikini top. “Not sure if I’ll ever grow used to this.”

Lin was going to reply when Hattie, out of the water, called.

“Hey detectives! Together! Smile!” Chelle jointed her fellow girl detectives and Hattie snapped several pictures.

“Oh, Hattie, don’t you dare post those on Facebook!” Jenn cried.

After much soaking in the pool, all girls returned to Croonford refreshed and ready for school. The girl detectives met up with their fellow male detectives and Mark congratulated Jenn.

“Richard,” Jenn’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you have a set of our school uniform?”

“Oh, I was going to tell you three. I’m switching schools to Croonford school. Teachers from my old school are leaving for others, affecting grade performance there.”

“What?! No!!!!”

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in Charity gone wrong.

29: Drama Crisis

Summary:

Jenn invites the other detectives to witness a preview of a drama she wrote but a mishap happens. As the drama is put on hold, the school and the team investigates and an old foe is suspected. Meanwhile, Lin and Reinhard meets each others parents respectively, with different results.

“No higher! The shelf must be higher!” Jenn called. She was preparing the school’s drama room stage for her original play, titled The New Lady In Town which she hope to show case to the whole school. The other teen detectives were there except for Richard who was stuck in his school. Reinhard temporarily held Lin’s hands now thankful for her helping him get cured from his high blood sugar levels. Temporarily, less he got caught by the drama teacher. Chelle and Mark arrived later the former previously spending much time the last month with Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Robertson and Detective Sergeant (DS) Rainsbury to clear up issues regarding her Scottish adventure recently. The jealous twin, Edine, is being charged though it is likely she might end up in a mental institution. Elspeth had awarded Chelle with an Amazon voucher and free annual tickets to the Castle anytime this year.

“Lift her a little higher,” Jenn ordered. Her referred Natalie Sang, the American exchange student who had extended her stay with the school. Jenn found her a really talented actress and vocalist so she was placed as one of the lead characters in the drama. Nat was hedl up in almost hundred metres high on ropes and a leather harness ready to be lowered and lifted during the drama.

“Alright, Let’s start! Act One,” Jenn ordered. Everything went smoothly with Nat and the other characters conversing then the former began singing a melodic tune. As she reached the chorus, the ropes lifted her up then down a repetitive pattern, Just as Nat was raised again, one of the ropes snapped and she tumbled down on the wooden stage floor.

The drama team and Mark darted forward as Nat cried out loud. “I’m ok,” she remarked just as she was helped up.

“Natalie, go see the the school nurse.” the drama teacher Mr Jason Hughes ordered. Nat initially refused but finally went. “Jennifer, Bethan and those involved in the props I want to see you all now.”

Nearly an hour later, Jenn emerged from the drama room and the other teen detectives could see the pain in her face. “The ropes easily snapped despite them being new and tested with weights that matched Nat’s weight. Hughes quick examination showed that either someone intentionally cut or the ropes just couldn’t hold Nat’s weight. He’s calling the drama senior leadership for more more meetings to discover if it was accidental or deliberately done.”

“I’m sure we also can investigate,” Chelle turned back to the drama room.

“Uh-nuh, Hughes says the drama room is now off-limits except to himself and the drama leadership group. We can still look into it ourselves of course.” The five of them decided it would better to congregate in their headquarters later. As they dispersed, Reinhard caught up with his girlfriend. He took a short breath before asking a question he had rehearsed.

“Would you like to come to my place for dinner? Say Thursday at 7:30pm?”

Lin’s reply was instant. “Sure, something special?”

“Mostly to thank you for helping me get rid of diabetes.” He told her he hadn’t decided on the menu yet though it would be special. “Think we had enough meals out and at your place,” he added and gave her his address.

“I’ll be there!”

The teen detectives including Richard met up late that afternoon and Jenn immediately detailed the setting of the drama props. “The main head of props is George Allison. He either creates props from existing ones or acquire new ones. We’ve used a harness before though only for shifting smaller-sized actors and shifting objects. This harness was purchased from a shop specialising in drama props.” She showed the others the address of the shop.

“We’ll definitely check out,” Chelle remarked.

“The shop only opens on even days a week,” Jenn further added.

“Um, we can’t make it on Thursday, ” Lin quickly said.

“You two celebrating your dating anniversary?” Chelle asked though didn’t go further as she would sound like a hypocrite. “Fine, the rest of us will look into the store.”

“What about George? Do you suspect him Jenn?” Mark wondered.

“He’s good props guy. One year above us. Did try to run for drama president but withdrew.”

“Any conflicts at school? Family?” This came from Richard.

“That I’ve no idea. He does want it to be done at club meetings and acts.”

The detectivs broke up with Chelle, Mark and Richard aiming to check the props store. Lin and Reinhard were tasked with looking into George Alliso. Both were axiously looking forward to Thursday’s dinner. For Reinhard, he was still unsure what to cook. A Caribbean and German meal was definitive since that his heritage. There were far too many dishes from both cusines to choose from. He was so engrossed looking at the range of dishes and recipes online. Lin on the other hand was also wondering what he would cook as she was yearning for something German or from the Caribbean. Another issue was what she should wear. Scanning her closet, she quickly elminated the too short and too skimpy. She finally decided on the dress he bought her.

“No, all props sold here a high-quality, tested regularly. We’ve sold not just to school clubs, private musical societies and even West End productions. This is the first incident for my store,” the owner Mr. Ernest Harrison remarked.

“So what cause it to break?” Chelle asked.

” I already told the school teacher the answer; I haven’t the faintest idea. I’v already asked the original manufacturer and they don’t have any thing to add. Could be the clothing the actress wore adding to weight. You want to buy anything?”

“You really can’t think of why its snapped?” Mark kept on topic.

“I’ve said what I know. If you want, get the police involved. I’m innocent.”

The trio left and Chelle and her boyfriend looked at Richard. “I was silently listenng and taking a mental picture of the shop’s interior. You remember? I’ve got Photographic Memory.”

“Anything odd there? The owner?” Chelle asked.

“It doesn’t happen that faast. Nothing wrong there although something in my mind is telling me there might be.”

“Should we call to police?” Mark wondered.

“Involve them? Nah. Besides, Nikki might thing this isn’t a a police issue,” Chelle replied referring to their long-term police ally, DCI Nikki Heath.

Jenn and the drama leadership team sat in a semi circle. Mr Hughes immediately dimissed every other member and started first with Jenn. She naturally said she as head drama club felll on her though she delegated roles to the others in the leadership team and trusted all of her team. With regards to the props, she examined them often, check their quality way before they were used in any production along with George, the head of props. Alll props were locked in the props room and she and George ensured it was locked after use and she ensured the main doors to the drama room were locked after use. Bethan the deputy head provided a similar story, stating she worked with George to fit the harness on Natalie and they tested lifting her with success. One by one, the drama club members gave similar accounts: the room was always locked, props were always tested and high-quality ones were prchases and no one did not forget their responsibilties.

“So, it’s still an open issue,” Hughes informed them as they gathered together. “I’ll still like another round of questions, ” he immediately saw their faces and heard moans though continued, “looking at your activities the weeks before the preview.”

Lin and Reinhard actually did mimimal research on the props head George. Right on time, he heard his flat doorbell ring. Taking two deep breaths, he rushed and pressed the ‘Enter’ button on the intercom. Within seconds, his flat’s old door creak open and he saw his girlfriend. Lin was in a black summer coat with the dress he got her and two-inch matching heels.

“Welcome to my small home,” he greeted after kissing her on her lips, something he no longer was scared about. As he guided Lin inside, he apologised for the hordes of beer cans and bottles strewn all over the the place. “My dad always brings his drinking buddies here any never cleans up. Don’t worry, my bedroom is always cleaned up.” She smiled another thing we have in common, she thought. Lin found herself in a cosy enclave which he said was the dining area cum kitchen. “I have for starters, rice and peas, the main is Frankfurter Würstchen or simply Frankfurter along with white bread, ustard and horseradish. Finally, ” he opened the small fridge, “Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, Black Forest gâteau!”

“Yummy!!!” she exclaimed. ” Did you make them all yourself?”

Reinhard gave an embarrassed grin. “The Frankfurter Würstchen was a lttile difficult to cook and I admit the Black Forest cake was shop-bought; any recipe I found was too hard to bake.”

‘Don’t worry; it’s the thought that counts. Can we begin?”

The two science whizzs and lovers heartily finished the rice and peas. As they turned to the Frankfurter Würstchen, they chatted what gadgets they could create for the detective gang, how they would improve the school science club they both lead and their school studies. As Lin reached for more mustard, Reinhard’s hand also shot out and they held wach out. This stayed for a few minutes until they both heard the door bang open, an exclaimation and…

“Hi… dad, ” Reinhard released his hold in Lin’s hand. Hewas shcked to see his fther who usually came home late on Thursdays.

“I saw some female high heels at the shoe rack and this smells good,” Mr. Tomas boomed. “And who the hell are you?”

“Uh, hi dad,” Reinhard answered. “This is Lin Ling my schoolmate. I thought you were at work.”

Lin rose and reached out her hand to shake Reinhard’s father but he did not shake it. “Who are you?” He stared particularly at her dress and notice the light makeup.

“Dad, she’s a school mate and a co -president at the school science club,” Reinhard quickly answered. Shit, this wasn’t the plan.

His father stared at them again and the next second he repeated his question, shouting it.

“Dad, she’s…my girlrfriend.”

“I want you out of my house!” Reinhard’s dad shout.

“Mr. Tomas, I can…”this came from Lin but the parent demand was certain. Mr. Tomas allowed her to get a tupperware full of the remaining meal and dessert before Lin got out.

On Friday afternoon, the teen detectives met up to hear her meeting with Mr. Hughes. “It was just so straight: I had no other activities on except some debate prep, finishing schooll work and some formal and informal drama meetings. No detective adventures right?” The rest nodded. “Hughes doesn’t know that. Anyway, I told him truthfully what I did and so did the other members. Either one of them is lying or that it. None of us dared cut that harness.”

“Any of you suspect? That George?” Chelle asked.

“No, none of use would dare harm any actor like that or spoil a play. George, I still don’t think he’s nasty.”

“That could mean an outsider,” Mark remarked.

“Well with all the care taken to secure the room and the pops of high quality, who do we suspect?”

“Well, to narrow the search, we could look at the CCTV,” Lin stated and all eyes turned towards her.

“The school’s CCTV?! Lin, you know only school staff are allowed to view that,” Chelle stated.

“We have crossed the line before? The only answer they can give is ‘no’.”

The detectives headed to school. While they did so, Lin dropped backed and handed her boyfriend the tupperwares from the failed dinner.

“I’m sorry my dad ruin our dinner, “Reinhard said. “You’re not angry at me are you?”

“Not at all. What happended after I left?”

“He scolded me for inviting a a girl into the flat; dad has hated woman after he left my mother. Scolded me for not telling me I have a girlfriend.”

“He didn’t ask you to break off our relatinonship did he?”

“No, thankfully.”

“Why don’t you come over to meet my folks. I’m sure with my parents it’ll be a nicer time.”

The school staff in charge of CCTVs was the school caretaker Ted Wiggins. Initially, he rejected their request, until he noticed Jenn, who ‘saved’ the school during the hostage crisis. “I would lose my job if I let you view the screens. OK, only three of you lot.” That rested on Jenn, Chelle and Richard who volunteered to watch. Jenn immediately asked ffor videos near the drama room area for the last two weeks. The three teen detectives scanes the various sccreens but nothing unusual appeared. “Can you extended to two more weeks?”

Wiggins complied though he said there were not many files. As he flipped through several videos, there was one showing a figure with face not shown in the screen. The person wear an all black top with bare arms. The figure was nearly a hundred metres away from the drama room door until the next second it turned and appeared to disappear from sight.

“That’s it. Can we have a copy?” The answer was flat no though Wiggins allowed them to watch a still frame for a minute before asking them to leave less they and him be caught.

Out in the sunshine, they caught up with the ohers and all attention was on Richard. “I saw something on that person’s shoulder before. It was a short drawing, could be a tatto. Seen it at the props shop.”

All eyes widened.

“It was a cat symbol.” Chelle, Lin Jenn mummured.

“It the Cat!” Chelle exclaimed. “The fiend has returned.”

“Who’s the cat?” Reinhard and Richard asked simultaneously asked however, the girls kept chatting loudly until they settled down.

“The cat, or as as call this figure, arose when Lin and myself went out one Halloween when we were twelve or so. She any her accomplice locked us in som coffin and luckily we found a hidden door leading to a house allowing us to escape.”

“Yeah evil. Then after we stopped those school bullies, we three – me, Chelle and Jenn – received a text message from the Cat congratuulating us on find lost girls. Next, we solved why students fell asleep in the examination hall, we three girls received a picture from the Cat photoshopping us and later…

“Oh don’t remind me!” Chelle almost wailed. “She stripped me to my undies and restrained me to some rotten beam. Luckily, I was freed in time to catch Mark’s rugby game.”

“She and her accomplices bound and gagged me and Lin while Chelle grounded, ” Jenn added. “Me also down to my underwear and my period started. It was so humiliating!” Jenn moved away and continued sobbing. Richard caught her and she composed herself fast.

“Ok, what’s our game plan? We return to the store again right? Where exactly was the cat design?”

Richard was going to answer when Jenn received a text message. “I’ve got something else on; can we discuss this later?”

As the detectives splt up, Reinhard caught up with Lin and asked about the Cat’s messages and the box the person left.

“Oh, the messages I got DCI Heath’s team to track and left the box with her. Now that you mentioned it, you want to join me to check what the police discovered?”

He nodded then slipped back to alk to Mark. “She’s inviting me to meet her parents at her home!”

“Hey mate ,that great progress with your relationship. I’ve not yet met Chelle’s folks.”

“Really? But what do I? What should I bring?”

“Don’t overdo it friend. Don’t get extravagent gifts. Be yourself, be confident.”

“No, we haven’t found any evidence, Lin, ” DCI Heath remarked. “Actually, our forensics team is filled with much evidence from many cases now. Would you two like take it and examine yourselves?”

Lin and Reinhard nodded and signed forms to retrive the box left by the Cat. She check her phone and told him to come over on Saturday,

“That so close!”

“Well, my ma and pa are free then and Saturdays are usually nice meal. Is that fine? See you.” Yikes, he thought.

Richard, Jenn and Chelle returned to the shop and pretended to shop. Richard spotted the cat design and wthin half a second he asked Mr Harrison what what meant ask he looked at a fake flower pot.

“Oh that youung man? That’s a good luck sign. My young daughter loves cats. Right Emily?” A young girl replied, carrying a small cat waved.

Richard returned the wave and eventually the trio left.

“No, I don’t think the owner is lying.,” Richard remarked as Chelle updated the others. “Yes, the signs are there though that’s not enough to accus them.”

Jenn nodded then said she knows who to talk to.

On Saturday afternoon, after a long gym workout, Reinhard chose his best suit and doned ample dodrant then took a taxi to Lin’s house.

“Good evening Mrs. Chan,” he greeted the woman at the door. “I’m..”

“Reinhard. oh, that’s so lovely!” She took the flowers and box of chocolates. “Please, call me Pearlyn.”

Reinhard nodded as she led the way inside although, having visited Lin’s home before, he still followed.

“I hope you’re fine with steamed fish. My husband loves it now.” Reinhard agreed and accepted chopsticks as he was practising with them himself. Lin was in a casual wear, a T-shirt with a jeans skirt. After the usual ‘how are you’, Pearlyn asked him his background then asked how they came to date. Lin added to the account though they left out much how they got trapped in a chamber and nearly drowned. Pearlyn accepteed their account with only small queries and smiles.

Just then, the door rattled and emerged Lin’s father entered, with a walking stick. Reinhard quickly got up, and with a loud voice, greeteomd. “Good evening Mr. Chan.”

Lin’s father looked at him for a second, replied then Reinhard offered to help him to his seat. As Pearlyn moved to the kitchen to get the food, Reinhard’s dad turned and asked who he was. The questions came from Chan Yong Hong, first simple ones then rapid detailed ones.

“Boyfriend?” Mr. Chan rather in a disagree tone. He turned to his daughter. “What’s wrong with Yao Ming?”

“Yao Ming?” Lin quickly explained he was an old friend. “Pa, we hardly know each other, nothing in common with him.”

“He’s rich, he’s tall he matches..”

“Pa, I haven’t any contact with him for years. Last I hard, his family is moving to Indonesia.”

“My darling, I think…” Chan Yong Hong picked out a fish bone during a tooth pick and started coughing rapidly. “Reconsider.”

“Darling you should rest,” his wife suggested and helped him up.

“I didn’t get your father’s approval did I?”

“My husband does speak his mind,” Pearlyn answered, returning. “Coffee? Or are you fine with Chinese tea?”

Reinhard answered the latter. There was some more light chit-chat and he privately liked Lin’s mother. “I better make a move. Thank you very much for ther dinner. Please thank your husband for me.”

“It’s raining. I’ll give you a lift back. Don’t be silly Reinhard, you catch a cold,” Pearlyn said.

Jenn presented herself at the local Young Offers Institude, convincing the staff to let her visit ‘an old friend’. After a brief check through the metal detector, she was told to pick up te phone next to a transparent window.

“Jenn! It’s so good of you to visit me!” Molly Peacock, who once joined up with th Cat greeting across the window. Molly started whining how terrible life in the Institute was and how difficult it was to study English Literature in a poorly equipped library.

“Jenn, I’m so sorry I humilated you…”

“Molly…”Jen pressed her hands against the glass then updated her, telling her she suspected the Cat figure had returned.

“Oh Jenn, that terrible! No, I had no contact since I’ve been here. Oh, I would love to see your play. Oh..”Molly started clutching her stomach and moaned.

“Guard! Guard!” Jenn called and it took the staff a few minutes to respond, guiding Molly out. Jenn later heard it was food poisoing. “It’s nothing wrong lass. Now leave,” the official said.

Could it be a deliberate act? Jenn wondered. Before she could think further, she felt a light sting and collapsed on the ground.

Jenn soon saw light shine on her and that was it she could move or feel anything.

“Welcome back, little Jenn,” she heard a mechanical voice. I can see, hear can’t move.

“Looks like this dart worked well. Oh no, it made you wet your jeans. Shouldn’t have set the intensity so high. Don’t worry, it’s not like your period.”

“You caused me to wet…

“My message is simple. The Cat was not responsible for damaging that harness or trying to give your friend a stomach ache. The Cat will still haunt you and your childish detective group, hahaha. Now, sleep well little one.”

Jenn suddenly regained consciousness, finding a light cleave gag between her lips and her wrists and ankles bound with material she could not identify. Then a blackness surrounded her. Jenn woke up again, finding her arms and ankles free and the gag gone. Her senses had returned and slowly she managed to get up.

“Jenn? Is that you? Why you on the ground?” She heard her mother call and saw her.

“Uh, nothing really mum.”

Jenn couldn’t inform the others as she received a message from Hughes to meet up. He ad gathered the drama leaadership team again. “Ok, I have heard your accounts and also check recent CCTV footage, “Jenn’s heart lept wondering if he spotted that figure. “Yet I not found any mischevious acts or any person trying to damage that harness. I’ve sennt it for repairs and Jenn, your drama can proceed.”

Jenn thus was really busy. On drama night, the whole place was packed full and she was ready for mishap the Cat would create. Far from that, the whole drama went ahead without any problems and as the whole cast and crew gathered on stage, they received a loud ovation.

“Really good after all,” Chelle commented and Mark nodded.

“Hey, have you seen Jenn? I can’t find her after we left the stage,” Bethan came up to them. “We’re suppose to take a group photo.”

The answers from detectives were negative though Richard volunteered to find her. A quick scan of the area didn’t show her. He quickly shifted and found himself entering the props room without any clear thought. It was like his school’s own drama prop room – he had volunteered there – and there were a range of props of various kinds yet the room was pretty clean, though a little hard to navigate through. He slowly moved through it calling out her name.

It was on his fifth call that the laundry hamper in the centre of the room shifted and a low groan emitted from it. He threw open the top of the basket and looked down on sheets, piles and piles of sheets. Yanking the top few layers away, he found Jenn underneath.

She looked like an Egyptian mummy although she was completely shrouded in black sheets from her shoulders to her ankles. The sheets were wrapped tightly about her body especially here eyes and held in place with a length of coarse rope around her shoulders, waist and legs. More sheets were wrapped around her mouth as a gag almost completely covering the lower half of her face which was puffy. A

“Ard! Get m e out —f –ere!”

“You do look like a muumy, except the colour,” he remarked.

“Nt-unny!!”

Composing himself, reached down and pulled the sheet from Jenn’s mouth. She spat out a soggy pair of socks, most definitely her own, and soon lifted her out and undid the rest of her bonds and blindfold.

“So what really happened?”

Jenn recounted how she left the stage and was head back until a masked figure or two grabbed her and she felt a sting on her neck. The next moment, she found herself lowered into the basket. It was at the last moment the figure who did so was wearing a distinct mask of a cat.

“The Cat! Is really back!”

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark, Reinhard and Richard will return in story title not yet clarified.

28: Scottish Fling

Summary:

Chelle travels to Scotland for a history class trip but mystery awaits. Meanwhile, Lin helps Reinhard with his medical problem and Jenn has a challenging first date with Richard.

This story has parts taken from A Tale of Two Snoops.

It also uses content from Lisette and the Cyber Geeks Chapter 16 written by the famous Brian Sands.

Adult bondage but only on an adult.

“You slept with Bethan and had an orgasm?!” Lin exclaimed.

“I’m not proud of it,” Jenn remarked with a slightly depressed look.

“Well, there’s nothing really wrong with experimenting with your sexuality. You really don’t like guys? Anyone one from school?” Jenn shook her head.

“What about…” Lin’s statement was cut off as Chelle entered their headquarters panting. “Sorry, did I miss anything?”

“What’s the problem? And isn’t it half term?” Chelle was in her school uniform with an added school jumper on.

“Last-minute school trip to Scotland. I’m going to some 17th Century castle somewhere south of Edinburgh, “She explained.

“Luckily my history trip is to the East Midlands and but during the school week,” Jenn remarked. “At least you’re travelling within the UK and can bring gadgets unlike me in Paris,” Jenn remarked.

“Oh yeah, any new gadgets?” Chelle asked her East Asian classmate.

“Here,” Lin produced a pair of spectacles. “Press the sides near the hinges and you get light shining out. ”

“Like the pen torchlight?”

“Yes, but the unique part is that others in front won’t spot the light if they are 100 metres or more,” Lin added. “Just don’t leave it on for long.”

“Ok, that’s great,” Chelle checked her watch. “Got to go, meet up when I return.”

“Jenn, why don’t you go out with Richard?” Lin re-continued.

“Richard?! He’s my debate rival.”

“Well, you share that in common. He rescued you in Paris and he seemed the part.” Lin’s phone buzzed. “I’ve got to meet my guy. Think about it.”

Chelle was quite tired not from the rush to meet up with her class but as she was on the first day of her period. The class took a long train to Edinburgh then a charted bus ride to the castle.

“Wow, it doesn’t look like a normal castle,” one classmate remarked. The castle had a triangular top and towers were not visible, the walls looked like they had a new coat of paint.

“It certainly is not your generic castle, ” a red-haired bearded man who introduced Alastair Murray their guide for the castle. He led the class into a side entrance and Chelle despite her lethargy, noticed a van with darkened windows and a pair of men carrying a long crate out.

Reinhard and Lin discussed the latter’s captivity last time. He noted she forgot to apply the facial cream she invented that would loosen tape gags. Lin noted, remarking that she was too busy focused on shopping with Natalie. Just as he was about to change subject, a text message appeared on his phone.

“Damn, the results of my blood and urine tests; I went to check as I lost some weight. I’ve got diabetes and have to head to collect medicine from the specialist.”

“I’ll accompany you,” Lin responded. Forty minutes later, the couple emerged with Reinhard carrying a small bag. “Diamicron,” he read the packet. “Take two a day before a meal.” The other items were a pocket-sized blood glucose meter, a lancet and a pack of strips. The doctor’s order was him to use the lancet to prick any of his fingers, attach a strip to the meter and place it against the blood oozing out. He was to send daily readings to the endocrinologist.

“I can’t believe I’ve got diabetes at mid-teen,” He complained. “I guess it’s because I’ve been eating too many sweet snacks and drinking too much Coca-Cola.”

“Hey it’s Type 2 diabetes right? I’ll help you get cured,” Lin squeezed his arm.

Jenn was wondering if Lin’s suggestion was ridiculous. Go out on a date with Richard?! She only brought him in to the detective group due to his Eidetic memory not for her liking him. He and his debate team have defeated mine many times. Why should I… Jenn reached for her phone and sent him a WhatsApp message not asking for a date. She instantly received his reply with several suggestions where to head to.

Chelle’s history class had a long tour of the Castle’s interior and immediate outside then received a serious of questions and an essay set by their history teacher. Despite still feeling tired, she completed the assignments and rested in the assigned guest room. There was water to drink but no hot drinks. Sighing, she headed back out but the Castle interior was a maze. “Hey,” she spotted the guide Alastair. “Where’s the hot water here?” He gave her a detailed set of directions. Chelle took the first few steps, however the steps she took brought her to the end of a dark corridor. Wait, he said to take a left turn but there no turning. She retraced her steps but only found a narrow corridor leading to the right. Taking a few steps, her foot suddenly caught a loose floor panel.

Lin’s plan to cure Reinhard of diabetes was rigorous but, in his view, strict. It involved exercising twice, not once, a week and absolute abstaining from sugary food and high carbohydrates. After a swim with her covering more laps than he was used to, they ate at a Cantonese outlet. “No, you can’t eat those, ” she stopped him from taking the Char Siew Bao. “There too much starch in the rice flour. Here, take more of the meaty dim sum.” I really wish I could eat that, he thought. For dessert, Lin had mango pudding while he received just oranges that weren’t too sweet. “Fruits are good for you,” she remarked. He was a fan of mango pudding and wish he was struck with this condition.

“Hey Jenn,” Richard greeted her with smile. He was dressed in all blue from jacket to jeans. “Glad you choose the bookstores option; I love to immerse myself in old books.” Jenn only nodded wondering if she made the right decision. Jenn did find the three bookstores helpful and purchased books for her GCSE Literature and some for her own pleasure. Grudgingly, she accepted a lunch with him and it was worse that she had to sit side-by-side as the lunch crowd was packed.

As Richard finished most of his fish and chips, he turned to her and asked, “Jenn, why do your always wear jeans and never skirts?”

Jenn threw down the rest of her sandwich and turned annoyed. “Why you think girls must always must wear skirts?”

Richard calm, replied, “No, I’ve just always seen you outside your school uniform wearing skirts. Remember the debate on feminism your team won? Your speech showed mentioned how skirts are a symbol of female power.”

“That was debate; I hardly believe in what I argue in debate.” With that, the pair launched a heated argument.

As Jenn and Richard were arguing, Chelle stopped after feeling the loose panel. Her thoughts of getting hot water were quickly replaced by her inquisitive detective mind. Chelle kicked the panel twice and there was a soft creaking sound after the second kick, revealing a fairly dark entrance to a passageway. She recalled the tour guide never saying there were any secret tunnels here. And he was the one who gave me directions to nowhere. She stepped inside, finding a not-so-dark passageway. She activated the pen torchlight which gave her enough light. The first part of this unknown area was wide enough to walk through but soon it narrowed and her school skirt caught a protruding part from the sides. It took her several minutes to dislodge it however part of the skirt was torn. Oh, how I wish I had changed to practical; the teacher won’t like this.

As Chelle walked through the narrower passageway, part of her mind told her mission was to find hot water while another told her this area was really exploring. As she paused to debate, she heard a soft sound from the wall to her left.

“I can’t lift that!” Reinhard protested. He and Lin were in a local gym. They were the dumbbell section. She wanted him to lift weights 10kgs more than he had before.

“I’m sure you can. Larger weights are great; can help you regain you weight.”

Reinhard tried but couldn’t lift and wanted to give up, however, she told him to try again and gritting his teeth, he managed to. “Good work, continue to your usual number.” He did, but stop five less, finding it stramineous. He shifted to the leg press which he loved.

“Try the barbells,” Lin suggested.

“I’ve never used that. How do you…”

“I’ll show you,” she told him to lie down on the bench press and fitted a not-so-heavy set of weight press. She showed him how to position his arms and she’ll lower the barbell when needed.

“You’ve done this before? “He starred up at her, loving the shape from her sports bra.

“Yup, now lift.” The first tries were difficult but he was fine with the rest. Ending at eighty lifts, he was grateful that was it. They both ended on the treadmill and he declared he was famished, though knowing it would be a sugar-less meal.

“This meeting is over!” Jenn declared, throwing down her sandwich. Glaring at Richard, she said a curt ‘thank you for the meal’ storming off. How dare he suggest I wear skirts and dresses more often. Women and girls today aren’t fixed on stereotypical clothing. How dare…Jenn repeated those angry thoughts as she made her way to the train station. Jenn was going to wait at the platform when she thought. That was still a little unfair on my part. I should have just argued normally not show my temper. Jenn ran back and spotted Richard in a music store at the oldies section.

“Returning to vent your view on jeans?” Richard’s tone was calm.

“I shouldn’t have thrown my temper,” Jenn replied.

“I shouldn’t have forced my views on skirts and dresses on you. You can wear what you like.”

The two debaters looked each other then Jenn broke the ice. “You like oldies?!”

Richard gave an embarrassed grin. “Yes, well my parents loved them and always played it since I was born. I’ve caught the love for the music. Not the exact music you would expect a teen to like and I get teased for that.”

“Oh, my mum music’s taste made me love oldies. Which artist is your favourite?”

He showed his selection of Beatles albums including With the Beatles. Jenn scanned the shelves and picked Spirits Having Flown, an early Bee Gees Studio album which her family did not have. The pair discussed other bands and singer-song-writers until Richard glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. A pretty nice outing don’t you think?” He extended

Despite our heated argument over how I dress she thought. “Yes, it was nice.” She shook his hand and they parted.

The sound stopped for two seconds then Chelle heard it again. She pressed her ear against that section of the wall yet the sound was faint. It came and the pattern identified that it was human-made. “Hello? Is someone there?” She repeated the call yet no voice responded. Chelle moved further inside the mysterious tunnel but she quickly found a wall blocking her directly. Chelle shook her head. It’s so cliche, Chelle thought stopping detectives with literal dead ends. She exactly the wall made of cement though some parts appeared to be wooden. Chelle struck and kicked the wall at various parts but it did not move and she ended up slightly hurting her hands and feet.

I’ve got to return to my room, Chelle sighed and turned back. As she walked back, a thought struck her. If she accidentally found the loose panel to open up this hidden area surely there must be another panel or something to struck. She dashed back near the wall and searched around. She finally spotted a minute stick protruding out from the left side wall. Gently pulling it, the wall creaked then lifted up. Elated, Chelle moved in but found herself in a pitch-black area. As she fumbled for the pen torchlight, the floor beneath her opened and she fell.

Chelle had fallen down small holes in children’s indoor parks before, but this hole was many times large and she hardly managed to break her fall when she struck the ground. Ow… Chelle cried out. She did manage to get up and rubbed her bum. As Chelle started to move, a same creaking sound emitted and she surmised that the wall she got open now closed. Great, alone deep inside some hidden chamber. You a teen detective another voice told her. Investigate. The problem was the pen torchlight she used was damaged. Lin’s not going to like it, she thought twisting a James Bond phrase. Pulling out the spec’s her fellow detective just made, it gave her enough light to proceed. There was only one place to head: the open archway in front of her. As she entered, she found herself on a narrow walkway with an evident chasm below. Carefully walking – it was far not easy with her school skirt – yet she managed to reach almost the end until she heard the sound again. It was now much louder and Chelle didn’t take long to identify that it the sound from someone gagged.

Ahead of her, the ‘bridge’ parted into two: one longer route and the other, a smaller route. She tried the longer route and the muffled sounds grew closer. There was one larger door ahead but the lock was rusty and easily broken. As she entered, she gasped.

Reinhard gasped as the reading on the blood glucose meter reading was high. endocrinologist just told him to get it down. After complaining to his girlfriend that he didn’t eat any with sugar or starchy, she suggested he should take the sample a little later. “Your body needs time to absorb food.”

“Since when did you know all this stuff?”

“I previously read up. Would you like meet for a run this afternoon? The weather seems nice.”

“Err, how about a swim?’ She agreed. He secretly was interested in seeing her in her swimsuit as even her one-piece was really sexy on her body.

Dress code: formal. Jenn read the last part of Richard’s text message over and over again. He had invited her to see The Phantom of the Opera at a high-class theatre in Birmingham. Jenn had seen this musical before only once when she was six and it was one of her favourites – did he know that? One voice told her she should reject the offer and stay home. Another told her it wasn’t anything wrong and he shared the love of oldies music with her. Jenn silently weighed her choices then opened her closet. She had few dresses that matched the dress code. She finally selected the maroon short-sleeved one. Jenn couldn’t recall the last time she wore this dress but it wasn’t dirty. Along with it she added her only pair of nude 40 denier tights for the weather not for looks.

Chelle’s gasp was due to the woman she found. The woman was hooded with her orange hair sticking out underneath. Her wrists were bound to rings screwed to the wall with cable ties. Her ankles were likewise secured to rings on the floor. “Hang on,” Chelle rushed over, untying the hood. It revealed a tired as well frightened face, the lower half covered with a thick black duct tape all around her head.

Chelle worked of that but even her nimble fingers took time to peel the tape away. The woman half spat and Chelle grimaced as she pulled out a saliva-soaked stocking.

“Thank you,” the woman croaked in a slight Scottish accent. “They sent a school girl to rescue me? Oh, you’re one of the Croonford teen detectives?”

Chelle nodded as she started work on the bindings. Those came off faster with the aid of her laser pen and Chelle help the woman up. After introducing herself, the woman replied, “Elspeth MacGregor, the owner of Castle Macgregor.”

“Let’s get out of here, Elspeth.” Chelle wondered if they had to walk back through the narrow path.

“Follow me,” Elspeth noticed Chelle’s look. “I grew up exploring this hidden area.” She proceeded to the opposite wall, pushed a brick and a door opened. As they entered, Elspeth explained King Duncan I built this underground network and the hidden doors so his troops and family could hide here during any intensive conflict. Chelle quickly changed topic asking Elspeth how she came to be captured. “This morning, two men surprised me as I got out of my residence. They gagged me as you saw, hooded me, restrained me and I felt myself in some vehicle. Shortly after, I was carried out and restrained as you found me.” Chelle immediately knew that was what she spotted earlier.

As Elspeth pointed to another passageway, Chelle continued asking if she knew who was behind her capture.

Elspeth pulled up her broken dress and cleared her throat. “Oh, I definitely know one of them is Fred, my head gardener. He’s the only employee who knows the layout of the underground besides me. The other could be his assistant Blair or another employee.”

Chelle followed her up and around another passageway. A gardener may have some beef against her employer yet there to be a main goon. Catching up with Elspeth, she asked if anyone held a serious grudge against her.

“Oh, you are really a detective. This Castle is worth millions. Others have tried to buy it. Others have fake birth certificates claiming they are MacGregor. The worse is my younger twin sister Edine who has been trying to claim rights to the castle. She doesn’t.”

Jenn didn’t feel right as she entered the theatre. “Oh, evening Jenn, beautiful dress,” Richard greeted. He was in a dark blue suit with an equally blue tie with yellow stripes.

“You don’t have to flatter me,” Jenn tried to reply in a neutral tone. “Exactly how did get tickets for this expensive theatre?”

“My dad got tickets for them and I was to join him. This morning he fell sick so one ticket is available. I’m paying him back.”

“So, you’re treating me.” He nodded.

“Alright. It must be a coincidence Phantom is my favourite musical.”

“I love several of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Cats. Shall we?”

They walked to door and Jenn expected him to reach for her hand but he didn’t. Some people were chased away as they were casually dressed. I wearing this damn dress to meet the dress code, not to show off to Richard. The pair watched silently but Jenn couldn’t help but mouth the words to Music of the Night. She was engrossed and silently felt this outing was fruitful after all.

“Do you fancy another beer, Rich?” The bearded man asked.

“Nah, how much can you drink Fred?” These were the men who had captured Elspeth. Rich was the Castle’s chief repairman.

“Och, what’s the harm. We did what the real boss wanted us to do. Can’t wait to check my bank account.” Just then, his mobile buzzed.

“The boss lady is coming over. Wants to see our ‘work’ we did the girl.”

“Does she think we literally rough her up?”

“Don’t think crude.” Just then, a woman in dressed in all black looking exactly like Elspeth but with a scar on her forehead appeared. She curtly demanded to see her sister. Fred led the way down, taking a different route that Chelle initially did also a different one that she and Elspeth were escaping from.

Just as they stepped into the chamber, all they saw was the hood, the soaked stocking, pieces of tape and broken cable ties.

“What? B-but that’s impossible! She was right here I swear we saw head drop down like falling asleep,” Fred shouted.

“Well, she’s bloody missing,” the woman or Elspeth’s sister Edine shot back with an angry look. “Find her!”

“The two henchmen though strong nearly dropped at her roar. They scrambled around, looking for clues where Elspeth escaped to. Edine picked up the broken cable ties and curtly asked “Did you not search her?”

“Er she was just in a dress. We dumped her handbag outside her quarters.”

“Well, these are burnt marks,” she held up one cable tie, “Either she has some high-device on her or…someone came to free her.”

“Hey boss, there’s a hidden door here. She must have escaped via it,” Rich pointed.

“Oh, this mysterious complex. Chase after her, no I recall there’s should be another passageway,” Edine pressed the various walls and found a second door. “If I recall, this should lead you to the surface. That’s where she would have gone. Go!”

“Like Act One?” Richard asked as the exited during the intermission.

“Oh, it was lovely! They may have changes actors but the version of The Music of the Night and All I ask of You was perfect!”

Jenn really has changed, Richard thought. We’ve found common in old music and in musicals. She may not be keen on dresses or skirts but that’s not a matter. Are these just outings or are they dates?

Fred and Rich hurried up the stairs of the hidden passageway less than incur more of the wrath from Edine.

“You sure this leads us up to the surface?” Rich wondered.

“Aye, I know remember this layout,” Fred insisted. “It isn’t a long route. The route she’s taking is longer and we’ll catch her.”

“Ya sure?”

“Why the doubt? The bitch Elspeth taught me this place when I was a junior gardener. I want to see her suffer,” Fred pulled his companion aside and held his finger to his mouth. “They are near.”

Chelle and Elspeth spotted a hatched that was locked. “Usually there’s a key. Hand me the laser item you used to cut my bonds.” As Elspeth worked on the lock, Chelle was thankful they were almost free; she needed a good drink of water and a change of clothes, especially her underwear. The sun shone through the open hatch and just as Elspeth attempted to climb up, strong hands grabbed and yanked her up. Chelle tried to snuck back but a second set of hands also pulled her up.

“Fred! I knew it was you!” Elspeth exclaimed as she struggled in Fred’s tight grip. Twisting her head, she shouted. “And you Rich! How could do this!”

“We ain’t working for you anymore,” Fred snarled, holding a crowbar in his hands. As if on cue, Edine appeared.

“Well, well looks like sis can’t escape. Remember how you failed to escape in all those games, from childhood to university orientation?”

“Why are you doing this?!”

“I’m claiming what rightful mine. You aren’t the castle owner anymore.” Edine gave a signal and Rich gagged Elspeth with a cloth and a long piece of duct tape. Her wrists were secured behind her back with a cable tie.

“Now who do we have here?” Edine looked at Chelle who had failed to run off. “So, you were the one who played heroine and tried to rescue my horrible sister?”

Before Chelle could answer, both hench men bound and gagged her except without a mouth stuffing. “Nice work. Wait,” Edine frisked Chelle who yelped but couldn’t find the laser gadget on her. “Let’s take them below and secure them separately.”

Rich was ordered to secure Chelle in a smaller room next to the one where Elspeth was found. Elspeth was half-marched, half-dragged to another room. By now, after being gagged and re-gagged, breathing was a continual difficulty for her. Her wrists, retied, were sore as the cable ties bit further into her wrists. As Elspeth wondered, she decided to fake choking.

“She’s in spasm! Get all that gag off her. We don’t want her dying on us, Sometimes I think you then overdo things.” Edine ordered.

“Jawohl,” Fred who was half-German replied and roughly tore away the tape and yanked out the stocking. Edine felt a little relief but Fred made her kneel down on stone floor.

“Now, now Fred, I give the orders here and we don’t overly abuse people,” Edine waved her finger.

“Th- Thank you,” she said softly, “I- I see a different side to your character,” Although Elspeth didn’t mean what she said.

“Ha, your thanks mean nothing sis.”

“Why don’t you leave that girl Michelle out of this? She’s just a student, a teen. It’s between”

“You don’t order me around sis ever,” Edine eyes narrowed.

“How can you…”

“She ought to be gagged keep her trap shut!” Fred snapped.

Edine ignored his advice and ordered her bound sister to get up. Elspeth struggled to her feet, the skirt of her dress to flutter down over her legs but with one strap broke free of the tie, her black bra was exposed.

“Good. Over here. Don’t think you can overpower me, by the way.”

Elspeth had little strength anyway. She walked unsteadily towards the other wall of the chamber When she drew closer, she saw what had not been visible in the shadows. There were chains on the wall, and metal rings as before. Her captors followed, a large blanket suddenly in Edine’s arms.

“Here,” the woman tossed the blanket down near her sister. “You may wish to lie down, although I doubt whether you will find that comfortable after what I am going to do next.”

It was obvious that Elspeth was going to be tied up again, and anchored to the ring in the wall somehow. She sat on the blanket with her knees drawn up to one side and looked expectantly up at her captors. Edine ordered Fred to remove the cable ties and Elspeth used the freedom to re-tie her dress strap though her modesty was not covered . Her captors guffawed softly but said nothing.

Edine walked to a large cabinet near, opened it, and returned almost immediately with items that were metallic. She squatted down beside her sister.

“Turn around. You should know the drill.”

Lisette turned and put her arms behind her back. She looked over her shoulder, trying to see what her evil sister was holding.

“These are manacles. They’re from the era from just after King Duncan, bet you didn’t know that? but I assure you they’re working fine, actually got newer versions, not rusty.” Elspeth shuddered as she felt cold iron settle around one wrist. “You see,” continued her sister as she inserted a screw and began to tighten the broad ring, “This place used to be a museum of medieval torture. And when the property passed hands, this little dungeon stayed almost as it was left, with the original displays carefully stored away in that cabinet. You are going to learn how it feels to be shackled, like they did to women in ancient times.”

The second band of iron was screwed in place about Elspeth’s other wrist and a short chain of three links now clipped into place to join both wrist bands together.

“There, that will hold you, little Miss Houdini.”

Elspeth moved her hands experimentally and found that she could not budge them. Her sister chuckled, then she squatted near Lisette’s feet.

“Ankle shackles or leg irons. Much better than the cable ties, no?” Fred didn’t react but thought those were good enough restraints.

Elspeth found her voice at last.

“So … You’re going to leave me here?”

“I’m glad to you discovered that at last,” Edine cackled.

“Look, I can give you half of the Castle’s land. I can give you more than half my bank account.”

“Too little. Now time to really shut ya up.”

Edine rose to her feet and held up what looked like a metal helmet. Elspeth shivered apprehensively.

“It doesn’t look appealing does it, dear? That’s because it isn’t. It’s very practical, but it’s also somewhat ugly and, I’m afraid, a very uncomfortable fit.”

“Wh- What is it?” But Lisette already had a very strong suspicion of its nature.

“This, sis, is what they call a scold’s bridle. It’s a particularly inventive metal helmet designed to force the wearer, a woman of course, to hold her tongue. Used to punish women in the 1500s. You never Scottish history?”

“You’re not going to put that thing on me?”

“But of course, I am. I am expecting you to be cooperative. This is iron.” Edine held it up and manipulated some of the links. “If you struggle, you’ll risk chipping a tooth, or having your face cut on parts of the metal. This part, see, goes in your mouth. It’s a particularly nasty but quite effective metal gag, I am most interested in seeing its effect on you.”

Lisette licked her lips nervously. “I guess I don’t have any choice.”

“No, you haven’t. I’ll be as gentle as possible when I put it on. Hmmm.”

“What?”

“This thing.” She indicated a flat tongue of metal that was folded over at its end to make a bulge. “I’m not out to torture you, just to make you uncomfortable. I think I’ll pad this …”

Edine looked down at her sister’s dress, delved into the pocket of her shirt and came out with a penknife. She grasped Elspeth’s dress by the hem and drove the point of the knife into the side with a ripping sound. Involuntarily Lisette drew her legs up. The cloth strip was now wrapped around the metal tongue , a couple of layers also going over the ends. When she was finished, the contraption had a stump of thick cloth protruding from it.

“All right, sis, open wide.”

Elspeth could scarcely get her mouth around it.

“Keep trying, dear. You’ll gag on it first, but soon you’ll be able to close your mouth a little, when it’s all in.”

Elspeth had to stretch her jaws wide before the thick wad of cloth could slide into her mouth. It penetrated past mid-way, almost to the back of her throat, and stayed there pressing down on her tongue. She heard a faint metallic squeal as her twin turned screws at the back that tightened the helmet around her head and face. The broad metal band with the silk-wrapped gag passed across her lower face to the back of her head, and to it was attached another band that went over her head vertically. It was bifurcated to pass on either side of her nose and, when the screws tightened, drawing those bands together. Her lips were uncomfortably close to the metal, but all that she could feel on her tongue was the soft wedge of silk that filled her mouth.

“There, that wasn’t too bad, was it?”

Elspeth tried to reply, but hardly a sound came out. With those words, the two captors left. The medieval gag felt embedded in her mouth, pressed against her upper palate, pushing down on her tongue, and threatening to choke her. All she could do was to bite on the thick cloth. She tried to move her hands. Nothing happened. She could move her fingers and legs a little, but the cuffs were locked tight and secured to rings on the wall and floor.

The scold’s bridle weighed heavily on her head. Maybe it was more comfortable to lie down. At least the weight would not be so unbearable. Carefully, she lowered herself to her side, falling helplessly the last foot, and tried to arrange herself with her knees curled up and her head on the other end of the blanket. But her weight pressed the bridle against the floor and made the angle of the shaft with the protective cloth shift in her mouth. It brought on a fit of choking and she had to raise her head to relieve the pressure.

The fresh tears streaming down her face almost caused her to miss the dull gleam of metal near her shoulder. She had to lift her head a little further back. And all the time the metal frame pressed down on her head, giving her a headache, making her thoughts disjointed and leading her into despair.

Meanwhile, Rich had cuffed Chelle to fetters secured on a wooden beam. Chelle continued to scream despite a dry throat and kick. “Oh, stop it lass,” he growled. Pulling out the last cable tie he had, her ankles were secured together. Suddenly, he reached under her skirt, yanking down her tights causing Chelle to yelp. Caught by the cable ties, he cut them off. Chelle’s tape gag was temporarily removed and her tights wound around her head before a fresh tape was applied. “Nice legs girl,” Rich remarked and began to touch them.

“Nice musical?” Richard asked as they exited the theatre. Jenn was humming the tune to Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again and recalling the Acts, especially the crashing the of the chandelier.

“Huh, oh yeah lovely!” she snapped back to reality, realising who she was with.

“So, are these meet ups, outings, or dates?” Jenn looked up at him. Her answer came less than a minute later. “They are dates. But I want to think before I say ‘girlfriend’ Richard.” He extended his hand but Jenn, for the first time in her life, hugged him. That embrace was interrupted by her phone buzzing.

“No Mark, I can’t go up to Edinburgh. But Lothian and Borders detectives are handling it. I know they are very capable,” Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Nikki Heath informed him. She was referring to DCI Amy Robertson and Detective Sergeant (DS) Bobbi Rainsbury. The pair wasted no time preventing anyone from leaving the castle and interviewed everyone. That excluded Rich the repairman, whom Edine said he was on sick leave.

“Don’t buy that Amy,” Bobbi remarked. “You could see her eyes move, her face twitch. I’m going to search for this repair guy.”

Elspeth started twisting her arms as much as she could. She was aiming for the laser pen Chelle had given her. After four twists, she got it and with her fingers, managed to cut away her wrist manacles, then her ankles and slowly cut off the painful scold’s bridle. Leaving the room, she heard muffled cries and found Chelle, who was still being caressed by Rich. With one large swing, Elspeth knocked out the repairman. With in minutes, Chelle was freed, not before she squirted ink from the special gadget. “Ok, leave him, let’s get out of here.”

The pair found DS Rainsbury who doubted their story but escorted them to her superior.

“So, who are you then?” The two detectives asked Edine, who shout she was the owner. Suddenly, Fred and dirtied Rich appeared and attempted to attack Elspeth. The tussle was short and the detectives arrested Edine and her henchmen.

“More good news,” Reinhard informed Lin over coffee. “My blood sugar levels have dropped to normal. The doctor says it’s incredible how I recovered. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” After finishing, she asked for a kiss but he gave her on both cheeks.

“Lips?” She asked when they were out.

He just stood there.

“You love me?” That broke his stare. Remembering an Ally McBeal scene, Lin twisted the lines. “Kiss me! Put your lips where you mind is!” The shorter boy tiptoed and gave her a mouth-to-mouth kiss, finding her lips tasting like berries, not of the coffee earlier. He held it there for a minute and a half, the most amazing time in his life.

Michelle, Lin Ling, Jennifer, Mark and Richard will return in ‘Drama Crisis’.