Under cover of darkness, the thieves approached the warehouse. Silently, the assembled just outside the barb-wire fence surrounding the perimeter. Bolt cutters made short work of it, making an opening just large enough for them to squeeze through, one at a time. They’d cased the place well, and found their way around the dark, gloomy structure, avoiding the odd patrolling guard until they reached their goal.

The junction box was locked, but the cheap industrial lock was no more of an obstacle for the thieves then the fence had been. In seconds, the lock-expert had it opened. With a silent gesture, he stepped back and let their security specialist go to work cutting wires in a careful, precise order, splicing them with new ones, inserting a small electronic box into the circuitry of the security system. He tucked it inside and closed up the box. Then the team hurried to another spot on the warehouse before the patrol swept around again.

“And...I’ve got access...” A voice called into their earbuds from a room across town. “Disabling alarms...done. Looping the security footage...now! Opening the gates...now!”

Not far away, their was a click from the mechanism on the main gate. Two of the thieves hurried forward, first hitting the hinges of the gate with a liberal amount of lubricant so it swung silently as they opened it. At the same time, the other team had hurried to do the same with a pair of large double doors at the front of the warehouse opposite the main gate.

No sooner had both done so then a large truck pulled off the street, it’s lights off, the engine muffled as best they could. As soon as it was through each entrance, the team hurried to close them again. They’d timed things carefully so the security guards would be on the other side of the grounds when the truck came in.

“Alright, where is this cargo?” The driver of the truck asked as the team slipped inside and joined him.

“Over here.” One of them replied, directing the truck past several other clusters of boxes, crates and shipping containers. In one corner, there was a cluster of a dozen or so metal drums. “Just brought them in this morning. This whole warehouse is getting loaded and shipped out tomorrow morning.”

“Know what’s in ‘em?”

“No, but it must be something valuable.” This job had been something of a lucky break. They kept a close watch on the docks, ready whenever a particularly juicy cargo passed through. Now sure, the cargo manifest for this bunch of drums said they were carrying off-brand Worcestershire Sauce, but you didn’t bring half a dozen goons with not-too-well concealed automatic weapons to deliver condiments. Whatever they containers held, it was something more valuable, illegal or both.

The truck turned around and the thieves hurriedly opened the back and lowered a ramp. Working as quietly as they could, they started to roll the barrels one at a time up into the back. Sure enough, the drums didn’t slosh at all when tilted on their side and rolled around, though a few of the thieves thought they could make out some other, odd sounds coming from inside.

Within minutes of coming in, the thieves had all the drums stowed and secured. Two of them ran to the door, while the rest piled into the truck. They waited a minute, looking at their watches and running through the tight schedule in their heads. They could imagine the guard patrol making it’s way along the warehouse wall, adding a moment for one to pause and light a cigarette or check an odd rustle.

“Go!” One mouthed to the other and they went to work, sliding the doors apart while the truck rolled forward. Once they had the doors open wide enough, the two ran forward to get the gate open as well. The truck paused alongside so they could jump in and then they were out, driving down the road free and clear…

An hour later, they were back at their hideout, unloading their prizes. No sooner had the first of the barrels been rolled down out of the truck and set upright again then the lead thief was working a crowbar under the lid. A second later it popped free.

“Mmmppphhh!!!” A plaintive wail escaped from the barrel the second the lid was off.

“What the hell?” The thief exclaimed looking down.

A young woman knelt inside the padded interior of the barrel. As near as the man could see, she was completely naked. Her arms were pulled behind her back, obviously tied in some way. Her legs were doubtless bound as well. Her light blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. That was about all that could be told about her features. A padded leather blindfold and a thick leather panel gag did a good job of obscuring everything else.

The bound captive turned her head this way and that, a stream of garbled words leaking from the gag. Maybe she was confused about where she was, was trying to figure out who it was that had opened the drum, if they were her captors or possibly rescuers. Or maybe she was just dizzy from being rolled up into the truck and down again.

“Get another barrel open!” The lead thief ordered, tossing the crowbar to the man closest to the next barrel to be unloaded. With a grunt, he levered off the lid of that one, releasing another confused, muffled whimper from the girl inside that one; a short haired brunette. Each barrel held a bound, gagged and naked young woman. As they were opened, their cries of fright filled the hideout with muffled pleas to be released.

“Well...what do we do with ‘em?” One of the thieves asked.

“I don’t know...” Their leader replied, glancing down at the blonde who’s drum he’d opened. Her whimpers had taken on a plaintive tone as time went on with her still tied up in her cage and it seemed her would-be rescuers were in no hurry to change that. “Could check and see if anyone’s reported a bunch of missing girls...” He smiled. “And if there’s a reward for their rescue.”

“And if not?”

“In that case, give Harry a call.” He replied, mentioning their usual fence. “He may know someone interested in buying a bunch of second-hand girls, no questions asked...”