Karen Mumford began to remove her mask as she watched the police conclude the fingerprinting of her home. She hated the strands getting tangled in her curly hair, but she preferred the kind of masks that went around her head to the kind that got to her ears, because they ended up hurting her.

It had been a crazy day. She had remained bound and gagged all night, courtesy of the burglar who had broken into her home and robbed her house. Luckily, after a relentless and fruitless struggle, her girlfriend showed up at the house, and called the police. However, she decided not to untie her, afraid that the police would have to take photographs and evidence from the crime scene, so Karen had to endure her captivity even longer than she wished.

Now, her girlfriend had left for work, and Karen was alone with the scientific police. When the police technical team had finished with the fingerprinting and were on their way out, a man in uniform, wearing the official police mask, approached her.

  - Good morning, Mrs. Mumford. Before we conclude, we would like you to tell us again how the robbery happened, in detail.

  - But I've already told your colleagues. - Karen protested, quickly putting her mask back on.

  - We know, and we know this may be hard for you, but it's important that you explain the situation in detail, and leave nothing out.

Karen thought long and hard, wishing she didn't have to relive her experience from the night before, but finally, she relented, and began to tell the story again.

Karen was a single woman, although lately she had been dating Anna. She was in her forties, but kept herself in shape. She had curly blonde hair, and blue eyes that years ago made anyone who had her in front of them melt. Now, with the mask covering the lower part of her face, her eyes seemed to shine even more.

  - Well, you see, last night I was watching TV, when I heard a noise.

  - What program was it?

  - Does it really matter?

  - Of course, every little detail is useful for the investigation.

  - Well... I really don't remember.

  - I understand... - answered the policeman, while he wrote something down in his notebook.
 - Please continue.

  - Well, I was watching television when I heard a noise that seemed to come from the kitchen.

  - Did it seem to be coming, or was it coming?

  - I don't know. I can't tell you. - The policeman nodded, and went back to taking notes. - I went to the kitchen and saw no one, but when I returned to the living room, I saw a masked man pointing a gun at me.

  - Could you tell me the exact location where the man was, or what kind of weapon he was wielding?

  - Ehm... no. - Karen replied, beginning to feel guilty. - I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. - She added, lowering her gaze.

  - Don't worry, please continue.

  - I'm sorry. The man said something I don't quite remember... and I begged him to please not hurt me. I told him that, if he was going to feel safer, he could tie me up to get me out of the way.

  - You asked him to tie you up?

  - So he wouldn't hurt me.

  - Do you remember the man's voice, or his height, or his eyes?

  - No... - The woman began to sob softly, fearing that her unhelpfulness would mean they would never find her captor.

  - Hey, Karen, don't worry, really. It's normal that after suffering episodes of certain stress, the brain blocks some memories. - The policeman tried to calm her down. Karen noticed that the scientist had already left her apartment, so it was only the officer and herself. - Listen, we are working on a new technique to help victims of crimes of this type to remember all the information their brains have retained.

  - And what does it consist of? - Karen listened carefully.

  - It involves reliving the traumatic episode, like a reenactment, but in a comfortable and calm environment. Would you be willing?

  - You mean I would be bound and gagged again?

  - Just for a moment, and with the intention of making you remember any details about your captor that might help us catch him.

Karen pondered this for a moment. The idea of feeling helpless and humiliated again did not appeal to her at all. But, if it was the only option to catch this bad guy, she was willing to experience that horrible feeling again. After all, it would only be for a few minutes.

  - All right. If you're really going to help catch that bastard, count me in.

  - Perfect. - Said the policeman. - In that case, I'll play the thief. I want you to relive every moment since you came in from the kitchen and saw him in the living room, so, if you'd be so kind, leave the room, and come back in.

Karen nodded, and did as the policeman told her. When she returned to the living room, and saw the officer standing in front of the television, near the sofa, and hiding his face behind the mask, the image of the previous night came to his memory.

  - Now I remember! The thief was standing right where you are now.

  - Can't you see? This really helps. Now I'm going to point my gun at you. Don't worry, it's unloaded. And I want you to tell me what the robber told you.

  - Okay. - Karen agreed, closing her eyes to remember. - I think he told me: don't move, and do exactly what I tell you.

  - Okay. So now I'm going to say those words, and I want you to tell me how you responded. And don't hesitate when it comes to acting, I mean, put all your effort into the pronunciation and intonation of your words, as if this is really the robbery.

  - Ehm...okay.

  - Don't move, and do exactly as I tell you. - The policeman repeated.

Karen put her hands up, and began to tremble.

  - Please don't hurt me. - Karen replied in a trembling voice. - Now, he told me he wasn't going to hurt me, as long as I did what he said.

  - I'm not going to hurt you, as long as you do what I say. - The agent repeated, in the deepest voice he was able to muster.

  - Now I remember it too. The thief would be about six feet tall, like you, more or less.

  - That's fantastic! Go on, please.

Karen closed her eyes again, concentrating on her role as victim.

  - Please, tie me up. I don't want you to think I'm going to be a problem, or cause trouble of any kind. So if you have to tie me up for that, please do.

  - Now what was I supposed to do?

  - He said: do you really want me to tie you up?

  - Do you really want me to tie you up? - the agent repeated, also getting into the role.

  - No, I don't. - Karen replied. - But if it's the only way to make sure you don't hurt me, go ahead. So, I went to get the rope I keep in the kitchen cupboard. - She added, and disappeared from the living room before the policeman could reply.

She reappeared in the living room with a bunch of ropes of different sizes.

  - Okay, now I told him to tie me to this chair. That way, he would make sure I wasn't going to cause any disturbance.

  - And what did he do?

  - He didn't say anything. He just pointed to the chair for me to sit in, and started tying me down.

The policeman did the same, and Karen sat down, obediently.

  - Where did he start tying you up?

  - By the wrists, behind the chair. - Karen added as she put her hands behind the back of the chair. - Are you sure this is necessary?

  - You're seeing it for yourself. You are remembering details that you have not been able to tell me before. - replied the policeman.

  - Yes. I guess you're right. All right, go ahead.

The officer began to wind the rope around the wrists of the homeowner, who was beginning to evoke memories of the previous night.

  - Is that okay?

  - No, the truth is that he tied them much, much tighter. - The agent obeyed, pulling the rope tighter. - That's it, perfect. Then he continued down my torso, circling my breasts up and down. - The agent had an impressive ease with the ropes.

  - Like that?

  - Yes, perfect. Now, the feet.

They continued like this until Karen was completely attached to the chair. He tied her feet together, then to the leg of the furniture, then her legs, above and below the knees, and finally her thighs, which he tied to the seat.

  - Do you think this was exactly how you were tied?

  - Yes, I do. In fact, I think the bindings are exactly the same. - She claimed.

  - And what did he do next?

  - Then he stole the house, everything he could find.

  - Well, I think we can skip that part, since you couldn't see what he was stealing. What happened next?

  - He told me he couldn't risk me screaming once he'd left the house, and alerting the neighbors, so he started putting a silencer on his gun.

  - Wow, really? Fucking bastard! - the officer exclaimed.

  - I begged him not to kill me, that there was another way to make sure I couldn't call for help. I told him he could gag me.

  - And what did he say?

  - That he wasn't going to risk a piece of duct tape stopping me from screaming. Then I suggested him to put some stuffing in my mouth.

  - Some stuffing?

  - That's what he asked me. - Karen said, laughing. - I told him that in my laundry bucket were two blue panties, my girlfriend's. I told him he could take them, and put them in my mouth. That he could take them, and put them in my mouth, and then cover them with microfoam tape to make sure they didn't come out. Now, thinking about it, I suppose I could have just asked her to stick a pair of rags in my mouth, but at the time I was so scared that I said the first thing that came to mind.

  - Okay, well, I guess I'd better relive exactly what happened. Are your girlfriend's panties still in the bucket?

  - Yes, but couldn't it be a pair of rags this time? The taste of underwear hasn't completely left me yet.

  - I'm afraid it's vital to the investigation, Mrs. Mumford. It could be a pair of rags, yes, but the different taste might make you not remember exactly what happened, and confuse some detail.

Karen snorted at the thought of having her girlfriend's panties in her mouth again. However, she convinced herself that it was the necessary thing to do, and allowed the policeman to rummage through her dirty clothes. She also told him where to find the microfoam tape.

  - Very well. So, the thief stuffed your girlfriend's panties into her mouth, and placed a strip of tape over them, did he? - Karen hesitantly nodded. - Excuse me, but I find it very strange that you couldn't remove such a weak gag.

Karen's look betrayed her lie, and in the end she relented.

  - Okay, it wasn't a simple strap over my mouth. It went seven times around my head, but please, it's not necessary, the microfoam is very sticky, and I'm sure one strip will suffice.

  - Mrs. Mumford, there's something you still don't understand. We're doing this for you, to help you. If you want me to just put a strip over your mouth, I'll do it, but I can't assure you that it will help you remember anything that might help us catch the thief.

The blonde looked at the policeman with a pleading expression, but finally decided he was right. After all, it was the best thing for the investigation.

  - All right. You can gag me like he did, - she agreed.

  - Before I do that, is there anything else I need to know?

  - Now that you mention it, yes. The thief took a picture of me with yesterday's newspaper, completely bound and gagged.

  - Why would he do something like that?

  - I don't know. He said it was something about a bet.

  - Okay. Well, we'll have to do it. Wouldn't you keep yesterday's paper, by any chance? - The blonde shook her head. - Well, it'll have to be today's. After all, it's a minor change that I don't think will affect his memory recall.

  - Okay, - Karen replied with a half smile. - Karen replied, with a half-smile. The agent's calm voice and explanations turned a most uncommon situation into something pleasant. He seemed like someone who could be trusted.

  - Before proceeding with the gag, I'd like to thank you for your cooperation with this
unorthodox method, Mrs. Mumford.

  - You're welcome. Anything to help. Thank you for your attention. - Replied the blonde, smiling with her eyes.

  - Now, I'm afraid I have to remove your mask.

  - Oh, yes, I forgot I had it. - She agreed, laughing.

The agent removed the piece of cloth covering the lower part of her face, and looked at her beautiful mouth. She had full, juicy lips.

  - Any last words? - he asked, jokingly.

  - That's funny! That's what the thief said.

  - What a coincidence. I guess I'm not the most original one. - He replied with a laugh. - Now, open your mouth as wide as you can.

Karen obeyed, and felt the thin fabric of her girlfriend's panties inside her mouth. With her tongue, she felt the softness of the fabric. Next, the thief grabbed the roll of tape and, starting at Karen's mouth, circled her head seven times. Exactly the same number as the previous day's burglar.

  - All right, Mrs. Mumford. I'll get the paper. - He added, leaving her captive bound and gagged on her living room chair. When he returned, he placed the newspaper on Karen's lap. - Is that good?

  - Mphhhh. - She replied, nodding.

  - Okay, so I'm going to take the pictures, see if you can remember anything else that way. Then I'll untie you, okay? - Karen, again, nodded.

The policeman took the cell phone out of his pocket. It was an iPhone X with a military case that caught the captive's attention, who started making noises through her gag.

  - What's going on? - the officer asked. - Have you remembered something?

  - MPhhhhhhhhh. - Karen nodded cheerfully. They might have come up with a good lead.

  - Don't tell me. The thief had the same cell phone and case as me, didn't he?

  - Mphhhhhhhhhhhh. - The woman nodded again, though somewhat less cheerfully.

  - That's because the thief and I are the same person. - The policeman finally confessed.

  - MPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAT? - shouted Karen, who was beginning to understand the purpose of this unusual interrogation.

  - That's right. A friend of mine, a colleague you could say, hehehehe, challenged me to manage to tie and gag the same woman for two days in a row. At first I thought about breaking into the house again, gun in hand. But when I realized yesterday how dumb you were, it occurred to me that this might be more fun, don't you think?

  - MPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. - Karen screamed, terrified.

  - Ha ha ha. I still don't understand how you buy it, Karen.

He said at the muffled screams of her captive.

  - MPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. - Karen tried to beg for mercy, but got none.

  - But don't worry, ma'am. I'm going to make sure that, at least, you don't get sick. - He said teasingly, as he put the mask back over her mouth and nose. - Anyway, it's been a pleasure. - He added, as he waved goodbye, before closing the door behind him.

She fought against her bonds as hard as she could, but it was useless. How had she been so stupid? Then, she glimpsed her possible salvation. Her cell phone was on top of the small table on the couch. If she could drag the chair over there, maybe she could call for help.

She started to hop around, but the chair was too heavy. She could barely move it a couple of inches with each hop. As she neared the table, and saw salvation as an ever-closer possibility, she jumped too hard, causing the chair to become unbalanced, and fell to the floor with it.

It was over. She would have to stay that way until her girlfriend got home. The day before, the police had already explained to her that in cases of kidnapping, or tied hostages, it was not wrong to untie the victim before the police arrived. So this time she would not have to wait without untying her.

The hours passed and the fatigue of the effort to untie her paid off, causing Karen to fall into a deep sleep. She awoke to the sound of the house keys entering the lock. How glad she was she had left Anna a key to her home. Thank goodness!

Her gaze came alive again when she saw it was indeed Anna who had entered. For a moment, she feared it was the bloody burglar again. However, her girlfriend's expression was far from the relief in Karen's eyes.

  - Again? Really?

  - MPhhhhhhhh? - Now, the look of relief was replaced by one of concern.

  - How could you have been so stupid to let yourself get robbed two days in a row, Karen?

  - MPhhhhhhmphhhmphhhmphhhhhhhhhhh. - She tried to explain behind her gag.

  - You know what? I'm sick of it. I can't be with such a dumb person.

Karen checked that she wasn't heading towards her position to untie her, but instead, up the stairs to the floor above. The blonde screamed behind her gag, but her girlfriend's panties stuffed in her mouth drowned out her pleas. She returned within five minutes, suitcase in hand.

  - I guess you've got my panties back in your mouth, don't you? - The blonde nodded, embarrassed. - You know what? You can keep them.

  - MPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

  - This is over, Karen. Oh, and good luck getting out of this one without my help... Well, I'm going to help you. - She then walked over to the coffee table in the living room, and picked up the cell phone that Karen had ended up on the floor for. She left it in the doorway, about five meters away from an exhausted Karen. - If you want to escape, just reach for the phone. Me, I'll get out of here.

  - MPhhhhhhhhh? - Karen couldn't understand a word.

  - Goodbye, Karen. - She added with contempt, before disappearing out the door.

  - MPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

She saw the brunette hair of what she thought was her girlfriend disappear, and understood that if she wanted to get rid of it, it was going to have to be by her own means. She had an uphill battle ahead of her.