Chapter two

Tina and Ulinka were quite surprised that the Lord Mayor was quite nice and friendly. Of course, as a politician, she knew how to oppress emotions, but normally, the most friendly politicians turned out to be quite harsh if they talked to employees. Of course, as policewomen, they were employed by the state, but it was no good idea to have the Lord Mayor against one. However, Sabine Sturm showed some respect towards what they had achieved so far.

„So, you say the Defoliator choses women who have been in the papers. Couldn`t the reporter be a connecting link, then?“

Ulinka shook her head: „No, Miss Sturm. We have of course already checked on that. But they were interviewed by different persons, and even by different newspapers. But the psychologist we work together with says that the Defoliator is disturbed by women who raise their voice in public – no matter if they are talking about politics, arts or something else. He just get`s triggered by seeing or hearing them talking to an audience.“

Sabine smiled wryly: „Well, that put`s me on his list, too. Or my P. R. Officer, Elena.“

Elena Meyer, the overenthusiastic and always a bit overexited right hand woman of the Lord Mayor, smiled a bit nervously when being mentioned.

„I hope you will protect us from this thug?“

Ulinka noticed that there was a little concern hidden under the Lord Mayor`s coolness. Not so much concern about being attacked, but of not being able to get someone caught who disturbed the public peace.

„So far, the Defoliator did not dare to attack women who were as protected as you are. Of course, if you insist, we can put you under extra protection.“

Sabine smiled: „The voters sure would not appreciate if I take any policemen for my own security if the streets are not save. But, you talked about a psychologist. Has she already worked out a profile?“

„Of course, together with us, she developed quite a convincing picture. The Defoliator is young, living alone and has either a home office job or no job at all. He has got considerable knowledge about chemistry and electronics, has at least enough money to get by and he-“

Sabine interrupted her: „That`s what even I could deduce from the news!“

Ulinka raised an eyebrow about the criticism, but the Lord Mayor was right about that. Anyway, she had more to tell.

„He has no personal relation to his victims, but, although he wants to humiliate them, he takes care that they don`t get hurt physically.“

Now, Sabine seemed interested: „Please, explain.“

„He has not taken advantages of the women being helpless in his hands. They were not raped or otherwise sexually abused. That means he just sees them as pawns in his game, he has no intention in abusing them as individuals. The Defoliator sees himself as an artist, and these women ar his clay or screen.“

„Well, it seems that you have shortened the explanation of your psychologist a bit. I will have to talk to her personally. But before, why do you think he does not want to hurt them?“

Ulinka answered: „He always applies the ties in a way that prevents rope marks or other abrasions. He has even put some sun oil on Barbara Krull`s body to protect her from sunburn. Besides, they are always placed somewhere where they are exposed, but at the same time will be found and rescued.“

For the first time, Elena spoke: „W-What about the – special way he gags his victims?“, she asked reluctantly.

„Oh, you mean the panties. We don`t know yet, except that this is an extra bit of humiliation. But now, if you will excuse us, we have another interrogation ahead.“

***

Jessica Braun was a bit angry. Six p. m. just was too early for a concert. Of course, the main act would not start before eight p. m. and she only was the opening act. The opening act for Helene Fischer, after all. Jessica`s singing career had brought her some fame around Würzburg, she had already sold some 5000 CDs and now, she was the opening act for a real star. But Jessica knew that real fame still was a bit ahead of her. The famous singer now was in the best hotel and would enter the stage not before she had already left it. She had been given a backstage pass, but she knew that she would not be allowed to get real close to Helene Fischer. In addition, she was not allowed to use the main dressing room but had to put up with that better junk room she now was in. At least, she now would be alone until she would slip out and enter the stage.

Jessica closed her eyes and dreamed about that the people whom she heard from outside were only here to see her, but suddenly, the door opened.

„Oh my god, can`t you just knock like uuuhhmmmmmmpphhh!“

Before she could react, Jessica felt grabbed by strong arms and a rag was pressed over her mouth and nose.

„Mhhmmmmph! Uuuhhmmmmph!“

Jessica kicked and squirmed, but the drug already worked. Her eyes twisted and her movements slowed down.

„The Defoliator! I – have – to-“

„Mhhmmmm!“

Within seconds, Jessica had lost her consciousness and her attacker gently lowered her to the ground.

When she awoke, Jessica sensed that she was sitting in a chair. She blinked and wanted to raise her hand, but she could not do it.

„Mhmm?“

It came to her mind like a gush of cold water. The Defoliator! He had overpowered her! The girl wanted to raise, but felt that she was securely attached to her chair. Frantically, she fought her bonds, but she was unable to move her arms and legs.

„Mhhhmmm! Uuuhhmmmmm! Mph!“

Jessica tried to scream, only to find out that she was gagged as well. Her mouth was stuffed with something soft and her lips were sealed with some tape.

„Mhhmmmph! Uuhhmm-“

Jessica`s eyes fell on the mirror in front of her. She still was inside the provisional dressing room. With horror, she saw that she had indeed fallen in the hands of the Defoliator – she was stark naked. The girl was sitting in a wheelchair, her lower arms tied to the armrests with layers of transparent tape. More of this tape was looped around her belly and the backrest and kept her from raising from the seat. Her feet were tied to the footrests and two zip ties connected her knees to the armrests, forcing her to keep her legs slightly spread.

„Mhhmmph!“

Fuming, Jessica tried to bend her head down to her fingers to rip the gag off, but she realized that a purple silk scarf had been tied around her neck and was fixed somewhere behind the backrest. It was loosely applied and did not hinder her breathing, but it tightened around her neck when she tried to bent forward. Her gagged mouth just stayed out of reach for her fingers.

„Mhrrrrrrrr! Mhhmmmmmmm!“

Jessica screamed into her gag and tried to dislodge it with her tongue, but the transparent tape was too tightly applied. With disgust, she remembered what kind of gag the Defoliator preferred. Before she could think more about being gagged with another woman`s used underwear, Jessica heard a noise. It was the cheering of several thousands of fans, but suddenly, it died down when an amplified voice could be heard.

„And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, not as famous as our main act, but already a celebrity around here – the lovely Jessica B!“

Again, the cheering rose. To Jesssica`s surprise, the wheelchair started to move.

„Nnnnggg! Mhhmmmmmmph! Mph! Mph!“

The naked girl fought her bonds and screamed through her gag, but as if being moved by ghosts (in fact, it was a simple remote-controlled engine), the wheelchair slowly drove towards the door leading to the stage.

Another rc device opened it and the chair continued its way onto the stage where it turned its front to the public.

After a last tide of noise, the cheering died down to almost complete silence. 4000 visitors were staring at the naked girl that was sitting in the chair right in the centre of the stage.
Jessica had always been well aware that her beauty had been an important part of her success and she even liked the fact that some people came rather to see her than to hear her. But now, these people got to see much, much more than she wanted to present to them. Bound ans she was, there was no way she could hide her breasts or close her legs. The girl let out a muffled scream of sheer frustration.

Now, the presenter seemed to have noticed that this was not part of the show and approached, but Jessica could also see something else: the little flashes of thousands of cellphones and cameras taking pictures of her in her nude predicament.

***

The Defoliator was leaning back in his armchair and enjoyed the reports in the local TV program about the strange incident at the concert some hours before. He was amused that the cameras tried to blur out the nude forms of Jessica Braun and that they avoided to say her name – as if it had not been written down everywhere. He just took another sip of his expensive red wine, when his cellphone signalled a message. Freud.

„Nice work at the concert, but we haven`t talked about that one.“ A photo followed, presenting a nude blonde girl sitting on a swing with her arms tied behind her back.

The Defoliator frowned and texted back: „I don`t know who she is, Freud!“

„She was found in the beer garden near the stadium. She says you attacked her.“

„I have been at the concert hall for hours, doing preparations. It wasn`t me.“

But Freud did not answer back. Obviously, his mentor was concerned about this little blonde. The Defoliator just smiled and took more wine. Only the great criminals had copycats!

***

At about two o`clock in the morning, Ulinka finally decided that it was time to get home asnd to find at least a few hours of sleep. She had been more than occupied by the concerned management of Helene Fischer, the local press and some thousand visitors of the concert who pretended to have seen anything. Those who had worked backstage had seen nothing, though. Of course, there had been a security, but they had mainly taken care of Mrs. Fischer and only checked the rooms for hidden bombs before.

Of course, the police had checked the alibis of the roadies and other people working at the concert hall, but to no avail. As usual, the Defoliator had left no DNA or fingerprints. Since the concert hall was used for theatrical plays, too, the wheelchair had been in the room before and noone had checked if it had been equipped with an engine and a remote control before. Jessica had been too upset to be interviewed, so, Ulinka had left her in the custody of Nicole Suttner.

The list of roadies, workers and others who could have had access to the dressing room had some 60 persons, not counting those who had worked there before and could have made a duplicate key. None of the worker`s portfolios said that they had been chemistry students or were above average skilled in the use of electronics.

Unlike Jessica, Sandy Orden, the girl exposed in the beer garden, seemed to be more than eager to tell her everything about being attacked. The blonde hairdresser almost seemed to be happy about having some publicity.

Ulinka shook her head. Something just did not fit! Not only were there some slight deviations from the Defoliator`s modus operandi. If he had attacked Sandy, he must have managed to get over to the concert hall and to overpower Jessica within some 15 minutes. Ulinka guessed that either the Defoliator had an accomplice – or that he already generated copycats. Both possibilities were quite discouraging.

***

Since Ulinka was higher in rank, she had to deal with the press and others who thought the police wasn`t doing their job. Tina felt pity for her colleague, but the lack of interest on her allowed her to cross-check some of the people who had worked at the concert hall. After some hours, she had deduced that three of the men had been former students of biology – a subject that required some chemical knowledge. Two of them lived alone, one in a student hostel, the other one in a village some ten kilometres outside Würzburg.

Tina knew that she should not have gone there alone, but she did not want to enter the rooms of the suspects. She just wanted to check the area. So, she decided that a close look would not be too dangerous.

Simon Müller, the young man living in the student hostel, was surprisingly easy to find. When she just looked at the letter boxes, Simon Müller approached himself. She faked being looking for a friend and he gently helped her and even went to the hostel`s bar with her to ask around. Tina wondered if he wanted to try flirting with her, but instead, he turned out to be together with another young man.

Since a gay did not fit into the profile given by Nicole, Tina went back to her car and drove to the other adress. It turned out to be a nice house, inhabited by a family named Huber. There was no sign of Johannes Gebhardt. Tina just wanted to ask the police computer again when she detected a small makeshift letter box with „J. Gebhardt“ written on it. Tina checked the adress and found out that only the Huber family was officially living here. Obviously, this Johannes Gebhard was a subtenant. This could just mean that the Hubers had not told the Registration Office to save the taxes, but it was at least a bit suspicious.

Tina sneaked inside the yard and discovered some steps leading to an enttrance to the cellar. The cellar room was lit by a blue light. Obviously, someone was watching TV. She bent down to the window and looked down. Indeed, the TV was switched on and an armchair was placed with its back towards her. Suddenly, Tina heard a crunching sound beside her. Before she could react, she was grabbed and she felt a soaked rag pressed over her face.

„Mhhmmmph! Uuuhmmmmph!“

Tina had not been the best in martial arts training, but she tried to punch her attacker or to break from his vice grip. But he pulled her backwards, preventing her from getting a proper stand to launch an effective kick. Her arms were pinned to her body and in addition, the drug began to work.

„Mhhrrrrrrrrr! Mhhmmmmmmmmmm! Uuuuuhhhhhhhhhmmmmmm!“

Tina yelled through the cloth, but the Hubers seemed to sleep quite soundly. With weakening strength, she squirmed and moaned, but she just could not break the man`s grip.

„Mhhmmmmmm! Uuuhhmmmmmm!“

Finally, she felt her consciousness fading away. With a last thought about her silly idea of investigating a suspect`s place without a backup, the young policewoman passed out.

Panting, the Defoliator left the rag pressed over Tina`s mouth for another minute to ensure that she was totally unconscious. Then, after taking a careful look around, he carried her down into his room.

He had thought of himself being a bit paranoid when he had installed the little camera near the main entrance, but now, he was glad that he hed done so. It had told him that a woman was checking the bells and letter boxes in the midst of the night and had allowed him to prepare for an attack.
The Defoliator knew he had some 60 minutes until the drug would work off. Plenty of time for his usual work, but now, he wasn`t sure what to do. This young pretty redhead just didn`t fit his typical prey. He would have to ask Freud.

But before, some preparations had to be done anyway. He took Tina`s jacket from her and checked the pockets. In a wallet, he discovered her police ID sign. So, she was indeed a policewoman. Suddenly, he knew how to proceed.

He took off Tina`s shoes and socks and pulled her T-shirt over her head, revealing a white lacy bra. Next, he pulled down her trousers, leaving the policewoman only in her bra and matching panties. With slightly trembling fingers, he unhooked her bra. Though he loved his mission, he still was a bit nervous when he had to strip women. The little women had quite ample breasts and he had to fight down the urge to knead them. Instead he peeled down her panties, recognizing from the strip of pubic hair that she indeed was a natural ginger.

The Defoliator took a roll of tape and wrapped Tina`s arms behind her back, from the elbows to the tips of her fingers. With two zip ties, he enforced the ties at her wrists and elbows. Now, she would have no chance to free her hands on her own accord. The Defoliator turned Tina on her back. Her now thrust out boobs semed to point directly at him. Still, her eyes were closed and she breathed steadily. Carefully, but tightly, he bent her legs into a lotus position and wrapped her lower legs after he had put them parallel to each other. Now, Tina`s legs built an open triangle. The Defoliator secured this tape wrap by two more zip ties.

Now, he wanted to immobilize her further. He knew that, if she had had a bachup, he would already been arrested. But sure, she would be missed the next morning. The Defoliator wanted to get away with Tina`s car and leave it somewhere to be found, together with her cellphone and clothes. Then, of course, they would begin a close search during the next day. His camera would tell him when they approached the Huber`s house. He was sure that he would have some 12 to 18 hours – if he took care that Tina would not alert anyone before.

He took his chair – a cheap construction with a combined seat and backrest with the legs screwed to it. He removed the legs and placed Tina on it, making her bound arms hang over the backrest. Then, he wrapped her upper body and her arms with tape, welding her to the chair and taking care to leave her breasts uncovered.

Now, he had to do some handicraft. Carefully, he placed the girl into the armchair. The legless chair fit barely between the upholstery, but finally, Tina was sitting in the armchair. The Defoliator knew that this armchair had a seat plate of massive oak beneath the seat`s upholstery. Taking three huge screws, each some six inches in length. With his cordless screwdriver, he secured the wooden seat Tina was tied to to the armchair`s seat. He shook the heavy chair as a test, but he was satisfied. Tina would not be able to topple or move the chair, no matter how much she struggled.

Just as an extra precaution, he screwed the armchair to the floor with four more screws. Now, the girl and the armchair would be tied together until someone with a knife would approach.

The Defoliator went to his cupboard and took out four small transparent bags. They contained the panties of Sarah, Patrizia, Barbara and Jessica – prove of his so far successful work. He decided against gagging Tina with one of these, since it would not fit his sense of order. Instead, he reached for the policewoman`s white panties. He took a deep breath and smiled  - it seemed that Tina had been wearing them the whole warm day. Anyway, they seemed a bit small to gag her effectively.

So, he took her socks as well and wrapped the three pieces of cotton to a tight ball which he carefully stuffed into the unconscious girl`s mouth. Tina sent a small sound through her nose and her eyelids fluttered a bit, but she did not wake up. When he was finished, her cheeks bulged and he had crammed all the material behind her white teeth. He now tied a cloth between her lips and tied it off at her neck. This cleave, he secured with another zip tie before wrapping her mouth and head with an entire ace bandage. This was secured by two more zip ties before he finished off Tina`s gag by wrapping the lower half of her face with some 20 layers of duct tape. This girl would not be able to utter a sound that could be heard through the heavy steel door of the cellar room.

As additional precautions, the Defoliator closed the curtain of the only window, locked the door to the house and left the TV turned on. He knew that the Hubers, a nice old couple in their seventies, both were a bit hard-of-hearing and normally would not mind if he watched TV 24/7. They would not be suspicious, even if they would find their way downstairs.

Quickly, he packed his belongings and prepared to leave. Before he went out the room, he took a photo of the naked, bound and gagged Tina and sent it to Freud, together with a message:

„Policewoman caught snooping. Have to go.“

The answer came when he had already entered Tina`s car. It was short, too:

„You reacted well. Come over to my house, you can stay for a while.“

So, Freud was still proud of him. Smiling, he drove off into the night.
***

Early the next morning, Ulinka was risen from sleep by a message from Nicole:

„I`ve got an idea how we can get him. Please, see me asap, I don`t want to discuss it on the phone. Love, N.“

Ulinka knew that a lot of police work was waiting for her, but, if the psychologist`s idea was good, she was actually doing policework. So, she sent a message to Nicole that she would come over now and another one to Tina to deputize her as best as she could.

After a quick shower, Ulinka saw that Nicole had already answered and had sent a photo of a table laid with coffee and croissants, but Tina had received her message, but not answered. Obviously, her colleague was pouting a bit because she would have to cope with the press.

When Ulinka arrived at Nicole`s house, the blonde woman greeted her heartily and indeed offered her a breakfast. But she did not waste time and presented the result of her considerations whilst they had their coffee.

„The Defoliator is behind women who talk in public, at least if they do so around here. That means, if we present him a bait he can`t resist, we will be able to prepare a trap.“

„Well, I had this idea myself, but are you sure it won`t be too evidently? The Defoliator`s a madman, but no fool.“

Nicole took a long sip from her coffee and smiled enigmaticaslly, enjoying the growing impacience on Ulinka`s face.

„I haven`t got my PhD completely for nothing. This man get`s triggered by women who are local celebrities and who speak up in public. Such persons are sure that what they are doing is right – in other words, they are conceited. If the Defoliator will hear theat there will be a public talk about him, done by some women he already knows from the papers, he won`t be able to resist.“

Ulinka thought about that.

„Indeed, it sounds quite plausible, but of whom are you thinking? If I will announce such a talk show, he will be suspicious, conceited or not. And you, Nicole, are – not famous enough, I am afraid.“

For a moment, a shadow went over Nicole`s face, but then, she smiled again.

„Not famous yet, because if I can publish my researches on the Defoliator- Anyway, I have already considered that. The public is concerned about the security and they want to know what kind of person this Defoliator is. So, it would be quite convincing if the Lord Mayor will answer some questions, together with the police, the press  - and a psychologist who is an expert on the sujet.“

Ulinka nearly dropped her cup.

„You – you mean, a panel discussion on our local TV program, together with Sabine Sturm and me? Well – that could work, but are you sure the Lord Mayor will accept playing a bait for a criminal?“
Again, Nicole smiled: „I have already talked to her PR Officer. The panel discussion will be announced for tomorrow evening at seven o`clock!“
***

The psychologist, however, was not the only one who wanted to go to the public. Patrizia Nahle, pushed by the ambitious journalist Tanja Schmidt, had decided to launch a panel discussion, too. Instead of explaining the Defoliator, they wanted to show that this was not the problem of a single criminal, but of a society that still opressed women. Patrizia wanted to prove this by some quite indecent mails she had gotten, telling her that she was quite nice with her mouth stuffed or that she had at least fantastic boobs for a feminist. Patrizia also wanted to present herself to the public as a strong survivor instead of a weak, helpless victim.

The other four victims had agreed more or less enthusiastically in participating. Sarah, who had received some similar mails, too, saw an opportunity to turn people`s focus back on her artwork instead of her naked body.

Barbara had been the most reluctant, but had at least given in when Tanja had promised her that it would be an internet live stream done at her flat and that, instead of the other participants of the panel discussion, only Tanja would be around. There would be no questions to be answered and no audience that could make lewd comments.

Contrary to that, Sandy had been very keen on telling the public about her predicament. She had even allowed that photos of her could be shown if necessary. Somehow, she seemed not the least upset about what had happened to her.

Jessica had spent the night in hospital and had first decided to refuse when Tanja, who had found out about her whereabouts, had asked her to join in the discussion. But Nicole Suttner had persuaded her to do so.

„It`s like you have been locked inside an elevator that got stuck and you suffered from claustrophobia. The best way to cope with it is to enter the next elevator and force yourself to use them again. Otherwise, your fears will increase. If you withdraw now, perhaps, you will never be able to be confronted with public attention again.“

Jessica was a bit perplexed, for before Nicole had been more than gentle to her, but she trusted the blonde psychologist and so, she finally agreed.

Now, they were sitting in Barbara`s flat and listened to Tanja, who had just phoned her newspaper to launch her and Patrizia`s idea.

„Tomorrow, there will be another discussion about the Defoliator. The Lord Mayor will explain us that he is just a poor guy who has suffered from a severe mother and that there`s no reason for any of us to be concerned.“

Jessica answered: „Perhaps, we should join that discussion, too. At least, the psychologist that`s there, too, seems to be quite good in her profession.“

Patrizia vigorously shook her head.

„No! In this discussion, everything will be about the offender! Our discussion will be about the victims! The survivors! Us!“

The curly student became quite furious and Barbara did not want to start arguing with her. Deep inside, she began to understand why some people were at least glad that she had been gagged for a while.
***

The Defoliator smiled and put away his headphones. He had installed the bugging devices in Sarah`s and Barbara`s houses for no particular reason, but now, it provided him with quite precious information.

So, they wanted to have a discussion centered upon the victims. Well, he would help them to gain much, much more attention than they had ever thought. Five girls, if one counted in the journalist, would be quite a challenge, but it sure would help to make his fame as a criminal immortal.

But now, he had to concentrate on yet another aim. He and Freud had developed a stratagem and, though this opportunity was to good to be true, he would follow this plan as exactly as possible.
***