Sisters 4

The two women slipped through the ajar door and once inside, Isabelle drew her revolver. Cordelia`s heart bumped though there was no sign of Linh and the room looked less than frightening. It was obviously the storage room of a kiosk or beverage store, with rows of stacked crates of beer and soft drinks. It was rather neat rows than a maze and Isabelle soundlessly pointed to the direction from which she had heard a noise.

Isabelle pressed herself against the stacked crates as she slowly moved forward whilst Cordelia tried to follow her by keeping an eye on the door. They reached an open space of a few square yards with a table and two chairs. On one of these, Linh was sitting, once again checking her cell phone.

Taking a deep breath, Isabelle raised her gun and stepped from her cover.

»Freeze!«

Linh`s eyes widened and she slowly dropped her phone, but remained calm otherwise. On an inviting gesture from Isabelle, she raised her hands. Only when Cordelia stepped beside the Policewoman, she asked:

»Who- who are you? What do you want?«

Suddenly, a wave of rage ran through Cordelia. The woman that had kidnapped her, bound and gagged her, stripped and humiliated her really had the audacity to play the »I have no idea who you are«-game! Cordelia jumped forward, her hands on her hips, staring daggers at Linh who arched back on her chair, looking intimidated.

»You really have no idea who I am, Linh?«, she hissed, slamming her hands on the table so Linh`s cell phone made a little hop. The Asian slightly shook her head and Isabelle, fearing the situation would escalate, put her free hand on Cordelia`s shoulder.

»Keep calm, we-«

»What the hell is going on here?«, a male voice suddenly asked in their backs. Reflexively, the two spun around and spotted a man holding a gun in his hand. Before they had recovered from the initial shock, Linh suddenly darted forward and chopped Isabelle`s wrist with the edge of her hand. The gun fell from the redhead`s hand and the man now ordered:

»Hands up, Ladies!«

He was a young man, muscular, but going to seed. His black hair, dark tan and his specific accent told them he was a Maltese. He didn`t look very impressive, but he had a gun pointed at them and so, both Cordelia and Isabelle obeyed. Linh rose from her chair and grabbed Isabelle`s weapon. With the sardonic smile they both knew all too well, she asked:

»Now, let me repeat my question: who are you and what do you want?«

Cordelia was still startled by the rapid turn of events, but Isabelle said:

»Linh, please, we are-«

»Linh? You think that I am her? Haven`t you heard that Linh`s dead?«

Now, Isabelle fell silent, too. Either, the woman was playing a very strange game or she indeed wasn`t Linh. The Asian now smiled coldly and continued:

»No, I am not Linh – and the fact that you thought I was tells me that you have no idea where she is. So, you are of no value for me!«

For a few seconds, the woman enjoyed how the last sentence caused Cordelia to look anxiously at Isabelle whilst the Policewoman tried to remain calm. Then, the woman who wasn`t Linh showed a more friendly smile.

»I am not Linh – and you better be glad that I am not. So, you will get out of this more or less unharmed. However, I need a bit of a head start! Marc, check their pockets!«

The man put his gun in his belt and approached Cordelia. He took the handbag that was still dangling from her shoulder and she gritted her teeth not to protest when his hands wandered over her pockets. At least, he really just seemed to search for any concealed weapons and didn`t take further advantages.

Marc emptied her handbag to the floor and rummaged through her purse. He took her cash money and then stamped on her cell phone before he turned towards Isabelle. When he searched her body, he seemed a bit disappointed.

»Where`s your phone?«

»I- I left it in the car!«, Isabelle replied a bit subdued. The man grunted and the woman now ordered:

»Now, strip!«

Cordelia gasped and Isabelle looked at her defiantly:

»Are you sure you aren`t Linh?«

Now, the woman chuckled, though she didn`t let up on her attention.

»As I said, all I need is a head start. Do as I say and you won`t get hurt!«

The two women kept their defiance up for a few more seconds. Then, Isabelle kicked off her sneakers, followed by Cordelia. Just to delay the real stripping, they then removed their ankle socks and Cordelia put the baseball cap on the growing pile of items. When Isabelle took off the headscarf, she reflexively shook her head so her red curls swirled around her head for a moment.

Now, neither had the cavalry arrived nor had the Asian changed her mind. So, they slowly took off their T-Shirts, too. It was the second time Cordelia had to watch Isabelle strip and despite the situation, she couldn`t help noticing that the Policewoman had slightly changed her choice of underwear. Not that her bra could be called revealing or daring, but it had a thin lace trimming on its shoulder straps and at the top of the cups and the bridge between the cups was adorned by a pesky little ribbon. Cordelia looked down on her own white bra and blushed when she saw the man watching her with a grin. Isabelle`s cheeks had also reddened, but she refused to plead and instead worked on the button of her trousers.

When both women stood in just their bras and panties, Cordelia again could not help noticing a detail: Isabelle`s panties matched the bra. They were fullback and modest, but also had the thin lace trimming and a small ribbon near the waistband. Cordelia, who had never cared much about matching underwear, wore black cotton panties to her white bra. The Asian now gave a sign that she indeed wasn`t Linh:

»That`s enough! You look as if that should keep you from running around in the streets, even if you manage to get free! Marc, pack their things, please!«

Taking a plastic bag from a shelf, the man grabbed their clothes and stuffed them inside. Then, he produced a roll of duct tape and ordered:

»Now, put your hands behind your back!«

Cordelia felt him cross her wrists and tightly wrap the tape around them. Then, Isabelle was tied the same way. The woman inspected the bonds and then tore four pieces from it. These, she used to wrap both captives` fingers. Having done so, she ordered:

»Now, sit on the table, back to back!«

With their hands tied, this was a bit of a difficult task, but finally, they sat on the small table, leaning their backs or rather their arms against each other. The man now taped their ankles to the table`s legs, so both had to sit with their legs open. Then, he tore ten short pieces of tape and placed them side by side on the table`s edge whilst the woman rummaged through the plastic bag.

»Now, open wide!«

Cordelia closed her eyes as she noticed that the woman had chosen their socks from the bag. She just hoped that it were her own. Those had been worn for two hours now, but still were quite fresh and even though the two socks made up a sizeable packing, it was far better than the gags she had had to endure on earlier occasions.

Whilst the woman then gagged Isabelle with the other two socks, Marc taped Cordelia`s mouth with five of the strips. Then, the same was done to Isabelle. As a final measure of security, he then wrapped the remaining tape around their arms and upper bodies, pinning the two captives together.

»Today, the beverage shop has its day off. Tomorrow, you will be found – a bit in a mess, but quite unharmed. Don`t struggle too much!«

Marc just grinned. Then, he grabbed the bag with their clothes and followed his accomplice, leaving the bound and gagged women behind.

***

»Let`s work for the Yakuza, you said! Let`s make some real money, you said!«

Aaron Smith was bored and this made him angry. His accomplice, Hank Dulle, was the target of his rage just because he was the only person available. In fact, they had both accepted the offer to work for the Japanese Mafia.

Malta wasn`t Paradise Island, but a real, albeit small, state with a considerable crime rate. Smuggle was quite a big thing, as were tax evasion and problems with the growing number of refugees coming from Africa. But the number of murders was low, as was bank robbery. The same could be said about kidnapping.

Both Aaron and Hank had been involved in smuggling and racketeering when they had gotten the offer to work for a Japanese company that was little more than a letter box company to conceal illegal activities. The two men had understood why the Yakuza needed local support: on an island with nearly no Japanese population except for tourists, they could walk in public without the risk of getting recognized. However, they had been a bit perplexed about their first job: assisting in the kidnapping of both the Japanese ambassador`s secretary and her younger sister who currently lived with her.

The first part of their plan had worked out well. They had quickly overpowered Michiko Ihara on her way home from work yesterday and brought her to their lair, a remote little house in the middle of nowhere. Then, they had returned to Valetta and entered Michiko`s flat to wait for the other girl. And waiting, they now did for more than twelve hours.

First, it had been quite entertaining to search through Michiko`s drawers and take her cash money and some of her jewelry. Hank had emptied the woman`s dirty laundry drawer and they had examined her used panties that all looked very plain and modest. However, all this hadn`t been entertaining for too long and when midnight had passed, they had both felt bored and pissed because Akiko didn`t come home.

Doing shifts, they had dozed for a few hours and now, they were both having some of the disgusting insta coffee they had found in the kitchen. Michiko preferred Japanese tea and only had some coffee for the rare occasions she went to bed late and needed to get awake fast.

»Have the Japs sent a message – or are they busy having their way with the older sister?«

Hank wasn`t an actual racist, but he didn`t trust the two Japanese. One of them, the one who did all the talking, had only introduced to them as Hitoshi whilst the other one hadn`t spoken at all and also had worn a cap and dark sunglasses all the time. It had seemed strange to the two Maltese: usually, the silent, mysterious one was something like a Gray Eminence, but it seemed that Hitoshi was in charge and the other one followed his orders. Well, at least, the money they had gotten in advance was some compensation for that.

»They only sent the message that Akiko`s obviously out partying with two friends. So, perhaps, she stays with them for the night and will only return after having slept off her intoxication!«

Hank sighed. He never had thought that his first step into severe crime would be so boring. He opened the fridge and grunted:

»Well, let´s see if she has got something else than rice and soy sprouts!«

***

Their previous ordeals had one advantage for both Cordelia and Isabelle: they didn`t panic when they were left scantily clad, bound and gagged. Neither of them screamed through her gag or pulled on the tight bands restraining them. Of course, they both squirmed and shifted, trying to find some give in their bonds.

Compared to what others had done to them before, their current bondage could almost be called lenient. However, the idea of being found the other day, in just their bras and panties and having been forced to follow nature, still was frightening and so, they tried to find a way to get free.

»Mph!«

Isabelle rubbed her taped hands against Cordelia´s and after some seconds, Cordelia felt a glimpse of hope: one of Isabelle`s thumbs had come free and now brushed over her fingers, trying to find the edge of the tape encasing them.

Progress was slow and both women began to sweat. In addition, it felt awkward as their hand were pressed against the partner`s buttocks. But finally, the tireless efforts of Isabelle had managed to peel the tape from Cordelia`s right hand.

»Uuhhmmph! Mhhmmm!«

With renewed energy, now Cordelia took the lead and after another couple of minutes, their fingers were free. They clumsily exchanged an improvised handshake and then, they continued to pick on their bonds.

»Mmhhmmph!«

Cordelia felt the moving of Isabelle`s upper body and arms as she repeatedly tore on her loosening wrist bonds and finally was able to free her hands. Now, it was still some work, but finally, some hour after they had been left by Linh`s lookalike and her henchman, they were able to ungag themselves.

»Phew!«, Isabelle couched when she had spat out the two damp socks from her mouth, »I had almost forgotten how inconvenient such a gag is!«

Cordelia, who had endured far worse gags, just panted and licked her lips. Then, both women quickly freed their ankles. They exchanged a short hug and then, they started to examine their prison. It turned out that the iron door that obviously led to the shop was closed and locked. Their captors had also locked the door through which they had entered the warehouse, but they saw that they could open the door for some half an inch. On a hook at the wall, Isabelle discovered a single key.

Quickly, they tried it on the iron door, but it didn`t fit. Looking on the key, Isabelle read »YALE«. Obviously, it belonged to the padlock. She tried to push her fingers through the gap in the door, but found out that the padlock that secured the hinge was just out of reach.

»Fuck!«

Involuntarily, Isabelle had to smile. She had always considered Cordelia a decent Lady who stood away from swearing, but obviously, she was paying tribute to their current predicament, too.

Meanwhile, the first busloads of tourists had reached Mdina and they could hear people talk and see them walk along the street through the gap.

»We could call for help!«, Cordelia suggested without real conviction. They were both only clad in their undies and none of them would have liked to be seen and maybe filmed like that by a bunch of tourists. Suddenly, Isabelle`s features brightened.

»We have one more trump up our non-existent sleeves!«

She reached between two staples of crates and with a triumphant smile, she produced her handbag.

»I haven`t left it in the car, but put it here when we entered instead!«

She took her cell phone from the handbag and quickly texted a message.

»Are you calling your Maltese colleagues now?«, Cordelia asked. Isabelle shook her head.

»To be found like that and to be lectured about exceeding my competences and endangering a civilian? No, I just asked Samantha to get here asap and bring some clothes with her. In one or two hours, we can still go to the local Police and report what has happened!«

Cordelia hesitated if she should find this idea good, but looking down on her nearly nude body, she nodded. Pointing at the crates around them, she asked:

»Well, our captors sure won`t mind if we serve ourselves. Do you prefer Coke or water?«

***

»You`ve got mail!«

When Samantha came from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel and brushing through her freshly blow-dried hair, Akiko who was lolling on the bed in just her black thong reached her phone up to her. When, Samantha grabbed her phone, Akiko`s hand quickly darted forward and tugged on the towel so it fell down, rendering Samantha naked.

»Oh, Crêpe, you bad girl!«, Samantha scolded her friend playfully. Akiko willfully widened her eyes and purred:

»With my stomach still in trouble, coffee would be a bad idea; so, I have to get awake – otherwise!«

The Japanese`s voice became hoarse and she let her eyes wander over Samantha`s ample breasts and her thin strip of reddish pubic hair. Though she smiled, Samantha could not help blushing slightly.

Actually, she was into boys and Akiko loved flirting (and sometimes even more) with men, too. But repeatedly, she showed that she also liked Samantha more than just a friend. Samantha never was sure whether Akiko was just joking, as she usually said things in a rather playful way and there had never been more than a not so innocent kiss between them. And yet – the way Akiko looked at her sometimes made her feel a little awkward, albeit not in an inconvenient way.

She turned away from the bed and read the message her elder sister had sent her. When she had finished reading, she began to giggle.

»Oh, Isabelle, you naughty, naughty girl!«

»What`s up?«

Samantha sat on the edge of the bed and Akiko came from behind, slung her arms around Samantha and placed her chin on her friend`s shoulder so she could read Isabelle`s message, too:

»Hi, come to Mdina asap, warehouse beside a beverage shop near the church. Bring two sets of clothes, I`ll explain later, but hurry up!«

»Bring two sets of clothes? Really?«, Akiko giggled and Samantha couldn`t believe it. Her dear, modest and reasonable sister had woken up in another town, without her clothes! She got up and said:

»Do you think that other woman is with her, that Dr. White? OMG, she seemed like a decent Lady to me!«

»Still waters run deep!«, Akiko replied and the two girls burst out laughing. Then, Akiko`s face became more serious.

»Too bad I won`t be able to see our two lovebirds! But I better go to Michiko`s home, before she persuades our father to disinherit me!«

Samantha meanwhile stepped into Akiko`s birthday present: a pink thong with some Japanese characters on it. It matched Akiko`s black thong with pink characters and her friend had told her that on hers, it meant »Pretty Flower« whilst hers said »Love Goddess«. Suddenly, she grinned like a Cheshire cat.

»Crêpe, I have a wonderful idea for a little prank!«

***

»Come on, Samantha, I need to pee!«, Isabelle muttered in French whilst she peeped through the gap between the door and the frame. Cordelia, who was fluent in that language, could not help smiling, though she was also anxiously waiting for Samantha`s arrival.

It had been some hour since Isabelle had sent the message and the two women had spent the time drinking a coke and looking for any evidence that would explain who the mysterious woman had been. Whilst doing so, Isabelle had shortly withdrawn behind a staple of beer crates and texted another message – a message for Mike:

»Please, if it`s possible for you, find out what happened to Linh!«

She hadn`t dared to send more, but she added a selfies of her, just to remind him of who she was. To her surprise, an equally short answer came:

»Why should I, Belle?«

Obviously, he was either pissed that she hadn`t phoned or texted him for so long. Or, perhaps, he just wanted to play with her. Isabelle looked around if Cordelia could see her.

»All right, desperate situations require desperate measurements!«

She took another photo – from her panty-clad middle. Quickly, she sent it, before she could regret doing so. She blushed when the picture appeared on the display. Immediately, the answer came:

»Okay, that`s compelling! I tell you when I have news! Glad to see you now wear your hair open!«

Isabelle`s heart bumped when she forced herself to put her cell phone away when Cordelia came across. Did the fact that Mike found the time to add a little compliment to his cryptic message mean that he wasn`t angry? That he perhaps had feelings for her, too?

Some time later, she could see Samantha walk through the street, a backpack over her shoulder and obviously looking for any signs of her sister.

»Samantha! He, Samantha, we are here!«

She bumped against the door and finally, her sister noticed her. She showed a gleeful smile.

»Does Maman know how you spend the nights, little Lady?«

»Samantha, this isn`t a joke! Take that key and open the door!«

She reached the key to her sister who worked on the padlock and then, she said:

»It doesn`t fit!«

Isabelle cursed and then, she heard a giggle from outside.

»Just kidding!«

Samantha opened the door and quickly, Isabelle grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. When Samantha saw her and Cordelia in just their bras and panties, she slowly shook her head:

»An orgy in a warehouse! That`s not how Maman raised us!«

Isabelle put her hands on her hips, though in her current state, it didn`t look very frightening.

»This isn`t a joke, Samantha! We were assaulted and robbed!«

As she focused her little sister, the smile on her face vanished.

»Oopsie!«

With a scoff, Isabelle took the backpack from Samantha and opened it. When her eyes fell on the clothes she had brought, her eyes widened. Slowly, she took out a bright pink mini dress.

»Oopsie!«

Thinking that her sister and Cordelia had just drank too much and ended up without clothes after a hot night with some local guys, she and Akiko had taken great care in choosing fitting clothes for them. Except for the mini dress, the backpack contained a pair of hot pants, a tank top that left the belly free and two pairs of flip flops.

»Oopsie, indeed!«, Cordelia agreed.

Since Samantha was wearing a short skirt and a sleeveless top, too, the two women had no other choice than to put on the clothes Samantha had brought. Cordelia felt little more dressed than before: the hot pants only fit Isabelle and so, she had to put on the dress that was as short as a shirt on her and would show off her panties even if she just walked normally. Isabelle, who tried to hide her breasts under the top, stared daggers at Samantha who could not help giggling.

»Sorry, Coeur de Soeur, I just thought that you were-«

Then, raising her cell phone, she asked pleadingly:

»May I take just one picture for Crêpe, please? I promised her!«

Now, Isabelle became angry and Samantha quickly slipped through the door. With no other chance, the two inappropriately dressed women followed her. Though nobody seemed to take much notice of them, Isabelle`s cheeks were as red as her hair and Cordelia permanently pulled down the hem of her skirt.

At the car, Isabelle took the keys and not so gently put them into Samantha´s hand.

»Happy Birthday! Now, get us to the hotel, I want to change clothes before I call the Police!«

Samantha, equally happy about the present and the fact that Isabelle`s rage had ceased, tempestuously hugged her sister and cuddled against her. Over Samantha`s shoulder, Isabelle exchanged a look with Cordelia. Her eyes said:

»What can I do? She`s my beloved sister and I can`t be mad at her for long!«

Cordelia sighed and tried to get on the passenger`s seat without showing the group of tourists that stood close too much of her panties. Now, at least, this ordeal would be over after she had passed the lobby of her hotel dressed like a hooker!

***

Akiko, who had taken a shower, but wore her clothes from the day before, except for a red top Samantha had loaned her, had taken the bus to Valetta and now walked the lane towards the house where her sister resided. At a bakery, she had stopped to buy some donuts with cranberry filling, Michiko`s favorites. Though their relationship was less than cordial, Akiko also knew that she mustn`t overstep the mark too often.

»I am sure she`s at the embassy anyway!«, she thought. It was a Sunday, but of course, an embassy was open every day and she had no idea whether Michiko would have to work today. If so, Akiko would put on some clothes her sister would appreciate more and bring the donuts to the embassy where she would play the remorseful little sister long enough until Michiko would not complain too much if she left to go partying with Samantha again.

»Why must a cool person like me have such a philistine sister!«, she sighed as she pushed herself through the gap between the wall and a white van that had been parked halfway on the pavement. For a moment, Akiko thought if she should use the studs of her bracelet to teach the driver a lesson in correct parking, but she decided not to do so before she had apologized to Michiko.

»Onee-san (respectful for elderly sister), I am home! Sorry, I texted you, but you didn`t answer!«

The house was silent and then, Akiko noticed something else: at the corridor, she saw some clothes lying around in a mess. She frowned. This didn`t fit her overly orderly sister!

»Michiko-chan?«

She stepped towards the open door  of Michiko`s sleeping room where her eyes fell on a pile of clothes lying around on the floor and on the bed: it was mainly stockings, pantyhose and underwear, including some of the white fullback panties Akiko always referred to as granny panties.

»Fuck!«

Akiko wanted to step back, but suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and a hand was clamped over her mouth.

***

When Isabelle`s message had reached him, Mike had already been at Heathrow and had just wanted to look for a flight to Malta. He had been a bit disappointed when she just asked for a favor, without saying hello or asking how he was. However, then, she had sent him the photo. Isabelle had looked a bit strained and when he had enlarged the picture, he had been sure that he could see the strap of her bra. The second picture had made him smile. Though these panties were modest, they were a bit sexier than the three plain white ones he had taken from her during their last adventure. And if his sweet, shy Isabelle sent him such a picture of her in her panties, she really needed his help.

So, with a sigh, he had instead looked for a flight to Grenoble. Since he still had some time left, he had booked a car via Hertz that would wait for him at the airport at Grenoble and also phoned one of his French contacts whom he could persuade to do a favor for him.

Then, Mike had spent the time until his flight went to re-read the articles about Linh`s trial and also the few available notes about her death. He frowned. Linh had been a young and healthy woman in her late twenties. The articles only told that »a recently convicted criminal succumbed to an illness«, but if Isabelle wanted to know more, he was sure that there was more.

»I would have preferred to bring you flowers, Belle, but if you want dead Vietnamese women instead, who am I to disagree?«

***

Though they were eager to reach their hotel fast, Isabelle had to ask Samantha who was doing her best coping with driving on the left to stop at a small bar where she rushed towards the bathroom. Though she felt more than embarrassed, Cordelia followed her. When the two women returned to the car, they saw that Samantha was standing beside the car. She held her cell phone in her left and looked as pale as a bed sheet.

»Samantha, what happened?«, Isabelle asked. Samantha looked at her and held up her cell phone, now seemingly upset.

»Crêpe! Something terrible has happened!«

***