The Little Death 24

Mike closed the door and made the girls gather around him. He lowered his voice as he spoke:

»Now, we all agree that we need any information this woman can give to us, don`t we?«

He waited for a few seconds to make sure everyone got the subtext: it meant getting the information at all costs, including torture. Isabelle gulped. She knew that some of her colleagues were not very squeamish when it came to interrogations, but she had always shied back from violating human rights and she didn`t like the idea that Mike now implied such things. On the other hand, there was the safety of Sistine and Sophia.

»What is your plan?«, she asked in a hoarse voice. Mike put a hand on her shoulder.

»I know that you don`t appreciate violence – and, believe it or not, neither do I!«

»Oh, in that case, I wouldn`t mind!«, Luana scoffed. She still could feel where the tight ropes had cut into her flesh, especially the excruciatingly tight one between her legs. She was clad in Isabelle`s silk nightgown and the sweater because these were soft and didn`t hurt. In addition, the way Ingrid and Lan had treated her called for a payback.

Mike now grinned wolfishly and looked at her.

»So, you are the bad cop. But, please, don`t get carried away too much. Belle, you are the good cop. You know, offers like leniency policy, relief from detention, such things.«

»Don`t explain my job to me!«, she fumed, but also felt a bit relieved. So far, these were the rules of a regular interrogation. Then, however, Mike playfully rubbed his hands and said:

»I think I will be the Grand Inquisitor!«

»And what about me?«, Lioba asked. »Shall I serve coffee and snacks during the breaks?«

She tried to sound snippy, but at the same time wouldn`t have bothered if Mike would not make her participate in the interrogation. He pointed at Isabelle`s laptop and said:

»Internet research. I have an idea and you could help me to concretize it!«

He added a few sentences in German, excluding Isabelle and Luana from what his idea was. Isabelle was angry and again felt jealous because he had secrets with Lioba, but her rival just nodded and sat in front of the laptop. Mike went for the fridge and picked a bottle of water. Then, he walked over to the balcony. Isabelle thought that he wanted to smoke before the interrogation started, but instead, he went for the dream catcher that hung on the glass door. It was a present from Samantha and Isabelle didn`t like it that much, but had hung it up to please her sister. Mike plucked one of the feathers and then went for the bedroom door.

»Let`s go!«

Isabelle had seen Ingrid naked, bound and gagged before, but nevertheless, the sight was amazing. The tall blonde was tied spread-eagle, her wrists and ankles strapped to the bed posts. She was still gagged and now, some more tape had been wrapped around her fingers. Isabelle noticed that Mike had pushed the pillow under her butt to further expose her naked crotch and she couldn`t help a ridiculous thought:

»Yesterday, Lioba masturbated in my bathroom and now, a naked criminal is embedding her butt on my pillow! I will have to burn this flat when this is all over!«

Ingrid raised her head and mewed. Her cheeks reddened as Mike let his eyes wander over her nude front and the bed post slightly crunched from her attempt to get her thighs a bit closer together. When the three had gathered around the bed, Mike, who had positioned himself at the foot of the bed, spoke:

»Ingrid, I suppose that you don`t mind if we skip preliminaries and go in medias res. I like a good show like the next guy, but we don`t have time to waste. So, are you willing to cooperate?«

Ingrid stared at him, her chest heaving. She looked frightened, but she also was no fool and knew that it would not be easy for her to make a good deal. Mike raised the water bottle.

»Of course, cooperative prisoners get access to accommodations, starting by a refreshing drink.«

He placed the bottle that showed small drops of condensation on the bed. As he bent forward, he moved his left hand like accidentally and brushed over Ingrid`s sole with the feather. The blonde twitched and let out a fluttering breath.

»Oh, sorry! You know as they say, don`t let the right hand know what the left one does!«

Again, he tickled her sole and Ingrid squirmed and gasped at his touch. Mike withdrew and looked at the panting girl. Isabelle had to admit that he was good. He didn`t hurt Ingrid or threaten her, but he had both reminded her that he could torture her and also had shattered her self-control.

»If she pees in my bed, you will buy me a new mattress!«, she hissed at him and Mike grinned.

»I thought you were the good cop?«

However, he seemed to appreciate her interruption and Isabelle understood why: she had just shown Ingrid that also the good cop would not fully be on her side.

»The bad cop is me!«, Luana said, glancing down at Ingrid. »If you don`t talk, I-«

Mike gently placed his hand on her shoulder to hold her back. Isabelle had no idea whether this was improvised acting, but Ingrid`s eyes flew from one to the other and she looked as if she was now severely terrified. Again, Mike took the lead role:

»Now, let`s start. To make things easier for you, I will ask questions that you can answer with ›Yes‹ or ›No‹. So, have your – colleagues left you behind, maybe even tried to kill you?«

Ingrid nodded. So far, this was something they knew anyway and in addition, it would help her to play the victim card.

»And thus, you wouldn`t mind if they get caught, too?«

»If you do, your sentence would be reduced quite substantially«, Isabelle added, playing the good cop.

»If anything has happened to Sophia, I will wait for you at the prison door, no matter how long it takes!«, Luana hissed and again, Isabelle was unable to say whether she was just playing her role or showing her true emotions.

»Luana, you are frightening Ingrid. She must think that you are a vengeful beast that will do horrible things once I turn my back!«

He ostentatiously turned around, twisting his left arm so Luana could pick the feather from his hand. Isabelle went to Mike, telling him that this was not right, but he put his finger on his lips.

»Count to ten«, he whispered. Isabelle forced herself not to turn around as they heard mewing, gasping and the screeching of the bed springs. Then, after ten seconds, Mike turned back and saw that Luana had grabbed Ingrid`s right foot and was slowly pushing the feather back and forth between her toes. The blonde squirmed and reared up, whimpering through her gag.

»Luana, you are forgetting yourself«, Mike said in a friendly tone and put his hand on hers. The Taiwanese let Ingrid`s foot go and, after brushing one last time over her sole, handed the feather back to Mike who placed it behind his ear like the parody of a Medieval writer. Then, she stepped back.

Isabelle was a bit dismayed what these ten seconds had done to Ingrid. There were beads of perspiration glistering on her naked skin and she was panting heavily, staring at her captors with eyes like saucers. Sensing her insecurity, Mike put his hand on her back and gently caressed her through the thin cloth of her T-Shirt. At the same time, he said towards Ingrid:

»As you can see, we are all a bit worried about the whereabouts of Sophia and Sistine. But I am sure that if you help us to set them free within the next 24 hours, Luana will restrain herself and once your former colleagues are arrested, Belle will take care that you will be treated preferred.«

Isabelle, now again on common terrain, added:

»You will be given a good lawyer and the fact that you cooperated with the law will come into consideration. If you are not previously convicted, I think you would be able to get out on parole after one or two years and until then, you would get a single cell in one of the better prisons, separated from your former accomplices.«

This was a deal as it was made quite often, to persuade the smaller fishes to confess against the bigger ones. Usually, the suspect wasn`t naked, tied and spread, but apart from this, it had some resemblance to her usual work.

»Is there really only such a thin line between a strict interrogation and real torture?«, she thought with a shudder and though he had forced her into that dilemma, she felt assured by the touch of Mike´s hand at her back.

As he asked her again if she would spill the beans, Ingrid nodded and Mike then unwound the tape from her mouth. Her lips stretched around a huge ball and when Mike helped her to work it out of her mouth, Isabelle saw it was a pair of light blue panties wrapped around a nerf ball. Some saliva ran over Ingrid`s chin and onto the bed sheet, confirming Isabelle`s decision to burn the mattress.

Aided by Mike, Ingrid drank and then, she answered his questions that circled around both the reason of the whole crime mission and the potential hideouts of the rest of the gang. After a while, Mike reached for the still damp gag.

»All right, thank you, Ingrid. Now, until we can transfer you to a more conventional prison, you will have to remain in our custody.«

The blonde`s eyes widened as he approached her mouth with the awful gag, but Mike just pinched her nose and as she parted her lips, he stuffed the massive gag back into her oral cavity, ignoring her grunting and retching. Luana, who had quickly rushed out of the room, handed him the harness gag that had been used to gag her previously and Mike placed the ball over Ingrid`s gaping mouth. Then, he buckled the straps, causing Ingrid to retch again. Luana would perhaps pulled the gag even tighter, but nevertheless, the rubber ball forced the nerf ball and panties even deeper into her throat and she had no chance of dislodging the gag.

»So, my bedroom has turned from a torture chamber to a prison cell!«, Isabelle thought, avoiding an even more terrifying thought: how could she ever return to regular Police service after what had happened during the last days?

»If Sophia isn`t well and alive and free within the next 24 hours, I will make you pay!«, Luana said, bending over Ingrid. »Then, you will no longer have reason to laugh!«

She tickled Ingrid´s sides and again, Mike let her do so for a few seconds before he gently let her outside. Isabelle followed them and as she had closed the door, she wanted to reprimand Mike, but he just pointed at Luana. The Taiwanese was leaning against the wall, biting her fist and hyperventilating, obviously fighting to hold back her tears.

»She`s as much a torturer as you are, Belle! She just had to learn the hard way what you already knew.«

Isabelle cuddled against him, grateful for his words, but she insisted:

»Shouldn`t I have intervened at the very beginning? Before things – became rough?«

»The way to success is paved with betrayed ideals. No wonder I drink!«

Now, she noticed that Mike also hadn`t enjoyed torturing Ingrid in the slightest. She went over to Luana and put her arm around her whilst Mike took a sip from the Gin bottle. Luana sniffled, but then, she blinked her tears away and nodded.

»It`s okay!«

Mike now clapped his hands and said:

»All right, now, Ingrid has given us three potential hideouts of her former accomplices. However, I doubt that they are in any of those!«

Isabelle and Luana nodded and Lioba, who had still been sitting at the laptop, turned towards them. In her hand, she held a piece of paper.

It was what Isabelle had feared from the beginning: the criminals would have put into consideration that the Police would find Ingrid in time and convince her to confess (though maybe during a more orthodox interrogation). Thus, they had to get to another hideout. Mike, however, didn`t seem to bother too much.

»It nevertheless makes things easier for us to know where they are not going. With still two captives and some more baggage, they can`t leave by plane. Which brings us to the cars they left with. Belle?«

Isabelle felt a bit out of tune for being reduced to be the keyword provider, but she reported:

»A white van, maybe a Renault, with the logo of an electronics company, a red Porsche and a black Audi – you mean that a convoy of these three cars might look a bit suspicious, especially when the Police is looking for the arsonists in the area?«

»Exactly. Of course, they can split up, but I doubt that they have endless hideouts, especially now that all those Ingrid knows about are burnt. So, they have to get together somewhere – on a place where the combination of a van, a limousine and a sports car doesn`t raise attention. Lioba?«

The mentioned got up and raised her written note.

»These are all used car traders who do shipping to China and where local traders can rent a garage to prepare their lot for shipping! Turns out that there are only two at Fos.«

Mike used the silence of his audience to show a small piece of paper on which he had scribbled down the places Ingrid had told them. He handed it to Lioba and, after she had complained that his handwriting hadn`t improved since High School, she finally announced:

»The one in Fos is on the list! That means there is a chance that Sophia and Sistine are held captive on the property of the other car dealer!«

»Of course, it`s just an assumption, but it`s better than nothing!«, Mike added. He looked at Isabelle, obviously waiting for her approval as a Policewoman. She nodded.

»It`s definitely worth a try. Lioba, have you got pictures of the area?«

»Of course!«

She went for the laptop and clicked on Google Earth and then, four pairs of eyes looked on a rather unspectacular place: a large oblong property that opened to the sea where a long concrete pier was built. On the picture, a large roll-on-roll-off-ferry had docked there and beside a few garages and an office building, the area was crowded with rows of cars.

»Looks like the proverbial needle in the haystack!«, Luana muttered, but Isabelle thought different:

»Not really. I mean, they will need one of the garages and there are less than a dozen of those. By the way, except for their captives, what do they actually have to transport?«

Luana thought for a few moments.

»Well, the most important thing is the data, of course. If they have time, however, they can contract all information on one hard disk, I presume. I doubt that they will use a cloud or mail it to China. Then, there are the samples of LD. They have to be kept at a constant temperature, but it`s just a few dozen pills and therefore, the special box doesn`t have to be bigger than a small fridge. If they have access to electric currency, they could stow everything in the boot of the Audi.«

Mike had taken a cigarette from his etui, but, after a look at Isabelle, had placed it behind his ear.

»There are still the captives. Since Marseille`s most beautiful Police Officer«, he pointed at Isabelle who rolled her eyes, but could not help smiling, »and her lovely assistant«, his eyes wandered to Lioba who dropped a curtsey, »managed to free – the at least second most beautiful pharmacologist in this room-«

»Would the most oily former secret agent in the room mind getting to the point?«, Isabelle interrupted, but she wasn`t angry, for Mike`s talking had caused Luana`s expression to soften a bit. It wasn`t yet a smile, but he had distracted her a bit from her worries. Mike bowed and said:

»Now, their problem is that they have only one pharmacologist left, since we also have Ingrid. So, they must get her to China. Also, I doubt that they will leave the LD samples completely unattended for weeks.«

Isabelle noticed that he hadn`t mentioned Sistine and she knew that her colleague`s future looked rather dark. The criminals had already proven that they didn`t shy back from attempted murder if they considered it necessary. Suddenly, Luana bent over the laptop and started clicking. She opened the website of the company that did the shipping of used cars and followed some of the attached links. Soon, she was on a Chinese site. The picture of a cargo ship indicated that it was the homepage of a Chinese shipping company.

»I have to admit that I maybe was sick when we had these letters in my Chinese class«, Mike admitted, trying to figure out what Luana was looking for. Finally, the Taiwanese looked up and pointed at an article that also showed what looked like a price list and the photo of what looked like a Spartan bedroom.

»Look!«

She seemed to enjoy the fact that the others couldn`t follow her, but before anyone could get annoyed, she explained:

»Some cargo liners offer a few cabins for passengers. It`s not very common, for it takes much more time than a flight and doesn`t offer the luxuries of a cruise ship, but some people use this opportunity: people who are afraid of flying, but want to see the Far East, those who want to have a rather unique experience – besides, it is cheaper than a fun cruise, of course.«

It seemed to be the solution: the criminals, or at least some of them, just had to book one or two of these cabins and could travel together with the cars. All they had to do was to smuggle their captives into their rooms – and a look at the suitcase still standing in the room told Isabelle how this could be done. And once inside, they could ensure that they remained silent whilst a simple bribe would get them access to the storage room to look at the LD samples.

»So, what now? Will you call for your colleagues to raid the place?«

Luana was of course worried about what could happen to Sophia, but it seemed to be the obvious solution. However, Isabelle gulped and shook her head.

»I am afraid my colleagues would not approve some of the things I did during the last days«, she mumbled, pointing over her shoulder at her bedroom door. It wasn`t just the fact that they were keeping a suspect prisoner under conditions that were more than a minor violation of the laws; she had also endangered both her colleague and a crime witness, not reported the shooting and who was behind the arson at the clinic and sure, there was a lot more. Luana frowned.

»Are you telling me that you will not do everything that is possible to save Sophia`s life, just because you are afraid of getting reprimanded?«

Before Isabelle could answer, Mike intervened:

»We are doing what is possible – and we are doing it faster, since we are avoiding the bureaucratic paper work! Besides, what role do you want to play in this game – staying behind and chewing on your fingernails or being part of the rescue team?«

Luana was a woman of logic and rationality and there were many things one could have said against Mike`s words, but her concerns were washed away by the seductive picture of her sending Lan to the ground with a perfectly placed roundhouse kick. Then, she would approach Sophia (somehow, in this film that ran in front of her inner eye, her friend was naked except for her glasses), remove her gag – and kiss her.

»Count me in!«, she said with a steady voice as she stood up and reached her hand towards Mike. He took it, surprised by her strong handshake. Isabelle put her hand on theirs, to show that she would accompany them. Then, she felt a hand upon hers.

»Sophia still owes me a lunch at the Mensa«, she said with a forced smile. Isabelle could not help admiring the woman she still considered a rival. What they were planning was dangerous, but Mike had been trained for such situations and she was at least a Policewoman, able to use a gun and if necessary, she could risk getting suspended and call her colleagues. Luana, finally, had reason to be vengeful. Lioba, however, was just a civilian and could have been glad that she had escaped the ordeal of being naked, bound and gagged.

»So, we are one team?«, Mike asked and each woman nodded when he looked at her, though Isabelle and Lioba exchanged a short view before doing so. Mike went for the cupboard and, finding only two shot glasses, he also took two Espresso cups. He placed those on the table and put a little shot of Gin in each and they toasted on their team before he again looked at them.

»Now, as we are a team, you should know one thing. As I have told Belle already, I haven`t come here for private reasons. I am on a mission that has three things in common with rescuing Sistine and Sophia – I don`t have much time, the lives of several people depend on it and the Government of a great power is involved.«

»And in addition, it is most likely morally so grey it is hardly distinguishable from black!«, Isabelle added and Mike just shrugged. As a Policewoman, she had a different sight than he on the differences between what was right and what was legal. However, with a naked criminal tied up in her bedroom, she wasn`t in the strongest position to judge.

»Anyway, in«, he checked his watch, »40 minutes, my target will come back from a visit to the Chateau d`If and arrive at the harbor. And since she unfortunately knows how I look, I have to be careful and keep some distance until there is an opportunity to strike.«

To her own surprise, Isabelle heard herself say:

»Sounds like you could need some help – from someone whom your target hasn`t seen yet!«

Mike showed his trademark grin.

»I wouldn`t have dared to ask, but now that you are mentioning it, Belle-«

***

Despite the excellent suspension of the Audi, Sistine felt that they were driving on an uneven path at a speed of less than 10 mph. Through the window Lan had opened, she could smell pines and also some salty sea air and she knew that Lan had found a remote spot at the sea.

»Here we are, just the two of us!«

Lan bent over her and slowly opened her coat. Then, she unbuttoned her blouse and tugged it from her skirt. Sistine sighed through her gag as she felt the Chinese`s lips and tongue on her breasts and forced herself to hold still. Lan sensed that the girl stiffened and asked:

»You seem a little strained to me, Sweet Sistine? What is it that bothers you?«

»Mmhhmm! Uuhhmm!«

She took off the sunglasses from her and then carefully peeled the tape from Sistine`s eyes. The girl blinked and once again mewed through her gag.

»Is it really that long I have last kissed you?«

Sistine nodded and forced herself to breathe more calmly when Lan removed the tape from her lips. She then kissed them before she plucked the sodden panties from her mouth.

When Lan kissed her, Sistine closed her eyes and tried to kiss her back as usual. For a few seconds, their tongues played, but then, Lan withdrew and frowned.

»What is it, Sistine? Do you need to pee?«

»No! I mean, yes, I do – but that isn`t the problem! That woman at the parking lot, the Policewoman – I knew her!«

Lan nodded and brushed through Sistine`s curls. Then, she pointed at her cell phone that was currently fixed to the car`s dashboard.

»My men are already at our new hideout and they are listening to the Police radio. They would have informed me if she had gotten injured.«

Sistine believed her, but that was not all what concerned her.

»She could have died in the shootout! She – Isabelle – she has been so nice to me and not only have I betrayed her, you would almost have been responsible for her death!«

Her tears were real and when Lan tried to kiss her, she turned her head away. Sistine sobbed, but at the same time, her mind was working fast. She was still tied to the seat`s backrest and if she became too emotional, Lan might decide to just gag her again.

»And once we are in China, what will it be then? Will I have to hide for the rest of my life? You yourself admitted that your Government doesn`t appreciate – people like us!«

She saw Lan hesitate and again, there was that wistful look in her eyes that made her look so vulnerable under her tough shell. She finally said:

»It won`t be for long! Just until-«

»Until what?«, Sistine interrupted her. She realized that she had burst out and forced herself to continue in a calm tone:

»Until what, Lan? I understand your plan, but how long will it take? Even if your Government manages to produce LD for every Chinese woman instantly, these young men and women to carry your system change will have to be born and raised before they can change anything! Even if everything works out perfectly, how long will it take? 20 years? 25?«

Lan`s lips tightened and Sistine knew that she had spoken out the other`s concerns. Still fearing that any of her next words could be stifled by Lan forcing the panties back into her mouth, she continued:

»20 years, Lan! 20 years in which we could not walk the streets holding hands, could not kiss without having to fear someone is watching! Would we even be allowed to live together?«

»You are exaggerating!«

In fact, during the last decades, China`s policy towards homosexuality had become more tolerant. In cities like Shanghai, gay couples could live quite openly. However, Lan knew that the Government was far less tolerant towards members of the military or the secret service. If she would openly declare Sistine her lover, she would endanger her position – and her great plan would only work if she kept influence on it!

»It`s a dilemma!«

She looked at Sistine and suddenly, she felt tears come up. Angrily, she tried to blink them away, but the sight of Sistine, the reason for her dilemma, caused her to sob. Lan turned away, searching for a handkerchief.

»It`s a dilemma, Sweet Sistine!«

In a sudden rage, she grabbed the sodden panties and crammed them back into the girl`s mouth. She then sealed her lips with tape, but having done so, she gently took Sistine`s head between her hands.

»Forgive me, please! It`s a dilemma and I will find a solution! Please, believe me!«

She kissed Sistine`s gagged mouth and then, she slung her arms around the girl and cuddled against her. Sistine felt her breath on her naked breasts and heard how Lan fought not to completely burst into tears. Despite the vile tasting gag in her mouth, Sistine gulped.

Lan was not the only one for whom this was a dilemma!

***

»I can`t believe it! They really turned my own plan against me!«

Isabelle knew that this was the best or at least the optimal solution, but she didn`t like the idea that Mike now was alone with Lioba.

Since they had two targets to observe, it had been obvious they had to split up. Also, someone had to stay at Isabelle`s apartment to have an eye on Ingrid. The only fixed position was that of Mike who had to get to the harbor to follow the tracks of Cassandra.

The least dangerous position was that of guarding their captive and despite her protests, this job had been given to Luana. The reason was simply that perhaps, Lan and her henchmen were searching for her and therefore, she shouldn`t expose herself.

»Just don`t get carried away – however, you might make her think that you could lose your self-control!«, Mike had told Luana and she had grinned wolfishly.

The problem was that observing the gangster`s hideout could become dangerous – and Isabelle was the only one except Mike who knew how to fire a gun. So, she had finally agreed upon driving to Fos whilst Mike and Lioba went to the harbor of Marseille.

»At least, they can`t hold hands in my car!«

Indeed, Mike had taken his bike whilst Lioba had followed him in Isabelle`s car. Since Lan and her accomplices had seen Isabelle`s Peugeot already and could have recognized it, she was driving in Lioba`s small roadster.

Mike had kissed her in front of Lioba, telling her to take care of herself, but still, she didn`t like the idea of him spending time with his pretty ex.

»Pull yourself together!«, she shouted at herself. After all, their main goal was to free Sistine and Sophia. If they had succeeded in that, there was time to figure out whether she and Mike had a future and perhaps, she would really have to fight with Lioba.

She had reached the property of the car salesman. A large board informed that the company bought and sold cars, but this was obviously just the place where they were stored until they were shipped to Asia or Africa. The large area was enclosed by a fence, allowing Isabelle to have a look at rows of cars of all types and even some of the garages. She could spot several vans and a few Audis, but the only Porsche was black. She leaned back in her seat and watched the entrance of the property.

The first two cars were a small truck and an old Citroen, but then, indeed a red Porsche arrived. Isabelle instinctively reached for her gun when she saw it had a German license plate.

***