Shan wasted no time at all investigating the ‘tip’ from Nariam.

Stephanie, Hannah and Sandy all ‘geared up’ as well.

“We’re coming too”, Stephanie said, not taking no for an answer. Stacey tried to as well; Lisa and Shan both glared at her. “Don’t you dare. We’re not losing you again…!”

They raided the address an hour later…

It had just got dark; most of the others had gone home, but Sheena was still there, as it was her home they were meeting in, together with her friend, Kathy.

They were caught completely unprepared when the front door burst open…

Stephanie went in first. Wasting no time, she just shot anyone she found with tranquiliser darts. Sheena jerked and fell, as did Kathy.

Sheena and Kathy both woke up strapped down in cots in Samoto.

Stephanie and the others hadn’t found anyone else at the property; there also didn’t seem to be any records or information there. They were going to have to get their answers from Sheena and Kathy…

Both women, however, told Stephanie, Shan and the others to go to hell, refusing to tell them anything. Even Lisa’s programming gear didn’t seem to get through to them. After an evening of ‘interrogation’, they decided to cut their losses…

Both women were converted to maids, while still awake. Sheena and Kathy both screamed and fainted as their tongue and vocal cords were forcibly removed…

Kathy was hired out immediately; Sheena, on the other hand, was sent back home. Her kitchen had all the right equipment supplied to look after her, and both she and Kathy were added to the maintenance lists at Samoto. Shan had decided to use Sheena as a warning to the others…

Sheena had no way of using a mobile phone, as her gloved hands couldn’t operate one, so she couldn’t warn her friends to stay away. She also couldn’t leave the house, as her collar was set to make her an ‘on site’ only maid.

She just stared out from behind her visor, crying softly, as her friends turned up for their next meeting. Their expressions said everything. She just handed each of them a note.

“I know who you are. Don’t rock the boat, or…”

The note was unsigned.

Petrified, the other women quickly left. Shan waited a suitable time, then ‘collected’ Sheena.

“Maids don’t need their own houses, especially empty ones”, she said. “I’m sure I can find a job for you…”

Sheena whimpered quietly as she was led away…

Another woman was seething with rage. She’d now seen another person close to her turned into one of those hated maids.

“I’m going to kill you, you bitch…!”, she said, clenching and unclenching her fists…