This is my first fanfiction and I don't own the characters, they belong to Charlaine Harris and Janet Evanovich. I'm just making the introductions. Thank you all so much for the reviews, pms, and favorites, it's really inspiring me to write more.
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Sookie pulled at the bindings on her wrists. There was some give, but each movement roughly sawed at her skin and she could feel the burning as it cut in. Muffled male voices could still be heard overhead, but no words could be made out and she focused on her bindings and the room around her.
Try to get the ropes off that are around the back of your chair… They look like they're all connected. Stephanie nodded her head, shifting up one shoulder then the other in an imitation of the move she described in her head.
Sookie shifted to one side, lengthening her spine as much as she could to pull the ropes up. She felt them shift a centimeter on her left. She repeated on her right and the rope moved a small amount again. She felt the rope get tighter as it moved to a thicker part of the chair. She blew out as much air as she could and shifted again. One of the several strands popped over the top edge of the chair. Four more repeats and some chafing under her breasts and the ropes were off the chair though still wrapped around her chest.
Pull on your wrists now.
Sookie pulled her wrists away from the back of the chair and felt that they were no longer attached as tightly to the back of the seat. She worked on her right wrist, moving it in small circles then tugging upward, feeling the looseness work its way down through the multiple wraps around her wrists. The sound of footsteps drawing closer overhead gave her pause and she stopped to listen for the thoughts of those above. Voices grew louder but still blended and muffled inscrutably.
When he shows up we'll be able to get rid of our problems once and for all. I've never felt so fuckin' invincible. Oh God, I need more! It feels so good; I don't want it to stop! Once we off him we'll be able to move as much V as we want and we'll have the power to be freakin' GODS!
Sookie shook her head trying to block out the thoughts. She stared at Stephanie and whispered, "It's not good," her eyes indicating the ceiling above them. "They're on V."
What's V?
"Vampire blood… makes them kind of high, but erratic... and stronger too."
No way, I've never heard of it. The mob controls most drug sales around here and between Ranger and Joe I hear about most new stuff.
"Sounds like these guys want to bring it into the market. They seem to think getting rid of your man will do the trick." Sookie hissed.
Crap.
Sookie began working on her ropes again, feeling her right wrist, though now stinging, sore, and slightly sticky with blood, beginning to slip free. She had it about halfway out when the sound of a door being opened echoed through the room.
Footsteps descended down wooden steps. There were heavy feet and there were multiple sets.
"You think we could play with them a bit before he shows up?"
"Shut up idiot, we stick to the plan. No need getting some sort of vendetta energy goin' on. He needs to think it's just a kidnapping or he won't be predictable."
"Aww…come on, he doesn't have to know. And he'll be dead before he'd ever find out. 'Sides, you ever had a woman while on V? It's like heaven man. Ten, naw… A hundred times better. And I bet the struggle would make it even better."
"We stick to the plan. The boss wouldn't be happy to find out you even thought about changin' it."
"He don't need to know neither."
"He'd know. You know he'd know."
"Fuck."
"Now let's get our evidence and get out of here." A man said, his voice growing louder as he reached the bottom of the steps and swung open the wooden door both girls faced. His wiry frame was emphasized by tight, black jeans and a leather coat that hung off boney, wide shoulders. As he approached Sookie took in his slicked-back, greasy hair and pock-marked face and wondered about his age. Late 20's? Early 30's?
Another man, or maybe boy, appeared behind him, similarly attired with a tense, energetic nervousness that was emphasized by hands either fueled by V or by adrenaline that tapped out a fast pace on both thighs. His hair was lighter, but similarly slicked back. "What about the blond, Johnny, he don't care about her, right? Can't we have some fun with her?" He walked over and stood behind Sookie and started stroking her hair with greasy hands.
Sookie could sense the rage in Stephanie even if it wasn't in words. She wondered if the men appearing before her could sense it too.
"Who are you? What do you want? If it's me then just leave her alone." Stephanie spat out, as a third man emerged. Sookie looked at the third man. He appeared more withdrawn than the other two and without the restless energy she saw in them.
"Don't you worry about it Sweet Cheeks… or do you prefer Bombshell?" Johnny said, his face a sneer.
"Listen… Johnny," Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Why don't you just let me talk to whoever you're working for so we can get this over with?" Stephanie looked over at Sookie, who looked disgusted with the attention the second man was paying to her hair. I'm so sorry, we'll get out of this, I swear.
"We're not ready for that part yet Sweet Cheeks." Johnny said, pulling a large switchblade out of a holster on his hip and flipping it open. "First we need a little something to convince your boyfriend that he should take us seriously."
Oh, Crap!
"I'm sure he'll take you seriously… He's a serious guy. No need to do anything dramatic." Stephanie managed to get out with hardly a crack or waver in her voice despite the running thought of crap, crap, crapity, crap, crap rushing through the back of her mind.
"He's been holding off the V trade for far too long and it's time he backed off and let commerce have its way." Johnny said approaching her.
"I'm sure Joe's just doing his job… if he doesn't do it another cop will. I don't see how you can blame him."
The man paused and turned to the third man. "What the fuck!" he shouted, approaching the man, "You told me she was Manoso's woman!"
The third man cowered, sinking back towards the stairs. "Streets say Manoso claims her as his… says not to mess with her. I don't know about no cop!"
Johnny turned back, drawing the knife to Stephanie's throat. "Are you Manoso's woman or not?"
Seriously?!… HIS WOMAN? And Ranger now will never let me forget that I was in danger because of him. Damnit!
"I don't belong to anyone." Stephanie shouted, her eyes giving him a death glare.
The second guy's fingers were now stroking Sookie's hair roughly, yanking her head back with each stroke. "Shit man, just get the evidence and let's go. Follow the boss's plan, not our fault if he told us to grab the wrong girl, right?"
Flipping the knife backwards in his hand, Johnny grabbed Steph by the hair roughly and shoved his face in front of hers.
Eww… ever heard of Clearasil buddy?
"You'd better be worth it bitch!" He said, slicing off the chunk of her hair in his fist and stomping out the door.
Not again... Mr. Alexander will have a fit.
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Both women sat silently as the men's footsteps retreated and a single pair returned. The third man appeared in the doorway meekly poking his head around the door and peering at the women. He entered the room holding a can of Ensure in each hand.
"Um.. I'm supposed to feed you." He stuttered nervously.
Sookie looked over at Steph who merely raised both eyebrows.
"And what if I don't wanna drink any of that crap?" Sookie said defiantly.
"Uh… well, it's all I've got." he murmured. He seemed to straighten slightly and try to say more forcefully, "So you'll just have to drink it."
"Listen… uh… Gomer. You mind iffen I call you Gomer? 'Cause I don't know your name, and you seem like a Gomer-type guy to me. Listen Gomer, I got hit on the head, my eye is swollen and I have a hell of a headache, so I'm not really feeling like doing what you ask, you understand?
Stephanie smirked behind Gomer's back. "Gomer she's really not going to cooperate." You think you can get out of your ropes if I buy you some time?
Sookie tried her ropes again…they were looser but they were still pretty well wrapped. "It would take time" she said looking at Stephanie. Gomer looked back at her. "To try to get us to cooperate," she added.
"Besides Gomer," added Stephanie. "How are you going to feed us?"
Gomer looked at the cans, and popped open the top on the first one, holding it out to Stephanie.
Stephanie's brow knit together. "Gomer... My hands are tied. How am I going to hold it?"
Gomer walked towards her and held the can to her lips. As he tilted it she got a small sip in her mouth as a large splash ran down her front. Her shirt molded to her as the wet drink soaked into her shirt. Gomer looked down and swallowed loudly.
They had to take my bra too, huh? Well, might as well see if we can make this work in our favor. Steph winked at Sookie as Gomer continued to stare at her breast.
"Gomer, it's obviously too cold in here to be having a wet t-shirt contest. Can't you just release one of my hands so I can drink?"
"Robert."
"What?"
"It's not Gomer…My name is Robert."
"Okay, Bob…" Stephanie snickered. Bob is the dog's name. "Do you think we could find some way for me to drink that without me freezing to death and losing a nipple?"
Bob's face reddened. Sookie giggled and Bob turned back towards her."But if I untie you, you might try to escape."
"Maybe you could just untie one of our hands Bob." Sookie said, nodding and smiling enthusiastically despite the throbbing in her head.
"I don't know… then you might try to untie yourself."
"Work with us here Bob, we haven't eaten since yesterday, and while I could eat a Boston Crème hands-free, there's no way I can do it with your can of Ensure." Stephanie replied.
"I am really hungry," Sookie added.
God, this guy is an idiot, I think he's going to fall for it. Stephanie smiled over Bob's shoulder as he examined her ropes.
Johnny will kill me if they get away. Put them in the bathroom maybe… there aren't any windows at least. But I'd have to move them first…Bob's thoughts rambled away with various options, none of them particularly brilliant.
Bob stood up and walked to the back of Steph's chair he grabbed hold, tilted her back and then dragged the chair to the door of the room.
"Where we goin' Bob?"
"Bathroom."
"No thanks, I don't really need to go right now. I'm mostly hungry."
Bob did not reply and Sookie could hear the repeated thumps of the chair as he dragged Stephanie and her chair up each step then down a hallway. He returned a minute later and began repeating the procedure with Sookie.
Once in the bathroom he produced a sharp knife and began hacking the bindings on Sookie's right hand, apparently unaware of any loosening she had already done. He grabbed tightly onto her wrist as it was released and quickly slapped a handcuff on it. He attached the other end to a handicap rail on the far side of the bathtub.
"Bob, hun' that really pulls. And I still won't be able to drink my Ensure with my hand all that ways away." Sookie complained lightly, hoping to be released.
Bob snuffed, "Looks like you been hurtin' your own wrist by struggling against them ropes, you can suffer a little bit longer." He turned away from Sookie and began releasing the bindings on Stephanie's left hand, fastening a handcuff on her wrist before even removing the binding. He immediately pulled her hand over and attached it to the same bar Sookie hung from. He then set about cutting the ropes on Sookie's left ankle, right ankle, then body. He finished with her left hand and shoved a can of Ensure into it.
"You can drink that and then release your friend. I'll be back with the other can." He left the room, closing the door behind him.
Stephanie snorted. At least this time I have clothes.
"What?"
"In my head again?"
"Sorry."
"It's not that I mind, I guess… it's just weird to have someone hear every little thing."
"So can you explain about the 'Not again... Mr. Alexander will have a fit.' and 'at least this time I have clothes'? Because not many people have thoughts like you when being kidnapped and terrorized. Trust me, I know."
Stephanie laughed out loud, her laugh echoing in the small bathroom. Sookie set the can of Ensure down in the bottom of the tub and began to undo the rest of Steph's bindings.
"So when I first got started bounty hunting I was supposed to bring in Joe."
"Joe your boyfriend?"
"Uh… sometimes… but at that time he was just the guy who I had lost my virginity to, had run over with a car, and with whom I had a bizarre history…Anyhow he was up for a bogus murder charge and was my first FTA as a bounty hunter."
Sookie shook her head in disbelief.
"I know… so anyhow I had kind of commandeered his car because mine got blown up and I hoped I could flush him out. He didn't like that I stole his car and showed up in my apartment while I was in the shower. He kind of handcuffed me naked to the shower rod and left me there."
"And you ended up dating him."
"Love is weird."
"I know that much. Can't choose who you love."
"Too true."
"So how did you get out of the cuffs that time?" Sookie said, looking at their matching bracelets.
"Called Ranger."
"He was you boyfriend at the time?"
"No… I hardly knew him."
Sookie's mouth fell open slightly.
"Stop, I know, but it was either him or my parents or the police, and I'd never hear the end of it from my mother and I didn't want the neighbors and the whole Trenton PD seeing me naked."
"Wow. So… did he try anything? Was it hot? You all naked and handcuffed…"
"He was kind of professional about it really."
"Professional? No moves, no innuendoes at all?"
"Oh no, Ranger is the master of subtle comments. I think he said something along the lines of 'I didn't want to miss seeing you chained up naked.' And then got the key, unlocked me and asked if I had something kinky going on with Morelli. He handed me a towel, we talked a bit more then he left. Didn't try a thing."
"Ah, the old flirt then withdraw. Hate that. So frustrating!"
"Exactly!"
"And who is this 'Mr. Alexander? ' You have a third man in your life?"
"Ha… No, he's my hairstylist."
"Ah…" Sookie nodded, looking at the short lock of hair where Johnny had lopped off some curls.
Bob returned and set the second can of Ensure inside the door, then closed it. A lock slid into place on the outside.
"So how does your ESP work? You see what I'm thinking?'
"Hear mostly. Sometimes some images."
"What about memories?"
"They're harder, your thoughts about the memories are usually more clear than the memories themselves."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"I was going to tell you about the last time my hair got cut off by a psycho but it's a complicated story and mixed in with a lot of other stuff. I almost wish you could see my memories and tell me if I remember it right."
"Why is that?"
"Because Ranger is confusing."
Sookie smiled. "Once again, we've got time. I see even less chance of us going anywhere than before. Unless you happen to have a handcuff key."
Stephanie searched the pockets of the huge men's work pants but turned up only a disgustingly gross pocket full of lint and dirt. She shook her hand off and several small pieces of dirt hit the bottom of the tub. She stood up in the tub, looked at the chair she had been bound in then nodded towards it. "You think we could move those into the tub so we could sit more comfortably?"
Sookie nodded and with a hand each on the chair they moved the chair into the tub. Stephanie sat down while Sookie moved to the end and they lifted the second chair in. They sat down, both with one hand behind them, looking almost like they were cuddling.
Sookie suddenly heard a memory overtake Stephanie, there was an image of her looking in a car mirror at short curly hair, a large, mocha arm wrapped around her shoulder.
**"Is it really cute or were you just trying to keep me from shrieking?"
He ran a hand through my hair. "It's sexy," he said. And then he kissed me. Tongue and everything. I inhaled deeply and could smell his warm scent. It soaked deep into me like the heat from the sun.
"Hey," I said. "We're not supposed to be doing that."
A smile hovered at the edges of his mouth. "Morelli told me you were all mine today."
"That was a figure of speech. He trusts us."
"He trusts you. I haven't signed on to the trust me program."
"How about me? Can I trust you?"
"Are we talking about your life or your body?"**
Stephanie sighed and Sookie nudged her with her shoulder. "Girl, he seems pretty into you."
Stephanie snorted. "That wasn't all that long after the first time we slept together and he told me I should go back to Morelli."
They sat silently for several minutes.
"Does he really smell that good?"
"Yeah. It's his shower gel. It's amazing! Well… it's amazing on him. He smells pretty good too." Stephanie's mind went to an image and scent from the base of Ranger's neck as she cuddled into it on a bed in Hawaii, heat rising as his smell overwhelmed her and his hands slowly made their way toward…" She quickly blushed and looked down at the floor. "Whew… being with a mind reader I have to be careful where my mind takes me…don't wanna scare you…"
Sookie smiled. "Don't worry about it. I heard some o' the dirtiest thoughts the South has to offer. Doubt anything shocks me anymore."
A timid knock sounded on the door. "Um… I'm coming in." said Bob's voice as he slowly turned the knob. The women looked at each other skeptically.
Bob's voice cracked, "Are you decent? I mean… you're… we'll, it's a bathroom and I don't…"
"You're fine Bob, what do you need?" Stephanie replied.
"Oh, well you're going to be moved and I have to…" He said, moving quickly and jabbing Sookie in the thigh with a syringe and depressing the plunger.
"Darn it Gomer. You don't have…you don't…" Sookie said, feeling her tongue grow heavy as she slouched down in her seat. And once again, the world went black.
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I hope you liked this chapter. It included some edited and altered text from Janet Evanovich's To the Nines (from ** to **) and a memory I imagine Steph should have had while in Hawaii with Ranger (between 17 &18?).
I promise I won't keep you in suspense forever. Ranger and Joe will appear in the next chapter and as long as my characters cooperate Eric and Bill should show up shortly thereafter.