The Box

THE BOX

CHAPTER SIX

Liz Fisher stared at Sarah in amazement, though it seemed to the assembled company as if that wasn't the only emotion she was experiencing right then. She looked at Linda semi-accusingly but Linda had been looked at like that before. She turned back to Sarah and said quietly,

"Would you be prepared to talk about this – on camera?"

Linda looked at her for what seemed a very long time and then finally she said,

"Put your skirt down, it looks like you're advertising."

Sarah's face reddened,

"Fuck off Linda. Fuck off and leave me alone!"

Phil Bishop was still smiling.

"Well if you want my opinion Sarah," He said, taking a long slow puff on his cigar, "The opinion of a lecherous old git and someone who's old enough to know better, then I'd say that you look wonderful and if Lady Heather wasn't around I'd make you a permanent fixture. In fact I might even give you time off for good behaviour!" He gave her an enormous wink,

"And I also think that you're very lucky to have her Linda, to have someone who thinks about you and your pleasure as well and I also think that Linda's very lucky to have someone with her head screwed on the way yours is – if that makes any sense!" He turned to Liz

"And I also think it would be a good idea to interview them both and get both their opinions, because deep down I don't think that Sarah is quite as unhappy with things as she might appear, it's just the way it's been done. What was all that wise shit you were coming out with earlier, LADY Linda? About the need to consult and all that…"

Liz looked round at a man hovering behind her with a steadicam.

"Were we rolling Trevor? Did you get all that?" The man smiled through his camera.

"Yup all of it, including Sarah's lovely legs!" Sarah looked at him sharply but he didn't appear to be joking. Liz now took centre stage.

"Well what about it girls? I think it could be very interesting and I'm quite prepared to give you both final approval, if you agree…"

Linda shook her head.

"Reality television? Big Brother with whips and chains? The Osborne's with oral sex? Don't think so. Besides Sarah's a nurse, go down well with the NHS that would, wouldn't it?"

Not quite so averse, Sarah looked at Liz encouragingly and then turned to Linda.

"We could talk, we could try to make people see what we really do…"

"Yeah and look like a coupla old dykes into the bargain?"

"I don't look like a dyke and neither you do you and besides we, we…"

"Both like a bit a cock from time to time? If I'm not mistaken, it was fuckin' cock that got us into this in the first place."

"Are you talking about Roger, the House Officer, again?"

"No I'm bloody not! I'm talking about that big rubber thing you shoved up me two weeks ago!"

"Well you're in no position to talk because every time we go round to Sheila's it looks like you're trying to undress someone from the waist down!"

"Who? Sheila?"

"No, not Sheila you idiot. You've already done her, if the rumours are to be believed!"

"Well who then?" And at the moment the penny finally dropped, "Oh you ARE joking?… El Wusso… the man who thinks Cunnilingus is an Irish Airline? GIVE me a break!"

"Don't lie to me Linda, I've seen the way you look at him. And the only reason he isn't all over you like a rash is because of HER, because he loves HER, God knows why, but he does. But if ever SHE were out of the picture…"

Linda scoffed,

"Now you're just being paranoid…" She turned slowly to see Trevor and his camera hovering a few feet away from them. During their argument Liz had faded into the background. She was standing by the cup-covered coffee table watching them both. Linda jerked a thumb in the cameraman's direction. "…Is he still filming?" Liz shook her head.

"Its just background."

Looking concerned, Linda steered Sarah out of the door and into the Hotel corridor, which was plusher than some of the places she had lived in as a child.

"You don't want that going on the telly do ya?" She hissed at her partner when they were satisfied that the door was firmly closed and they could not be overheard.

"Of course not!" Sarah. Ever bright and smiling.

"Did you really mean what you just said?"

"Not most of the time. No. Just sometimes."

Linda furrowed her brow,

"You're being daft!"

Smiling Sarah. Thoughtful, smiling, Sarah

"And so are you if you think she doesn't want to use that video tape!" Thoughtful, smiling, kind, Sarah. "… And so is she if she thinks I'm going to let her!"

*

"Dom1 to control. Dom1 to control. Do you copy?"

"Copy you relatively loud and clear my sweet. Like to inform me of your whereabouts and why you appear to be whispering?"

"Listen Bishop we're close to the mezzanine, is Niles around?"

Suddenly Phil Bishop and his wife Lady Heather were whispering like a pair of conspirators.

"Niles is out there somewhere, like the truth, with his little Nikon digital. Why do you ask? Over."

"Because if he finds me now, he can get some great pictures for the web cast!"

Standing just behind her, with her hands still cuffed, Ally tried to pull a face but it was difficult with the bloody great gag that filled her mouth and prevented sensible speech. Her bottom hurt too. But it was a satisfying hurt. A warm glow almost.

Gomez and Morticia! That was who they reminded her of. The Addams family personified. She had met with The Bishop several times and had only spoken to Lady Heather on the phone but the bond between them was tangible. They knew of the Gomez/ Morticia thing because it had been mentioned before and she also knew that they tended to play up to it when there was an audience, but there was little doubt in her mind that The Bishop would gladly die for Lady Heather if he had to and vice versa.

"And does young Allison agree to this without coercion or threats to her person my love?" The Bishop knew his wife, knew her to be a little over exuberant at times but basically to be the most sensible and practical person he had ever met, about most things.

Lady Heather chuckled.

"Of course she does! In fact it was her idea! She's nodding her head right now and because I was feeling particularly magnanimous I've let her keep her pants on, because SHE wanted me to lead her out like a dog on a leash, stark Pollock naked!" Bishop was unaware of a presence behind him until a hand reached out and gently removed the walkie-talkie from his grasp.

"Oi! Fancy pants! The word is BOLLOCKS, not POLLOCKS!"

The voice that came back at them was full of icy disdain and mock English

"I say Bishop is that the hired help?" The walkie-talkie changed hands again.

"Lady Heather. Hi! It's Sarah; I'm looking forward to meeting you. Is Allison okay?"

"Hey Sarah! We're fine. Didn't think the hotel would be too pleased about her being naked though. We've got about two minutes max before we're rumbled. Oh and tell Bitchipoo that the wardens have just booked her broom!"

It was true. Ally HAD wanted to be led out naked, but the hotel manager had been very good to them and Lady Heather had felt that much as she would have enjoyed it and much as it would have fulfilled Allison's fantasy, there was always another time and another place. One of the big conventions in Vegas might well be more liberal about the whole thing – but not right now.

They edged out of the stairwell together, co-conspirators, Lady Heather looking around, not desperately but maybe a little feverishly for Niles. The Bishop had not actually told anybody what was happening but he had made an announcement on his web site that there would be a web cast tonight at approximately 01.00 EST and that more would follow over the next few days.

*

It had to be said that Niles Morgan didn't necessarily look the way you might expect a Niles to look. Dark haired, broad shouldered and thickset, a one time pro footballer, just after college and before his knee collapsed irreparably, he was currently dressed in black jeans and tee shirt and he appeared to be roaming the hotel aimlessly. He could feel his mobile vibrating in his pocket.

"Hi Bish! Whassup!"

"Mezzanine floor near the lifts, er, elevators to you. One policewoman and one handcuffed and gagged cutie. Get as many pictures as you can and then make sure they get up here safely. Oh and Niles, no nudity, ok? Our cutie has a fantasy about being led around naked and I know your penchant for the female form. I would like to leave this country with my reputation unsullied just for once!"

In his mind Niles stood to attention, threw The Bishop a salute and shouted:

"Yessir, Mr. Bishop SIRRRR!" But in reality he said;

"Okay Phil. Maybe we can do some later."

And as the Bishop was saying:

"You bet your ass!"

Niles Morgan was returning his phone to his pocket and starting to jog gently toward the lifts trying as best he could to keep his weight off his rickety left knee.

*

"What kept you? We're not exactly hard to notice!"

"And "Hi" to you to. How ya doin?" But the small talk masked, as always, Niles' professionalism. Already he was on one knee, the good one, and already he was framing shots of the tall, shapely policewoman, looking stern and authoritative and her far from cowed captive who didn't exactly look upset to be there.

"Walk towards me! Towards me, that's good. Hey Lady Aitch! You wanna unbutton that blouse a little. Oh wow that's good. That's really good. Haven't seen those puppies like that for some time! And how about our "prisoner"? Hey, hey just a glimpse. Always leave 'em wanting more! Yeah I know she's not exactly fighting but The Master said no nudity!"

Niles had come into photography by accident and he was a natural. He would not dream of saying the things that he did normally but when he was lining up shots it was whatever came into his head. And he stood back now against the Mezzanine rail and took shot after shot, framing both girls against the glass lifts as they walked proudly past him.

"Fuck!"

He wasn't sure if it was him or Lady Heather who said it first but on the opposite side and just getting their bearings were two uniformed security guards, the ones who had followed them earlier and their objective had to be just one thing – them.

"They must have picked us up on the security cameras!" Niles looked desperately around him. "The stairs! We'll get to the suite, hide Allison and worry about everything else later!"

Showing a surprising turn of speed for someone so tall, Lady Heather grasped Ally by the arm causing her to let out a little squeal through her gag, whilst Niles gripped the other arm and they both propelled the helpless girl toward the stairs.

*

"Right now hold still! Hold still! You know sometimes I despair of you, you know that don't ya?"

Sarah looked down at the woman kneeling between her inner thighs.

"It's very sensitive down there and I'm not made of stone you know!" She said more than a trifle indignantly. "'Sides," A tad sniffily now, "You only had to give me the key and I'd have taken it off myself!"

"Nope! " Said Linda shortly, showing all the signs of someone climbing on to their high horse, "I put it on, so I'll take the bloody thing off!"

Sarah turned her attention to the panoramic view of London that was a feature of the bedroom as well as the rest of the suite,

"Well at least I haven't got the hood and the handcuffs and the gag this time." She said quietly. Linda chuckled.

"Don't you be so bleedin' sure! They've got enough restraints out there to keep a coupla elephants tight for a while and you wanna see some of the "toys" Bishop's been working on for Ally. You wouldn't moan about this then – believe me. He's built this thing that can give you an enema at ANY angle you like, even standing on your head if he wants and…"

Sarah was already shaking her head.

"Oh no. OH NO! I am telling you right now, Miss Bossy Boots, that that thing is not coming anywhere near me. Mind you," She said conspiratorially, "The workmanship's absolutely superb…OW!"

Linda smiled to herself.

"Sorry! Did I pinch you then? Now hold still!" There was a short grating noise as Linda offered the key up to the lock and twisted and then she took the chastity belt in both hands and lifted it gently away from Sarah's crotch. They both stared.

"It's going to itch like buggery now!" Sarah said at last, "You really didn't have to shave me, you know."

"Well think of it as revenge for all those unsuspectin' appendectomies you've shaved in the past!' And they both smiled at each other and Linda patted Sarah's smooth crotch. "I like you like this anyway!"

"Any chance that I can have a look?" Said a voice they weren't expecting. Sarah dropped her skirt and Linda muttered something about the bloody woman being everywhere.

"It's not as heavy as I was expecting." Said Liz Fisher weighing the stainless steel chastity belt in her hands. "And it's padded inside too!'

"It's custom made for me by an American firm that Linda deals with," Sarah was still doing her best to be helpful. "See, most of it is drilled out so that it's not too heavy and the lock is made from a very light alloy, but for cleanliness you still have to use steel for the body."

"And what's this?" Asked Liz almost teasingly.

"Oh that!" Said Sarah looking at a small projection that stuck out just below the "waistband" of the belt, "Oh that's just an insert."

"Oh is it?" The word "snotty" would best have described Liz's tone. "Do you know I could have sworn that it looks like a little" J" piece that might just, if you were careful, slide right inside some unsuspecting vagina and cause it a great deal of pleasure!" She looked at Sarah who was trying very hard not to blush, "And this piece here," She fondled, there was no other word for it, a small rounded "arm" that was fashioned to stick out at right angles to the J, "Looks as if it would cause more than a little pressure against and we're all women here, so I'm sure you'll all know what I mean, when I say, THE CLITORIS!" Sarah looked the other way but Linda was taking the belt from the producer and walking unhurriedly to the ensuite bathroom.

"Spot on Liz, me old mucker. Give that woman a peanut!" Sarah tried hard not to smile. There was the sound of running water and then Linda emerged from the bathroom drying the belt in a large fluffy bath towel. She looked archly at Sarah who was already reaching into her handbag.

"Do you know Sarah?" She began conversationally, "One day we're gonna get stopped in the street and the Old Bill are gonna ask you some very awkward questions about why it is that you're walkin' around with a ball gag and a pair of German issue police handcuffs in yer bag!"

Sarah smiled and she was no longer looking out of the window but training her eyes intently on Linda's movements whilst moving across the plush, well lit, bedroom toward Liz Fisher at the same time.

Liz watched them. It was all she could do at first and when she realized that the two women blocked her only exit, her expression began to change and a little anxiety began to show.

"So what you're saying is…" Sarah dropped the Louis Vuiton bag on the bed but she was still holding the handcuffs and ball gag in her hands. Liz noticed that it looked like a very big ball gag. "That it would be much better if I found another home for them." She looked across at Linda, satisfied that between them they were closing in on Liz in a pincer movement, "Right?"

Just a few inches from Liz now, Linda nodded agreement.

"And the best place that I can think of to keep 'em, is on some nosy fucking cow who won't take no for an answer!"

It would be a one sided struggle.

Linda was from the East End. The youngest of six, the other five being boys, she had had no option but to fight her way up and out of the Wapping tenements she had been brought up in. Sarah had been married to a gay husband who tried to abuse her when he was drunk, then in a relationship with a man who thought beating up women was a good idea until he met Sarah and now worked as a nursing Sister in the hardest Hospital in Hackney.

Liz Fisher did not stand a chance but if she was frightened she didn't show it.

"There's twenty people out there. All I've got to do is scream."

"I don't think you'd do that Liz," said Sarah quietly, " Screaming isn't you. You're the boss round here. All the men do as you say, scream now and the least it's going to do is upset your ego one hell of a lot…"

"Bastards!" She was cornered; Linda and Sarah were getting closer and closer.

"What do you want?" Liz was becoming desperate now.

"It's not what we want…" Linda was so close that she could smell Liz's perfume. Anais Anais? Or was it Rive Gauche?

"No Liz, this is about what you want. This fascinates you doesn't it? And you want to know more…"

"No! No, I don't! Let me out of here you pair of stupid cows!" She pushed Sarah who toppled against the bed but Linda grabbed her arm and Sarah recovered and pulled Liz struggling down onto the bed with her.

"Let me go!" She tried to hit out but Linda parried the blow with one arm and before she could close her mouth Sarah had pushed the gag into it and was now buckling it, none to gently, behind Liz's head. She was still fighting but between them both girls managed to turn her over onto her front and while Linda pulled both her wrists together, Sarah slipped the handcuffs in place.

She couldn't move her arms and she couldn't say much through the gag but she could still kick. She could still kick and she could still try to get up off the bed. The answer to that was simple. Sarah sat across her buttocks. Facing forward, towards her head.

"Now Liz don't fight!" She didn't ruffle so much as tousle Liz's hair, the way you might a child who had just fallen over.

Linda was ferreting in her own bag now.

"I think we should do her legs just in case. Take her boots off so she can't annoy the neighbours and I'll slip these on". She pulled out another pair of handcuffs.

Sarah stroked her hair lightly, leaned forward and said,

"We're not going to hurt you Liz, we just want to do something, now be a good girl and hold still!" Still breathing quite hard, she got off of her, moved down to the end of the bed and began to pull at Liz's boots. She wasn't wearing any socks underneath them.

"Oh these are so sweet! Such sweet little feet!" Sarah couldn't help but trace an inquisitive finger around the soles. Liz whimpered and kicked as best she could but Linda had already locked the handcuffs around her ankles.

"Come on silly bollocks!" She muttered, "Get her standing up so we can get this over and done with!"

It was a forlorn looking Liz that eventually stood in front of them. Manacled, fettered and gagged, her mouth stuffed with an over large ball, barefoot, clothes rumpled and with more than a trace of redness in her cheeks.

Whilst Sarah held her upright, Linda walked over to her and traced a finger down her face. Then she looked at her reflectively.

"Lottsa women LIKE this you know. Lots of strong, business women. Gives 'em a chance to relax. They spend all day showing men they're better or at least as good as them and then they need a break. They need someone else to be the boss," She took Liz's face in both hands, "Someone who won't think any the worse of them." She whispered.

For once, it was Sarah who was the impatient one.

"Oh come on Linda, if she needs an agony aunt she can write to The Sun!"

Linda smiled and touched Liz's cheek again.

"Take no notice of 'er, she's jealous and she's got nothin' to be jealous about. Strictly business with me. 'cept I don't charge these days." And she leaned forward and kissed Liz Fisher gently on the cheek.

Sarah was standing in front of her looking slightly indignant and holding the Chastity belt in her hands.

"Have you disinfected this?"

"Course I have. There's some Dettol on the sink!"

Still a little miffed Sarah stood in front of Liz now.

"Right you hold her and I'll get her jeans down!" Sarah looked at Linda who had now taken the role of her friend and supporter. She looked at her plaintively, beseechingly…

"S'allright Liz, already told you this ain't gonna hurt!" And she stood behind her and put her arms around her.

"You're about the same size as me," Began Sarah, who was now kneeling on the floor, "And we HAVE made sure it's clean. Ordinarily we wouldn't use someone else's belt but these are unusual circumstances. Let's just get this zip down shall we?" Liz shook her head, shook her head over and over and over again. She was whimpering through her gag. Linda was afraid that she might start to hyperventilate and she cradled her in her arms like a baby, whilst Sarah was reaching for her jeans.

"Phew! This button's a bit tight! Mind you I can't talk." Button undone, zip undone Sarah began to tug them down, what she exposed gave her even more to talk about.

"Mmm. A RED silk thong. Very nice. CK's are they? 'Course they are. Top telly producer like you wouldn't be shopping in M&S now would you?" Something in Sarah's tone seemed to anger Liz and she squealed thorough her gag and tried to ineffectually kick at Sarah's head. Linda decided that it was time to intervene.

"Okay Sarah that's enough now! You've 'ad your dig, now let it go, she can't fight back and you're not doing yerself any favours…"

Sarah looked up at Linda. As a nurse she was used to taking and giving orders. As a nurse she was used to seeing sense…

"Okay," And here she stood up and looked Liz straight in the face, "But you annoyed me Liz and you wanted to take advantage of us, so now you can see how it feels. See how it feels when it's sliding into YOUR vagina and rubbing against YOUR clitoris, I mean we're all girls together so it's alright to mention CLITORIS now isn't it?" They stood looking at each other. Liz looking slightly pathetic, Sarah now looking as if all the fight had suddenly gone out of her. She let the belt hang limply in one hand.

"Oh sod it! I can't be bothered any more. She 's had her scare let's leave it at that…"

Linda had a tendency not to take "no" for an answer.

"Don't think that's going to be good enough now. Pull down her knickers," Surprisingly, Liz didn't struggle at the suggestion, "And see what we've got!"

Something in Linda's tone intrigued her so Sarah dropped to her knees and unceremoniously dropped Liz's knickers down to hers.

"Ooooh! She's shaved. Oh Linda she's smooth as a baby's bum!" She ran her fingers across Liz's puckered outer lips and almost by accident let one slip in between them. Linda noticed that Liz would not look at either of them and then Sarah gave a little gasp of disbelief.

"Oh! She is soooo wet. Linda, the poor thing is absolutely soaking. Oh look! Her knees are starting to tremble now as well." Linda leaned forward and whispered in Liz's ear.

"Our secret, okay? Neither Sarah nor Me will say anything! We're going to lock this on you and that should get you going even more. And WE'LL decide when it comes off. Don't worry I don't think it'll cause you too much grief, judging by the look of what we just saw. You can pee in it by the way, that's what the 'oles are for, just don't let anybody see, alright?"

Red and shamefaced Liz rolled her eyes upward at Linda, stared backwards at her for a moment and then nodded her head. Then she closed her eyes for a few seconds only to open them again suddenly and give a little wail of surprise as Sarah eased the belt and its projections against her. Fearing she would scream, Linda held her tightly to her and covered her gagged mouth with her hand as Sarah locked Liz's new chastity belt firmly in place.

*

"My God! And which particular hounds of hell are after you three at the moment?"

Phil Bishop opened the door to his wife the policewoman, his friend the photographer and a bound and gagged cutie who all appeared to be in various stages of distress. Niles was the first to speak, hands on hips, gulping in air,

"Security! We've just run up nine flights a stairs!"

The Bishop closed the door as fast as he had opened it. One thing that his years in the business had taught him was to think on his feet. The hubbub coming from the various technicians and crew who were sitting around the suite waiting for action came to an abrupt halt. Phil Bishop thought fast and loose. He addressed the group who had made suite 1015 their home for the last day or so

"People, is there any chance you can get out in the hallway and do filming type things and generally obstruct any security men who might be around?"

Filming can, at times, be the most boring thing in the world. Glad of the break - an impromptu card school had broken out in one corner of the room - suddenly everyone present seemed to swing into action from sound men to make up artists, from wardrobe to gaffer and where the room had once been full, now only the Bishop, his three puffing cohorts and Angela, sometime model, sometime girlfriend of Niles and a Jill of all Trades, were left in the room as everybody else filed out into the corridor to go about their business.

The Bishop was still on his feet and still thinking.

"Angela, get young Ally into the bathroom, run her a bath and chuck her in it. No! Better still, get her under the shower! Water running, plenty of singing, that kind of thing Oh you'd better take her clothes off first!" Angela stopped and looked at him quizzically but Bishop had known her long enough to anticipate her query, "Yes of course together, just try not to get her too excited is all! Heather, give her the key to the cuffs then go to our bedroom and make yourself ready for bed! Suspenders, nylons, garter belt, five-inch heels, the works. Niles…hide! I don't care where you do it, or who you do it with, but for the time being I want you out of the way. Got me?"

Niles was already disappearing through one of the connecting doors.

*

It was a considerably older and wiser Liz who emerged a few minutes later from the bedroom. She stepped through the door and then stopped abruptly.

"Oh I can't do this…My whole fucking cunt is tingling! It feels like I'm on fire!"

"Is it nice fire?" Asked Sarah who was standing next to her.

"Yes it's nice fire!" She turned, narrowed her eyes and pointed an accusing finger at the Nursing Sister, "And if I'm ever alone with you, you bitch, you'd better watch your arse!"

Suddenly a tall figure was stepping in between them.

"That's enough you two…" Linda stopped and stared, "Where the fuck is everyone?"

"They've all gone! It's like Day of the Triffids or something." Sarah. Looking bemused. Looking around.

"They'd better not have bloody gone. They're all on time and a half!" Liz. Reaching the coffee table. Picking up a packet of cigarettes and then throwing them down again.

The lighting had changed too. It had gone from bright and obvious to dim and intimate. The curtains had been closed, the errant cups and saucers and plates collected and stacked neatly onto trays.

"Aha! Nice of you to join our little soiree!" A figure emerged from the master bedroom wearing black shirt, silver tie and black jeans. The goatee beard flecked with silver making him look just a little satanic in the dull light.

"Bishop! What the…?" Another figure appeared behind him. A figure who, to be fair, wasn't exactly dressed for business. At least not the sort of business that they might have expected.

Shiny black open toed pumps over American Tan seamed stockings and something that looked like the original Playtex Girdle all in black and with a black bustier added for good measure, coal black panties and a black choker. Blonde hair elegantly coiffed. Large, expansive, but natural breasts…

Sarah did it. Liz did it. The Bishop was used to it, but he did a double take all the same.

An English voice said,

"Fuck me! It's Jessica Rabbit!"

An American voice said,

"Better a rabbit, honey, than its droppings!"

And Sarah who had been forewarned but still couldn't believe it said.

"It's like one of those TV shows were the hero plays two parts; himself and the villain, or herself… or whatever…"

And at that precise moment, without knocking or any other preamble whatsoever, two security guards burst into the room responding to reports of a kidnapped girl seen on the mezzanine floor.

TO BE CONTINUED

© Wallace 2003. The writer wishes to be acknowledged as the author of this piece. This story is a work of fiction and bears no resemblance to any events or places, real or imaginary, or to any people living or dead.