Slow Burn, Chapter 11/21

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The leader of the intruders had tossed Dina roughly onto the divan, then returned to his restless watch at the window.  The reporter struggled laboriously into a sitting position, then studied him a bit before speaking.  “For what it’s worth, thank you.  For getting someone to look after Nick.”

His gaze never left the window.  “Don’t mention it.  I didn’t come here today to see anyone else get hurt.”  His words were quiet; Dina sensed regret amidst the anger he was emanating.

Dina measured the words.  “Anyone…else?  So you’ll be hurting someone then?  Someone besides those you already have?”  The words were provocative, and she knew it.

He spun around and stabbed an accusatory finger at her.  “Don’t push your luck, Miss Reed!  Just because I don’t like collateral damage doesn’t mean I won’t accept it.  Might even cause a little if I someone gives me reason to.”  He turned to the window again.  “In my line of work you learn to live with it.”

“And what line of work is that?  Assault and kidnapping?!”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he whispered.  “Today, it’s putting upstarts back in their ever-loving place.”

The odd turn of phrase fell on Dina’s ear in a familiar way, and she wracked her brains trying to make sense of the notion. Even the way it rolled off his tongue had a memory-stirring echo to it – like she had heard this man say it before.  But the reporter felt sure she would have remembered being in this man’s commanding presence before.

She eyed his haggard but unbowed shoulders at the window…and suddenly it clicked.  She’d last seen that set of shoulders over a television connection.  It had been at the conclusion of the hearings which had vindicated Lorelei Hawkins’s allegations of widespread sexual harassment in the LAFD.  And the phrase – “upstart back in her ever-loving place” – had been uttered at the same hearings, directed nastily toward Hawkins.  It’s Chief Grady!

Dina’s mind reeled at the implications.  Grady had been dishonorably discharged months ago – well before the Paradiso Street renovation had begun under Captain Hawkins’s watch.  Dina had heard Grady had left town in disgrace, similar to some of the other former firemen who’d been dismissed for alleged misconduct.

He was looking for Hawkins.  He’s here for revenge.  For the first time today, Dina was actually glad the captain was not on site at Paradiso Street.  Wherever she is.

Dina shifted her weight, and abruptly noticed a small object poking her in the rear.  It was rounded and hard, like metal or plastic.  Abruptly she realized what it must be.  The camera remote!  She glanced at the camera on the tripod, and a plan began to form in her mind.  Can I get ahold of it?

She twisted on the couch trying to get her hands, still bound behind her, into position.  Meanwhile, she tried to keep track of the wayward device, all without attracting attention from Grady.  She rose slightly, trying to reach beneath…

But the pressure of her body on the cushions caused the device to slide off and clatter to the floor!  Grady was starting to turn, so Dina threw herself down on top of the device.  She landed hard with an “Oof!”  Now the thing was poking her in the ribs.

Grady regarded her with bland amusement.  “Can’t you even sit quietly without getting into trouble?”

Dina smiled wanly while rolling onto her back, pushing down with her feet, grasping subtly for the remote.  “Just a little clumsy, is all.”  Her fist closed around the sought-after object.  Finally.  She looked up at Grady and fluttered her eyelashes.  “Help me up?”

He chortled.  “Heh.  Think I’d rather watch you squirm around on the floor in that skirt for awhile.  But since you ask so nice…”  He walked over, picked Dina up around the waist, and set her back deep in the divan.  “Not that it’s totally for free.”  He squeezed her heartily.  “Damn, you’re slender.”  She threw him a sarcastic smile with narrowed eyes. “Now keep your seat, Miss Reed.”

Dina nodded quietly; she thought it best to appear pliant for the time being.  Meanwhile she explored the remote control blindly with her fingers.  At last, she found the large round button she recalled.  The young woman pressed it firmly while anxiously watching the camera housing.  After a moment, the telltale green light came on.

Yes!  Dina tried to contain her excitement.  Now we’re rolling.  Let’s do an interview, already.  She studied the camera and its angle one more time.  Thank God Nick left the lens cap off.

Dina allowed herself a moment of worry, and wondered how he was.


* * *


The scene in the kitchenette was quieter now; the last big outburst had been from Lieutenant Thompson, who’d shouted at the two men to stop before they killed Augusta.  It had earned her a hard slap in the face, but they’d finally desisted.

Antonia had woken up with a start while they were tormenting the Polish girl.  The sight and sound of it had made Antonia feel sick to her stomach.  The sensation took her right back to the midst of the worst hazing at the Academy.  Back then the males in the room had been the majority, not the minority, but the vibe was the same.  They held all the power.

The girl with the auburn hair was confident in her control of her stomach.  Not so, other aspects.  Feeling like an idiot, and after much deliberation, she finally called out to the captors.  “Hey!  Uh…can I be excused?”

Both men looked over in her direction, and the tall one scoffed before replying.  “What the hell for?”

She glared.  “To powder my nose, asshole.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve gotta take a piss, alright?”

The man laughed, and the short one spoke up.  “Just like a woman, eh?  Not my problem, honey.”

Then the tall one stood, the master keyring jingling on his hip as he did so.  “No, no, Ybarra, I got this.”  He swaggered over to the pair of young women bound together, and began undoing Antonia’s bonds.  “Now no funny business,” he said, looking from Antonia to the lieutenant, and back again.

“Pullman, what the hell are you doing?”  His partner stood as he spoke.

“Trust me,” Pullman said as he finished removing Antonia’s ropes.  The girl stood up shakily while he took up the slack from the waist rope and retied Marigold to the second chair.  When that was done he straightened, then looked down at Antonia.  “Okay, hon.  Strip.”

Antonia flushed.  “What?”

“You heard me,” he leered.  “I’m doing you a favor, so you’ve gotta do me a favor.”  He grinned lewdly over at Ybarra, who seemed intrigued.  “After all, have to make sure you’re not…smuggling contraband, or anything!”  He chuckled at his own joke.

“I…” Antonia’s protest trailed off helplessly.  She caught Lieutenant Thompson’ eye; the lieutenant had a pained look on her face, but she slowly nodded.  Antonia shut her eyes and swallowed, then slowly began to remove her clothing.

The blue dress uniform jacket came off first.  Then she went to work on her white oxford button-down.  Her fingers shook slightly as they manipulated each button; she felt the men’s eyes on her, watching every motion with acute interest.  They hooted when she slid off the shirt, revealing the pale blue corset beneath.

Antonia turned even redder.  The corset had been an impulse buy, shortly before a date that had crashed and burned.  She had felt more than a little ridiculous purchasing it, and it had been a long while before she had convinced herself to wear it at all.  Once she’d tried it a few times, though, she had grown fond of how it made her feel – even if she was the only one who knew it was there.  It made the difference on occasions when she wanted to feel less like a tomboyish firefighter and more like a woman, for a change.

Occasions like the press conference today.  But now she just felt ridiculous again, and violated on top of it.  Her face burned as she wiggled out of the dark blue uniform skirt and slid it to the ground.

When she reached for her nylons, though, Pullman held up a hand.  “That’s enough, hon.  Keep ‘em on.”  He reached out and petted the silky material.  “I like the look.”

“Can I go now, please?” she muttered, shifting from foot to foot.

He grinned.  “Only if I come with you.”

Antonia felt like she was about to lose it, but a steadying gaze from the lieutenant kept her head above water.  The girl nodded, and motioned for Pullman to follow as she stepped out into the hallway.

Almost immediately she froze; at the base of the firepole was Becky Boyd, crudely bound to it with duct tape.  She was in a sitting position, hunched forward with her head against the pole.  Antonia touched the girl’s shoulder hesitantly; Becky moaned slightly.  Antonia looked back at Pullman with wide eyes.  “What did you –”

He cut her off sharply.  “Nothing, nothing, she’s fine!  Come on.”  He gave Antonia a light slap to get her moving.  He called behind him as they moved forward.  “Ybarra, when you get a chance could you check the tape on this girl, please?”

Finally the pair arrived at the ground floor restroom; Antonia pulled the door open and flipped the lights on.  Pullman looked like he was about to follow her in.  The girl planted an arm across the doorframe to block the way, an uneasy look on her face.  She’d been particularly wary of being cornered in bathrooms ever since her time at the Academy.

She mustered herself to voice authority she did not even remotely feel.  “End of the line for you, buddy boy.”

Pullman protested halfheartedly.  “Come on!  How else can I be sure you aren’t going to escape?”

“You said you had this whole building locked down, didn’t you?  Besides…”  She pushed the door open wider and gestured inside.  “Does it look to you like there’s any other way out of here?!”  The room was a dead-end; that was one of the things that made her as nervous as she was.

“Okay then, fine.  I’ll wait out here.”  He looked grumpy, but compliant.  “But just two minutes.  Any more, and I’m coming in after you.”  She nodded and entered.

After tending to necessities, Antonia washed her hands; she noticed they were still shaking.  She saw herself in the mirror, with the outlandish underwear in all its glory.  She had never taken any selfies in this getup – she wasn’t that vain – but she had studied herself in it in mirror-view a number of times.  It had always made her feel confident…feminine…exotic; it wasn’t until today that it had ever made her feel vulnerable and ashamed.

She wanted to bury her face in her hands, but forced herself to put the emotion aside.  There will be time for that later, Toni.  Have to get through today first.  Can’t see how, though.

Looking past herself in the mirror, she noticed the janitorial closet set in the far wall.  With a rush of hope, she recalled a half-memory of seeing a set of maintenance keys within.  She spun about and pulled the closet door open – sure enough, the old keyring hung in plain view.  She snatched it off its hook, surveying the set of keys and their labels.

The outer door to the bathroom banged with Pullman’s knocking.  “You all done in there?  Or am I going to have to come in and encourage you?”

“Just a second!” Antonia called out hurriedly.  She rushed to evaluate the options.  There was no way she could sneak out the entire keyring; she’d have to pick one.

The door banged again.  “Time’s up!”

But which?