Chapter 2

The three men stopped talking and turned toward the door as the man entered with Kaylee.

"What's this, Otto?" asked one of the men Kaylee didn't recognize, but at least now she had a name for the man holding her.

"I'm not sure," replied Otto, "but she was in the alley on top of one of the dumpsters taking pictures of the three of you."

If Otto saw her taking the pictures, she knew the lost girl act wasn't going to work on his bosses either. The only play she had at this point was to come completely clean, hoping they would assume she knew nothing and let her go. Sure, Jonathan would be onto his wife's plan and Kaylee might lose her fee, but that was a small price to pay to get out of this quickly escalating situation.

"I'm just a P.I. hired by Jonathan's wife because she thought he was cheating on her," blurted Kaylee. "I don't care who you two are or what this is about, so can't we just call it even and go our separate ways?"

Jonathan scoffed at her statement. "No way!" he exclaimed. "Lauren understands my job involves working odd hours, and she would never pay someone to follow me!"

The second stranger spoke up. "Mr. Knight, you've put this entire plan at risk by allowing yourself to be followed. While she may be telling the truth, this operation is too important to take that chance."

"I swear!" pleaded Kaylee. "Keep my camera, I just... mmph!" Otto clamped his hand over her mouth as her volume increased.

"Thank you," said the first man. "Yes, we will be keeping your camera. That was never a point of debate. However, we need to make sure you do, in fact, know nothing. Otto, secure her while we determine our next course of action."

Otto led Kaylee across the room, which appeared to be an older, mostly unfurnished apartment. There was a support pole of some sort near the kitchen area, and Otto stood her up against it. He unclamped her mouth momentarily as he removed the camera and placed it on the floor. Then he pulled her hands around the back of the pole and began tying her wrists together. Kaylee thought about screaming for help, but feared the repercussions of an outburst. Instead, she tried reasoning with her captors.

"Look," she said, "I don't know what you guys are up to, and I don't care. We don't have to do this."

By way of an answer, Otto pulled a rolled-up cloth between her teeth and knotted it behind her head. Then he found more rope and began wrapping lengths of it around her torso, waist, and legs until Kaylee was practically immobile.

When he finished, Otto approached the other men.

"As I was saying," said the first, "we need to find out what she knows — if anything. It's best if we leave here and let Otto do what he does best."

Jonathan shuddered. "I want no part of this..."

"None of us, aside from Otto perhaps, want any part of this," interrupted the second man, "but here we are. You knew the severity of this plan going in, Mr. Knight, and you have been reimbursed quite well for your involvement. So we are all a part of this whether we like it or not."

Jonathan set his jaw and nodded. He gave Kaylee a look that resembled pity, which made her shiver at its implication.

"Otto, we'll leave you to do your thing," said the first man. "Let us know what you find out."

"Yes, sirs," nodded the brute. "I should have an answer for you by morning."

Once the men left, Otto approached Kaylee and looked her over. "I need to go get a few things. Stay here until I get back, and then the two of us can have some fun."

Kaylee whined through her gag, but Otto just smiled.