Bad Company... , part 19

"Well," Shea hazarded quietly. "You could just let me go..." She forced a hint of meek pleading into her gaze, as she looked up at the blond-haired man hopefully. And the look certainly wasn't entirely an act. "I mean... I don't have anythin' which could cause trouble for Atronox...and I've learned my lesson. Believe me."

"Have you?" the smaller man chirped brightly, nodding with a big grin on his face. "That's good to hear, cutie. Really it is. But ya know, you've seen our faces, so..."

"Well, whose dumb fault was that?" she muttered under her breath before she thought about it, ears perking in alarm once the words were out and she realized that they'd heard. The big guy took another half-step forward and even his partner's smile turned into a nasty scowl for a moment.

"Oooh...y'know, I kinda respect your fire, tiger, but...not the best of times to let that smart mouth of yours run away with ya, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah, umm... I'm sorry..." Shea murmured, genuinely meaning the words, but not by way of apology...

"Oh, I'm sure ya are, sweetie..." the blond grinned, starting to walk toward, and then around, Shea as he spoke. "But just so you don't slip up again and make my friend there lose whatever's left of his cool, let's help ya out some, eh?"

And then, before she could react or utter another peep, a fresh strip of tape was pulled back hard across her mouth from behind, the black-gloved hands of the smaller villain smoothing it into place with a chilling air of finality. "Nummmph... Bfftrdh!" Shea growled, tossing her head angrily as his work was finished.

"Much better," he said, sauntering back around to stand before her again, arms crossed and face a carefully-arranged mask of consideration. "So, you've learned your lesson and you're going to leave Atronox alone, is that what you're trying to tell us?"

Shea nodded, a bit too hastily perhaps, eager to sell them on the lie. "Learned her lesson"? If anything, this experience had made her even more determined to bring Atronox to justice. Illegal dumping in a wildlife reserve, and now sending goons to pull a stunt like this? It was clear that the company was too far gone to be allowed to get away with this...and Shea promised herself that she wasn't going to let them do so. Not so long as she lived...

Of course, in order for the dogged young heroine to make good on that silent vow, she actually had to get out of this predicament. And there still seemed a slim, slim hope of doing so...if she could convince these two that she'd been scared off by their invasion and all that had transpired since. From the blond's bearing, she was fairly sure that he wasn't buying it...but Shea had nothing to lose by trying, she knew. If slim opportunities and slimmer hopes were all she had...then the spirited catgirl was determined to make the most of them that she could...


-----------------------------
On to "Bad Company...", pt20