Special Delivery

The first thug nodded approvingly and riffled along the edge of one of the stacks which rested in the case, while the other watched the slumbering-and-hopelessly-bound young lady that they had brought to this late-night rendezvous. Max couldn't stifle a smile - and wouldn't have wanted to even if he could - as they completed their transaction. These two had come highly recommended, and it looked like their reputation was well-deserved. Of course, it had cost him a pretty penny, but he needed Randi where he could keep her out of the way. If these two contractors were as good as their word, no one even knew she was missing - and wouldn't for some days. That should be plenty of time for his scheme to come to fruition. Not that she'd just meekly accept the situation, he was sure. Her defiance and pluck were, in his opinion, among her most endearing - if troublesome - qualities. He could practically see the look on her face and hear the muffled torrent which would explode from behind that thick leather pad when she finally woke up, and the imagined vision was enough to bring another oily smile to his face. He rather liked the gag. Maybe he'd have to hold onto it for possible future use; his young nemesis could have quite the mouth on her when she got angry... And he had little doubt she would be that. But the cruelly-calculating villain had some rather fiendish "diversions" planned to keep her occupied - and him entertained watching her attempts to escape. She would have much more demanding things than angry tirades on which to expend her energy, to be sure. Some of those preparations had been rather expensive, but in Max's experience most things worth doing were. Yes, this little escapade had cost Max a small fortune. But to him, it was worth every penny...