No More Snooping For Miss Lane (story by "minigedog")
Cory Lane, reporter for the Brooklyn Times, checked her watch for probably about the tenth time in the last twenty minutes. She was in the living room of a huge house in the suburbs of Brooklyn, waiting for an interview with a famous Italian politician.
What interested her was the fact that a politician so well-known accepted her proposal for an interview, she wasn't a big deal in the world of reporters, so this intrigued her.
Lorenzo Romana had made quite a few headlines since reaching his level of status. Going to charity events, political dinners, balls, parties, and even buying big houses for all his family. He was portrayed in the papers as the "Saint of Brooklyn"
Cory's bullshit capacity meter was at zero, and she could tell that some things weren't adding up. So, she did some digging in the town hall records, going through old property deeds, sales receipts, and several interesting articles.
Turns out Romano was a big crime family going right back to the 1920’s during the height of the mafia. Twenty dollars later she was able to trace the family tree right up to Lorenzo Romana. But why hadn't someone found this before? Maybe they deleted it from the digital records.
All this proved to her mind that the highly esteemed Lorenzo Romana was up to no good.
So, she thought she'd try for an interview and see if she could get something incriminating on him. She thought to herself that if she could uncover all the secrets that Romana was hiding, there would be no doubt in her mind that her status would go up.
Cory is a passionate and headstrong person. When she gets a whiff of corruption, she pursues it with as much enthusiasm as the fictional Sherlock Holmes. Sometimes her enthusiasm runs away with her a little, but she's smart and relies on that to get her out of trouble. And it usually does. Well, most times, anyway.
At five feet six inches, she has a slim athletic body with smooth and soft skin that belies her occasionally endearing clumsiness. She's dressed professionally, white button-down shirt, with a green jacket on top. She would typically wear trouser pants as it looked more professional, however she wore a small, black skirt which she only wears on dates. finally, to complete her outfit, she always wears her classic white heels, simple yet sexy.
Her face is lightly decorated with makeup, with rosy cheeks and a small nose with an imperceptible dimple at the end, soft naturally coloured lips painted with lipstick, warm blue eyes, with it all framed by a headful of long blonde hair.
Cory's face registers impatience on it, not one of her strong suits. With a sigh, she checks her wristwatch. It has a square face with two buttons on the side, and a thick black leather band. It's an expensive lady's watch.
Finally, the butler entered the room, "Miss Lane, Mr Romana will see you now, this way, please"
"Certainly," Cory replied pleasantly.
As she follows the butler, she decides to pry a little.
"So, is Mr Romana home a lot? I mean I bet he's very busy as clearly, he is the top socialite right now," She enjoys poking her nose where it clearly doesn't belong.
"Mr Romana will answer all your questions, I'm sure," the butler said primly.
He has a good poker face.
He led her upstairs into an office that was adjacent to the master bedroom, where Mr Romana was awaiting,
Lorenzo Romana was a very handsome man. Tall like a typical Italian at 6ft 2in, luscious brown hair. Large brown eyes that look both alluring and cold. Perfect facial features covered with a well-groomed beard. A stocky build. Wearing a very smart suit that was tailored perfectly to contour his body.
Too perfect, Cory thought, he looks way too perfect. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was slightly attracted to Mr Romana but the facts that she knew about him suppressed that feeling.
"Ahh, come in my dear, I have been looking forward to meeting you! well you are a gorgeous young woman! So pretty! Blonde hair and blue eyes, very beautiful" he has an Italian accent. His well-spoken manner throws Cory off a little bit.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," she forced a smile at the over the top. "Do you normally meet reporters right next to your bedroom Mr Romana?"
"Only the pretty ones," Lorenzo said letting out a small smirk. almost as if he is hiding something that he has planned for her.
Ok, things were getting weird quickly, "So um, let's get down to business, shall we?" Cory said.
"Sure" Lorenzo seemed a little disappointed.
Cory turned on her handheld voice recorder and began asking questions, "Mr Romana, why did you pick me of all reporters? I'm not a well-established figure?"
"That's a very good question. You see, I've been following your work for a while now, and I must say, your work is very impressive for a small reporter Miss Lane" He answered readily.
Cory refrained from rolling her eyes, "Ok, now why are you buying small businesses around town if your already own quite large businesses that produce a steady income?"
"I'm not sure what you mean. I haven't been buying businesses." Lorenzo said as he was taken back by the sudden change in question
" Well," Cory held up a folder she had with her. "I've been doing some digging and you two have been buying businesses through shell companies, then moving the funds to an offshore account. What would the political yahoos think of that? Any comments?" Cory waited eagerly; her recorder held outstretched.
Lorenzo’s whole demeanour had changed to be defensive "I.....ummmm.... I " Lorenzo stammered.
Luckily the butler poked his head through the door.
"Mr Romana, I found someone who was sneaking around taking pictures. She says her name is Vivian and she won't leave until she speaks with you personally."
"But of course. Miss Lane, if you don't mind waiting here, we can continue our interview in a few minutes," Lorenzo looked relieved to get out of the conversation.
he gave a forced smile, Cory noted
"Sure, Mr Romana I'll gladly wait" Cory said, smiling to herself. The butler and Lorenzo left the room. Cory thanked her lucky stars that her friend, Vivian Ireene Pierce, a fellow reporter & photographer, had delivered the distraction as promised.
She had discussed it earlier with her busty bff, "Viv, just make sure you're not seen until about ten minutes into the interview." Cory had said.
"Of course, Cory, they won't see me until I want them to." Vivian had calmly assured her.
Now with the distraction complete, Cory turned to the master bedroom. What she was about to do was probably illegal. But the ends justify the means, at least in this case, right?
She opened the fancy bedroom door, which was unlocked, and tiptoed inside. She started at the desk, going through paperwork, bills, and post-it notes.
Strike one.
Nothing yet. She figured nothing incriminating would just be lying around. She checked the wardrobe and dressers. She saw many nice clothes she could never afford.
Strike two.
Wait, what was that lump under Lorenzo's neatly stacked shirts? She carefully moved the shirts aside. What the hell? Several coils of thin, white rope, with a long, black piece of cloth layed on top.
Was Mr Romana into bondage? Or was there a more sinister reason? Cory left the top drawer open and was thinking hard. She thought she felt a cool breeze from somewhere.
There shouldn't be a draft in here.
Coming from where? Under the bed? That was so cliche Cory rolled her eyes but decided to check anyway. Curiosity killed the cat, she thought, and she had checked everywhere else in the room.
She knelt down and looked under the bed. Yup! Definitely a breeze! There must be a way to open this apparent passageway.......
"Well, if it isn't our little snooping reporter!"
Cory jerked her head up; she hadn't been expecting anyone so soon. A quick glance at her watch told her only fifteen minutes had passed.
Vivian was supposed to keep Lorenzo for at least twenty, plus five minutes to walk back. But apparently Vivian couldn't distract him long enough.
Cory decided to go on the offensive. "Lorenzo, I know you are looking to start up the Romana criminal family again. I've done my research; I know about the offshore accounts and Romana's family history of crime. You will be ruined reputation-wise, and this city will be safer without you dragging it down."
Lorenzo moved so quickly it took Cory by surprise.
She had expected Lorenzo to be slow judging by his age, instead the Italian man rushed to the dresser drawer, which was still open, and grabbed the rope.
Cory sprinted for the door, but Lorenzo slid gracefully across the room, grabbing Cory.
"LET ME GO!!!" Cory exclaimed as she was being dragged to the bed by Mr Romana
Lorenzo grabbed Cory’s wrists, wrenched them behind her back and swiftly began tying them together
"Whaaaa...uhhhh ...." Cory wheezed, then winced at how tight the ropes were.
"Oh, shut up! You're trying to ruin everything, and I will not let that happen." he flipped Cory on her back, threw her sleek heels off her feet and got to work on tying her ankles tightly in place.
Cory tested her bonds, too tight around my wrists, and there's going to be marks on my ankles too.
She finally regained her breath. "Lorenzo, I have friends who will notice I'm missing. It'd be easier if you just gave yourself up now."
Lorenzo straddled Cory, then ran his finger along Cory's cheek.
"No, my pretty reporter, we'll figure out what to do with you, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy restraining you and making sure that you're not going anywhere."
Cory gulped, things were going to shit pretty fast.
I hope Vivian comes looking for me, as part of the plan and everything.
The doorbell rang. Speak of the devil.
"VIV! I'm up HERE HEL........mmmmmpppphhhhff!'
Lorenzo, who still straddled her, quickly grabbed the black cloth that was on top of the rope. He slotted it in-between Cory's tightly closed lips. tying it behind the back of her head quite tight to make sure that it didn't come undone so that she could scream for help.
Her eyes went wide with surprise. yet it seemed like there was a little hint of excitement behind her eyes. Did she secretly like this.
"Mmmppphhh! Fufmd!" She tried to say something, to scream, but her speech was too muffled.
"Much better, can't have you alerting whoever is at the door." Lorenzo smiled down at her.
"Ggrrrmmm"
Cory tried to scream but to no avail. the cleave gag was too tight that she couldn't get a single word out
Lorenzo walked over to the dresser and pulled out more rope.
"This will definitely come in handy" he chuckled
Cory's expressive blue eyes widened even more when she saw Lorenzo slowly walking towards her with a sinister look on his face.
"Mmmmmpppphhhhrrgggdd" Cory tried to say.
Lorenzo ignored her, pulling Cory towards him
"Well, looks like you're still a bit loose, I think we need to fix that. At least your quiet enough" Lorenzo said as he placed the coils of rope next to her
Gggrrrmmmmppphhhhfffugg! Mmmmppppphhh!"
By this time, she could barely make any noise, yet she still managed to moan and growl her displeasure enough for Lorenzo to laugh.
"My dear Cory, you're in over your head, yes?"
Cory growled, "Grmmmmppp."
"Well, I'd better go see what our guest wants. Don’t go anywhere" he said as left the room laughing.
Barely five minutes had passed since the doorbell rang. Lorenzo was very good at this.
As soon as the Italian man left Cory began struggling. Using the bed for support, she inched her way to the edge of the bed to get to a standing position. It was slow going, and Cory breathed heavily through her nose. Finally, she made it! She was standing precariously and started to hop towards the door.
Wow girl, good thing you played a few sports in high school.
"Mmmppphhh! Huffam damphu!" She tried to yell again as she hopped.
Cory was making good progress until she tripped on her heels that were left on the floor of the bedroom.
She fell. "Ummmmfffff!" Cory laid there for a moment, then began thumping on the floor and making a poor attempt at screaming.
Thump!
"MMMMMMMMMMPPPPPPHHHHHHHGGGGGRRRRRFMMMMMMM"
Thump!
"Ffugrhdgrmsrvpmph!"
Thump!
"Wfgrjmdmpffmztghmmmmffff!"
Thump!
Why couldn't Vivian hear her? Cory began to despair. Wait! Her purse was over by the chair! Her cell phone! Maybe she could call 911! She was at least going to try.
Squirming and rolling, she made her way over to her purse. Cory's binded hands reached inside. She felt a little and pulled her phone out. Yes!
How the hell am I going to unlock it?
She attempted the difficult pattern she had insisted putting on her phone, but quickly got impatient with her awkward attempts.
Then she noticed one of those old dial phones with a cord attached to it.
If it still works, Cory thought. She tried to check her watch, but rope kept her wrists tightly together behind her back. She just managed to twist her arms enough to see how much time had passed. About sixteen minutes since she'd been captured. Moving as quick as could, all the while breathing heavily, she earthworm crawled to the phone, somehow managing to stand again. Cory pulled the phone off its hook with her tied hands.
She knelt down next to the phone, almost falling, then used her petite nose to dial 911.
The phone started ringing, surprisingly. At least one thing was going right. She tried get the gag loose, yet the knot at the back of her head didn't budge at all.
"911 WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?!" A loud female screeched over the line.
"Mmmmpphhj! Mff rrg fmgr!" Cory tried to exclaim.
"I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU! WOULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK UP!" The female operator yelled.
"Fffrrrggggmmmmpppphhhhh! Ifgrrdmmmsfgsmmm! Mmppffhrrff! Grrr," Cory was getting a little pissed off at the operator and this stupid gag. Plus, her screechy voice was hurting Cory's ears.
"ARE YOU IN TROUBLE? 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE TROUBLE, WE'LL SEND SOMEONE OUT!" It sounded like she was chewing gum. "BUT FIRST YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE! C'MON, CAN'T BE THAT HARD." She clearly didn’t care about her job enough.
"MMMMMPPPHHHH! FFGGRFFFRRRMMMMPPHH! MM....."
A long, slender hand grabbed the phone away from Cory's mouth.
"Operator" Mr Romana said smoothly, " I'm sorry, my child is just learning to crawl and likes to play with phones. Yes, you too dear." Lorenzo said charmingly.
He hung up the phone, "Dreadful voice, that woman."
"Grrrrrrrmmmfff" if looks could kill Mr Romana would certainly be dead with the look Cory gave her.
"You almost warned your friend Vivian in time. That was not nice. Don't worry though, she's incapacitated at the moment. You, on the other hand, I'll have to make you more secure."
Suddenly Cory was very angry. Her wrists and ankles were sore. Her arms hurt from being held behind her back. A position she wasn't used to. Her cheeks aching due to the cleave gag tied securely around her head. Lorenzo loomed over her.
Suddenly, Cory head-butted the Italian mob boss in the gut.
Lorenzo doubled over, trying just to breathe.
Cory managed to get to her feet and started hopping for the door to go downstairs. Surely the butler wasn't in on this. Surely, he would...... Someone grabbed her from behind.
Lorenzo! How had he recovered so fast?
"You really shouldn't have done that !" He exclaimed as he carried a bound Cory back to the bed.
"Mmmmmppp!"
"Don't give me any attitude, young lady!"
Lorenzo threw Cory back onto the bed. "You won't be able to do anything when I'm finished with you"
Lorenzo grabbed the coil of rope that he placed earlier. He started binding Cory's chest making sure that her arms were secured tightly with the rest of her body so that she couldn't move as much
The bindings were so tight that it pushed her breast out making them look bigger.
"Mmmppphhh!!!!" Cory could tell this would get extremely uncomfortable very quickly.
Lorenzo inspected his work. "Very nicely done, yes?"
"I must say Miss Lane, you have very nice and juicy breasts for a woman your age. maybe I will peek at them later when you've calmed down a bit" Mr Romana said with a sinister look on his face
as he was examining his work from the back, he noticed something that caught his eye.
"Now that is a Nice watch Miss Lane" He examined the watch. Unstrapping it off Cory's wrist.
"Grmmffffgggg! Mmmmppppphhh! Iffmmmppphhh. Mph, grrmmmff."
"Oh, so this watch is important to you? No matter."
He carefully placed it beside Cory, where if she turned her head far enough, she could see what time it is.
"You are to stay like this for quite a while. I'm sure if you can see the time, it will move even slower."
Cory started to get concerned. She couldn't talk. She couldn't move. Her wrists and ankles were getting incredibly sore. Her favourite wristwatch, the one that Vivian gave her, was in danger of getting lost. If that watch got lost forever, she would be screwed, as that was her only chance of escape as the watch also doubled as a tracking device that would activate once she pushed both buttons at the same time. Vivian was probably trussed up somewhere. Hell, both their lives were probably in peril. And this bastard, Lorenzo Romana, was very much enjoying the predicament that Cory found herself in.
What could she do?
