CHAPTER THIRTEEN - SATURDAY 1st JANUARY

6:30 am
 
Malcolm cursed for not having the luxury of an alarm clock. He now realised how reliant he had become on his old digital radio alarm that he kept by his bedside at the amusement park. He did so much want to be up by six o'clock and away by seven o'clock at the latest. He looked to his watch. The time was half past six and he was already thirty minutes late.
He blamed that wicked girl in the dungeon for his apparent oversleeping. She had caused him so much anguish and grief he just could not get to sleep no matter how hard he tried. It was well after four o'clock before he finally got some rest, and then it was just an agitated slumber of sorts.
Malcolm found it impossible to get to grips with the reasons why Jennifer Stansfield had so wilfully destroyed his most beautiful painting. He had never been so angry in his life and it had shown in his actions. He had whipped her, and whipped her again in a frenzy, until he was finally too exhausted to continue anymore. In the end he had just left her there, still strapped to the X-frame and screaming for all she was worth. He thought the harsh beating might have removed some of the hatred from out of his own system. Yet still, after having time to rest and recover, an anger and bitterness towards the girl still raged within him.
Malcolm got himself showered and dressed quickly. It was time for his motorcycle leathers again. He reckoned that if he could leave by about seven-thirty he could be in Katie's home town sometime between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. He could make it in a quicker time than that, but he proposed to stick to the back roads and avoid any motorways.
What he did however, once he was there, he did not know. He had no firm plans at all. He did not even have Katie's home address. All he had was a business card for 'Bows and Ties' with somebody else's name on it. So it was simply a case of travelling up Lancashire to test the water, to find out where Katie was living, and hopefully make initial contact. But he also recognised that he had to be super cautious and take everything at a steady pace. It may need several visits yet before he felt safe enough to talk her into living with him at Cuckoo Cottage.

7:00 am

With a frozen medium sliced loaf straight out of the freezer in one hand, Malcolm visited the dungeon. This was all Jennifer Stansfield was going to get. Bread and water was all she deserved. Hopefully a full loaf would last her three to four days. He thought it adequate enough, and besides he had no plans to stay away any longer. Cuckoo Cottage had become his sanctuary and he felt safe here.
Malcolm arrived in the dungeon to find Jenny slumped forward on the X-frame, her head almost resting on her chest. He considered she was either asleep or unconscious, but more probably the latter. In the end he had to look twice to discover that she was still breathing. She was. At least she was still alive, but that was about all that could be said for her.
He examined the body in more detail and for the first time saw the full extent of the beating he had meted out the night before. The entire front of Jenny's body stretching from neck down to as low as her knees was splattered and caked in blood. The entire area looking raw and sore, with her breasts most noticeable being the part of the body to take the heaviest  punishment.
"Serves you right!" he told the lifeless Jenny. As far as Malcolm was concerned this was no time for sentiments. She had simple got what she deserved. She was, and still remained an evil bitch.
Malcolm undid the straps to the X-frame and let her fall to the floor. He then flipped her over onto her back and applied the shackles, handcuffs and chains that she wore previously. Then quickly he dragged the body by the feet across the dungeon floor and deposited the lifeless form on the mattress inside the small prison cell.
But he had not finished with her yet. He had decided to punish her further. He would leave her wearing that leather hood he found in the cupboard. He would leave the zip open so that she could eat. But that was all. The flaps would be locked down over the eyes, and the complete hood fastened around the neck. She could fumble and grovel for the bread and drink water out of the toilet pan whilst he was away, and she was lucky he was allowing her that much freedom. At one point, when he had stormed off to bed last night, he was still of the opinion that she should stay and rot affixed to the X-frame for ever.
Malcolm crossed the floor to the cupboard and collected the leather hood. Turning Jenny over onto her stomach, he raised up the head and slipped the hood over the top and down over her face. He then set the padlock about the neck and lowered the head back to the mattress. Having secured the hood he checked the eye flaps to make sure that they were sealed, then opened up the zip across the mouth.
Finally he closed up the cell door, turned the key, and pushed the frozen loaf between the bars. It was up to her now to sort herself out. He did not know how long she would remain unconscious, or for that matter really care. He would probably do something for her when he got back, but not before. Anyway, it was all her own stupid fault, and as a result she had to live with the consequences of her sins for a few days more. Basically it served her right. It was all of her own doing anyway. Stupid bitch that she was. How dare she destroy such a wonderful work of art?

7:30 am

The dark blue Japanese estate car belonging to Davina Townsend climbed the steep hill to Castle Point, entered the scattered village that surrounded the old castle and turned left down Cliff Top Drive. The driver swung the car round at the bottom of the cul-de-sac and returned a little way up the hill to pull up right outside No. 3, Cliff Top Cottages.
Davina had not been here before, but by looking through the wrought-iron gate and down the driveway to the small bungalow on the other side she knew that she had found the right place. Tracy Goodyear was already there and waiting on the doorstep. She had a large suitcase at her feet and her mother was standing by her side. Davina watched Tracy kiss her mother goodbye then got out of the car to open up the tailgate of the estate. Tracy arrived and dumped her luggage in the back to join another suitcase already there belonging to Davina.
"Everything fine?" asked Davina.
Tracy waved over the garden hedge to her mother and answered: "Yes!.. No problem… They think we're all a bit weird… especially when I told them the other two girls might come and join us as well… but they seem to have accepted it all… bless 'em!"
"Right!" said Davina slamming down the tailgate and returning to the driver's seat. "Lancashire it is then!… let's get going shall we?"
Tracy gave one final wave goodbye to her mother and sat down besides Davina in the passenger seat. Pulling the door shut she said: "Lancashire next stop… Let's get the show on the road then shall we?"
And with that the car moved slowly away to climb the hill and turn right towards Littlesea. After that they intended to head north to join the motorway system. Their ultimate destination being Katie's home town in Lancashire.

10:00 am

It was the first day of a brand new year, and everybody was either in bed suffering from a hang-over, or alternatively still up and partying. One man however was in his office and sifting through his correspondence.
Inspector Hawkins, despite his press conference of yesterday, remained a very frustrated man. It was definitely confirmed that Malcolm Smith's home address would not be forthcoming until Tuesday morning. Some stupid woman with all the keys and knowledge as to where all the personnel records were kept was still away in the Seychelles and was not due back until late Monday night. So he had no alternative but to hang around and wait for any progress on that front of the enquiry.
As regards the stolen car. The storm drain had been searched and, as expected, the keys to the stolen vehicle had been found. So there was no surprise there!
There was however one new piece of information just in. News of a disappearance had just reached the station that a girl from Norwich, in East Anglia, had been reported missing within the past hour. She was expected to be present at a New Year celebration last night but had not turned up. The local police were now investigating.
Inspector Hawkins rose from his chair and moved to a map of the British Isles fixed to one of the office walls. Here he stuck a pin into Norwich to join the other two pins already on the map. The other two being; one in Littlesea and one south London.
The Inspector stood back and stared at the map. It did not mean much, but at least it was a start. He liked maps and pins, and he had solved one or two crimes this way. He hoped that this would be another.
Oh, and there was one other small ray of hope! At least one Sunday newspaper had promised to print something in one of tomorrow's tabloids.
Maybe this would lead to the break he needed.

4:00 pm

Malcolm was in Katie's home town, or at least he hoped so. The problem being that he had no maps and was wary of stopping and asking anyone for directions.
On his travels however, he did have to make one short stop for petrol and had purchased a daily newspaper at the same time. In a lay-by afterwards he had scanned every page carefully and found no reference to either himself or Littlesea. The headlines, and most of the pages inside, still covered the ferry disaster. Apparently the death toll was now up to one thousand, two hundred and forty six. Malcolm smiled. Not at the ferry disaster, but at his own good fortune. At least in that respect the signs were looking good. However he still had no intention of making himself known to any member of the public unless he really had too.
At approximately four o'clock in the afternoon Malcolm stepped into a public phone box near the centre of Katie's Lancastrian town. At least he hoped that to be the case. He took out the 'Bows and Ties' calling card that Katie had sent him from his pocket and checked the details once again. On a local tourist guide map in the shopping precinct just down the road he had found a street that matched the name on the card. So the initial signs were already looking good. He waited until the door of the phone booth closed under the power of the spring then looked to the various messages and advertisements displayed on the back wall of the booth. He smiled. Here were further signs suggesting that he was in the right area. The STD Code on the calling card matched many of those on the advertising board for local taxis and other services.
"Right, here goes!" he whispered to himself before dialling the number on the card.
Malcolm was very nervous. Apart from visiting his mother, then Jennifer Stansfield bumping into him, (quite literally!), and to a lesser extent the purchasing of petrol for his motorcycle, this was Malcolm's first real contact with the outside world since escaping from the hospital detention ward some three days earlier. He wondered if he had given it enough time for things to quieten down. Perhaps he should have given it a bit longer? Maybe a week or two? He was hesitant about answering. Who on Earth was this Brian Bensen anyway? And why did Katie ask for her clothes to be sent to this 'Bows and Ties' address?
The phone seemed to ring forever, then someone answered. "Hello, Brian Bensen speaking, how can I help?" came the eventual reply.
Malcolm cleared his throat. "Err… Err.. Could I speak to Katie Brown please," he answered.
"Katie?… She's not here at the moment. Who's this speaking please?" asked Brian Bensen.
Malcolm considered his best response. He needed to contact Katie desperately, but to actually say who he was might cause difficulties. On the other hand if he gave a false name, then the man just might simply hang up on him, and that could spell an end to his one and only chance to contact Katie. A compromise was needed and he thought quickly.
"I'm an old friend of Katie's. I'm from the Littlesea area," he finally gave as the answer.
There was a long pause. "You're not Richard Davies are you?" asked Brian Bensen warily.
The thought horrified Malcolm. Richard Davies was Katie's ex-lover in Littlesea, and probably one of the main reasons why he found himself in such an awful mess today.
"No!… No I'm not!" Malcolm answered abruptly.
There came another long pause.
"Where did you get this number?" the voice on the phone eventually queried and by now sounding very guarded indeed.
Malcolm looked at the card in his hand. "Katie sent me a card of yours… Err.. for 'Bows and Ties'. She said that if I was ever in this area to give this number a ring," he told him.
At least this answer was very close to the truth.
The man on the other end of the line seemed to relax at the explanation and a more friendly tone ensued.
"Oh Sorry! Forgive me, I thought that you might have something to do with the guy she used knock about with in Littlesea. So you're into BDSM then are you?" asked Brian Bensen.
Suddenly it clicked with Malcolm. What a complete idiot he had been. Why had he not seen this before? 'Bows and Ties' was a BDSM club, and Brian Bensen according to the card was the President. Malcolm pulled himself together. He had some experience of playing this little game, and now he had a genuine excuse for meeting up with Katie.
"Yes, that's right. I'm into BDSM, and Katie told me about your excellent club. She said that you had some wonderful things going on up here, with a lot of nice people, and suggested that I might pay you a visit sometime," responded Malcolm and hoping that a bit of flattery would not got amiss.
The man's voice seemed very friendly now and quick to respond.
"Well if you're an old friend of Katie's, you're welcome to call in on us at anytime. She must have told you we hold our little sessions on Saturday evenings then? Otherwise you wouldn't be calling today," reasoned Brian Bensen.
Malcolm was not even sure that it was a Saturday, but continued the pretence. Perhaps his luck was holding out and that he would after all get to see Katie, possibly this evening.
"That's right, Katie said come on a Saturday night. She also mentioned a Nick. 'Ask for Nick,' she said," replied Malcolm recalling the final message written on Katie's Christmas card.
"Yes, Nick's our Club Secretary, but he's away on a skiing trip with his parents until next weekend, so his partner Vicky is taking charge. She'll be there first to unlock this evening... Good girl Vicky... Works like a slave... Wouldn't know what we'd do without her," praised the Club President.
Malcolm did not really care who was in charge tonight, just as long as he could be there.
"So can I call in tonight? Oh, and if so, at what time?" he asked getting down to more practical questions.
"Of course you're welcome… Most welcome… We usually start about nine o'clock, but the doors are open about eight-thirty. That's when people start rolling in," he explained.
"So if I turn up sometime between eight-thirty and nine and ask for Vicky, I'll be all right then will I?" queried Malcolm.
"Yes you do that... I'll give Vicky a ring and tell her to expect you... I'm sure she'll welcome you with her normal charm," explained Brian Bensen.
"That sounds just fine... And will Katie be there?" asked Malcolm.
"I'm sure she'll want to... She wasn't intending to go tonight and she's gone back to her mothers for the day. But as soon as she knows she's got someone from Littlesea come all this way to see her, I bet she'll want to be there. Unfortunately I've got something else on tonight, so we'd already said we couldn't come. But it should be possible to pick Katie up from her mother's and drop her off at the club on my way out tonight. Leave it to me, and I'll organise something and make sure she's there," assured Brian Bensen.
Malcolm was not certain what to make of the way this Brian Bensen fellow phrased part of his answer. It sounded like there was a lot more going on between the two of them than just a business or club relationship. He wondered if they were shacking up together? He hated the notion, but put all such horrid thoughts aside for the time being.
"Tell Katie I'll be there tonight then. It'll be nice to see her again," he answered simply.
"Will do! By the way, I don't think I got your name?" asked Brian.
Malcolm thought for a moment.
"Can we keep it as a big surprise?" he asked.
Malcolm heard Brian Bensen chuckle on the other end of the line.
"Sure thing! Good idea. Let's keep her guessing shall we?" he said in agreement.
"Thanks! Might see you for a second or two tonight then Brian," said Malcolm.
"It'll have to be quick! But yes, I'll only be there for a few minutes at least. But It'll be a pleasure to meet you," responded Brian.
"See you tonight then," said a very cheerful Malcolm.
At last he was going to meet up with Katie. Now all he wanted was a few minutes conversation in private with her. He felt sure that she would understand and know exactly how he felt about her.
Brian Bensen broke Malcolm's train of thoughts. "Tonight then," he repeated, then added: "By the way, do you know how to find us?"
"I've got the address on the card and I've seen where the street is on the Tourist Map in the town centre. So I'll find it, don't worry," assured Malcolm.
"Fine, we're right at the end of the street, on the corner. You can't miss it. It's a big old building with steps going up at the front to some double doors. And there's a pub right across the road on the opposite corner called the 'The Coach and Horses'. Find that and you can't miss our place. You can park your car there too. So see you tonight then," said Brian signing off.
And with that the pips started to go and the money ran out.
"Bye…" said Malcolm over the noise and replaced the phone on the hook.
Malcolm smiled. That had proved to be quite a successful conversation.

8:00 pm

A Japanese estate car crawled slowly down a back street in a residential area of an old Lancastrian Mill town. Darkness had fallen a long time ago, but at least all that rain of the last few days had stopped.
"Number one-two-three is what we want," said Tracy staring out of the window of the slow moving car at the numbers on the doors. "That one's number seventy-three."
The car moved along the road a little bit further.
"It should be about there, where that car is just pulling up," said Tracy pointing to a silver BMW car that had just overtaken then come to a rather rapid halt.
Then all of a sudden Tracy could not believe her eyes. For out of the house and down the short garden path ran an unmistakable red-headed girl.
"That's her!… That's her!… That's Katie Brown…" Tracy screamed excitedly to Davina.
The two woman watched as Katie Brown stepped into the passenger seat and closed the door with a bang.
The BMW moved off. Whoever the driver was, he had no intentions of hanging around. In fact it looked like he was in quite a hurry.
"Quick, follow him," urged Tracy.
Davina engaged gear and put her foot down hard on the peddle. It was going to be a tough job just to keep pace with the car in front.

8:30 pm.

Malcolm was already waiting in the shadows outside the hall at half past eight when the first person arrived. He had found the 'The Coach and Horses' public house quite easily as Brian said he would, and had left his motorcycle parked away in the far corner so as not to be in the way of anyone. He had also noted that the public house over on the other side of the road offered bed and breakfast. It was something worth noting, but at present he had no fixed plans as regards his sleeping arrangements tonight.
From out of the shadows he had watched a large Volvo estate pull up in the pub car park and saw a young woman get out. As she crossed the road towards him he could see that she was a tall leggy blonde dressed in a warm winter coat and long black leather boots. She was in her early twenties, had a handbag over one shoulder and was carrying a carrier bag which looked like it was full of shopping.
According to Malcolm's reckoning this just had to be Vicky. Brian Bensen had said that she would be the first one there to unlock the place and let everyone else in. As the girl ascended the steps and started to fumble through her handbag for the keys Malcolm came up behind her and asked: "Vicky?… Are you Vicky?"
The blonde-headed girl appeared a little shocked to discover someone had crept up behind her. She turned quickly to find a young man two steps below dressed in motorcycle leathers and carrying his helmet under one arm.
She smiled nervously and replied. "Yes, that's me! I'm Vicky, and I guess you're Katie's friend then?"
"Yes, I'm the gentleman from Littlesea. I guess Brian contacted you then?" answered Malcolm.
"Yes, that's right. He contacted me just before I set out. I'm very pleased to meet you, do come in, that's if I can find the key!," she said greeting him warmly and fumbling in her bag once more.
Malcolm, in the intervening time between speaking to the Club President and now, had thought hard and long about whether to give his true name or not. He concluded in the end that sooner or later Katie would turn up and call him Malcolm. So what the heck? He waited until she had found the key then spoke.
"My name's Malcolm by the way," he told her and held out his hand.
Vicky took hold of the very ends of his fingers and gave a timid shake.
"Right, follow me then Malcolm," she said opening one side of what was a wide pair of double doors.
 Malcolm followed her in and waited for the lights to come on. He looked around. He was in an old army drill hall of sorts. That was the best way to describe it. The entrance was a sort of foyer with big wide stairs going up to the floor above. Apart from the mat on which to wipe one's feet the rest of the floor was covered in bare dusty floorboards. The stairs showed signs of there once being a carpet there, but now the battleship grey paint could be seen on either side of the steps with a big broad expanse of dusty untreated wood between.
Vicky began to ascend the stairs. She seemed like a girl of little words.
Malcolm followed her, trailing three or four steps behind.
At the top there was a spacious landing, with a large and ornate balcony rail and several large but single doors leading off to a number of various rooms. Vicky moved to a door on the left. She opened it up and entered.
"This is the club," she said simply as the lights came on.
Malcolm entered the room. This time he found himself in a largish hall with high ceiling and once again bare floorboards beneath. The walls were painted the same battleship grey, just like everywhere else in the building. However, unlike downstairs in the foyer, the heat had been left on and he could feel the warmth of the boilers on his face. He looked about the room. There were several of those old cast-iron radiators against the walls on either side.
However, Malcolm remained bemused. This was nothing like what he had expected. Before entering the room he had visions of seeing a dungeon, with a rack and X-frames and all the other things one normally associated with such places. But this was nothing like that. It was more like his old school gymnasium, with wall bars and frames scattered about the place. There were several big chairs of various shapes and sizes scattered haphazardly about the floor. There was also one particularly large frame of sorts in one corner that caught his eye.
Down at the far end there were some tables and chairs, and a sink with one of those old geyser water boilers fixed to the wall. Vicky crossed the room and dumped her carrier bag down on a table. She then extracted a four-pint tub of milk, a jar of coffee, a box of tea bags, and a bag of sugar from the carrier then crossed to the sink set against the back wall.
"Would you like coffee or tea?" she asked whilst filling an electric kettle from the tap.
"Err… tea please… one sugar…," he called back.
Malcolm attempted to weigh things up in his already confused mind. This place was definitely nothing like he had envisaged. This was the sort of place you held 'Mother's Union' meetings in, or 'Slimming Clubs', or 'Scout Troop' meetings, and that sort of thing. He had expected to find equipment such as chains, handcuffs, ball-gags, blindfolds, and all the other items that went with BDSM. But all he could see were piles and piles of ropes stacked in several different places about the floor. He looked around the hall for cupboards and chests to store things in, but there was nowhere to put anything in other than the cupboards below the sink.
"Sit down Malcolm, tea won't be long," said Vicky.
Malcolm sat down on one of those folding wooden chairs that these places always seemed to have in abundance. In fact he could not remember ever seeing them anywhere else but in this type of building. Still deep in thought he placed his crash-helmet down on the table and waited.
"Are you staying up here long Malcolm?" asked Vicky picking up a boiling kettle that had just clicked off.
"Err… might… might not... I've made no firm plans," he said telling her the honest truth.
"Have you got anywhere to stay tonight?" she asked.
Malcolm shook his head. "No!… Not at the moment… I didn't even know that I would get invited until I spoke to Brian Bensen… So I've made no particular plans," he told her, then began to regret what he had said.
It was the truth he spoke, but Vicky had caught him off guard when he was thinking of other things. He decided to be more reticent in future.
Luckily Vicky was pouring out the cups at this stage and made no further comment on where he was staying tonight. However Malcolm was still getting very nervous and it was beginning to show. Somehow this always happened in the presence of Katie, and now with her due to arrive at any minute he could feel it coming on. He also had the combined worry of being recognised and tipped off to the police. He had an escape plan of sorts. It was simply that he would be out of there like a shot if anyone suspected him. At least he had the advantage of a motorcycle for a quick getaway.
Vicky finished making two mugs of tea and came across to sit at the table with Malcolm.
"Thank you," he told her as she placed the mug down on the table in front of him.
Malcolm did not particularly want to get into a another deep conversation at this stage, or reveal anything else about himself. He had come here to see Katie and not to explain away anything by lying about his presence at every turn. Nervously he sipped his tea immediately it arrived. It was steaming hot and burned his lips.
Vicky saw Malcolm's reaction. "Too hot?" she queried.
"T'is a bit," he replied.
This was about the level of conversation he could handle right now, and he sipped again.
"It's fine," he added afterwards.
Then thankfully the thump of a door closing somewhere downstairs came to the rescue, and Vicky cocked an ear.
"Sounds like someone's arrived," she informed Malcolm.
Malcolm could hear voices. People were speaking as they climbing the stairs. It sounded like more than two people were arriving but he could not be certain. Soon the voices were at the door. It opened into the room. Malcolm was ready to cross the floor to greet Katie if it was her. But he was disappointed. It was not.
Four people entered. Two men and two woman. They looked to be all aged somewhere in their mid-thirties, but from the distance and through all the layers of winter clothing they were wearing it was difficult to put an accurate figure on it. One of the men closed the door and all four came heading across the room towards where Malcolm and Vicky were seated.
"Hi," Vicky greeted them as they approached.
"New member?" asked one of the women.
"A friend of Katie's," Vicky explained. "He's come up from Littlesea for the day."
The woman just nodded her understanding.
All four persons arrived to stand at the table. It was time for introductions.
"Malcolm this is Sandra and Sylvia, and Dick and Ray. They're all members here," said Vicky indicating each person as she spoke, then adding: "And this is Malcolm. Here's a friend of Katie's just up here for a few days."
The first woman, Sandra, held out her hand. "Pleased to meet you Malcolm," she said.
Malcolm stood up and shook hands with Sandra, then went along the row, greeting and shaking hands with the other three members of the party.
Just at the point when he was shaking hands with the last person, the door opened again and two more people entered the room. This time they were both females. He hoped that this was not going to go on all night. Just how many more members were going to arrive?
Then Malcolm heard more voices and one of the girls who had just entered remained to keep the door held open for a while. Then two more people entered and suddenly Malcolm's heart skipped a beat. One of them was Katie! At last she had arrived.
She entered the room accompanied by a man in a navy-blue pin-striped suit. He was a bit plump around the waist, with gold rimmed spectacles and a small black moustache.
Suddenly they were walking the floor to meet each other. Katie threw her arms around Malcolm and kissed him on the lips.
"Malcolm, I thought it would be you. I couldn't think of anyone else from Littlesea who'd want to come here to see me," she said with a sparkle to her voice.
The man accompanying Katie held out his hand. "I'm Brian, we spoke earlier on the phone. I'm glad we've had chance to meet. Enjoy yourself tonight. Katie's agreed to be your partner, haven't you my dear? So don't worry if you're unsure about anything. Just listen and do as she says," he said greeting Malcolm.
Malcolm shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you too," he replied. It seemed like the best thing to say at the time.
Brian Bensen looked to his watch. Then addressing Katie directly he said: "Look sorry love, I've got to go… I'm late already… I'll call back for you at about eleven-thirty like we agreed… sorry sweetheart… but it's all one big rush tonight… got to go!… see you at eleven thirty…. bye!…."
Katie kissed Brian a departing peck, and the man sped away, waving goodbye to the rest of the people in the room as he left. At that same point in time the other folks stood in the middle of the floor seemed to melt away, leaving just Malcolm and Katie standing alone together.
Malcolm was wondering exactly how much Katie knew about the events in Littlesea. He wondered if she had heard anything on the news about the kidnappings? And if so, did she know it was him that was wanted by the police? On the other hand, it could be that the ferry disaster, combined with the fact that Lancashire was too far north from the English Channel to attract much interest in what had taken place in a sleepy little town like Littlesea. Hopefully it was only the local South Coast channels that had broadcast anything in depth.
After giving it more thought he concluded that to be the case, but he had no way of telling. However from Katie's initial greeting and the smile on her face when they came together, all the signs were that she had not heard a thing. At least he hoped so. But weighing up all the signs he decided that she did not know anything about what had happened in Littlesea and was totally ignorant of all his impetuous goings on.
Katie took Malcolm's hand. "This is a surprise Malcolm," she told him. "what brings you up here?"
"Err… a bit of a break… I'm allowed Holiday Weekends off," he lied, and left it at that.
"Your dungeon's safe for a few days then?" she asked with a small titter.
"Err… it'll keep," replied Malcolm.
"Well it's nice to see you again anyway Malcolm. I guess you've brought me my clothes. Is that why you're up here?" she asked.
Malcolm hesitated. Katie's suitcase with all her clothes in was most probably in the hands of the police right now. Quickly he thought of an excuse.
"Sorry Katie, I only posted it yesterday. I was going to bring it up with me, but in the end I decided to travel here on my motorcycle and there was nowhere to put it on the back," he reasoned and hoped his explanation sounded logical.
"Oh don't worry Malcolm! They were all old clothes anyway. I wasn't intending on wearing any of that stuff ever again. They reminded me too much of Richard Davies and that awful Tracy Goodyear. That's why I asked for them to be sent here to be disposed of. A local charity's got a room downstairs and I was going to donate everything to them," she explained.
At least that explained the reason for the strange address. Malcolm smiled and relaxed a little. There was nothing sinister going on around here and Katie was being her usual devil-may-care self, and he loved her for it.
"It's nice to see you again," he told her and squeezing her hands.
"And you too Malcolm," she replied.
Malcolm opened his mouth to offer more compliments, but it was too late. Suddenly Katie bubbled into life.
"You must come with me Malcolm… Now!" she said in that strong authoritarian voice she had used on him many times before.
Keeping hold of Malcolm with both hands she led him to the far corner of the room and away from the others. He followed her like a lamb to the slaughter.
A large timber frame of sorts stood over in this corner. It was in the shape of a cube, with four upright square timber posts and four cross-beams linking the structure together. Its height, width and breadth being in seemingly equal proportions of about eight feet in length in all directions. At various places around the frame eye-bolts with large circular rings had been screwed into the woodwork, and on the floor lay several coils of rope.
"Has anyone had time to explain the rules to you?" Katie asked on arrival at the centre of the frame.
"Err… No!" replied Malcolm.
 "Right! They're simple really Malcolm. This club, 'Bows and Ties', is solely dedicated to the art of using ropes. 'Bound Art' it is sometimes called, and we don't use anything else but ropes here to restrain people. We don't use handcuffs, blindfolds, ball-gags, whips, chains or anything of that sort in this place, we just use ropes. Is that clear?" said Katie spelling out exactly what the club was all about.
Malcolm did not mind at all really. There was no way he was going to get worked up over the news. He had not come here for that reason anyway. He just wanted to meet up with Katie again, and hopefully at some more convenient time he wanted to tell her just how much he loved her, and invite her to come and live with him at Cuckoo Cottage.
"Err… Just ropes! Okay then... Err… No problem," he replied.
"Right Malcolm! Are you ready to start?" asked Katie.
"Err… Ready!… Yes!… Err… I suppose so!" replied a hesitant Malcolm.
He was not quite sure what all this was leading up to. As they were speaking four more people had entered the room, so surely Katie was not referring to a bit of bondage play between them with all these people in the same room and looking on?
 But Katie was being her forceful self again. "Right Malcolm, I guess you want to do the tying and not the other way round?" she said unbuttoning her thick winter coat.
"Err… I guess so!" replied Malcolm hesitantly.
"So let's say I get undressed and you keep all that leather gear on for now. I'll leave it to you to think of something to do with this frame we're standing under whilst I'm taking off my clothes. I'm sure you can come up with something original," suggested Katie.
Malcolm was still a bit bemused with the speed that everything was moving. But he agreed with the idea of keeping all his motorcycle kit on. For one thing the thought of fleeing from here stark naked did not really appeal to him, and for another there were too many eyes in the room to witness what was going on between them. But as for thinking of something to do with the frame, he was a bit uncertain as to how far he could go without his actions being frowned upon. He decided it best to leave Katie to decide.
"Err.. Okay Katie, It's a deal… You get undressed and I'll do the tying up. But err… I'd prefer it if you told me what to do. I'm new to this game, remember?" he said.
Katie chuckled. She could see that Malcolm was feeling a bit shy and a bit sensitive about doing anything intimate with so many strangers around. Not that anyone minded. In fact she doubted if anyone else in the room would even bother to look this way. They would soon all be too pre-occupied with their own activities to even bother about what was going on in the far corner of the room.
"Okay Malcolm, here's the deal! You get to do the tying and I get to choose the position and method. Is that fair enough? Is that a deal?" she asked whilst draping her coat over the back of one of those folding wooden chairs.
Malcolm nodded. "That sounds fair enough to me," he agreed.
Katie smiled. "Right! The first thing to do then whilst I'm getting undressed is to go over to the sink and bring back a bucket and a watering-can full of water. Can you do that for me please?" asked Katie.
"Err.. I guess so," replied a bemused Malcolm. He had not got a clue why Katie should want such things.
Malcolm sauntered across the hall to the sink leaving Katie to undress. There were about a eighteen to twenty people here by now. Some were stood up and others were seated at the tables. All were huddled into little groups and seemingly more interested in talking between themselves than take any notice of a newcomer amongst their midst.
Malcolm spotted a green plastic watering-can alongside the sink. He picked it up and began to fill it up from the tap in the sink. He guessed that it would hold about two gallons. Whilst doing so he looked around for a bucket but could not see one in sight.
He was in the process of gathering his nerve and asking when he heard a voice say: "The buckets are under the sink."
It was Vicky speaking and obviously aware of Katie's intentions even if Malcolm had not got a clue. Malcolm smiled and opened up the cupboard beneath the sink. Vicky was still sat at the table finishing off her cup of tea when she addressed him. His own cup remained on the table. It was still quite full and going cold. In the intervening time three people had joined Vicky at the table and they all appeared to be deep in conversation with her. She simply returned the smile and picked up the small talk from where they had left off.
Malcolm peered under the sink. There were four buckets beneath, all stacked one inside another. They were all different colours too. The top one happened to be yellow and he took it out. The bucket was bigger than he had expected. Looking at the size of the watering-can he estimated that it would take about three, possibly four cans to fill it right to the top.
 By now the watering-can was full and he turned off the tap. Then taking the bucket in one hand and the can in the other he set off back across the hall to re-join Katie. Again, as he zigzagged between the tables and chairs, no-one seemed to take a blind bit of notice of what he was doing.
On his return Katie was stark naked. She had taken off all her clothes in double quick time and was sorting out various lengths of rope from a pile on the floor when he deposited the bucket and watering-can besides the frame. Eventually she appeared to find what she was looking for and walked over to join Malcolm who had by now made his way to the centre of the frame.
"I've brought you the bucket and the water," he told her, then asked: "What do you want me to do with them?"
"All in good time Malcolm. All in good time," Katie replied with a chuckle, then added: "In the meantime you'll be needing these. Here take them and I'll tell you what to do with them."
Katie presented Malcolm with four pieces of clean white rope. They were all of varying lengths, but on average three were about ten feet in length, the fourth was a much longer piece, and probably twice as long as the others.
Malcolm took the ropes from her. The sight of seeing Katie stripped naked once again was making him feel both aroused and nervous. "Err… What do we do then Katie?" he asked shyly.
Katie stepped back one pace and placed her wrists together at the front. "First you take one of the shorter lengths of rope and bind my hands together like this," she told him, then on seeing a slight reluctance on Malcolm's part she added:  "Come on lover boy, you can do it! There was nothing shy about you the last time we were together was there?"
Malcolm pulled himself together. This was getting silly and he could handle the situation with no problem. Especially after all his other dungeon exploits. It was just the brazen way Katie went about things. She was an unstoppable fire-brand and nothing was going to distract her from what she wanted to do. Basically Katie did what Katie wanted, and there was no point arguing about it.
"Okay, let's get it going then. I'm ready, willing and able, if you are!" he told the fiery redhead.
Katie thrust her locked together arms in Malcolm's direction. She explained what was to be done:
"Take the end of the rope and bind my wrists together. First you go round and round the wrists several times, then go the other way between the wrists to make sure everything is nice and tight. I want you to tie it so that there's some left over at the end. We need about half of the rope to tie somewhere else afterwards. Have you got that?"
Malcolm nodded and uttered: "Yes! I've got all that"
Katie's instructions seemed explicit enough. Taking one end of the rope he first wound a single loop around the wrists and tied it together with a double knot. He then went round and round the wrists several times more as instructed before passing the rope the other way and adding several more turns between the wrists.
Katie tested the excessive lashings of rope about her wrists and appeared to be totally satisfied with what Malcolm had done. If anything he had gone overboard with his exuberance and this pleased her no end. Stepping backwards to stand beneath an overhead cross-beam of the frame she issued her next set of instructions.
"Right Malcolm, next I want you to tie the other end of the rope to the beam up there above my head. Thread it through one of the rings in the centre, then pull my hands up until I tell you to stop. Then I want you to tie it tight and hold me in that position. Have you got that?"
Malcolm nodded once more. "That ring in the middle? Is that the one you want?" he queried.
Katie looked to where Malcolm was pointing and confirmed that he had found the right ring: "That's the one Malcolm. You need to thread the end through the hole and then pull downwards. Afterwards you tie it in position by securing the end to one of those other rings down the side of the frame over there. Do you see where I mean?"
Malcolm could see where Katie meant. Stretching upwards and standing on tiptoes he managed to pass the end of the rope through the centrally positioned ring above Katie's head. He then pulled downwards as instructed and Katie's lashed together wrists rose upwards towards the beam.
"Keep going Malcolm! Up a little bit more. Keep pulling!" instructed Katie as Malcolm pulled downwards on the rope. Following her instructions he pulled a little harder and Katie's heels rose from the floor for a brief moment.
"That's about it!… You've got it!… Stop right there," she told him.
Malcolm held her in that position.
"Now Malcolm, tie the other end to the frame over there," she said as she adjusted her teetering stance with her toes.
He obliged by passing the end through a ring screwed into an upright beam then secured the rope.
"How's that Katie?" he asked when he was done.
If anything Katie had dropped a little. But it did not matter, her arms were stretched upwards quite adequately for what she wanted to achieve.
"That's fine Malcolm," she replied and feeling satisfied with what he had done.
"Next?" asked Malcolm picking up another rope. He was beginning to feel more at ease now and was eager to add more rope wherever it may be needed.
Katie was also eager to progress and she told him what must be done for the second stage.
"Next Malcolm, I want you to tie my legs apart. I want you take the other two shorter pieces of rope and tie my legs to the sides of the frame. You tie it so that my legs are stretched as wide apart as you can possibly get them. Do you understand what I mean?"
To demonstrate what she meant, she opened out her legs as far as she was able to before loosing purchase between her feet and the floor. It was not a great distance but enough to get the point across.
The demonstration however was not really necessary. Malcolm understood all to well and he relished the idea of tying Katie up like this. Already he could feel his penis stiffening within the tight confines of his leather motorcycle gear.
He set to work. Taking one length of rope, he bent down and wrapped an end several times around Katie's left ankle before finishing off with a tightly held knot. He then did exactly the same to the right ankle with the second piece of rope. She now had both ropes attached, one to each ankle. Next he passed the end of one rope through a ring close to the base of the frame, then returned to place the loose end on the floor behind her. He then repeated the operation on the other side.
Malcolm was now ready for some action. Standing behind Katie with both ropes held together and firmly within his grasp, he pulled with equal force on both and watched her legs spread slowly apart.
Katie had been simply content just to look down and observe what Malcolm was doing right up to the point when her feet started moving apart in unison. Nobody had ever done it like this before. The conventional method was always to secure first one leg and then the other, and somehow she never seemed to feel properly balanced afterwards. Her legs were either tied too far to the left or to the right. Yet Malcolm had managed to get it just perfect at his first attempt. He was a genius and she could not stop herself from praising his ingenuity and handiwork.
"Malcolm, you're wonderful!… Absolutely bloody wonderful!…" Katie cried as her feet slid outwards across the bare floorboards and her legs gradually became further and further apart.
Having considered that he had pulled hard and long enough, Malcolm tied both pieces of rope together at a point just behind the ankles and midway between the legs. He then stepped back to see the fruits of his handiwork..
Standing to the rear, and not able to see the reaction on her face, Malcolm had no knowledge of the way Katie was feeling at that precise moment in time. But at least she was silent and not protesting about how uncomfortable she was, unlike some of the other women he could think of. He therefore assumed either one of two things. Either she was bearing up to the pressure quite well, or more likely enjoying every moment of it. Either way, Malcolm had to admire her guts. To have something like this done to her and not utter a word of protest must take an awful lot of courage.
Malcolm concluded that Katie was a true bondage fanatic, and it was at times like this it showed. Here she was, tied rigid with very little movement of the body possible, yet she took it as it came. With her arms drawn way above her head the way they were, and with the distance he had now stretched the legs apart, he could see no room for freedom of movement whatsoever. Even her feet were barely touching the floor, with just the tips of her toes making any significant contact with the surface. He concluded after great deliberation that Katie must by now be feeling most uncomfortable to say the least. Yet all the same there appeared to be no objections being raised to the contrary. Katie seemed to be hanging there quite content with her little lot.
Malcolm circled around the front to stand face to face with Katie.
On seeing him arrive Katie gave a large grin and told him exactly what she thought of his work.
"Malcolm, you've managed to get it just about perfect first time. You're a natural, do you know that? A pure natural!" she praised him and noticeably bubbling over with excitement.
Malcolm just could not believe what he saw and heard. Katie was actually revelling in everything that had been done to her.
"Thank you," he said in response to her praise. "I always do my best to please!"
Malcolm bowed gracefully before Katie. He had assumed that he had finished, their little session at an end, and was taking his curtain call. But it soon became apparent that not to be the case, for Katie began to issue another string of instructions before he had time to finish his bow.
"Right Malcolm, you've got to get this next bit exactly right, so follow my instructions very carefully. I want you to take the last piece of rope and tie one end around my waist. You do it with the knot at the back. Have you got that?" she told him.
Malcolm collected the long piece of rope from off the floor. "Right!… I've got that!… You want it tied around the waist with the knot at the back!" he said making a loop in the rope and demonstrating that he clearly understood.
"It doesn't have to be too tight, but firm enough so as not to slip down from a position somewhere around my belly-button. Go on, have a go! I'll tell you when it's tight enough," instructed Katie further.
It appeared that despite her dire predicament Katie was still very much in charge and with Malcolm the subordinate of the partnership. Malcolm did as he was told and tied one end of the rope about Katie's waist with the knot at the back.
Katie waited until he had finished before issuing her next instruction. "Now Malcolm, pass the rope down and between my legs, then come round the front and face me," she told him.
Malcolm did as he was told. He passed the rope between Katie's legs and moved to the front.
"What next then?" he asked as he stood facing Katie with rope in hand.
"This is the bit you've got to get exactly right Malcolm. At a point right between my legs, exactly where my clit is, I want you to tie a double knot in the rope. Now be careful and get it right on the spot. This is important. The knot must be right up against my clit," she emphasised most strongly.
"Okay, whatever you say," he replied and only too willing to oblige.
Malcolm tied first one knot then bent down and tested its position. It seemed to be hitting the right spot. However he opted to stay crouched down for a little while longer. This was a wonderful sight. Katie's virgina was dripping wet and there were little droplets of juice forming on the ends of a few straggly ginger pubic hairs. He was tempted to run his fingers along her slit to remove the residue, but refrained from doing so. He knew that Katie would only berate him for doing something out of turn.
Having ogled long enough Malcolm returned to the little matter in hand. He checked the position of the knot one final time, then tied it again to double up on the original size. Once again he held the knot to her clitoris to satisfy himself that the positioning was as Katie wanted it. She had stressed the importance of getting this just right and he did not want to be held responsible for any mistakes.
Malcolm stood up and announced: "Right Katie, one extra large knot in position against the clitoris as requested."
Katie looked pleased and told him what to do next: "Right Malcolm, now take the rest of the rope and thread it up and under the rope around my waist. You then take the end across the frame to the beam opposite and thread it through that central ring over there. After that you pull the rope tight so as to remove any slackness, then tie the bucket to the piece hanging down… Have got that?"
 Malcolm understood but went over the steps described by Katie just to make sure. "Right Katie, you want this end passed up and threaded under the stomach, then taken across to that ring over there, then on the bit that comes down I attach the bucket… Is that what you want?"
 "That's right Malcolm... Now do it!… I'm getting horny… I can feel it coming on!…" urged a frustrated Katie.
Malcolm followed Katie's latest instruction, passing the end first under the rope around the waist, then across to the other side of the frame and up and through the ring of the eye-bolt screwed into the centre of the beam. Then, on the length hanging down, he tied the bucket so that it hung suspended about four feet from off the floor.
"How's that?" he asked Katie as soon as his task was complete.
Katie seemed to find some movement in her hips, and tried to centralise the rope so that it ran right along her slit. But try as she might she could not quite get it right. The rope still remained to the left of her crutch.
"Malcolm, the rope between my legs needs adjusting slightly. Try and get it right up between my crack with my lips to either side. Can you do that for me please? You might have to part my lips for me!" she asked after several failed attempts at doing it herself.
Malcolm knelt down between her legs and fingered the rope. It was already very wet. He looked up between Katie's legs and could see the problem. The rope was pressing one of her labia lips flat inside her crack. Pulling the rope down a little with one hand, he eased the labia out to the side and returned the rope.
As Malcolm sniffed his fingers Katie gyrated her hips and found herself feeling comfortable. This was how she liked it. "That's it Malcolm… You've done it… thanks… I really do need to feel comfortable down there whenever I'm doing this trick," she explained.
"And what about the knot? Is that where you want it?" asked Malcolm hoping to be asked to have another look and a further adjustment.
Her answer however was slightly disappointing. "That feels just about perfect Malcolm. I think you've got everything spot on now. But I'll only be able to tell properly when the water goes into the bucket. Can you do that for me now? I want you to pour all the water from out of the can and into the bucket," she explained.
Malcolm picked up the watering-can and emptied the contents into the bucket. With substantial weight now in the yellow plastic container the rope tensioned and pulled taught between Katie's outstretched legs. For the first time that evening she groaned and gritted her teeth, and he could tell that it was starting to hurt.
However, for Katie it was enjoyment not pain she was experiencing. The knot was beginning to press heavily against her clitoris and she could feel the start of an orgasm coming on. What it need now was a lot more pressure and a lot more water in the bucket.
"Run and fill up the can again please Malcolm. I need at least one more can full in the bucket. Can you do that quickly please Malcolm? I'm relying on you to do a good job and finish me off!" she pleaded with the teenager.
Malcolm returned across the floor. He had not noticed before, but some of the group had started their own activities. In the centre of the hall a young girl dressed only in bra and panties was being tied to a chair, and over against the wall there was another group attempting to hold a completely naked woman upside down and at the same time trying to tie her to the bars. He wished them the best of luck.
There were fewer people at the tables now, but Vicky remained seated at the table drinking what was probably her second cup of tea. She was now on her own and looked in need of company.
"How are you doing Malcolm?" she asked on passing.
"Katie wants more water," answered Malcolm nonchalantly.
"She always does," replied Vicky in the same tone of voice.
Malcolm set the tap running and waited. He had been told that Nick, the club's secretary, and Vicky were partners and that he was away in Switzerland at present on holiday with his parents, so he assumed that is why she had been left on her own.
Casually he remarked. "I see you've been left on your own tonight Vicky?"
"Afraid so!" she answered with a sigh. "Nick insists that I don't do anything unless he's here to supervise. He gets very jealous, but everybody here understands. I'll probably take it out on myself with a bit of self bondage when I get home."
By now the can had filled and Malcolm turned off the tap. All of a sudden he found himself feeling sorry for Vicky and wanted to comfort her. But right now he had Katie to contend with. Walking past the table with can in hand he remarked: "Best of luck with your self-bondage tonight then Vicky. I hope it all goes well with you when you get home!"
"Thanks Malcolm, but it's never quite the same… What I need is a forceful Master to dominate me tonight… I'll willingly be his slave, and if it all takes place away from the club and away from prying eyes then Nick will never get know will he!" remarked Vicky hinting suggestively to Malcolm in the hope that he might take up the offer.
But Malcolm never heard the last part of her statement, he was already gone, heading quickly across the floor to the frame in the corner.
 Vicky shrugged her shoulders. Still, she was ready with a plan that should work regardless. Katie was not being collected until eleven-thirty, and there was a strong possibility that Malcolm would still be hanging around with her after everybody else had gone. She had to stay anyway, because she had the keys to lock up. Furthermore she knew that Malcolm was without accommodation for the night, and that Katie's flat was far too small, and the fact that Brian would probably object anyway. So what could be better than to accept her offer to spend the night in her spacious four bedroom home and to keep her company until morning?
Vicky was a devious person, and but unlike Katie her fetish was into being dominated rather than the other way round, so it was just not in her nature to constantly go about demanding things the way Katie did.
Malcolm arrived back at the frame to find Katie gyrating her hips the best she could within the limits afforded her by her bonds. He could see what she was doing. She was trying to work that knot against her clitoris and get some sort of stimulation from the contact.
"Malcolm, fill the bucket up, and keep pouring until I say stop… and be ready to go back for some more water… it might not be enough," she told him.
Malcolm began to slowly pour the contents of the watering-can into the bucket. At the same time he kept one eye on Katie. She seemed to be putting everything she had into it now. Her eyes were shut and she was breathing heavily. She was somehow managing to move backwards and forwards just a fraction, but obviously enough to cause a slight movement between knot and clitoris.
As the can emptied Katie's breathing turned to heavy grunts. Finally, when all the water had gone from the watering-can and the bucket was two-thirds full, Katie called to Malcolm: "Malcolm?" she groaned between pants for breath.
Malcolm expected Katie to be wanting even more water and was ready to turn and speed away, but instead her instructions were much different.
"Malcolm!…" she yelled again. "Come here!… Now!…. This minute!.."
He put the can down and crossed the short distance to stand directly in front of the vigorously gyrating Katie.
"Malcolm!… Grab my nipples and squeeze them as hard as you can…" she told him. "Do it now Malcolm!… I'm about to come!"
Malcolm obliged and squeezed her nipples with all the force her could muster.
"Arggghh….. Argggghhhhh….. Arrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhh…….." screamed Katie as the long and eagerly awaited orgasm finally arrived.
After a few minutes panting for breath, Katie opened her eyes and smiled at the patiently waiting Malcolm stood before her.
"Kiss me Malcolm…. That was wonderful…. Absolutely wonderful… You're a bloody genius… You know that?… Now kiss me hard and long..." she told him.
Their mouths met and they kissed. Katie's tongue darting in and out of Malcolm's mouth and at times reaching down to the back of his throat.
As they broke away he squeezed her nipples once more and told her. "And you're absolutely wonder too Katie… You know I love you don't you?"
But Katie did not answer. The second squeeze of her nipples had started her off again, and she could feel another orgasm coming. This one was going to be even stronger and better than the first. She just knew it!
"Grab my nipples again!" she ordered.
He did so.
"Harder!" she shouted
He obliged.
He wondered just how many more times he was going to repeat this tonight?
 

cont.