The following takes place between the hours of 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM on a day of no particular importance to anyone.
11:00 PM
Kim Bauer awoke slowly as her mind and body shook off the effects of the powerful although short lasting sedative Chas Ostermeyer had slipped her. The last she could remember, she had been in Ostermeyer’s study, preparing to rifle through his files in the hopes of securing the evidence her father would need to link him to the as-yet-unnamed organization behind the brutal murder of her mother. As she freed her mind of the cobwebs left by the powerful drug, she noticed she was no longer clad in the oversized bathrobe she had donned after the shower Ostermeyer had so generously offered her. She recognized the pink blouse she had originally picked out nearly four hours ago in the hopes of enticing the single, wealthy Beverly Hills banker (it had never occurred to her that it might be too successful). She was certain the blouse had ripped during her accidental tumble down the hill in Ostermeyer’s backyard. As she brought her hands down to examine the blouse, she made a second, more chilling realization: she was tied to the bed. Fear rose in her as she shook her arms and flailed her wrists helplessly against the secure ropes. Looking down at her black leather miniskirt (minus the black fishnet stockings), she saw her ankles were similarly restrained. She was spread eagle and helpless.
However, for the moment, she was also alone. Adrenaline began coursing through her as she violently struggled with the restraints. She knew the ropes wouldn’t break – she was more hopeful of pulling them loose from the bedpost. As she turned her head to see how securely the ropes were bound, she saw that she was no longer in the massive master bedroom with its white shag carpet and sprawling bathroom but rather a much smaller room with dark wooden paneling. She also noticed that she was on a queen sized mattress and not a waterbed. She had no idea where in his mansion she was. Her wrists and ankles began to ache from the futile strain of exertion and she was compelled to relinquish the struggle until she could form a better plan. For now, she was powerless.
Her struggles against the bed had created a sufficient racket to rouse her captor and Ostermeyer walked deliberately and confidently into the room.
“Good evening, my dear,” he began. “I trust you’ve satisfied yourself that you cannot break free of your bonds.”
Kim’s eyes blazed hatred at him. “How dare you tie me up like this? I didn’t do anything to you.”
Ostermeyer considered the allegation. “True enough,” he replied. “But only because I didn’t give you the chance.” He moved closer to her. “And,” he continued “because you lied to me, Kim Stone. Your real name is Kim Bauer and you don’t live anywhere near Ontario.”
Kim said nothing.
“While you were sleeping, I took a little walk and found your car. I called a friend of mine at DMV and got your name and address from the registration. So don’t play innocent with me. I don’t know why you came here or what you were after but I thought it wise to protect myself against a lying trespasser.”
“Alright, you know my name. I didn’t know anything more you than you did about me. I used a fake name so if you turned out to be a psycho, you wouldn’t know where or how to find me.”
Ostermeyer nodded. “I’m not a psycho. I’m just taking some understandable precautions, that’s all.”
Kim looked up. “Then you’ll let me go?”
“In time. I have company coming soon.”
“Your business meeting? That was supposed to be hours ago.”
“It was. I cancelled it while you were in the shower.”
“While you were slipping a sedative into my drink?”
“Yes, that too.” Ostermeyer grinned. “Anyway, this person who is coming is really looking forward to meeting you. Can’t understand what’s keeping them. And after all these lengths I’ve gone to document the evening.” With that, Ostermeyer gestured to the ceiling and behind him. Following his arm, Kim noticed there was something that looked like a lamp directly overhead but, instead of a bulb in the center, there was a long black cylinder. A microphone. She followed the cord to an expensive digital camera pointed directly at her. Glancing quickly to the nightstand neighboring the bed, she saw another microphone like the kind her boyfriend Miguel had in his studio. She knew them to be very sensitive and very expensive.
Just then, a doorbell could be heard faintly through the wall.
“Ah, that’s our special guest. Do make yourself comfortable,” Ostermeyer taunted Kim. “I won’t be a second.”
Panic swept through Kim as Ostermeyer left the room. She could now faintly hear the padding of his feet ascending behind the wall. Stairs. She was downstairs in the mansion. She could barely hear the doorbell, there was no sense in screaming for help. Her cries would be inaudible on the quiet, private drive on which Ostermeyer lived. She renewed her struggle with the ropes more frantically. Her efforts were fruitless. She was going to have to play along until she saw an opening.
Shortly, the footsteps returned. It seemed to Kim that there was only one other set of sounds and they were quieter than Ostermeyer’s, suggesting someone lighter. In walked Ostermeyer and a smaller, olive skinned brunette with thick, curly hair. She stood only 5’ 5” and was quite slightly built. She had neither large breasts nor a particularly large bottom. She was very slender and quite pretty. “Kim,” said Ostermeyer, “please say hello to your new playmate.”
Kim didn’t waste a second. “Please help me,” she cried to the strange girl. “I’m being held by this madman. He drugged me and tied me. Get out of here and call for help, please!”
The girl only smiled. “My, my,” she said, amused, “she’s doing an even better job than you said she would.”
“This is no act!” squealed Kim desperately. “Please, you’re my only hope! Get out of here and call for help!”
Ostermeyer walked immediately over to the bed, retrieved a gag from the nightstand drawer and secured it to Kim’s mouth as her shouts for help continued. She thrashed violently against the ropes but was unable to stop the silencing. As she lay there on the bed, only able to shriek weakly through her nose much to the amusement of Ostermeyer and his cohort, tears of futility welled in her eyes. Although she hated herself for showing weakness, she couldn’t stop the tears.
“Oh, honey, please stop that,” said the strange girl in a mockingly maternal tone. “Baby, let me comfort her.”
“Please,” he smiled lecherously.
She strode quickly to the bedside, sat down and began stroking Kim’s face and hair. “Baby, stop torturing yourself like this. It’s only going to make everything harder for us all. I want to be your friend. Please let me.”
