Bad Blood: Parole ... for a Murderer?

Bad Blood

Parole … For A Murderer?

by

George D. Schultz

Order this book online at www.trafford.com

or email orders@trafford.com

Most Trafford titles are also available at major online book retailers.

© Copyright 2011 George D. Schultz.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Printed in the United States of America.

isbn: 978-1-4269-5829-8 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4269-5830-4 (e)

Trafford rev. 05/10/2011

missing image file www.trafford.com

North America & International

toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada)

phone: 250 383 6864 fax: 812 355 4082

Contents

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY ONE

BAD BLOOD

By

George D. Schultz

A fine, penetrating, mist filled the air, on that dark, dank, April night.

The frightening, God-awful, scenario — the one

about to be described — took place in the spring of 1963. This was an altogether different time, in our culture. As a culture — as a people — we were much less sophisticated back then, don’t you see. Especially so — when considering the vastly more enlightened first decade or so, of the twenty-first century. Well, so we are led to believe:

The bilious-yellow-colored cab swerved into the parking lot of the Fountain Grande, a smallish, two-story, motel on Queens Boulevard, in — obviously — the borough of Queens, New York City.

Two young, very-attractive, women — 18- and 19-years of age — divvied the fare, added a modest tip, paid the driver, then emerged from the taxi. Slightly tipsy, the laughing/giggling pair wove their way toward the motel entrance. It was fifteen minutes past midnight.

Got the key, Loretta?

Yeah, responded the older of the two — rifling the depths of her oversized shoulder-based purse. It’s in here … somewhere.

We came back way too early, groused Leah, the younger woman. Too damn early. Five’ll get you ten that none of the others are back yet.

Oh, Leah, answered Loretta, with an overblown sigh. It doesn’t matter. Just because it’s our last night of freedom … that doesn’t mean that we have to go out and get ourselves totally, and utterly, schnockered.

Freedom, replied Leah, adding her own deep sigh. You make it sound like we’re going to prison or something. Stewardess school can’t be all that bad.

Well, I hear it’s just like some kind of a boot camp or something. I understand they watch you. Watch you … like a hawk. It’s as if they want to tear you down, you know. So they can make another woman out of you. That’s what they say, anyway.

Leah’s giggle could be heard throughout the lobby. To hear you talk, she observed, we’ll be walking … what do they call ‘em? … sentry tours? Sentry tours or something like that. Marching in formation. With rifles. Peeling potatoes. Doing KP. Calisthenics.

As they made their way to the upper floor, Loretta attempted to effect a much more serious demeanor. I really think, she began, that we did the right thing … by coming back early, I mean. Really, I don’t give a damn if no one else is back or not. That plane, y’know … it leaves awfully early in the morning. I just think it’d behoove us to be bright-eyed, and bushy-tailed. As sharp as possible, when we get down there.

They toddled down the hallway to the second door from the end. Loretta managed to jam the key into the lock — on her third try.

You make it sound like Dallas is the end of the world, muttered Leah.

No. Loretta answered, rather wistfully, as she pushed open the door. It’s just that we’re going into … well, look. It’s an entirely different life. I’m guessing that there’s going to be one hell of a lot of discipline … for the first couple or three weeks, anyway. Probably all the while that we’re in their school.

Leah flicked on the light switch — as Loretta closed the door. Seconds later, the room resounded — filled with two ear-splitting feminine gasps!

Seated in one of the period’s garish, motel-basic, plastic, chairs — staring, laser-like, at the two women — sat an elongated flagpole of a man. The pasty paleness of his gaunt face accentuated the hollow, sunken, almost-colorless-albeit-penetrating, eyes. And the grossly-prominent, skeleton-like, cheekbones.

He possessed a revolver! A large one! The weapon was pointed directly at Loretta!

Good ev’nin’ ladies. His voice was a grating whine.

Neither of the young women was able to speak. Not immediately, anyway. Finally, Loretta managed to stammer, Who … who are you? What … what do you … do you want?

The beanpole arose. He was easily six-feet, six-inches tall. He ran one hand — his left, the one without the pistol — through an unruly shock of blond, almost-colorless, hair. The handgun was now pointed directly at Leah’s left breast! The weapon — even from a few feet away — seemed to almost bore a searing, pain-laden, hole! Deep into her bosom!

The room itself — furnished with its two double beds — was typical of the early-and-mid-sixties. This particular accommodation had been augmented with two roll-away beds — giving the room a distinctly-crowded, terribly-cluttered, look.

The open doorway, leading to the next room — an exact duplicate — revealed a like-number of furnishings. And an equally-as-cluttered image.

A wild, almost-glassy, gleam filled the intruder’s eyes, bringing with it a slight dash of color — a faint, almost-sickly-looking green.

How many you girlies we got stayin’ here? His voice continued to be an eerie symphony — a confluence of grating, chalk-on-blackboard, tones.

Eight … uh … eight of us, Loretta managed to blurt. What … what do you want? What do you … do you want of us?

Don’t you little ladies worry yourselfs none, he answered with a nervous giggle. All I want is your money. Need some money, y’know. So don’t you go worryin’ yourselfs none. I ain’t gonna hurt you none. Neither one of you.

Leah was trembling. Slightly at first. But, the shivering was accelerating — quickly! Reaching, in record time, an almost-out-of-control, head-to-toe, spasm-like, virtually-convulsive, shivering condition.

I’m a mite down, I guess, on my luck, y’see continued the man. Oh, I got a good job an’ all, y’know. But, they’s times, y’know, when I jus’ get this wild ol’ hair. Wild hair … you know where. I figger that I gotta get me away from here. Find a way to get me far away from here. Start me a new life, y’know. Goin’ maybe out to Phoenix … or somewheres. But, see? I need me some money for me to do that.

I … I don’t have much money, declared Loretta. I guess maybe sixty or seventy dollars. You can have it! You can have it all! Take it! I don’t think Leah’s got anywhere near that much. But, please! Please! Take it … take the money … and … and … and go! Please!

I will, y’know. I will. Just calm yourselfs down, now. I’ll take the money. Like I said, I ain’t gonna hurt no one. He rubbed his stubble-laden chin with a large, unwashed hand. You say there’s, like, eight of you young girlies a-stayin’ here?

Yeah, stammered Loretta. "Yes. This is our last night in town. In New York. I doubt the rest … the others … I doubt they’ll be back for quite a while. Long time, maybe. Maybe hours. Probably hours. I just about had to drag Leah, here, back. We … we leave tomorrow. For stewardess school. Acme Airlines. Down in Dallas."

It took a mighty effort — for the still-trembling Leah to nod her tentative agreement.

Well, replied the gunman, I ain’t in no partic’lar hurry, y’know. I guess, then … from what you all was sayin’ … I guess there ain’t nobody gonna be botherin’ us, y’know. Any of us. None of us. A sinister grin waxed from one hair-infested ear to the other. Tell ya what! Whyn’t you girlies jus’ go on ahead … go on ahead, y’know, an’ … an’, y’know, take off yer clothes.

It was definitely not a question. The intruder had — without a doubt — issued an unmistakable order! A plain and simple command! An indisputable ultimatum! It was augmented with another grating giggle — enough to make both women’s blood crawl!

Take … take off our clothes, Loretta half-shouted. That’s … that’s ridiculous! Why should we have to take off our clothes, for heaven’s sakes? She proffered her purse toward the interloper. Here, she snarled. Take our money and … and just leave! Please! Leave! Take the money … and leave! Please! I beg of you.

The intruder’s eyes grew yet wider! His response was another chilling giggle.

Leah began to cry! Her body was shaking somewhat less. But, her eyes seemed to be clouding over. Another disquieting element! Loretta wrapped her arms around the trembling young woman. Holding Leah’s fright-wracked body, so closely, seemed to make her own discomfort almost diminish. To lessen, in any case — ever-so-lightly.

Her gaze — almost a glare by then — returned to the gunman. Her eyes narrowed — almost like a death ray! You get out of here, she hissed, letting go of her young partner. Take our money … but … but, just get out! Get the hell out of here! We are not taking our clothes off! Not for you! Not for anyone! I don’t take my clothes off for anybody. Certainly not for the likes of someone like … like you! I, most assuredly, don’t sleep around! And I’m sure that Leah doesn’t either! In fact, she’s, I’m sure … I’m sure that … I’m sire that she’s still a virgin. So, you can just…

Whoo-WHEE! Whoo-WHEE, Little Lady. A virgin? She’s a virgin? Leah’s a VIRGIN? She ain’t already had her cherry popped? Really? Whoo-WHEE! Now, I KNOW we gonna have ourselfs some fun. Some REAL fun!

He giggled once more! Then, without a hint of warning, the interloper swung his revolver, in a vicious arc — smashing the chrome-plated weapon across Loretta’s right cheek! The gun’s sighting device opened a gaping, instantly-bleeding, gash — just beneath her shock-filled eye!

The shattered woman raised a frantic hand to her face — and staggered backward! She fell against one of the roll-away beds — then, crumpled to the floor!

Now, wheezed the gunman. Now, goddam it! Don’t you give me any more damn lip, Broad! I ain’t takin’ no shit from you! You hear that, Bitch? You hear that? Now, if I gotta get rough … why, I’ll goddam-well get rough! Maybe that’s the way you like it. Jus’ exactly the way you like it! Hah? Lotsa women, y’know … they jus’ go ahead, an’ they like it rough. Like it done to ‘em … really rough, y’know. But, me? I don’t like it that way. I don’t hanker to be doin’ things that-a-way. Now, maybe you better be seein’ about getting’ them goddam clothes off your sorry ass! Get ‘em right on off that right-pretty little ass of yours!

Leah, still shaking, dropped to her friend’s side — and wrapped her arms around the bleeding, trembling, woman!

LORETTA! Loretta! she sobbed. What … what’re we going to do? What’re we going to do?

You’ll get your goddam clothes off … is what you’ll do, snarled the intruder. He was beginning to drool. Unless you want the same thing! The same goddam thing … that she jus’ got! He began wiping away the spittle. Don’t make no never-mind to me. Either way, I want you bare-assed! Want you naked! Both of you! Now, move yer good-lookin’ little ass, Little Lady … goddam it! Move!

Leah, weeping bitterly, arose from Loretta’s side. She began to unbutton her blouse. 1963 was a year or two before it became the fashion to go braless. In point of fact, such a disgraceful manner of dress would’ve violated the airline’s strictly-enforced policy. The filmy pink brassiere that Leah wore — beneath her basic, still-crisp, white-cotton, top — seemed, consistently, to be fighting a losing battle. A constant, almost-futile, effort — by the exotic-appearing undergarment — to contain the young woman’s more-than-ample, beautifully sculpted, firm, pink-tipped, breasts.

Removing the blouse, she placed it, carefully, over the back of one of the other motel-basic chairs.

Leah! shouted Loretta. Leah … don’t!

She’s all right. Leah’s doin’ all right, y’know, assured the beanpole. In fack’, I think she’s kinda enjoyin’ all this! Enjoyin’ it … purty good, y’know! I c’n tell!

He began to drool once more!

Please, sobbed Leah. Please! Won’t you just go ahead … and take our money? And then leave us? Leave us alone? Please? You’ve done enough damage, as it is!

In a while, y’know, he giggled. In a little while. Pointing the gun directly at Loretta’s head, he snarled, Now, Little Lady, suppose YOU haul your young ass up off-a the floor. And get to strippin’ y’self down for action. Like your friend here. Like nice little virgin Leah, here, is. You hear me, Bitch? Get your little ass up … and, goddam it … you get them fuckin’ clothes of yers off yerself!

Loretta! sobbed Leah. He’s crazy! She began to remove her skirt. We’d … we’d better do … do what he says.

She kicked off her shoes. Pulling her skirt over her head, she laid it — fastidiously — on top of her blouse. She stood before the gunman — in bra and panties!

The string bean began to giggle! Uncontrollably! I sure AM, y’know!     I sure am crazy, he acknowledged, at length. His voice took on a demented, throaty, husky, lust-filled, quality. I sure as hell am crazy, Little Lady. I’m crazy to see what it is that you got there! Under that brassiere! And under them pants, o’yers! Whoo-WHEE! You sure are one hell of a purty lady! Yessir! Gotta admit that shit!

Scrunching her eyes shut — in some far-fetched effort to make the slobbering, reprehensible, subhuman, flagpole disappear — Leah reached back and unhooked her bra! Removing the undergarment, her firm, ripe breasts jutted — almost sprang — out at the wild-eyed interloper. She placed the bra on top of her skirt.

Then, looking out of the corner of her eye at Loretta — who still had not risen from the floor — Leah peeled down her diaphanous, pretty, pink-lace, panties! She stepped out of them — and stood there! Some would say defiantly! Stood there — hands-on-hips! Naked! Nude — except for the silky, sheer-black nylons, held in place, at creamy mid-thigh, by soft, pink, lacy, garters!

Holy Christ! shouted the interloper. Holy Christ, Little Lady! You … you’re goddam beautiful! Whoo-WHEE! You sure as hell are!

Looking down at Loretta, he squinted one pale-green eye — and, pointing that monster of a firearm, he took deliberate aim! Deliberate aim — at the young woman’s forehead! Loretta’s eyes widened — to gargantuan proportions! She began to gnaw at the back of her hand!

Now, I’m tellin’ you, Little Lady, the gunman seethed. I’m fuckin’ tellin’ you! You better get that young ass of yours up here! Up off’n the floor! An’ you goddam had better start takin’ them goddam clothes of yers off! Off that goddam ass of yers! Start takin’ ‘em off! Fuckin’ now! You hear me, Bitch? NOW!

The frenzied — horribly wounded, and still badly-bleeding — woman pulled herself up! Rose — ever-so-shakily — to her feet! Unsteadily, she began to unbutton her woolen, emerald-green, dress!

As this shocking scenario was taking place, Leah set about removing her stockings! And — now totally nude — dropped the hosiery on top of her other clothing!

After winning the more-than-formidable struggle to merely unbutton the back of her dress, Loretta managed to unzip the side — then, pulled and tugged the frock up over her head. She flung the garment onto the roll-away bed. The woman stood — even more defiantly — in front of the still-drooling gunman! With her hands also on her hips, she presented a brave, brazen, display of pure, undiluted, hatred! Overflowing contempt! She stood there — in her white, flowery, bra and half-slip! Venom gushed from her narrowed-with-abhorrence eyes!

Blood still oozed from the horrible wound in her cheek! The God-awful gash — had, in her mind, become an unquestioned, thoroughly-earned, Badge of Honor!

While she was removing her bra and half-slip, the intruder ordered Leah to rip long, narrow, strips from one of the bed’s sheets!

I … I can’t, she protested. I can’t do that. I’m not … I’m not strong enough. I don’t have the strength to …

The beanpole pulled his gun back — as if to take a swipe at her! In the same fashion that he’d so mercilessly smashed Loretta!

Listen, Bitch! Spittle continued to spill from the obscene orifice — known as his mouth. You listen to me, Little Lady! An’ you listen good! You gonna tear away some strips for me! Or I’m gonna jus’ go ahead … an’ blow away yer sweet little ass! Do you read me, Bitch? Yers .. an’ Loretta’s too! Both of you! Be a shame … be a goddam shame, y’know … to waste away a sweet pussy like yours! An’ yer friend’s here! But …

The terrified young woman — managing to tap into some fount of physical strength, a reserve that she’d not known she possessed — began tearing, frantically, at the sheet! Surprisingly, the rather-worn cotton fabric began to give! Slightly, reluctantly, at first. But, under the terrified Leah’s renewed — and continued — frantic ripping efforts, wide strips of the eventually-cooperative material did begin to make their presence known.

The beanpole returned his attention to Loretta — just as she was about to unhook her stockings from her garter belt. She’d already finished removing her shoes. The interloper beheld her — clad as she was in the garter belt, black lacy panties and sheer black hose.

Wait! Wait right there, Little Lady, he commanded. Wait right there. Leave the garter belt … an’ the stockin’s … on! Just take off yer pants, y’know! Yer pretty little panties! Take ‘em on off! But, leave all the other stuff on!

Loretta slid the pretty little underpants down! Pulled them over her smooth, milk-white hips — then, let the sexy undergarment drop to the floor!

The gunman indicated, with a wave of his weapon, that Leah — who had, at that point, torn eight long strips of sheet material — should move to Loretta’s side. The younger woman complied.

Slithering along side one of the beds, the interloper ordered Loretta to come to him! Once she’d reluctantly obeyed, he spun the terrified woman in a semi-circle. Locking his laser beam stare directly at the plush flesh of her unclothed back — about halfway down — he smacked her, smartly, on her exposed bottom. Six or eight times, he clouted her. Loretta recoiled! The gunman giggled loudly! Then, he grinned, broadly! His face contorted into a grotesque mish-mosh of indescribable emotions! He began slapping the distraught young woman, once again! These more-explosive sounds of the latest series of severe whacks — flesh upon flesh — seemed to fill both rooms!

Then, he fixed his washed-out eyes — and his gun — on Leah! Bring them strips on over here, he snapped — aiming his weapon, once again, directly at her bosom. Put ‘em on the bed! Then, haul that gorgeous ass of yours … back over to where it is that you’re standin’ now.

Sobbing, Leah complied.

Tucking his shiny .38 revolver into the waistband of his badly-soiled, heavily-spotted, grimy, dark-blue, slacks, he yanked Loretta’s arms behind her! He tied the petrified woman’s wrists! Locked them in a vise-tight bond! Topped off with an all-too-efficient, completely-nonnegotiable, seaman’s knot of some sort! The ruthless latch-up completely cut off circulation to the poor woman’s wrists and hands. Cut it off — immediately!

Next, he ordered her to lie, face-down, on the bed! Loretta did her best to comply — but, bound as she was, she’d had to be helped (forcibly) up onto the bed.

Lying on her stomach — naked, except for the exciting combo, of garter belt and sheer hose — she could do absolutely nothing, as the intruder tightly bound her ankles together. As with the unyielding fetters on her wrists, the sheet strips completely curtailed the flow of blood to her lower extremities! In spades!

After a moment of silent debate, the beanpole tied a third strip around the bound woman’s head — forcing, mercilessly, three-or–four-inches of the material into the frenzied young woman’s mouth! A gag! A most effective gag!

Removing the handgun from his waist, he then commanded Leah to lie on the other bed! On her back! Returning the weapon to his waistband, he tied the frantic young woman’s wrists — not quite so tightly — to the two corners at the head of the bed. Using the sixth and seventh strips, he secured her ankles to the bottom corners! Again, the fetters did not quite represent the vise grip of Loretta’s bonds! Close, though! The terrified hostage was lying — spread-eagled! And totally helpless! Another hunk of the disgusting material was shoved into her poised-to-scream mouth! Fer good measure, y’know!

Continuously drooling — and giggling incessantly — the interloper began to fondle her breasts! With great dexterity! The panic-filled young woman was fast becoming completely unglued! Surpassing, even, her previous, overwhelmingly-frenzied, condition! Not an easy accomplishment!

Unzipping his trousers, the gunman allowed his swollen, pulsating, penis to explode from its confinement! The horrified woman — eyes approaching saucer proportions — began to shake her head! Frantically! Furiously! From side-to-side!

The frenetic, frantic, motions, of course, had absolutely no effect on the crazed gunman! Other than to accelerate his slobbering, drooling, warped, excitement — given his knowledge of the breadth of the fast-unfolding situation!

Loretta — struggling mightily against her circulation-blocking bonds, on the other bed — fought valiantly to, at minimum, spit out her gag! To at least be capable of getting off some sort of ear-splitting scream! At the very least! It was, of course, no use! Was not to be! The interloper’s mastery of the knotsman’s art was uncanny. And indisputable. As the terror-consumed woman continued her courageous struggle, the beanpole calmly sauntered back over to where she lay! During the trip, his huge, erect, appendage waggled up-and-down — in the most obnoxious, most obscene, display either young woman had ever witnessed!

Grabbing a fist-full of hair, he gave Loretta’s head a violent, merciless, body-wracking, yank! Abruptly, it shot backward! The unforgivable maneuver gave the appearance of his having jerked her frenzied, wide-eyed, head — all the way down! Almost to the small of her back!

With his free hand, he uncorked a vicious punch! His fist smashed into the center of Loretta’s frenzied face! The room was filled with the sickening thud — as well as the unforgettable, grotesque, sounds of raw bones! Raw bones being, literally, shattered! Pulverized — in the most sadistic, most merciless, manner!

With her nose having already been brutally splattered hither and yon — and with her terrified eyes thoroughly blackened — the frantic woman gasped loudly! Gasped desperately! Gasped desperately — simply for air! To merely breathe! To survive! She pulled convulsively — at her highly-efficient, totally-unyielding, bonds! Her indescribable, heartbreaking, moans were reminiscent of — of some pitiful, some poor, lonely, dying, badly-abused, animal!

Allowing Loretta’s head to flop back down upon the blood-splattered pillow, the gunman returned to the terrified, furiously-struggling, frenetically-undulating, Leah! Once again, he was back at her breasts — running his filthy, callused, sandpaper-like, hands over the soft, coral-tipped, surfaces! The action felt, to the poor woman, as though she was at the mercy — of some kind of unyielding, made-of-stone, grinding wheel! Grating — without mercy or let up — against the petrified young woman’s over-sensitized flesh!

Then, the subhuman transferred his attention! He locked his steely stare onto her vagina! Moving his pistol into his right pants pocket, he began to run three or four grimy fingers through her pubic hair! Leah’s body was, by then, convulsing — furiously, frenetically! And shivering — caught up in relentless spasm upon spasm! From head-to-toe! Acrid vomit continued to, relentlessly, form in her parched throat.

Gagged, as she was, she was certain that she would become violently sick at her stomach — and, as a result, she would wind up actually choking to death!

So, this is how it is? How it is to be? This is the way I am to die?

Climbing up between Leah’s bound, spread-wide, legs, and doggedly ignoring the frenzied Loretta, who was frantically-churning, and violently-gasping, for oxygen — any oxygen — on the other bed, he calmly lowered himself upon the terrified, virginal, younger woman! He hadn’t bothered to remove — or even lower — his filthy trousers! And who knew what — if anything — he was wearing beneath the grimy pants!

Gyrating and undulating in what she knew would be a futile, spectacularly-unsuccessful, effort to ward off the rapist — to, at all costs, keep him from entering her — Leah’s gasp, when the undeniable reality became a fait accompli, overwhelmed every other sound in the room! Despite the gag! The tattered piece of bed sheet would not come close to muffling the defying-all-description, surreal, almost-inhuman, sound that burst from her — as the ruthless, unavoidable, inevitable, mind-bending, penetration took place! Occurred with explosive, unimaginable, certainty!

The petrified young rape victim was brutally overwhelmed! Completely overcome — by, for one

thing, the blinding, incredibly-painful, stab! The undiluted agony! The total, mind-warping, disgrace — which hammered home the irrefutable, forever-to-be, reality! The mind-numbing certainty — as to what had just happened to her! That shouted the God-awful experience — to every part of her frenzied being! That shrieked, to every portion of her turmoil-laden psyche — no matter how remote! And to every muscle, tissue, vein and ventricle in her agony-swept body! She was no longer a virgin!

The gunman/rapist proceeded to piston his swollen, throbbing, member into and out of the frenetically-sobbing young woman — until he reached his sadistic climax! The brutal orgasm had required all of 15 seconds!

The subhuman arose — and, almost as an afterthought, tucked his still-dripping organ back inside his pants. He couldn’t be bothered with the zipper. Or even with cleaning himself off! Having thus relieved himself, his once-fiery eyes returned to their natural, practically-colorless, state.

He reset his sights on Loretta! Giggling uncontrollably, the interloper proceeded to drag the writhing, heaving, gasping, Loretta over the bottom of the other bed! This little task was ever-so-efficiently accomplished — by simply yanking her bound-together legs! The gasping, bloodied, woman plummeted off the foot of the bed!

She was, of course, entirely helpless! Was totally incapable of doing anything — a single thing — to even attempt to break her fall! This bothersome predicament concerned her ruthless assassin not at all.

Loretta’s already-badly-battered face crashed into the wooden footboard — at the bottom of the bed! The unconscionable collision shattered two of her front teeth! And fractured her chin! In a matter of moments, her skull would actually crack — issuing a deafening, sickening, thud — as her forehead bounced, heavily, off the thinly-carpeted, cement, floor! She was, at that point, barely conscious! Mercifully losing awareness quickly! As the rapist literally dragged her — on her front side — into the bathroom!

Three minutes later, the invader returned — without Loretta! He hovered over the frantic Leah, once again! She cowered, as much as was possible — considering the fact that she’d remained bound to the four corners of the bed! Petrified, her psyche wretched — at the thought of what might be in further store for her! The additional horrors awaiting her — before this God-awful nightmare would, mercifully, end!

What would be the next perverted, warped, brutal, inexcusable, whim — of this treacherous subhuman? She was, by then, certain that she was going to die! She could only pray that the end would not be nearly as violent as had been the seeming demise of Loretta! There could — in Leah’s troubled mind — have been absolutely no way for her friend to have survived such an onslaught!

At that point, the intruder heard the sound of a key — turning in the door to their room! So did his victim!

Leah made a valiant attempt to scream — through her gag! Such an attempt had been virtually impossible before — the animal-like moan, at the time of penetration notwithstanding!. Still, her attacker was taking no chances! The man clapped down a gnarled, grimy, hand over her mouth! At the same time, he withdrew the lethal .38 from his pocket!

A young lady — about Loretta’s age — let herself in and closed the door! It was at that moment that she spied the gunman! It was too late! Far too late! A scream welled up in the newcomer’s throat! But, the interloper pointed his revolver directly at her wide-open mouth! As he removed his hand from Leah, he hurriedly closed the distance between himself and the horrified late-comer!

Don’t y’all scream none, Miss … or y’all gonna get y’self hurt! Now, s’pose you jus’ come on … come an’ join the rest of us here! An’ get on outta them clothes of yers. Like Leah there! Y’see how she’s naked? Bare-assed naked? He allowed himself a jaded giggle! An’ y’see? She also ain’t no virgin, no more, he bragged, his voice dripping with lust — and totally-perverted pride. Nope. She done had her cherry popped, y’know! Had it done popped! Done had the thing popped! Popped … by the best, y’know! The very best!

The terrified newcomer was on the verge of screaming once more! It was as though she’d not even seen the bound-and-gagged Leah! Not until that very moment! The scream welled up once again! As he’d done before — done so viciously with Loretta — the man slashed the young woman’s cheek with his pistol! As had been the case previously, the sight, on top of the barrel, had opened a horrible, blood-gushing, gash!

The poor woman cowered — pressing back, tightly, against the door!

What … what are you going to … to … to do with me? With us?

Oh, he answered, delivering another grating giggle. I jus’ want your money, is all. Things been kinda closin’ in on me lately, y’know. An’ I jus’ feel like I jus’ gotta get on the hell on outta here. Away from my job! Away from the people. The people … the ones I know! And them as know me! Away … away from ever’thin’! Ever-damn-thing! Get the hell on outta town! So, I was gonna, y’know, take whatever money I could get from the girlies here! Figgered, though, that it’d pro’ly be a while b’fore all you ladies’d ever be gettin’ on back in. So, long’s we was kinda stuck, y’know … purty much stuck with one another’s company … I jus’ figgered that, hell, we might’s just as well go on ahead, y’know! Go ahead … an’ have us some fun!

My GOD! What … what have to done to … done to Leah?

I just tol’ ya what I went an’ done, he answered, that same warped pride oozing from every word. She ain’t no virgin no more! That means I must-a gone ahead … an’ I must-a, y’know, fucked her! Y’see? I done fucked her!

NO, moaned the woman. NO! No … PLEASE! PLEASE! You CAN’T!

Aw, you don’t hafta worry none ‘bout that, Little Lady. As much of a man as I am … I can’t always get it on up again. Well, not that quick, y’know. Not all the time, anyways. Besides, if I do, I’ll just have me another go at li’l ol’ Leah, over there! Man! She’s somethin’ else! Jus’ somethin’ damn else.

Leah did her best to scream once more — suffering the same frustrating result as before! The gag was holding firm!

Now, continued the rapist, s’pose you jus’ go on ahead and get that pretty little ass of yours … get it the hell outta them there clothes. Ain’t nobody’s gonna get hurt, that way.

If … if all you want is … is our money, then I don’t see why I should have to disrobe.

Because … goddam it … because I SAID so! He pushed the barrel of the revolver against the tip of her nose! That’s why, Baby, he continued. That’s fuckin’ why! Now are you gonna give me anymore shit? Because, if you are …

The flustered woman began to fumble with the buttons on the front of her tasteful, woolen, beige, shirt-waist dress.

The string bean retreated three or four steps — lowering the pistol to his side. Now, he said, I always been a man to appreciate good-lookin’ meat on the hoof … so to speak. Now, you jus’ go on ahead … an’ you slip on outta that there dress! Lemme see what it is … what it is, that you got! Got ‘neath them stupid clothes, y’know!

The horrified newcomer kicked off her shoes and — at the same time — managed to pull the dress over her head. As she was dropping the garment on top of Loretta’s clothing, it registered that the latter was nowhere to be seen!

Oh my GOD! Loretta! That’s LORETTA’S stuff! Where is LORETTA? Where IS she? What have you DONE to her?

She looked frantically at Leah! The bound woman’s eyes shrieked volumes! Shouted volumes! Before the scream could escape the lips of the newcomer, the gunman slammed the side of the .38 — flush against her temple! The latecomer collapsed! Immediately! Dropped — to the floor! In a heap!

Leah continued to pull violently at her bonds! The frantic attempt to free herself remained, of course, totally futile!

Laying the gun down on top of the roll-away, the intruder calmly finished removing the unconscious woman’s remaining clothing — with surprisingly-talented ease. And fastidiousness.

Once she, too, had been rendered completely unclothed, the intruder bound her wrists together — with a freshly-torn strip of bed sheet. Then, he tied her ankles with yet another! The victim regained consciousness, as the rapist was putting the finishing touches on a second highly-efficient knot — one which had plastered her ankles together!

She revved up another scream! It never got off the ground! The gunman stifled it — with his ham-hock of a hand! He’d clapped it over her mouth — with such force that Leah was sure the recipient would never draw another breath!

Surprisingly, the latest victim was able to withstand the latest assault! The woman’s deep-brown eyes glared up at the interloper — oozing hatred! And fright! She began to shiver — uncontrollably! The grimy hand remained plastered over her mouth!

You mought’s well be good now, Honey, rasped the rapist. "Ain’t no one is