Out of Air by Robert F Barker

Author:Robert F Barker [Barker, Robert F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-18T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 37

Like most of his college's male fraternity, Scott's occasional late night channel-cruising included the sort of 'lifestyle' programmes that seem aimed at those for whom sex is a primary leisure activity. Now and again, they ran features on fringe-group activities that revolved around elaborate, role-play fantasies. They usually involved dressing up and acting out ritualised and, to the uninitiated, dramatic, even frightening scenarios. The young and inevitably attractive reporters who fronted the features always went out of their way to present such 'games' as harmless fun. The mantra trotted out at the end of each report was that however things might look, everyone featured in the programme was a willing participant. The intimation was that such activities – the ones featured at least – only took place by way of mutual consent.

But as Scott witnessed the scene developing in front of him - people were now leaving their chairs, approaching Tory to examine her as if she were some exhibit - he had the clear impression that for those present, 'consent' was not a matter about which they would worry unduly. And for all that the behaviour on show so far had been civilised and non-threatening - no-one had yet laid a finger on Tory - he had a growing suspicion that for all the cultured restraint on show, beneath the surface lurked something sinister. Above all, he sensed danger.

A change was taking place in the room. Michelle was ushering people back to their seats. They responded, but slowly in some cases and only after completing their appraisal of the beautiful young woman on show. At a sign from Michelle, the dark couple came forward again to take up Tory's chain and lead her to the back of the room. She followed them, meekly, as Michelle again took centre stage.

It took Scott a couple of minutes to figure out what was going on in what followed.

To begin with Michelle led some sort of discussion. When it was over, a strange thing started happening. Every now and again someone in the audience – usually a man – raised a hand. People would look round and, occasionally, respond with polite applause.

A minute later, he realised.

'It's a damn auction. She's auctioning Tory.'

Desperate and increasingly fearful, Scott knew he had to do something. But what? He thought again about bursting straight in, but decided against. Right now Tory was in no immediate danger. Such an interruption might trigger the sort of reaction he would rather avoid. If he bided his time the opportunity may still come to slip in and spirit Tory away. In the back of his mind the thought lingered that whatever happened, he would be referring the whole matter to the police the first chance he got. By now he was settled to the fact that regardless of how accepting Tory appeared, she was a kidnap victim. Someone – Michelle Chartier for one – needed to be held to account for it. But such thoughts were for later, when he'd got Tory safely away.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.