Your two assistants have left her stretched, inert on the workbench. A steel spider gag holds her jaws wide apart. She is rendered immobile by shiny r...ed leather straps round her forehead, neck, waist, wrists and ankles.Her head cannot move. Her limbs cannot move.But you pretend not to recognise her. You feign disinterest.What’s she to you ? Just one more number to be processed.You walk over to the table and pick up her file. There are two mug shots; straight-on facial and side-on profile, with. ‘Ready?’ I followed her example and gave the same kiss to CeCe. ‘Ready.’ I gave it one more shot. ‘You know where we’ll be. Enjoy your vacation.’ She didn’t say a word as we drove away. For the first hour or so Amy was quiet, but the farther South we got the livelier she became. She even let me drive her car for the first time, making me promise to tell no one. It was a twelve hour trip to the island. After we settled in Amy insisted we walk on the beach. The moon was full, and she waded out. I reached between his legs and grabbed his privates and said conversationally, “Should I cut off one or both to start before determining if he wants to talk.” By now, Carl was naked from the waist down and moaning, as I pulled on him, his body arching him up to relieve the pain and pressure he was feeling. I pulled my knife out and brought it on the underside and sawed lightly. He screamed and fainted. “Now, that’s unfortunate. I’ll stake him out and move to Murray while we wait.”Murray moaned.. . Over the hubbub of the party, Gina heard the piano.Damn! she thought. He’s here. I’d recognise his style anywhere.She threaded her way through the guests with a succession of ‘Sorry’s’ and ‘Excuse me’s’ until she reached him.Just when I presumed it was safe to come out of hiding.She leant on the piano and watched his hands as they moved with graceful precision over the keyboard. It was fifteen months since she’d seen Robert, since she was entranced by his slender touch, as the embrace of her.