Chapter 25 – Trapped

I had no plausible excuse prepared for my presence in Midas’s office, and my alluring under things were all too visible. My first impulse was to hide… but where? I grabbed my coat and scurried behind the door, instantly regretting my imprudence in not putting my covering garment on before starting my search. I tried desperately to make myself as small as possible.

The sound of heels drew closer and closer. I shut my eyes tight in anticipation of discovery, illogically, as if being unable to see the person who was about to discover me would somehow render me invisible! I also mouthed a silent prayer. Whichever remedy was more effective remains unclear, but what I do know is that the woman who had approached Midas’s office halted in the doorway, evidently surveying the room from that vantage point. A step further and she would have had me in view.

Then disaster loomed! On Midas’s couch and in full view lay my silly little purse which I had omitted to pick up. The wretched thing taunted me with imminent discovery. I held my breath for what seemed like an age but was probably only for seconds. While I did so, the visitor was clearly engaged in surveying the room. Help! I was about to exhale from sheer necessity, when I heard Jocasta’s petulant exclamation. “Drat the fool! Where is he?”

With that she turned on her heel and marched off, leaving me slumped immobile against the wall, offering silent thanks for my narrow escape. That was too close a call for comfort. My impulse was to leave the perilous vicinity of the office with all speed. I would try and return at a more auspicious moment. I put on my coat but then the temptation to use the present time was strong and I took out the Price folder again. What was I about? I really ought not ride my luck any further and scolded myself for my folly. I put the thing hastily back in the filing cabinet.

As I did so the label on the folder which had lain adjacent to the Price one caught my eye and it occasioned me no little alarm. The word Persuaders seemed to smack me between the eyes. This was scary. I closed up the cabinet and returned the keys to the desk before making a sharp exit. I had to get to a phone and fast!

I drove quickly back to the hotel. I desperately wanted to speak to Guy to let him know what I’d found. Also, I hoped to formulate some way of robbing the Midas’s office of the rest of its secrets. When I called the ex-agent’s place of work there was no reply. My boss must be out somewhere yet again, pursuing his own investigation. I would just have to be patient. In the meantime, it would be vital for me to keep stringing the casino owner along. It was clear that Midas had a thing for me which with a bit of adroit manipulation I ought to be able to turn to my advantage. While ever he continued to see me as an object of desire there ought to be opportunities which might allow me to solve the mystery.

As usual that evening, I made sure I was first into the changing room at the casino. Ideally, I needed to be alone when I changed into another of the place’s glittering uniforms. There was no guarantee that one of the other girls might not interrupt me in the middle of changing and the lack of coverage provided by the outfits I had worn so far had demanded a faultless tuck. Such an intimate manoeuvre could only be achieved in the absence of an audience. When I took off my street clothes therefore I kept on the lacy chemise I had been wearing. Beneath this veil of modesty I removed my underwear from the waist down before reaching behind me to unhook my bra in the manner which had been instilled by my mom’s training. She had insisted that I always dress and undress ‘like a real girl’ and now it was second nature. I did so without thinking.

As expected, the outfit which Jocasta had set aside for me to wear that evening was another skimpy affair, a little frock of the expected gold hue. With a strappy top it was barely long enough to hide the matching panties which complemented it. Of satin and lace, the latter were full cut in style, fortunately for a ‘girl’ like me. I hoisted my silken slip around my midriff and slid them up so I could position myself securely in them. Garter belt and stockings followed. I made sure to check in the mirror that nothing was amiss down below. It was all good! Next, I fastened a pair of strappy heels about my ankles and was about to slide into the dress itself when I heard voices in the corridor outside. The sound made me pause.

I couldn’t make out what the conversation was about but I recognised the identity of both the parties. At its end the dialogue was terminated with the clatter of heels as the other person stalked haughtily away. Spotting a potential opportunity, I grabbed my purse and left the changing room as if I was headed for the bathroom next door. I almost collided with a man who was standing in the doorway, none other than Midas himself. He was staring after his departed companion, Jocasta, shaking his head with a bewildered expression. I stumbled against him and would have let myself fall if he hadn’t caught me. Realising that his arms were suddenly full of a semi-clad girl, the casino supremo gasped confusedly. To press my advantage, I straightened up and stood myself immediately before his eyes where my figure could be viewed at its best. I gave him my deadly up from under glance.

“Oh, you gave me such a start, but then you saved me” I breathed. “Thank goodness it was only you. I wouldn’t like just anyone to hold me when I’m not fully dressed, or even to see me.”

Midas positively gaped, staring undisguisedly at my scantily covered breasts.

“I can see you like my slip” I giggled. “It’s pure silk and as I’m sure you can tell it feels beautifully soft. I’m not wearing a bra so it’s like the caress of heaven next to my skin. See.” I took his hand and placed it on my chest. “Don t be shy. You can touch, if you want to.”

The directness of my advances seemed to take the man completely aback.

“Er… You look very… charming, but… keep your voice down” he muttered, looking every minute more discomfited. “Jocasta is in two minds about you already. She’s only just left me and is sure to be keeping a close eye open!”

I put my hand to my mouth in feigned shock. “Sorry!” I whispered. On tiptoe, I reached up and putting my hands on his shoulders I brushed my lips against his cheek. “I’ve been thinking about us all day, darling? I hope you have too. When can we be together again?”

Midas glanced about him warily and shook his head. “Not now! Not here!” he hissed. “In a couple of days perhaps. I’m away on business tomorrow, but er… after that...”

I put on a pouty face, to show my disappointment.

“We will have to be patient” he temporised.

I bridled some more. “I hate that word. Here let me.” I retrieved a tissue from my purse, moistened it with my tongue and removed all trace of lipstick from his face.

He put his hands on my waist and pulled me to him. “Only a couple of days, my dear. It’s hard, I know.”

I pushed his shoulder playfully. “Well… as long as it stays ‘hard’ for me” I whispered with a conspiratorial grin and then with over-exaggerated caution I stepped past him into the changing room, pressing my hip hard against his torso as I did so. With a final flutter of my eyelids, I closed the door on my would-be lover and resumed readying myself for the evening’s work.

It was late when I got back to my room that night. Fortunately as it happened, Connie was too tired for much conversation. After she had retired to bed, I’d started to undress but then, remembering there was something I must do before turning in, I hastily threw a wrap about my shoulders and crept down to the lobby to call Guy’s number. I was counting on there being no one about to see me in my partially-dressed condition.

Though the hour was late, I reckoned, if I disturbed his rest, all well and good.

“Jennifer. Have you any idea how late it is?” The man’s voice sounded grumpy.

“Every idea, but I needed to speak to you urgently.” Briefly I brought him up to speed with my findings of the morning. My discovery of the file on Raymond Price intrigued the ex-agent. Apparently, however, it provided insufficient cause for his sleep to have been disrupted. “Is that what you woke me up to tell me?”

When I told him of Midas’s connection to the gang it was a different matter, however.

“Jennifer, get out of there! What you are doing is way too risky. I’d have imagined that your time in witness protection would have taught you better. It’s too hazardous!”

I was taken aback. It appeared my having been in the programme was no secret to the man, after all. Coupled with his previous knowledge of my transgender status it meant that as far as the ex-agent was concerned, I was an open book. Illogically I felt cheated somehow. A girl likes to have something to keep in reserve, especially from a handsome man.

I temporised. “It’s okay. I’m as sure as anyone can be that the Persuaders haven’t connected the person they were looking for with me. Besides, I have protection. I’ve brought the gun with me.”

“That thing! That’s no use. The firing pin’s been removed. Why do you think I let you keep it?”

My hackles rose at hearing this. How could he let me delude myself in that way? And another thing, the wretched sidearm made my purse weigh about a ton!

Oblivious to my fit of pique, Guy ploughed on. “The gun was only for show so I agree with your view that the person who intruded into your apartment was only trying to frighten you off, but… this gangland connection creates a different level of danger altogether.”

“As long as the people here regard me as a female, and I’m going flat out to make sure of that, I ought to be safe as houses. I’m so close to unravelling this puzzle. I just know it!”

Guy was silent for some time. I could hear the anxiety in his voice when he finally broke the silence. “I don’t like it” he sighed. “I really don’t. You need to have a definite plan to make chancing your arm that way worthwhile. If you are just winging it, then the risks are too high.”

“I have a plan, a perfect plan.” I tried to sound confident. “We need to know what is in that folder and I can find out. Can you come over here tomorrow night and bring that miniature camera? I will need to borrow it.”

I spent the rest of the day smugly congratulating myself on my cleverness. All I needed was a few minutes undisturbed in Midas’s office. In his absence the room would be locked but then he would be back tomorrow. I’d noticed that about half-way through each evening the casino boss would emerge with Jocasta on his arm, and would complete a tour of inspection, as it were, ensuring that everything in his domain was running smoothly. Then they would stand and watch the stage show for some time. One of those occasions ought to provide me with the window of opportunity I needed. With them both occupied, it would be child’s play to slip into Midas’s inner sanctum and make photostat copies of the documents which I felt so sure contained the means of unloosing my Gordion knot.

I was all over excited in anticipation. I couldn’t wait.