VALERIE CHANG: Summer Internship...Deadly Internship The blonde jogged along the path near Walker Hall of the small, but spacious Central College in the north central part of California. It was getting near dusk on a Sunday night as the moonlight started to shine through. Suddenly, a black van pulled up near where she was. A masked and robed figure jumped out of the vehicle and grabbed the startled girl and dragged her into the bushes. Her screams were met with a cloth from another person dressed the same way. Soon after, the young twenty something year old girl fell unconscious. One of the figures lifted her up and carried her over to the van where the back doors swung open and with the help from a third person, lifted her into the back. The assailants looked around and jumped back into the vehicle and then it sped away into the early evening.... Monday morning broke bright and early as Valerie Chang made her way to the Daily Target office from her Honda Civic. The striking twenty-year old Asian American was the star reporter for the campus paper, especially after her recent near death experience with one Professor Gerald. She was proud of her effort to help put him away on burglary and kidnapping charges, among other things. "Morning Miss Chang" Ronald Henry said to her. Ron was her editor and confidant. A bit older at twenty-five, he was a graduate student of the college. "Another boring morning Ron?" she said, putting her bag down. She then went over and got some coffee from the coffee pot "More or less" he replied giving her a piece of paper "What's this? A story?" "Not exactly Val ... read it" Valerie read over the paper and then her eyes lit up "Is this what I think it means?" "Yep. Summer credits await you at the local paper Miss Chang" "I don't know what to say?" She then hugged him. Ron felt her embrace. She then pulled away "Who do I see over there?" "Amanda Becker is her name, Ms Amanda Becker. She's expecting you around eleven this morning, so enjoy your early morning" Valerie had summer credits waiting for her and in the long run, could be the start of something big for her career "Summer credits!" Valerie's roommate, Cassie Warren half-shouted. Cassie was a business major, but had to take summer courses "That's awesome Val! It sucks that I have summer classes though ... . you still owe me that beach trip Chang" she added as she twirled her long brown hair "I know, but there's not much going on here with the Target, so this works out perfectly. And I promise Cass, we will go to the beach before fall" Just then the there was a knock on the door. "That's probably Ron forgetting to tell me something" Valerie then answered the door. A young Asian-American girl stood there in her t-shirt, blue jean cutoffs and flip-flops "Hi sis!" she said "Mindy?" Valerie shouted hugging her "You didn't call!" "I wanted to surprise you and I guess I did. Mom let me use the car to come see you" "Cassie, this is my kid sister Melinda Chang" "Mindy" she said smiling as she shook Cassie's hand "And I'm in High school, not really a kid" "Nice to meet you Mindy" Cassie replied "Val's told me all about you" "Good things I hope" she shot back as Valerie rolled her eyes "I wished you would have called first. I've got an appointment with the city journal this afternoon" "The journal? Are you serious?" "Ron set it up with them. I'm going to get summer credits for being there" "That's great sis" Mindy replied hugging her big sister "Don't worry about me" "I do worry about you, you're my kid sister" Mindy rolled her eyes this time. "I'm going to be here next year probably Val" "Hey Val, I can show her around campus" Cassie said "I don't have a class until five" "Are you sure?" "It would be my pleasure. Mindy and me will have a great time, get to know one another, not mention look at some hot guys!" Valerie then started to clear her throat "Cassandra!" Valerie scolded, "Don't start corrupting my little sister" "Oh Val ... " Mindy added, getting a laugh out of Cassie "Okay that settles that" Valerie then added "But first, let's go out for breakfast, my treat" "I can deal with that" Cassie and Mindy said almost at once "How many more boss?" a gravel voice said on the phone "We have one now ... okay then" The man then got off the phone and looked in the back of the van. The jogger from earlier lay on the floor of the van: She was bound, gagged and blindfolded "All go for number two ... . We need a good one to make sure the bosses are pleased" "I think she's awake" the third thug said from his seat near where she was "Mmmmm!!" she squealed through the thick cloth that was tied tightly around her mouth a couple of times "No use in yelling honey, no one's going to hear you anyway and I think you might be a great sell" The men just laughed sinister like as the terrified girl wondered what exactly they were talking about "So Mindy" Cassie asked as they walked along one of the campus paths. "You really are going to go here?" Valerie had dropped them off after breakfast so she could go to her appointment at the Journal and the duo was getting know each other a little better "Why not?" the teen replied, "They have a great business program" "That's what I'm in!" Cassie shouted as the two sat down on a bench "But. I have to take those extra courses this summer ... like tonight, yuck!" "I know, but at least you got some hotties to look at!" Just then Cassie saw what she was talking about, a very in shape male jogger passed them, his headphones sheltering him from their chatter. The girls just laughed about it Just then the squeals of brakes filled the air "What was that?" Mindy asked looking behind her. They then saw the horrifying sight of a blonde girl being grabbed and being put in a van! "Oh my God!" Cassie shouted "Hey!" The girls ran off towards the van as the doors closed. One of the masked assailants spotted Cassie and Mindy before getting in. The van then quickly sped off "That girl is being kidnapped!" Cassie half-shouted as she dialed her phone "We need to call the Police!" Mindy just stood there and stared. She had only been visiting the campus for a couple of hours, but she had already witnessed a crime in progress ... something that was all too familiar to her older sister ... Valerie's phone was ringing as she rode into downtown Wellsville, where the journal offices were located. She saw the message was from Cassie and then shook her head. She then let the call go to voice mail "My little sis driving you boy crazy already Cass?" she thought out loud smiling A few more twists and turns brought Val into the Journal parking lot. Taking one of the visitor's parking spaces to be on the safe side, she grabbed her handbag and walked her way towards the building. Valerie made sure to dress nice for the occasion: A bright yellow sundress and black pumps showed off she shapely tanned legs quite nicely. She took off her sunglasses as she made it into the front door of the large building. She looked around at the spacious lobby and then noticed the receptionist sitting there "Can I help you miss?" she asked "Yes I'm Valerie Chang. I'm the new intern here to see Ms Becker" "Ahh yes. I'll let her know you're here" As the receptionist called upstairs, Valerie walked around the lobby and then saw some pictures on the wall. One of them was of Amanda Becker. "Miss Chang I presume?" a woman's voice called out. A well-dressed Asian-American woman greeted her "I'm Amanda Becker, pleased to meet you" "Likewise" Valerie said shaking her hand "It's a real pleasure to meet you finally Ms Becker" "Let's go to my office and get to know one another" Cassie and Mindy were sitting in the security guard's office when Ron entered the room "Cassie, are you okay?" he asked "We're fine," she answered "Oh by the way, this is Valerie's sister Mindy" "Mindy" he replied "I heard a lot about you from Val." "Is it always crazy around here?" she asked him "I mean Val with that professor Gerald and now this ... " "What exactly did you see?" Ron asked them "What we told security ... . a girl was grabbed and put in a van" "I'm just glad you're okay" "Yeah now Val could have a story to investigate ... I tried to call her" Cassie added probably forgetting that her roommate had her appointment "This sounds something like the police should handle" "I agree" the security officer said "Thank you for your statements" "I'll take you guys back to the apartment" "I don't understand why those men didn't come after us Cassie?" Mindy asked her new friend "They could have easily grabbed us" "You mean they saw you?" Ron quizzed, looking shocked "You didn't say that" "We told security Ron" Cassie added "Look Ron, if they wanted to, they would have ... they must have had a reason" Ron shook his head as the trio got in his car "I admire your work at your campus paper Miss Chang" Amanda Becker told her "But this is different" "I know I'll be starting out at the bottom ... " "You got that right. You're here for extra credit ... . we have our reporters" "Yes ma'am" Valerie responded, being humbled "Your duties will be sort of a gofer ... " "A gofer?" Val replied at the reference that sounded like an animal "A person who runs errands ... goes and gets food, puts away files ... . cleans up, that sort of thing" "I see" Val said, not expecting what she walked in for "I suggest you dress accordingly" Amanda added, seeing how dressed up Valerie was for her first day "You can start tomorrow at Nine O'clock sharp ... you'll have a bunch of papers to fill out" Amanda rose from her desk and shook Valerie's hand. "Welcome aboard Miss Chang" she said "And you will be paid today for being here ... . it's the least I can do ... " Valerie left and mumbled: "It's the least I can do..." as she made a face as she got in the elevator. She wasn't too pleased on her new duties for summer credits Ron was in the Target office when his phone rang. "Val ... how did it go?" "Don't give me that crap, Ronald Henry!" she yelled "Whoa ... whoa ... slow down Chang, what's wrong?" "How dare you send me on an assignment to get coffee for dragon lady!" "Drag..what are you talking about? I'm at the office, we need to talk anyway ... . something happened" "What?" Val added, changing the subject "I'll tell you all about it when you get here" With that Valerie hung up and pushed the gas pedal a little harder "Get comfy ladies, you're gonna be here awhile" a tall man with a beard said as he looked at the two bound, gagged and blindfolded captives "Mmmmmm!!!!" the two young blondes tried to say behind their thick gags, that were wound around their heads a couple of times, completely muffling their speech. The man let out a laugh and went to another part of the room, which was in a basement somewhere. A second man then met him. "Everything is set Joe" "Where's Larry?" he replied "Shouldn't he be here now?" "He'll be back later" "Is he finding out who those other two chicks were that saw us earlier today?" "You worry too much Joe" "Well, I think we should have grabbed them too ... they probably told the cops about us" "Let em' besides, the shipment just calls for blondes ... as for those other two, Well if Larry wants too, he deal with em ... so relax" Joe then looked over at the two helpless girls, squirming to get loose from their tight bonds Valerie parked her Honda and hurried into the Target office. She then went up and punched Ron in the arm "Oww!" he yelped "Was is that bad?" "Worse! She wants me to be they're or more specifically her gofer!" Ron started to snicker "Oh you think it's funny huh?" "Valerie, you have to start somewhere, besides it's for extra credit remember that" "Yeah maybe. Wasn't there something you had to tell me?" "Yeah that. Listen, Cassie and your sister witnessed a kidnapping" "A what?" she shouted, her brown eyes widening "Are they all right?" "They're fine. But maybe you can help me out a little, maybe find out who they were? That's if you're not too busy with your new assignment?" "Are you kidding, anything to get out of that place for awhile" Then the young reporter realized something "Maybe that's why she was trying to call me before" "I think were ready to grab our third victim" said a man's voice coming from the basement. The shadowy figure then gave one of the other goons a picture. The goon named Joe did a double take. "Hey it's her!" "Got it from the registry office's files. Her name is Cassandra Warren" "I can't believe that happened to you guys" Valerie said as she slipped off her pumps and rubbed her feet "Ron told me all about it" "That's why I was trying to call you" Cassie replied "But I forgot about your appointment. By the way, how did it go?" "Don't ask" Val replied putting her hand up "Ms Becker wants me to be a gofer for her" "A what?" Mindy replied "Someone who gets stuff, like an errand boy sort of speak" "Oh God" Cassie added "I know that's got to P you off" "Damn right Cass, but Ron said it is for extra credit so..." "Well you might have something right here" Mindy added, as she sat on the couch "I've been here one whole morning and I've already witnessed a kidnapping. I wonder what's going to happen before I leave in a few days?" "Did you see who it was?" Val asked putting her hair into a ponytail "No" Cassie shot back "Just some blonde, never saw her before" "I think she was a jogger Val, she was definitely athletic" "I wonder what Ron might find out, I know he wants me to help him" "We can show you where she was grabbed" Cassie added, "You do have the rest of the day" Val smiled at that statement "Are you sure Jeff, two girls?" Ron said, talking to his uncle Jeff in the Wellsville Police department "Yes" Jeff replied on the other end "Karin Thompson is one the names, still trying to identify the other" "Karin Thompson? That name sounds familiar for some reason ... Thanks again" "No problem, just make sure that Miss Chang stays out of trouble" "Oh I will, by the way, what do you think about the men that Cassie and Mindy saw? You don't think they'll come after them do you?" "They had their chance Ronald" he added "There had to be a reason they didn't and why they kidnapped Miss Thompson and this other girl" With that Ron hung up and went over to his file cabinet and took out an old issue of the Target. He then saw a picture of the award winning college cross-country team. One of the girls in the photo was Karin Thompson. "Maybe they kidnapped her for this reason?" he thought as he stared at the newspaper clipping "Maybe one of the other girls is from this team?" Valerie, now wearing a blue t-shirt, red shorts and sneakers walked the path that Cassie and Mindy had witnessed the abduction. Her sister and roommate followed her "How much farther guys?" Val said as the other two pointed near the bushes that the girl was taken "Over there sis" Mindy pointed "Isn't that it Cass?" Cassie nodded and the trio quickly ran over to the area. Looking around, they didn't see anything. Suddenly Valerie spotted something lying in the tall grass. It was an I.D. of some kind. There was a blonde girl in the photo "That's her Val!" Cassie yelped, "I'm sure of it!" "Anne Sheldon of Hallman Hall. I better call Ron" "She must have dropped it when they grabbed her" Mindy added looking around "Ron ... it's me ... I think I found something ... . okay, be right there" "Ron told me he found something on his end. Cassie, can you entertain Mindy while I'm gone?" "No problem roomie, we'll think of something ... oh crap, I've got a class in a little while" "I can wait for you...we can go out later if you want" Mindy said smiling "You're on Chang" Cassie shot back Valerie's phone rang again. "Ron?...oh I'm sorry...hi Ms Becker....tonight....ahhh okay I'll be there by seven" Val hung her phone and then shook her head "Can you believe that?" she snapped, she has a project for me" "Tonight?" Mindy exclaimed "Afraid so sis" "Don't worry Mindy" Cassie replied, putting her arm around the younger Chang sister "You still have me" "So what did you find Miss Chang" Ron asked. Valerie then gave him the I.D. she found. Ron then looked at the photo in the newspaper and slammed his fist down on the table "What's wrong" Val asked, looking at Ron "Anne Sheldon and Karin Thompson are teammates on the school's cross-country team" "Who's Karin Thompson?" Val asked "Another girl who was kidnapped last night" "What?" Val exclaimed "Another one?" "Afraid so" Ron added "Got it right from my Police source" "I would like to meet this source Mr. Henry" Val added "Don't you know that a good journalist never reveals his or her sources?" Valerie then rolled her eyes "What do you think it means Ron?" "Not sure. Something's really bugging me about this whole thing" "What about the other girls?" she added "That's a good idea. We need to find out who's still on campus and who's not" "Well, first I have to pay a visit to dragon lady" Ron just laughed as Val stuck her tongue at him Cassie Warren made her way out of her class and was walking back to the apartment. She took out her phone and started to dial it. Doing that, made her drop her books on the ground "Oh crap" she gasped as suddenly she heard a noise in the bushes. Cassie then looked scared and quickly gathered her books then started to walk faster. The noise got louder and louder "Who's there?" Cassie stammered. "Nice going Warren" she thought out loud "Should have had a cute guy walk you home" Suddenly a masked figure jumped in front of her. He was dressed in black robes with a leather mask, Making him look like a figure from a horror movie. Cassie threw her books at him and tried to run away. However the figure moved like a acrobat as he jumped in front of her. Cassie aimed a fast kick to his knee. The dark figure dodged the kick and send a palm strike to her chest which knocked her wind out. As she gasped for air he quickly clamped a cloth over her mouth. Another figure grabbed her from behind. Cassie fought hard, but soon fell victim to the fumes....then she was out Valerie had made it over to the journal office and got out of her car. She hurried into the journal offices and made her way up to Ms Becker's office. There was no sign of her. Just then a man in his fifties walked up to her "Miss Chang?" "Yes..and you are?" "Ken Smith. Ms Becker wanted me to fill you in, she'll be back shortly" Val then followed him down a hallway "I hope I get home before midnight" she thought glumly Cassie stirred about as her head was spinning. She then realized she couldn't see. Something was blindfolding her, a sack maybe. She then felt pain at her mouth, wrists and ankles. Reality then swept over her, she was bound and gagged as well as blindfolded. She then heard whimpering noises coming from near her...she wasn't alone "Oh my God!" she thought as a terrifying thought swept over her "I've been kidnapped!" Cassie then heard some voices near her, not gagged cries. Whoever grabbed her was talking and the talk wasn't pleasant "What are we going to do about the other one?" "Shipment doesn't call for Asian's, just blondes. I've got something else in mind for our slant-eyed friend "But this one isn't blonde either?" "Not now she isn't...but with a little work on her hair, she'll be our best seller" "Oh my God!" Cassie thought "I've been kidnapped....by..gulp....white slavers!" Valerie looked at the clock: it was about 9:30. She had been organizing papers in the Journal offices for the last few hours. Just then Ken Smith entered the room. "That's all for tonight Miss Chang, you can go now" "What about the paper work I have to do? You know the stuff you usually fill out when you start a job? ... I have to get my credits for this" "That's Ms Becker's territory ... you'll be doing that tomorrow ... she told me to tell you to be here at noon and report to personnel. The lobby receptionist can direct you to where it is. Good night Miss Chang" Ken Smith then left, but Val noticed he stared at her bare legs for a few seconds before leaving. "Oh great" She thought out loud "I dress up for my first day and dragon lady tells me I'm overdressed ... so what happens, you wear some shorts and you get stares from creeps like Ken Smith ... . ugh" Valerie then took out her phone as she left the office. Cassie's phone then went to voice mail. "Hey girl, hope Mindy isn't driving you crazy ... see you later" With that Val pushed the button to the elevator and got in it "Verrry nice ... Verrry nice indeed" a woman's voice said as Cassie could feel the touch of someone's hand running over her hair. "Mmmmm!!" "Don't worry dahling" she said in her thick accent, "You will look verrry nice as a blonde" The accent sounded European to Cassie as she taunted Val's roommate and the other girls "Time to sleep Miss Warren ... sweet dreams dahling" "Mmmmmm!!" Cassie then felt the sharp pain of a needle penetrating her arm. She then felt sleepy and then nothing but darkness. Valerie had returned to the apartment and saw the light on. Val curiously saw her sister sleeping on the couch "Mindy?" she said putting her bag down and shaking her sister awake "Cass ... oh hi sis" "Where's Cassie?" Valerie asked, noticing she wasn't there at the apartment "Mindy then shot up from the couch and looked at the clock: it was 10 PM "She went out without me!" Mindy half-shouted "And I fell asleep!" "She wouldn't do that to you" Val replied, "Something's not right, her class ended at Eight" "You don't think those goons took her?" "I don't know, but there has to be a explanation for this, come on" "Where are we going?" "To retrace her steps" The duo headed out the door and took a short ride to the building where Cassie had her last class. They both got out and looked around. Luckily, there was enough security lights illuminating so they could see "She usually takes this path over here" Valerie replied as she went over to it. Mindy then saw something shiny lying on the path "What's that?" Mindy said as he picked it up, it look like a small bracelet "That's Cassie's!" Val shot back "Her grandmother gave it to her ... it looks like there was a small scuffle here" "Oh my God, she's been kidnapped!" "This is really not making sense ... . unless they want to get rid of witnesses ... let me call Ron, it might not be safe at the apartment tonight" Mindy gulped. That statement meant she was next "I want to thank you Ron for letting Mindy and me stay here last night" Valerie said "If it was just me ... " "But it's not Valerie, your sister might be in danger like you said" Ron replied as he gave the reporter some coffee "You did the right thing" Just then Mindy walked into the room wearing a long shirt covering herself "Morning everyone" "How did you sleep?" Valerie asked "Okay I guess ... any word on Cassie?" "No" Val shot back, looking at Cassie's bracelet "We think she's been kidnapped" "Now what?" Mindy asked as Ron looked at Valerie "I want your sister to help me with talking to other members of the cross country team" "I don't have to be at the journal until noon...trust me, I'm in no hurry to get there. But Ron, what about Mindy?" "She can hang out here with me ... I'll show her around" Mindy rolled her eyes and then crossed her arms "Can't I go with with my sister?" "Listen to Ron, Mindy" Valerie ordered "Well I'm going to take a shower and then I'll treat you both to breakfast" Ron replied as he went into the other room "Man it's pretty obvious Val" "About Cassie?" "No about Ron...he crazy about you. I mean he's a pretty good looking dude ... athletic, smart and those brown eyes ... " "Melinda Chang! Stop it!" Valerie snapped "Not you too. Cassie thinks the same thing" "Well she's right you know" Valerie rolled her eyes and then looked at her kid sister "We have a professional relationship, and that's all" "Okay then" "Besides, Mindy shouldn't we be worrying about Cassie right now" "Your right. I'm sorry" "There's one thing that's bugging me that Ron hasn't mentioned yet" "What's that?" Mindy asked "A ransom demand. I definitely need to get out there and find out something" Cassie stirred about and then saw light. Her head was spinning as she awoke. She still felt pain at her ankles and wrists. She wasn't blindfolded anymore or gagged for that matter. She then sat herself up and noticed she was in some sort of cage. Two other girls were in there with her and they were stirring about as well. Cassie noticed they were in some sort of dark basement with no windows. Only a distant light kept them from total darkness. Cassie tried her bonds, but the ropes were tight on her wrists, cutting into her flesh as she tried to get free. She noticed the other girls trying as well. They were blonde and looked like runners and one of them was the girl she saw...Anne Sheldon! "Who are you?" they asked "My name is Cassandra Warren, but my friends call me Cassie "I noticed one of you get kidnapped...maybe that's why i was grabbed?" "They're going to sell us!" one of the girls yelled. Then she started to yell "Help! Anybody! Help!" There was nothing but silence. But then the girls heard the footsteps of a man's boot descending the stairs. He wore a dark ski mask as he looked at the three helpless captives in the makeshift cage "Yell all you want girls...the room is soundproof...but I might gag you again, just to make you look pretty for the Lady Madam" "You monster!" one of the blondes said, getting an evil laugh out of the thug "The Lady Madam" Cassie thought "Maybe that's the woman with the accent from last night? "Enjoy yourselves girls, soon you will be moved to a more secure area" The man soon left as the girls went to freeing themselves again as Cassie was wondering what Valerie was doing to save her and the girls from a certain trip they didn't want to take Cassie then got to her feet and hopped over to the other side of the cage. Luckily, Cassie wore long jeans to class, so her ankle bonds weren't as uncomfortable as her wrists were, but hurt nonetheless when she hopped. Soon Cassie plopped herself down next to the blonde she saw grabbed "What are you doing Cassie?" the girl asked "Anne right?" "Yes, and this is Karin Thompson. "How did you know my name?" "Me and my friends found your ID in the bushes yesterday" "How did you know?" "I showed them were you were kidnapped...listen, can you sit back to back with me?" "Why?" "I forgot I left a hair baret in my back pocket, I can't reach it...see if you can, then maybe we can pick the knots" "I'll try Cassie" "I can't believe they want to dye my hair blonde!" Cassie sneered, thinking of her brown hair being violated as Anne then maneuvered her back against Cassie's to try and reach for the small metal object Valerie studied the old issue of the target and jotted down the names of the other four names of the team: Melissa Sanchez, Janine Rodgers, Kelly Wells and Suzanne Davidson. Melissa and Suzanne had graduated last month and being June, Kelly and Janine were probably gone, off campus and back home but Valerie had to try and figure out what was going on. She then drove to the west side of the picturesque campus and to the Manning Hall apartments, home to Anne and Karin, the two kidnapped runners. Dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and sneakers, Valerie had got out of her Honda and made her way to the office of the apartments. There was an older woman there at the front desk "Can I help you miss?" "Miss Chang, Valerie Chang of the Daily Target" "What can I do for you?" "Do Anne Sheldon and Karin Thompson live here?" "Yes, upstairs in room seven...but I haven't seen them today" "They're roommates?" "I thought you reporter's knew that kind of stuff?" "Well not everything..." With that uneasy confrontation out of the way, Valerie slipped up the stairs and came across room seven. She then knocked on the door, not surprisingly she heard nothing. Looking both ways, Valerie tried the door. To her surprise, it opened. Against her better judgment, the Asian-American went inside and looked around the small two bed room apartment. There were trophies and medals on the stands, not to mention several photos of them and the other girls. Valerie still had no clue as to why they were singled out. She decided to see if Kelly Wells or Janine Rodgers were still on campus. Then something caught her eye. A small piece of paper that was sort of crumbled up. It the name of a Lady Madam Woo on it as well as a threat of some kind "Lady Madam Woo?" Val thought "I've heard that name before, but where?" Valerie folded up the paper and then she heard a voice behind her "I'm going to call security Miss Chang, or whatever your name is" The voice was the woman from the front desk. Although startled, Val managed to slip the paper into her back pocket of her shorts. "No need for that Ma'am" "And why not...I told you they weren't home" Valerie had no time to explain everything, so she did the next best thing...lie "I'm sorry..I'm leaving right now" "And Miss, if I catch you again, I'll have you arrested for trespassing" With that, Valerie headed out of the apartment and to her car. She then looked at the time, it was already mid-morning "Lady Madam Woo Ron" Val said giving him the paper with the threatening message "The last time I heard this name...she was in Tokyo, Japan" "Tokyo?" Mindy said listening in on the conversation "Yes. She was into prostitution, heroin smuggling, things like that" "Oh my God" Valerie shot back "You don't think she's a white slaver?" "I was thinking the same thing Val" Ron replied glumly "A white slavery ring?" Mindy replied "Oh my God!" "But is she here in California?" Valerie added looking serious at Ron "I mean Cassie's life and those other two girls lives are at stake!" "I know Val" Ron replied as he put his hands on Val's shoulders "We have to assume they're still here" "But what do we do now?" "I'll alert my contact at the Police department to put out an A.P.B. on her...this might be more than we can handle....possibly something international" "Maybe you're right..but what about Mindy here?" "Could you take her to your internship? I've already showed Mindy around the offices here" "Could I?" Mindy chirped "Please Val?" "I'm not sure of this Mindy...I mean I have to go to do this internship and my roommate is missing, probably kidnapped by, good Lord..white slavers!" "It'll be okay...I'm sure they have a kids lounge or something....I can hang there....it's cool" Valerie then hugged her sister "I see you brought your kid sister along Miss Chang" Amanda Becker said to Valerie as she came back from personnel "Yeah, she's visiting me for a few days and she had nowhere to go" Valerie was reluctant to tell Ms Becker about Cassie's kidnapping. She just wanted to do her internship and get it over with "Okay Miss Chang, I might have an assignment for you after all. I've been thinking that maybe a gofer wouldn't suit you" "An assignment Ms Becker?" "Yes, actually a small reporter assignment...a real dirty assignment" "Really?" "Yes. I want to find out why the city is not picking up certain kinds of trash in this area" "Trash?" "Is there a problem Miss Chang? I thought you wanted to be on our team?" she said boldly "Because if there is, I can get Ken Smith on it...he's one of our best. I'm sure you know Mr Smith" "Oh yes I do" Valerie replied, rolling her eyes, thinking of the creep "Okay then. Go to his office and wait for him. He's in a meeting right now, but he'll fill you in when he gets back" Valerie turned to leave and crossed her eyes and put a finger in her mouth to mock her boss "Push harder Cassie" Anne said, as sweat poured from her forehead. She was trying desperately to get the baret out of Cassie's back pocket. "I got it!" Anne shouted "Now what?" "Try and pick my knots loose on my hands" Cassie replied "Hurry up you guys!" Karin said "I think I hear voices near the door" Karin was right because at that exact moment, two masked thugs descended the stairs. Cassie's heart sank. Anne clutched the baret in her hands as the thugs made it over to the cage. "Time to move girls...Larry is taking care of our little Asian friend Cassie, Anne and Karin were quickly cleave-gagged and blindfolded. The men then picked the girls up like a sack of potatoes and carried them up the stairs, the bigger man carrying two of the girls Cassie dreadfully thought of Mindy, possibly in trouble now as well. She also thought of where their next destination would be...and it probably wasn't going to be pleasant Mindy had wandered through the hall looking for Valerie. She was getting bored, waiting for her sister to get finished. Suddenly a gloved hand clamped over her mouth from behind and pulling her into a small room "You're the little one from yesterday aren't you?" the man's voice sneered. "I was in 'Nam and I have to tell you, I haven't seen anything like you since!" Mindy then elbowed the man in his ribs, breaking the hold. "My family is from Hong Kong, not Vietnam!" Mindy's momentary triumph was short lived as the man grabbed her again and roughly held a dampened rag over her nose and mouth. Despite, Mindy's struggles and squeals, the teen soon passed out in is arms "Ahh Miss Chang" Ken Smith said as he entered the room "We meet again" "Yes. Hello" Val replied as she saw Smith looking at her again "Let's get started shall we?" Valerie looked at the clock...the day couldn't end soon enough "Are you sure Uncle Jeff?....here in the States....Okay, Miss Chang is at her internship...Okay thanks" Ron hung up the phone and looked at the Lady Madam's photo. He stared at it and then went and got another photo out of a drawer. He then put the photos side by side. "Could it be the same person?" The other photo was none other than Amanda Becker! "So Miss Chang, that's the story" Ken Smith replied "Got it?" Valerie was looking down at her cell phone. She had an incoming text from Ron. "Miss Chang? Are you listening?" "Yes ... I'm sorry" "Too many distractions if you ask me" he shot back sharply "It's just my campus editor texting me" "Well I'm sure it can wait" Valerie could only wonder what Ron wanted Cassie, Anne and Karin felt the vehicle stop as they were still trussed, gagged and blindfolded in the back of it. They then heard the footsteps of the men talking outside. Cassie figured the men were talking about another captive that was inside. A few moments later, the girls heard the back doors open and the men scramble into the truck. "Okay ladies, were home" "Mmmmphhh!!!" Cassie screamed as she was lifted out of the truck and then found herself being flung over one the thugs shoulders once again. She then felt herself being flopped down on what seemed to be some sort of mattress. She then felt Anne and Karin get the same treatment, as they bumped into her as they hit the lumpy bedding. "Mmmmm!" Anne squealed as she tried to make sure she held onto Cassie's hair baret in her hand. She could only hope the men would leave again, so she could try Cassie's knots. Her hands though were getting numb by the ropes being so tight. Cassie could sense there WAS another girl in there with them, but who? Just then she heard the familiar female voice ... the Lady Madam! "Ahhhh ... .berrrry nice ... " she said in her accent. "The sultan will beee berry pleased" Sultan? Cassie thought, they were being shipped off to somewhere in the Middle East! "And as for you dahling ... beerry nice ... . a special order for our Far East market ... " Cassie heard a squeal from the other girl. She dreadfully figured out the gagged cry came from Mindy! "Leave them this way ... . soon ladies ... . you will be taking a long trip ... " As the Madam and her henchmen left and walked up some stairs, Cassie then realized her and Anne had to communicate while gagged and blindfolded! Valerie was busy looking at the notes that Ken Smith gave her. She looked at the clock. It was just past five. "Damn, everyone's gone, and I'm still here ... oh crap! Mindy ... " Just then her phone rang in again. It was another text from Ron "What do you want now Ron ... you're going to get me in trouble yet ... " The text said URGENT ... CALL ME Val stepped away from the desk and dialed Ron. "Val ... listen ... " "Ron, I'm in the middle of something ... ." "I know, but I have news that I believe might be accurate" "What?" "Lady Madam Woo is really ... " Valerie's phone was then ripped put of her hand before Ron could finish. She then felt the cold feel of a gun barrel at her temple. At the other end was Ken Smith! "Smith? You're behind this?" "You could say that ... " Valerie then eyed a letter opener on the desk "I knew I didn't like you!" Val replied as she elbowed the small man in the ribs and then took the letter opener and tried to stab him in the leg. It was not enough to penetrate, just graze him but was also enough to let his guard down "Ahhhhhhh!!!!!" Smith yelled, letting out a pained scream. Val then whipped around and kicked the gun out of hand. It went flying across the room. Smith looked angry as he attacked. He raised his fists and send quick snapping punches at her like a trained boxer. Valerie stepped back and dodged the quick jabs aimed for her belly and chin. She send a hard kick to his gut to make him back off Who do you work for? Smith winched in pain and came at her again. As he jabbed at her Valerie parried with her hand and then send a hard elbow strike to his cheek followed by a punch to his gut. A hard kick kick put the bleeding man down. She then went over towards him. "Whom do you work for? Who's the Lady Madam?" "You'll never see your sister again!" Val then realized he had Mindy prisoner somewhere "Where's Mindy? Where? You snake!" As Valerie started to shake the injured Ken Smith, Val could feel the presence of someone staring at her. She got up and looked at who it was. Standing in the doorway and holding a gun on her was Amanda Becker! "Heello Dahling" she sneered as she looked evilly at the reporter "You?" Valerie replied, stumbling for words "You're Lady Madam Woo?" "Surprised ... dahling?" "What's with the cheesy accent?" "You're not the one holding the gun dahling, so advise shutting it!" "Where's Mindy, what have you done with her?" Amanda then tossed a small photo of Mindy to Valerie. It showed the younger Chang sister: Bound, gagged and blindfolded "Let her go, she has nothing to do with this!" "Oh on the contrary my dahling Valerie, it has everything to do with her. You see in my business, top dollar for females is the number one priority" "Top dollar ... oh my God, you're a white slaver!" "You win a stuffed animal dahling ... berrrry good!" "And Cassie and the other two girls ... you won't make it out of the country!" "Suuuure I will dahling ... along with my husband Larry" "Who?" Amanda then pointed to the bleeding Ken Smith. "Meet my husband, Larry Becker!" "Larry Becker, the international drug smuggler ... Oh my God ... you two deserve each other!" Valerie then threw a notepad at the Madam that stunned her. The gun went off but the bullet missed and struck the wall. Val then dove forward sending a hard sidekick to the chest of the madam. The madam stumbled backwards as the gun dropped out of her hand. Val aimed a punch for her cheek but the Madam parried it and clawed with her long, lacquered nails at towards her face Valerie was able to lean back and the nails missed her face by mere inches. The Madam grabbed for her hair as she used her other hand to punch Valerie in the face. Valerie managed to avoid getting her hair grabbed and during the struggle they both fell to the floor. Val ended up on top but the wicked criminal wrapped her strong thighs around her waist. Surprised by the power of her legs Val was unprepared when the Madam reached with both hands for her breasts and painfully digged her nails in As Valerie was in pain the Madam managed to roll her over and was now straddling her chest. Val fought hard as the cruel women tried to stratch her face and grab for her boobs. I goh you Dahling! Valerie her face got scratched and the women then seized her hair and banged her head hard against the floor. The bang dazed her however with all her power Valerie struggled hard and managed to stand up. The Madam grabbed her from behind and wrapped her arm tightly around her neck trying to choke her. Time to sleep Dahling! She hisses in her ear with a excited voice. Valerie was able to spin out of the chokehold and send a hard punch to her belly. The Madam flinched but then send a hard slap to her face. Valerie blocked the slap and send a 360 kick to her head. The Madam caught her leg with both hands and before Valerie could respond the Madam send a hard knee into her groin. As Valerie screamed in pain the Madam knocked her down with a elbow strike to her cheek. On her knees Valerie was dazed and unable to respond when the Madam picked up a table lamp and hit Valerie on the back of the head with it. The young reporter's world went suddenly dark as she crashed to the floor. "Sorry dahling" the madam sneered as she attended to her husband. Better let you sleep this off ... she's berrry feisty ... but not for long" She then checked on Valerie. "Ahhhh, still alive ... at least vor now ... " The Madam then went to a storage closet and returned with pieces of rope. She then rolled Valerie over and crossed her wrists behind her back "When I finish with you Miss Dahling Valerie Chang, you're gonna vish you were dead ... and that's before I keeel you for good! With that sneer, the Lady Madam proceeded to tie Valerie up "Got anything else Uncle Jeff?" Ron said as he got into his car "Meet me at the journal office...Valerie could be in danger...I can't believe I sent her for internship with an international white slaver!" With that Ron got into his car and tried to start it....the battery was dead! "Oh no...not now dammit!" He got out and went back to a storage shed and got out a bike. "Got to get over there" he said out loud as his arrival time at the journal offices had now changed drastically Valerie's world had been cloudy as she tried to adjust her eyes. She saw a light above her. She felt sharp pain at her wrists and ankles. Realizing she was tied up, she moved her head and saw Amanda Becker A.K.A Lady Madam Woo staring at her. "I see little dahling Valerie Chang is awake..." "Where am I?" Valerie asked, knowing she wasn't gagged...yet "Same place dahling....a smaller room in ze journal offices...out of ze way you could zay" "Where's Mindy, Cassie and the other girls?" "My Dahling intern, you are in no position to be asking questions" "Did anyone tell you your accent is so fake" The lady madam then gave Valerie a hard slap across her face. If Val wasn't awake, that slap surely awoke her from her cobwebs. "This is my real voice dahling..." "The dahling comment is really getting on my nerves Mzzz Woo..." Valerie was pushing it as the Lady Madam then grabbed Valerie's chin and pulled on her hair at the same time "You're the vun thatz getting on my nerves...zo shut it!" The Lady Madam then pulled out a handkerchief and wadded it up into a ball. She then roughly shoved it into Valerie's mouth and back behind her teeth. She completed the gag with a black scarf that she tied between the reporter's teeth and wound it around it around twice, before knotting it tightly behind Valerie's head. The scarf kept the handkerchief in place as Valerie was now effectively gagged. "Beerry nice my dahling Valerie...beeery nice indeed" Valerie was at her mercy as the Lady Madam taunted her endlessly. She grunted and squirmed but was helpless to do anything "Now vheere were ve...ahhh your zister...." she sneered as she took out a long knife and ran it along Valerie's smooth skin. Val knew she had the power to end her life in an instant. "Your zister will bring beerry nice price in Japan....beeery nice!" Valerie tried to tell her to let Mindy go and to take her, but the words were all garbled as she tried to work the wad around with her tongue..the crude gag drying out her mouth as well "As for Mzzz Warren and ze others....ze Middle East awaits zem" Valerie screamed at her behind her gag as the Lady Madam stood up. She then took out a phone. "It's me dahling...got everything ready downstairs....excellent" The Lady Madam put away her phone and rechecked the knots on Valerie's ankles and wrists. "I guess you wonder why I had zou work bad assignments huh?....I thought I could keep you out of ze way like that, vut I underestimated zou Mzz Chang...but all that's all vor not" "What are you going to do with me?" Valerie asked, but the speech of course was a garbled mess. "Didn't zour mother ever tell zou to not talk with zour mouth full dahling?" Valerie grunted loudly and tried to kick the villainous woman. The Lady Madam just let out a laugh "I've planned a zlow death vor zou Mzz Chang....really zlow..." Valerie could see she was in some sort of closet area, with no windows and one vent up above. Only a few items were on a stand that was attached to the wall. The young reporter figured the room used to be a storage closet. She then felt the temperature rise in the room. It was starting to get uncomfortable "I zee the room is getting hotter dahling....Mr Becker, my huzband zou know, took ze time to fix ze thermostat zo it would keep rizing....zoon you will pass out vor good dahling Valerie..." The Lady Madam intended to roast Valerie in the small room. The temperature was rising through the vent, and the room being so small, it probably wouldn't be long before Valerie was covered in sweat, not to mention passing out! "Goodbye Valerie Chang!" The Lady Madam sneered one more time before closing the door. Valerie then saw the small light under the door disappear as the Lady Madam made sure the room was as airtight as she could get it. The pretty Asian-American struggled desperately with the ropes, but the Lady Madam sure enough had tied Val good and tight. Sweat started to pour down Valerie's forehead as the temperature in the room kept climbing. Val had a dilemma...if she sat there and waited for possible help, she would eventually pass out from the heat, but if she used up her energy trying to get loose, death might come quicker "What have I got to lose at this point" She thought, as she made it to her feet and hopped a few feet to the door. Stretching her bound hands, she was horrified to find it locked! "Dammit!" she thought "She must have rigged it to lock from the outside...I'm trapped!" Ron kept trying to call his reporter as he pedaled as fast as he could toward the journal offices. But like every other time, it went to voice mail "Where are you Valerie Chang?" Ron said out loud as he kept going down side streets, trying to get there. He then dialed another number "Uncle Jeff...where are you?....my car wouldn't start...yeah yeah...don't start about the battery again...look I'm on a bike going towards town....hurry up, I think she's in danger...." Valerie was suffering discomfort all around. The ropes on her wrists and ankles were cutting deeply into her tanned skin. The gag packing drying out her mouth badly. But the worst of it was the temperature in the small closet like room that continued to rise by the minute. Valerie was now soaked in sweat as she leaned against one of the walls. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of her little sister Mindy, probably being prepped to be sent to Japan as a white slave. There was nothing to do to help her. Just then, when all hope was lost, Val spotted a glass on the shelf...it was one of the items that was basically collecting dust. She made her way over to shelf, the hopping sent searing pain through her bound ankles. She backed up and managed to grab it with her tightly bound hands. With all the strength she had left, she turned and threw as hard as she could against the wall. With a stroke of luck, it managed to break the glass! Shards of it going everywhere. Val sat herself down and carefully managed to grab one of the shards. Sweating profusely, Val twisted her wrists and started to cut the ropes. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but did she have time?...the heat was really getting to her. A few strokes with the glass did little to cut the ropes. But she had to keep trying. With all she had she then felt the strands of rope breaking!. She twisted a little more and then shook her hands free! She rubbed them for circulation as the ropes had did a number on them. She freed the scarf from her mouth and spat out the soaked handkerchief packing. Her throat and mouth were extremely dry. She used the scarf to wipe off some of the sweat from her forehead, but it was of little use. She then freed the ropes from her bare ankles. They had been tied on her bare skin as well, as she only had on small ankle socks barely covered by sneakers. Crawling to the door, Valerie pulled on it with all of strength she had left, which wasn't much. She wound around to possibly kick the door, but fell to the floor as the heat had overcome her! Ron had finally made it to the journal offices and spotted Valerie's Honda still in the parking lot. Laying the bike down, Ron looked inside the car...nothing was out of the ordinary. He looked around and saw nobody else. He then got out his phone. "Uncle Jeff, I'm here...Valerie's car is still here, but there's no one else....where are you?.....Okay...well hurry up..." With that, Ron went over to one of the side entrances. If he didn't panic before, he certainly did now...it was locked and by the looks of it, the lights darkened the inside of the building. Little did he know that Valerie was inside the building, lying unconscious in the small heated room... Ron went around to one of the other entrances and saw a light on. He tried the door and to his surprise, found it unlocked. "Someone must be here...Val?" he thought as he felt the sweltering heat from the fixed thermostat "What the..." he thought out loud again as something wasn't right "Valerie! Valerie!" he called out as he was already sweating. Just then there was a noise behind him. It was Uncle Jeff and a few other officers. "Bout' time" Ron said sharply "It's hot as hell in here" "No kidding" Jeff shot back as he sent a few officers to go find the main heat in the building and shut it off "I have a bad feeling that Val's in here and somebody left her here in this sweltering heat" "Somebody like Lady Madam Woo?" "Or Amanda Becker...man, I still can't believe she was here the whole time!" "Don't be too hard on yourself Ronald...the key right now is to find Miss Chang" "If she's still alive" Jeff then got a call from one of the officers and said they had found the sabotaged heat unit and had set it back to normal. All this time Ron and his uncle had scoured the rooms of the journal for Valerie, but there was still no sign of her. The temperature was dropping ever so slowly to where the air felt a lot better "I think somebody wanted to find this place like this" Jeff said as the duo worked their way down a small flight of steps "Why would the back door be unlocked and the lights on?" The duo then pressed on down a small hallway and Ron spotted something familiar.... it was Valerie's handbag, it was laying on the floor outside a door, some of the contents strewn about "Oh my God!" he shouted as he rushed over to it. Looking up he saw the door behind it and found it locked "Valerie! Valerie!" he shouted, pounding on the door. Jeff then kicked it in. To their horror they saw the young reporter unconscious on the floor of the small closet! "Oh my God!" Ron yelled as he rolled Val over "I...I think she's dead!" "Beeery nize indeed!" The Lady Madam said as she looked over her prizes. In one corner were Cassie, Anne and Karin lying on a dirty old mattress. And in the other corner, tied to a chair was Mindy Chang. "Zou can remove zere blindfolds...no harm" Cassie could feel one of the thugs undoing the knot that tied her blindfold. She then adjusted her eyes to the light, as much light as there was. Then she saw the awful sight of Mindy tied and gagged to the chair across the room "Zoon ladies, zou will be all taking za trip..to zour final ztop" "Grrrrmmphhh!!" Cassie screamed at the Lady Madam behind her gag. The woman just grabbed Cassie's hair and laughed evily "Zoon my dahling Cazzandra...za blonde look will be zou..and Mzz Chang, zour zister won't be zo lucky...I bet by now, zhe's probably dead because of the brilliant death trap I devized for her..." Mindy squealed in terror at the thought of her older sister being killed. She had realized that the Lady Madam was Valerie's boss at the Journal! Cassie realized that fact as well, as the horrible hair dying treatment she was going to receive was now the least of her worries now as they untied Mindy from the chair and roughly took the teenager up the stairs. The girls heard a door lock up above them. Anne quickly shot around and told Cassie to sit still. Cassie couldn't understand Anne at all due to being gagged, but remembered she still had the hair baret clinched in her hand. Cassie could only hope and pray that Mindy was still in the building Valerie's pulse was weak as Ron started to give her CPR. Jeff stood by as well with water, as some of the officers had looked around the building for possible clues to where the other girls might be "Come on Val ... Come on!" Ron kept giving the young reporter CPR when all of sudden, Valerie's eyes opened. The first thing she saw was Ron on top of her. She then slapped him hard on the head, pushing him off "Of all things Ronald Henry!" she shouted, and then coughing Ron then looked at Valerie who then realized he had just saved her life. "Thanks for nothing Chang!" "Ron, I'm sorry...oh my God, you saved my life" She then gave him a big hug and then kissed him on the cheek. Jeff smiled, as he knew she would be okay "What happened here?" "That evil b**ch!" Valerie screamed "She got the drop on me and tied me up.... then she turned up the heat and tried to roast me to death! I got loose but I must have passed out before I could get the door open, next thing I see was you on top of me..." "Okay okay" Ron said chuckling "I'm just glad you're okay...we need to get you to the hospital" "Hospital?" Val shot back "My sister and roommate, not to mention two other girls have been kidnapped by this dragon lady slash white slaver. I need some water though" "I think she's fine Ron" Jeff added, hinting at Val's persistence as he gave her the water bottle "I'm going to check with my men" "You are stubborn as well as being beautiful Valerie Chang" Val just stared at him for a moment before being helped up. Valerie then slapped Ron across the face! "What the hell was that for? For what I just said?" "No. Why did you let me go work for a known white slaver?" "Val calm down...I just found out that Amanda Becker and Woo are the same person...honestly. I would never put you in harms way...you know that. "I'm sorry" Valerie said as she broke down crying. She then let Ron hug her "We have to find Mindy and the others, please.... they have to be all right...." "You know it" Ron shot back as they embraced "Come on, let's put our heads together" "Mmmmpphh!" Anne Sheldon grunted to Cassie as she tried her best to pick at the knots on Cassie's tied wrists. Sweat was pouring down her face as her body ached badly from her position. Cassie then tried her wrists and found them loosening. "Mmmm!!" she beamed in triumph as Anne gave it one last try. Cassie then felt the knot loosen for good. It had worked! She shook herself loose from the rough cords that had rubbed her wrists raw ... .rubbing circulation back into them and then loosening the gag from the mouth and pulling it down around her neck. Cassie took a nice breath of fresh air as she tried to get saliva back into her dry mouth. She then undid the ropes around her ankles. After quickly untying Anne and Karin, the trio hobbled over to the stairs. "Let me check and see if the door is locked" Cassie said as she ascended the stairs. She frowned as she found it locked. Then she had an idea. "Come on ... we'll jump them" "How?" Karin asked, as she saw no place to hide. She then watched Cassie gag herself again and sit down and tie her feet loosely. The girls caught on as they did the same thing as they put their untied hands behind their backs and waited for their captors to return. As their luck would have it, the girls heard the door being unlocked and feet ascending the stairs. Cassie closed her eyes and prayed that they could get the drop on them, it might be their only chance to escape ... "So where do we start?" Ron asked Val as they went to the office where Amanda Becker / Lady Madam had her offices. "Hopefully there's something here to tell us where there might be a hideout" Valerie added as she swigged more of the water. "How are you doing Val?" Ron asked, knowing that her personal ordeal was over. "Me ... I'm fine, but if we don't find anything soon, I'm afraid for Mindy, Cassie and the others" she replied worriedly. Val and Ron then started going through the Lady Madam's papers. Cassie was right as the two men came down the stairs. They carried large sacks with them. She figured that they intended to put the girls in them for their last ride. "Okay girls time to get out of here ... " As the men started to untie the girls' ankle ropes, they noticed how loosely they were tied. Before they knew what him them, Cassie kicked the one thug in the crotch area! Anne did the same to the other one and as the men lay in pain, all three girls then ungagged their selves. "Way to go!" Karin shouted as Cassie put a finger to her lips for the girls to be quiet. They quickly gagged the two thugs with the rags and then proceeded to tie them up as tight as they could. The men shot darts of anger at them as they proceeded to climb the stairs. "We have to find Mindy." Cassie said "I just hope and pray that dragon lady hasn't taken her out of here yet" The men rolled on the floor trying to get loose, knowing the three girls duped them. "Find anything?" Ron asked looking through files. "Maybe this is something ... " Valerie shot back "There's a picture here of the cross-country team ... and Anne and Karin are circled in red marker." "That's got to mean something," Ron added "But why them?" Valerie then found a letter that was addressed to Lawrence Becker from a Mr. Donald Wells. It told of a large deposit to "take care" of the completion. "This is got to mean something Ron ... Wells, where have I heard that name?" Ron then got out the photo of the team. Kelly Wells was one of the other runners. "You don't think ... ." Val replied, "Her father was paying Becker to kidnap the other two returning runners ... and hand them over for white slavery? A convenient way to get them out of everybody's way?" "This sounds too convenient though to have us find this." "Oh my God ... " Val added almost shouting, "I figured it out!" "Tell me?" "Dragon lady is planning to lay the blame on her husband ... to have him take the fall!" "I think you might be right." "But that still doesn't tell us where the girls are." Valerie then found an address book in the same drawer. She thumbed through it and smiled. Wells had a warehouse down near the river and the address was circled in red marker like the pictures! "Perfect frame job if you ask me." "Way to go Chang! That's got to be it, come on!" Ron then phoned Jeff who was downstairs and told them what they had found. The duo jumped into Valerie's car and sped off towards the warehouse. Cassie, Anne and Karin had made it up the stairs and into an open space. By the looks of it, they were in some sort of old warehouse. They could smell dirty water nearby, almost like a river. Just then Larry Becker blocked their path of escape. He still had a noticeable limp from where Valerie had stabbed him with the letter opener. "Not leaving yet are we?" he asked sarcastically as a he pulled a gun on them. "Move!" As he forced the girls to walk, Cassie could only wonder where they were being taken. "Where's Mindy? What have you done with her?" "Shut up Missy!" Cassie whirled around and kicked him, knocking him down! "Run!" she screamed as she grabbed Karin and Anne. Larry screamed a few choice words in their direction and grabbed the gun, getting off a shot The girls screamed as they ducked behind some shipping crates. "Oh..my..God!" Cassie said, breathing heavily. "I can't believe I did that. I must have learned something from Valerie after all!" "No what do we do?" Anne asked in a panicked tone "I know he'll ... .ahhhh!" Another shot came their way as he was closing in on them. "You won't escape girls. Give it up." Cassie stood up carefully and saw the man walking near them. Thinking fast, the coed pushed one of the crates down on top of him! "Come on, run!" Cassie, Anne and Karin ran as fast as they could as Larry groaned. The crate had landed on him and he tried to shake the cobwebs out. Meanwhile, the girls ran along a narrow corridor in the warehouse and towards a light. Suddenly, the girls saw the Lady Madam standing there. The girls let out a scream when they saw her. "Vell vell dahlings ... I zee zou escaped...." She sneered as she held what looked like a remote device in her hand. "Just in time Zou are ... " "For what?" Cassie asked as the Lady Madam touched the remote and a large net came down on top of the three girls. "Hey! Ahhhh!" the girls yelled as they tried to get free from it. Just then the back door swung open and Valerie and Ron stood there. "Valerie Chang! zour alive!" she snarled as she stared at the reporter. "Val!" Cassie yelled from under the large net. "Thank God!" "Give it up Becker or whatever your name is" Ron added,"The place is surrounded" "Iz it now?" she said confidently "Where's my sister Lady Moron!" "Temper mzz Chang ... look up there" Valerie, Ron as well as the trio under the net looked up in horror. A light switched on over a water tank. Hanging above that tank was Mindy! She was tied to a winch that seemed to lower ever so slowly. "I zhanged my mind about her ... .i zink I will kill her in front of zou! But not drowning ... I've stocked ze tank with piranhaz ... .zou know man eating vish, or zhould I zay ... .zizter eating! Valerie just froze at the sight of her kid sister, hanging preciously over the tank of the razor teeth fish ... . only a few feet from certain death! Mindy squealed loudly and trashed about as her arms were tied above her to the big hook. It was lowering ever so slowly to the tank below which was filled with razor teeth piranha! "Let her go you vicious b**ch!" Valerie yelled as she watched Mindy descend to a certain death "This is between you and me!" "No on the contrary ... my dahling Valerie ... thiz is between all ov uz." Just then Jeff showed up with a couple of officers. "This place is secure Ms Woo, there is no escape ... we have your husband in custody." The Lady Madam just laughed. "Do zou think I care about him? I zet it up to vere he takez ze vall." "We were right about her Val." Ron responded as he helped Jeff get the net off of Cassie and the others girls. "This is my fight Ron" Val exclaimed as Cassie hugged her roommate. "Let's get them out of here then" Jeff said as Ron helped him with Anne and Karin. "Be careful Chang" Ron shot back as he looked at the Lady Madam. "Zo, zou figured everything out ... . brilliant dahling zimply brilliant!" Valerie then saw Mindy drop a little lower. She estimated that she was only a few yards from the water. She spotted the remote device in the Madam's hand and without warning; Val spun 360 degrees and kicked the remote from her hand! The device went flying across the room. Valerie then tackled the villainous woman and held her to the ground. "Damn you Lady Moron!" Val screamed as she pulled the woman's hair and fought with her. The Lady Madam was surprisingly strong as she scratched Valerie in the face and then rolled her over and ended up on top. The Madam wrapped her strong legs around the neck of Valerie and began to choke her. Dahling you are tunong red, she said as Valerie her face was turning red. The Madam kept choking her and attempted to reach for the remote. Ze last zing you will zee is zou zistah going down, she said with a sadistic voice. Furious Valerie wiggled hard as the Madam reached for the remote. Valerie managed to break free from the hold and attacked Ms Woo knocking the remote from her hand. Quickly she punched the Madam in the cheek and then kicked her hard in the chest. Valerie aimed another punch to her face but the Madam dodged it. "You're going away for a very long time ... dahling!" The Lady Madam then managed to send a hard punch to her belly. As Valerie gasped for air the Madam slapped her face and then grabbed her breasts painfully and threw her to the floor. As the reporter was down the cruel criminal placed her knee on her chest and grabbed her by the hair. She then banged her head hard against the floor, Valerie was stunned by the impact. The Madam calmly stood up from her dazed foe and picked up the remote. "Zay goodbye to little zister!" The woman pushed a different button and the winch that Mindy hung from, started going at a more rapid pace. Mindy squealed furiously behind her gag as Valerie got up. She looked at the nightmarish sight of her sister, as she was inches away from the tank. With one more hard kick, Val kicked the Lady Madam backwards. A punch across the jaw sent the remote flying out of her hand and into the tank! Mindy, as well as Valerie were horrified as the fish took a liking to the device. Suddenly, the winch stopped as the power shut off. The water shorted out the remote device. The winch had stopped inches from the tank, as Mindy's bare feet were perilously close to the fish dominated water! "Go ahead keeel me, mzzz Chang" The Lady Madam said as Valerie had her pinned against the side of the tank. The ladies then heard voices behind them. It was Jeff and Ron. "Get her down!" Val screamed, as Mindy was still not out of danger. Valerie looked Lady Madam in the eye before speaking. "I think feeding you to the fish will be too good for you ... you're going to rot in jail ... " Soon after, Mindy was lowered down and untied. She ran and hugged her big sister, as tears flowed from both their eyes. The Lady Madam was taken into custody along with her husband and their minions. "Nice work Chang" Ron said "Now you have a story for both our papers" Valerie could only smile at him as Cassie looked at the two from a distance and smiled. THREE WEEKS LATER: Things were looking suprisingly well. Even the scratch marks on her face were healing well and were barely visible anymore. "Val, you're not going to believe it!" Cassie beamed "I met this guy last night and he is such a fox! Valerie rolled her eyes at her statement. "Cassie do you know what week is coming up?" "Oh yeah, that host a High School Senior thingy ... wake me when it's over." Valerie then buried her head in her hands as she shook her head at her roommate's attitude. Meanwhile outside the apartment, a shadowy figure was lurking in the bushes ... . THE END (Or is it the beginning of something else?)