Fair warnings?




"You're asking for trouble."

Gloria Stone didn't think much of the young woman sitting across from her. The
head detective of Missing Persons hadn't been impressed with the reporter from
the Rose Tribune since she walked in. The blonde was certainly attractive with
her hair dropping just past her shoulders bright green eyes and a heart shaped
face. Her clothing too would drawn stares from the male detectives in the
building with the girl in a hugging blue blazer worn over a white blouse along
with her short black skirt. She also wore dark pantyhose, sheer and silky over
her legs making them look fabulous. All her clothes was clearly only the kind
that people with money could afford, like the black heels the reporter wore
which Stone eyed, no way I could afford those on my salary.

"I think you should give this more consideration Detective Stone." Dawn
Meadows insisted. She had been investigating the same case as Detective Stone.
Where Dawn looked young and lovely, Stone was older in her late 30s and more
subdued. Her face was harder than Dawn's with the detective's black haired
pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a dark blouse which would have had a
blazer over it like Dawn's but the cop's was hung up on the back of the chair
the detective sat in. She also had on grey slacks with more sensible flat
heeled shoes for detective work than Dawn's heels. Dawn could also tell the
detective didn't feel like listening to her, just assumes I'm nothing but a
dumb blonde, hired for her looks, and I'm wasting her time. It frustrated Dawn
to no end that people just assumed she had gotten to where she was through
either her money or looks. As she wanted to tell her coworker Danny, I'm more
than just a pair of pantyhosed legs!

"Listen Ms. Meadows, I'm sure you've worked hard on the Ivy Ridge kidnappings
but we've covered all the current leads. Plus I can't discuss all the details
of the case with the press." Gloria responded.

Dawn who was sitting across the desk controlled her feelings. Her nylon clad
legs were crossed with a tablet computer resting on her lap, "But look there's
a definite pattern." taking the tablet from her lap she reached across the
desk giving it to Detective Stone, "All of the students have gone missing only
a few miles around campus and the prefect hiding place for hiding them is
right here!"

Her finger emphasized the wooded area in the satellite mapping system picture
she had brought up. Detective Stone looked at the spot a barely clear area in
the woods around the Ivy campus, "Ms. Meadows we made extensive searches of
the area."

"You never spent your time out in those woods." Dawn answered back, "I went to
Ivy Ridge and I know for a fact that there are some old buildings abandoned by
the school in there. They are from when the school was first founded and the
woods have reclaimed them. So close to campus, its the last place anyone would
think to look!"

Dawn delivered her last point too forcefully. Gloria's face showed she didn't
like the idea of her department being outsmarted, "Well thank you for your
time Ms. Meadows but if we're going to find these missing girls I believe some
good police work will get it done."

"But..." Dawn began.

"Thank you for your theory Ms. Meadows but now I have some work to attend to."
the look she gave Dawn showed she better leave or else.

Upset Dawn tried to gather her composure. Unfortunately as she stood up to
take her computer back, Dawn's purse slipped off her shoulder. It spilled out
making her exit less than dramatic and now comical. She gathered up her
make-up and embarrassingly the package of spare pantyhose required by her job.
Gloria just rolled her eyes at the blonde. With as much diginity as she could
summon Dawn told the detective, "I intend to investigate this matter fully
detective."

Gloria looked at her with stern eyes, "You're playing with fire Ms. Meadows.
Whoever is behind these kidnappings is not playing games, seven girls all
within in the last few days. Not one trace of them found yet, don't become
number eight."

Dawn just shook her head and walked away leaving the uninterested detective
behind.

.......................

It was dark.

Dawn was sitting inside her car looking that the ominous woods in front of
her. The edge of the woods around Ivy Ridge were illuminated by her car's
headlights but the light from the white beams only pierced so far into the
darkness. Beyond the glow of the lights the woods looked darker and more
dangerous than Dawn remembered from her days at the school. Fear was creeping
up her spine, making Dawn think about the words of warning from detective The
thought though of the dark haired woman caused Dawn to narrow her eyes, "She
was just trying to scare me. Doesn't think I have the smarts or will to do
what she does, well I'll show her."

Feeling more confident Dawn turned the car off and hopped out of the driver's
seat. She smiled thinking about how well prepared she was for the search of
the woods. Still dressed in her blue jacket, black skirt, and dark hose, Dawn
had packed a change of clothes along with a bag of equipment for her search.
As she walked towards the trunk Dawn couldn't help but smile. Unlike some of
her previous adventures this time she was going in ready. Popping open the
trunk her confident face suddenly dropped into one of shock and
disappointment. Instead of her black duffle bag which had contained a GPS
unit, utility pants, a dark shirt, boots, and camera somehow she had placed
her spare clothes bag in the car. As if mocking her, the package of pantyhose
that went with her back up outfit were clearly visible in the open bag.

Slamming the trunk close with a huff Dawn looked down feeling deflated, "Now
what."

Briefly Dawn considered heading back home, tail between her legs. She wasn't
dressed for a trek through the woods glancing down at her hosed legs and short
skirt. Nor did she have any real equipment just her cellphone and a flashlight
in the car. Dawn started thinking about everyone though who would just see
this assignment as more proof she was nothing but looks and money. The thought
of Detective Stone came back to her, what would she do right now? Summoning
some courage Dawn went back to the front of the car. Getting her purse and the
flashlight she kept in the car Dawn turned on the light and with a deep breath
headed for the woods.

Time seemed to disappear as Dawn moved through the forbidding forest. She felt
a slight chill in the air, nothing that would endanger her, but she was still
feeling the cold. Her jacket, skirt, and pantyhose were not offering much
protection from the snaps of wind. Dawn was also having trouble walking
through the woods. Her shoes were hardly hiking gear and they were stumbling
about. Dawn had briefly considered going in her stocking feet but remember a
time in school when she done that and gotten bitten by a snake. The brush with
the poisonous reptile still lingered with Dawn so she would put up with her
now ruined shoes as opposed to risking a bite from some creature in the dark.

She paused to check her purse. Dawn had found one of the old buildings on the
campus years earlier but didn't remember exactly where it was. Luckily in her
research Dawn had found some old maps of the original grounds for Ivy Ridge.
Her problem was though that she was having a hard time matching up the old map
to her current surroundings. It was why she had planned on using the GPS
hoping to match the old plans to some coordinates. Best laid plans of mice and
men, Dawn thought sourly as she tried to decide if the trail she was on was
one of the originals shown in the plans. As she was getting the map out of her
purse though there was a gush of wind. It blew out of Dawn's hands
disappearing into some nearby bushes.

"No...no..." Dawn headed over with worry, she couldn't loose her map!

She dropped to her hosed knees hands going into the bushes. Muttering to
herself as she looked for the map, eventually Dawn's eyes widened with worry.
Where is it, I thought I saw it blow in here! Panicing she got up looking
everywhere for the piece of paper. However despite her frantic search Dawn
couldn't find it. Fingers at her lips she realized without the map there was
no way for her to get back to her car. Dawn found a trail but didn't know if
it was the original she had been on. Doubt washed over Dawn as she stood in
the trail half-heatedly looking down each direction with her flashlight. What
the hell was I thinking...coming out without the right equipment, Dawn was
feeling a chill from the air. Rubbing her arms over her chest she sat down
pulling her legs in close.

With her long nylon clad legs tight against her, arms wrapped around them, and
head tucked in Dawn felt completely loss. Dawn was so focused on her plight
that she didn't hear the person behind till they spoke, "Well guess you showed
me."

She spun around startled seeing a flashlight illuminating her. For a moment
Dawn worried she had been caught by the kidnappers. That the detective's
warning had come true. Much to her relief though it was someone she never
expected to be relieved or even happy to see. Detective Stone lowered her
light a little, "I have to say Ms. Meadows, never expected you to actually
come out here."

Gloria stepped a bit closer she looked annoyed with Dawn. The blonde could
read the signs on her face, a mild scowl that Stone wasn't hiding so well or
even trying? Dawn wondered. Why should she show me any respect, here I am
sitting on butt hugging myself like a scared kid! Dawn forced herself to stand
up but her rise to try and look confident came off as comical. First she
nearly tripped in her shoes. Next she had to brush the dust and leaves that
had collected on her sheer dark pantyhose. Stone couldn't help herself,
"What's the matter Ms. Meadows? Not use to getting those silky stockings
dirty?"

Dawn blushed as she felt embarrassed, once again she was nothing but a pair of
pantyhose. She was about to admit her weakness when Stone turned to look
conciliatory, "Listen it's no accident that I found you. I gave it some more
thought and maybe you're right."

Dawn suddenly felt a flicker of respect risking. Slowly calming herself she
replied, "I thought you didn't believe I had anything."

"At first but then I got to thinking. There are quite a few security cameras
around this area, well outside the forest of course." Stone came closer
actually brushing some dirt of Dawn's jacket as she talked, "They are built
into the buildings, bank ATMs, even some 24/7 webcams. Anyway I reviewed them
all again, nothing turned up in any of them. Even if the kidnappers were
careful they still should have shown up on something, so where are they? Your
theory is the only thing that explains it, they are taking the kidnapped girls
into the woods. Like you said, last place we thought to look."

All of the unsure feelings Dawn had disappeared and she smiled, "So have you
found anything?"

"Yeah, follow me."

The detective with her far more practical shoes led the way down the path.
Dawn followed stumbling a bit in the growth that was on the path. Eventually
they arrived at one of the original buildings that had been part of the Ivy
Ridge school. This one Dawn hadn't seen before but it looked like it had once
been a teacher's home or maybe the headmaster's. It was two stories tall and
made out of a mix of wood and stone. The architecture seemed to be that of the
19th Century. Gloria led Dawn around to the back where an old wooden porch.
The detective shined her light on the backdoor, "Look at this."

She stepped onto the porch and Dawn saw what she was looking at, a fresh lock
on the back. The detective smiled kneeling at the door. From her jacket pocket
she produced some lock picks. Dawn joined her at the door asking, "Don't you
need a warrant for this?"

"Yeah but you're the one picking the lock." Gloria told her with a wink.

Dawn nodded getting it, "And you later come running when I 'call'...assuming
we find something."

Gloria finished with the lock, "I think we will..."

Carefully the detective opened the door not wanting to make much noise. She
killed her flashlight which caused Dawn to do the same. Someone had strung
some lights from the ceiling but they glowed faintly not illuminating the back
room and a connecting hallway well. The detective stepped onto the floor
boards but they creaked. Looking down at her shoes Gloria shook her head, "Too
much noise, guess we go without them."

She started to slip out of her shoes into stocking feet. Dawn was less sure
and it showed on her face. Gloria looked at her, "Listen we don't know if
anybody is here. No need to tip them off when those heels of your go clicking
all over the place."

"Well...I guess you're right." Dawn looked to her black heels for another
moment before slipping her stocking foot from the first of her shoes. They
left their footwear hidden out of sight on the porch before heading inside the
building. Dawn's feet were indeed quieter on the wood floors in her nylons. As
they sunk inside the detective lead them down the hallway Dawn felt a lot
better to be doing all this sneaking with Stone. It bucked her courage up
which Dawn needed sneaking around an abandoned building in nothing but her
hosed soles.

They reached a stairwell and Gloria turned to face her. Speaking quietly she
said, "Listen...you check upstairs for anything, I'll look down here. Text me
if you find anything." she shared the phone number which Dawn committed to
memory.

"Okay, good luck." Dawn added as they parted ways.

With the detective heading off on her own Dawn took a breath before climbing
the stairs. She took the steps slowly, making each step of her feet carefully.
Nervous sweat was tickling down the back of her neck despite the cool air,
sticking to her blouse. Luckily she made little noise as she ascended, Stone
was right, my stocking feet are much quieter. Who knew pantyhose could be so
useful.

Dawn arrived at the top floor to see it was divided into a number of rooms.
Sneaking her way across the floor she approached the first door on her left.
It wasn't locked and after listening at the door she couldn't hear any
activity inside. Taking a gamble Dawn opened the door cautiously. As she
peered around the corner of the door a light gasp came from her lips. Lying on
a cot bed in the bare room was one of the missing girls. She was an 18 year
old senior from Ivy Ridge. Just like the reports had said she had been coming
back from skating practice. In fact she was still dressed in her black
leotard, sheer skirt, and thick fleshtone skater tights. She was without her
shoes though lying on the bed her only comfort a small pillow under a short
brunette mane. Dawn came closer and saw an I.V was being run into her left
arm. The leotard sleeve had been rolled up and a small I.V. line inserted.

Probably some sort of drug to keep her sedated, Dawn deduced. She gently shook
the girl by the shoulder but found she didn't move. Dawn left her behind
closing the door as she continued her search. After ten minutes she found all
seven girls who had been kidnapped were upstairs. A mix of athletes, like the
volleyball player in her tight black shorts, to the bookworm, who had on a
sweater, plaid skirt, and black tights. Each of the girls were drugged which
kept them in slumbering states. Despite the perilous situation the ladies were
in Dawn felt a rush of excitement, I was right! Pulling her phone out, Dawn
quickly thumbed a text out to Detective Stone telling her to call the cavalry.
Dawn waited in corner of a room for a response. However after a few minutes
none came. She sent a second text but it too went unanswered.

Dawn's mind raced with the possibilities, maybe she's hiding or found
something herself. However her mind also thought about the less pleasnt ones,
what if she's been caught, I haven't heard anyone but what if they got the
drop on Stone...now they're looking for me? She hand her phone in her hands
ready to call the police but her fingers stopped before hitting the buttons.
Her green eyes looked down through the floor wondering if she could just hide
while something bad happened to Stone. She was scared but that's what everyone
expected, for her to sit up here quaking in her pantyhose waiting for someone
to rescue her. Dawn caught her breaths and began to summon up some courage.
Hold on Detective Stone, I'm coming!

Heading out of her hiding spot Dawn made her way back down the stairs. She
didn't have much in her purse to use as a weapon other than her flashlight.
Holding it like a small club Dawn carefully went down the hallway Stone had
departed down when they had first split up. It brought her to a large entry
room which had a door built into one of the walls. Dawn saw that the door was
cracked open. Stepping up to the door, Dawn carefully opened it, her hand
slowly pushing it. Once the door was open she saw it was a set of stairs
leading to the basement area. With one stocking foot after another she crept
down the stairs her eyes on the lookout for any kidnappers. Dawn was both
thrilled and terrified, good that will keep me sharp!

Reaching the bottom of the stairs showed that the basement was further
subdivided with a open area right at the bottom of the stairs. There were
three rooms with what sounded like voices coming from the one on the left.
Before she could move in to listen the door began to swing open. With wide
eyes Dawn looked for a place to hide. She found a space behind the stairs just
as two people traveled from the room to the stairs. Dawn couldn't see anything
from behind the stairs but based on the footsteps two people were going
upstairs. She waited till the sound of their footfalls had left her ears
moving out from her hiding spot. Back in the open Dawn saw they had left the
door open and she moved to it. As she slowly approached Dawn could hear a
voice from the room, she thought it sounded like a woman speaking quietly on
the phone. Holding her flashlight like a billy club Dawn prepared to get the
drop on whoever was inside.

Her hosed legs slid quietly over the floor as she pressed against the wall
just outside the door frame. Dawn told herself, you can do this...clonk them
on the head, find out where Stone is, and then rescue her calling the cops to
save the day. With a final soft sigh she whipped around the door frame
flashlight in hand ready to smack it down, "What?"

Stone was standing in the room unconcerned as she hung up her phone, "So
that's where you went."

Dawn was too confused so she answered back still holding her flashlight like a
club in the air, "Wait you're alright?"

"I'm fine." Gloria replied using one hand to send a quick message with the
phone, "It was sweet of you really to come looking for me. Like I said earlier
you're braver than I thought."

Dawn heard the approach of people down the stairs she moved to close the door
but the sound of a gun being cocked caused her to stop. Turning she saw
Detective Stone pointing her handgun at her, "Don't move Ms. Meadows."

"Detective..." Dawn managed to say before she was grabbed from behind.

The two new arrivals were a man and woman, Dawn knew that because the man's
strong grip first yanked her flashlight away, and then wrapped her up tightly
from behind. She struggled for a moment or two trying to slip out of his
muscled arms. It was no use as the dark clothed man easily held onto her. Dawn
without thinking slammed her feet down on his. Her feet hit his shoes and then
to her horror Dawn remembered that she was in just her stocking feet. The loss
of her sharp heeled shoes meant she had not even the most basic way to resist
her captor. It showed on Dawn's face as she looked at Detective Stone, "You
tricked me, you're part of this."

Gloria put her gun away crossing her arms afterwards, "No they are the
kidnappers. I caught them right after the third girl went missing. On a hunch
I wandered through the woods and found this place."

"And we made her an offer she couldn't refuse." the lady kidnapper said. Like
her male counterpart she was dressed in black, tight sweater, pants, and
shoes, "Detectives make so little money."

Dawn looked at Gloria with unbelieving eyes, "You're helping them for money?"

"Not all of us have a big inheritance to live with." Stone shot back, "I had
hoped you would have just given up after my warning but seems I underestimated
you Ms. Meadows. Good thing though I needed to check in tonight with Kate and
Sam here."

"She might have told someone she was coming out here, we've got to move." the
man, Sam, told his confederates.

Kate went over to the corner where she rummaged in a bag that Dawn hadn't
noticed before. Dawn watched paralyzed by fear unsure if she could escape.
Kate pulled out a bottle its label hidden to the investigative reporter but
the mystery of its contents was soon revealed, "I've got a little chloroform
left should do the job but I've got nothing to soak it in."

Gloria eyed Dawn's purse and then with a smile walked over, "No worries I know
where we can find something."

Dawn's purse was taken from her by Sam who tossed it the short distance to
Gloria. She rummaged through it for only a few moments before pulling a small
folded package out. The blonde reporter's eyes widened as Detective Stone
ripped open her spare pantyhose package. Kate moved to accept the now bunched
up nylons but Gloria looked at her, "No, let me. I'm going to enjoy this."

Kate nodded handing over the bottle of chloroform and informing her corrupt
cop, "I'm heading upstairs to get the girls ready for shipment."

She left them behind with Dawn looking worryingly at Stone, "Please, don't do
this, I won't tell anybody I swear!"

"I know you won't." Gloria answered popping off the cap of the bottle of
soporific. She dosed Dawn's spare nylons in the liquid the material soaking it
up quickly. Once that was done she put the bottle aside and told Sam, "Hold
her tight."

Sam's grip became a tad bit stronger not that it mattered. Dawn couldn't move
in his vice like grip her strength nowhere equal to brute that held her.
Gloria now stood in front of the helpless Dawn, the bunched up chloro-hose in
her one hand, "I did warn you Ms. Meadows."

Dawn looked at her with wide green eyes realizing that that detective's
warning had come true. Gloria smirked as she said, "You didn't listen and now
you are victim number eight."

"No..." Dawn pleaded right as the soft sheer nylons, damp with chloroform,
pressed against her lips and settled under her nose.

The sweet smell assaulted Dawn at once the fumes causing her head to swoon.
Gloria kept a surprising soft but still solid hold of the chloroform nylons
against the reporter's face. It wasn't long before her legs began to become
weak. Dawn's knees started to bend as the stocking encased legs became more
rubbery. Her eyes looked for any sign of escape or rescue. Foolishly she
hadn't told anyone what she was up to. Danny and the rest of the Rose Tribune
had no idea she was here. Desperately she prayed that a last minute change of
fate would occur, Danny comes looking...for me, one of...Stone's
cops...knows...she's...uhhhh. Her thoughts became cloudy, Dawn's strength was
fading, she was so weak. Gloria smiled as the pesky reporter's eyes began to
blink fighting off the inevitable.

"Playtime is over Ms. Meadows, nap time." Detective Stone told her captive
with an evil grin.

Dawn's body slackened sinking deeper against Sam's body. Her head rested on
his chest slowly turning to its side. Her pantyhosed legs were slack, Dawn's
stocking feet slipping across the floor as now the thug was the only thing
holding her up. As her cheek came to rest against the man's dark shirt, Dawn's
eyes fluttered once, then twice, and finally with a soft sigh they closed and
stayed that way. Gloria held the spare hosiery against Dawn's face for a
minute more before taking away the sleepy stockings. Sam swept Dawn's lithe
body into his arms now cradling the lovely lady.

They proceeded upstairs where Kate had been working. Eight shipping boxes were
laid out on the main entryway where Dawn and Gloria had split up earlier one
to investigate the other to warn her partners. Kate nodded to the sleeping
Dawn, "Good work we'll ship her off with the rest."

Gloria nodded already working on her story to tell the department. She'd admit
Ms. Meadows had come to her with her theory. She'd even return with the police
to find evidence the reporter was right but the kidnappers and their captives
were long gone. Probably because Ms. Meadows had turned up. Gloria smiled as
she thought about all the blame Dawn Meadows would get in the media, if she
hadn't been snooping around on her own, the missing girls might have been
found. Icing on the cake, Stone thought with satisfaction. Kate meanwhile had
arranged to ship off the girls in various containers of otherwise normal
goods. She told Sam, "Load her up in a crate. I'll drug her with the I.V.
after we get the others down here. That chloroform will keep her out for a
while."

Sam nodded moving to a crate but that's when Gloria spotted one that was
prefect for the soon to be former reporter, "Put her in that one." Kate looked
at her with a raised eyebrow wondering why Gloria was picking that particular
crate. Detective Stone just answered, "Consider it an ironic ending."

Kate could care less rolling her eyes, "Just get her in there."

Sam carried Dawn over and eased her down into the long wooden crate. Gloria
looked down a smile on her face, Dawn Meadows was being laid down inside a
crate full of packages of pantyhose. As she came to rest among the hosiery
packs Gloria tossed the soaked pair which had knocked Dawn out inside with
their former owner. They landed across Dawn's chest, signaling the end of this
adventure for the reporter.

The End