Page 65 of The Attercop

“Utility knife?” Declan guessed.

“Very good. Now…what do you think I’m going to do with it?” the voice asked.

Declan didn’t want to let his mind go there. “I don’t suspect that you’re going to cut me free, are you?”

Declan’s captor made the sound of a ‘wrong answer’ buzzer. “Well, you did get part of it right.”

“I don’t suppose it was the wordfree, was it?” Declan asked.

“Wrong again.”

Declan heard the sound of the blade being extended.

Click-click-click-click.

He took a deep breath, wondering if it would be his last. Declan felt cool steel touch his stomach, then a tug on his T-shirt as he heard the sound of fabric being sliced. One cut from navel to neck, then two others from the edge of the short-sleeved cuffs to the throat. Then in one violent motion, the remnants of his shirt were pulled away.

“Now, isn’t that better?” the voice asked. “Well at least for me it is. What a beautiful sight. All taut skin over bulging muscle.”

Declan felt something stroking his now-bare abdomen and chest. It was probably their finger. Whoever it was paused their finger’s journey when it came across Declan’s right nipple. “Hard as a rock. Don’t tell me you’re not getting off on this, you kinky bastard. Hey—are you imagining that little twink you live with doing this to you? I’m offended. Here I go putting in all the effort to sweep you off your feet and whisk you off to this…our own little love nest, and you fantasise about someone else. Well, that hurts me to the quick. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to try harder. And, speaking of hard…” the voice said, rubbing their hand across Declan’s crotch.

They undid Declan’s belt and waist button. Declan felt a change in pressure on his crotch as his fly was being pulled down.

“There. How’s that?” his captor mumbled. It sounded like his assailant was talking through his teeth, which Declan assumed were clutching onto the fly tab as they pulled it down. Declan could feel their hot breath through his underwear.

Then there was anotherClick-click-click-click.The blade of the utility knife sliced down one pant leg at a time. Declan’s clothes were being flayed, like a rabbit of its pelt. If he had been at The Greek in the old days this might have been fun.

Declan took a deep breath and focused.

The sound of his pants being tossed to the floor was followed by the quick removal of his shoes and socks. His captor inhaled deeply.

He’s sniffing my socks.

“Mmm, you are a clean boy. Your momma—yes—she must have been so proud. A shame she’s not around anymore. Car crash, wasn’t it? Oh, I know all about you. I’ve heard your deepest confessions.”

Declan’s mind exploded in rage. Echoes of his sessions with Michael ricocheted around his brain like a bullet. He had tokeep him talking. Maybe he could narrow down who this was, but obviously it must be the same person who had broken into Michael’s office.

“Have we met before?” Declan asked in a calm voice.

There was a pause. “Oh, yes. Both before and after my…disguises. You have to admit, they were pretty good.”

“Had me fooled.”Keep it light.

Declan felt someone slowly crawling up his body. He felt hot breath penetrating his underwear, his only remaining piece of clothing. His captor shoved their face into Declan’s crotch.

“Now there’s the smell. Fear always rears its smelly head in the crotch and pits. Sweaty hair never lies.”

Declan heaved his torso as best he could to dislodge the person, who just cackled.

The sound of a closing door put an end to the fun and games. His captor rolled off. Declan heard a clattering sound then, “Sorry about this. It’s too soon to let you in on all my secrets.”

Declan felt the pressure of a cloth being pressed against his face as he drifted off.

* * * *

Jules walked into the warehouse like she owned the place.

“You’re late,” he snapped at her.