Despite things looking bad, Betsy knew there had to be a way out. She closed her eyes and thought, and then came up with an idea.
Maybe if I can get close enough to Rob, we can untie each other´s hands she thought, it´s worth a shot.
Slowly, Betsy began to move over towards Roberta. With her feet tied, she had to crawl along the carpet, but years of athletic competition had given her enhanced stamina and she made it without tiring.
“Mob, urn erround un mile unmie oo’ Betsy mumbled through her gag. Roberta simply issued a muffled reply. Exasperated, Betsy began to shake her bound wrists up and down, hoping her friend would get the idea. Rob apparently did, because she complied and turned her hands towards Betsy. The blonde girl stretched her fingers towards the knots, but found herself unable to get a good grip.
Well that didn´t work she thought. Maybe there´s something we can cut ourselves loose with.
While Betsy scanned the room, hoping to find some sharp object to free herself, she had no clue that sweet freedom was only moments away. For the crafty Roger had just arrived, readying himself for a romantic evening.
“In a few minutes, I´ll be charming the skirt off of Marge’ he said to himself “and without her big lummox of a boyfriend around, it´ll be easy as pie.’
Roger approached the house, and noticed all the window shades were closed. “They probably don´t want guys peeking in here’ he said, “I´ll just come in through the back.’
He walked around to the back of the house and tried the door, but it was locked too. “Looks like I´m going to have to give this the old Crimson charm’ he said, readying himself to ram into the door.
Thump! Roger hit the door and hurt his shoulder in the process.
“OW!’ he exclaimed, “oh forget this. I´ll just go in through one of the windows. I just hope they didn´t lock them.’
As luck would have it, one of the back windows was unlocked. Roger opened it and made his way in, ending up in the kitchen.
“All right, I´m in. Now then, if I were a girl having a slumber party, where would I be?’ he asked. His thought was cut off when he heard muffled noises coming from nearby. “What the?’ his curiosity piqued, he made his way into the living room, where he gasped in shock at the sight before him.
The girls quickly noticed Roger and began making loud noises. Roger rushed over to Betsy, “what happened here?’ he asked, before removing the gag.
“It was those crooks that robbed Rob´s house’ Betsy explained, “They stole Cherry´s necklace and tied us up like this. Quick, untie us!’
Roger nodded and began to work on her ropes. Soon all the girls were free; they were all right, although they´d have to take a trip to the spa to heal their chafed skin.
“Thank goodness you showed up when you did’ Betsy said, “I don´t think we could´ve gotten free by ourselves. Wait a minute, how´s you know we were here?’
“I… have a sense for women in danger’ Roger answered.
“No you don´t’ Rob replied, “You were planning on sneaking over here and spying on us, weren´t you?’
“Okay, I was’ Roger confessed “but you should be glad I did. Otherwise, who knows how long you two would have been tied up.’
“You´re right, and here´s a reward’ Betsy said, kissing him on the cheek “but that´s just for saving us, don´t think that means I like you or anything.’
Roger couldn´t hear her, as he was trapped in his own little daze, happily mumbling to himself.
“Now what do we do?’ Marge asked.
“Call the police’ Betsy said, “but this whole thing has me confused. How did those crooks know where we were?’
“They definitely didn´t seem like the intelligent type,’ Marge added.
“Who cares about that?’ Cherry yelled, “those two took my necklace and they´re going to pay! No one rips off a Blossom and gets away with it! When my father gets through, there won´t be any place in this city they can hide!’
“Calm down Cherry’ Betsy said, trying to placate the redhead “you´ve just been through a traumatic experience. Why don´t you head home?’
“Yes, the farther you are from us, the better!’ Roberta added.
“You´re right’ Cherry said, “after all, look at the marks those awful ropes left! I´ll need a soak all day to recover from them. Ta-ta ladies’ she said, before leaving.
“So, are we having this party, or what’ Betsy asked
“I don´t feel much like partying now’ Roberta said.
“Me neither’ Marge added.
“Then let´s just go to sleep’ Betsy said, “we can deal with this in the morning.’
“Great, where do I sleep?’
Roger didn´t receive an answer to his question. Instead, the girls walloped him with their pillows and shoved him out the door, locking it behind them.
“Hmmph, that´s some gratitude for the guy that saved them’ he said angrily.
The next morning, Betsy and Roberta went to school, as usual, but both were still shook up about what had happened to them. Roberta approached her best friend´s locker.
“Any word on those crooks?’ she asked.
“No, sorry’ Betsy said “the police said they´d do what they could though.’
“Oh I can´t sleep well knowing those awful brutes are still on the loose!’ Roberta exclaimed “Betsy, do you suppose I could sleep over at your house tonight? You have nothing of value, so you don´t have to worry about being robbed.’
Betsy frowned “thanks Rob’ she replied sarcastically, “Say, I just remembered something. That rock group, Jodie and the Kittycats are coming into town today. Maybe we should get tickets and go. Nothing bad could happen there, right?’
“Brilliant idea Betsy’ Roberta replied, “I´ll call and get us two tickets right now. That will hopefully take my mind of this horrible robbery business.’ She reached into her skirt and pulled out her cellphone “yes hello, this is Roberta House speaking…’
Meanwhile, in another section of town, the aforementioned rock group was settling in for the day. “Wow, how long has it been since we performed in Riverview?’ asked Jodie, the band´s redheaded lead.
“Too long’ replied Mallory, the only African member of the band “didn´t we do a duet with some band called the Arties?’
“I think so’ Jodie replied “where is Aaron with our bags?’
As if to answer her question, Aaron O, the band´s roadie (and Jodie´s occasional boyfriend) entered the room with their instruments. Following him was the band´s money loving manager Maxwell Cabot III and his sneaky sister Maxine and her cat Wolfgang.
“Good news girls’ Max reported, “I´ve just heard that your tickets have sold out. This concert is going to be a very profitable one.’
“Yeah well there won´t be a concert without Harmony’ Mallory replied, “Where is she anyway?’
“She´s in the bathroom’ Jodie replied, “She wanted to freshen up before the show.’
Just then, Harmony emerged from the bathroom. She was the group´s drummer and was the object of most men´s desires. Thankfully, she was too aloof to notice a lot of the attention she received.
“Hi girls’ she said, “Sorry I took so long.’
“What were you doing in there, putting on your face?’ Mallory asked.
“I don´t think so’ Harmony replied “I kind of like the face I have now.’
Mallory slapped her face into her palm. Never use figures of speech around Harmony she thought. “Well now that you´re back, let´s get practicing.’
Meanwhile, back at their hideout, the two crooks were talking to their mysterious boss.
“It all went off without a hitch boss’ Lefty said, “that Blossom girl was right you said she was.’
“Naturally’ the mystery figure replied, “my position allows me to obtain information on the richest people in the city. Speaking of which, I have one more job for you, before we can leave this little burg.’
“What´s da scheme boss?’ Vinnie asked.
“Tonight, the rock group the Kittycats will be performing at the Riverview Dome’ the figure explained “the concert is a sellout, so the payroll will be huge. You are to sneak backstage and steal said payroll.’
“But how are suppose ta sneak into a crowded stadium?’ Lefty asked.
“Simple, cause a distraction’ the figure explained “make it so that band is temporarily unable to perform. While people are looking for them, you can make off with the receipts. Now go, there isn´t much time.’
“Isn´t this great Salem?’
The question was posed by a young girl with short blonde hair and freckles. The person in question was her cat.
“Remind me again why we´re here?’ the cat asked.
“Well, I heard that Roberta House had been robbed’ the girl explained “ and the cops haven´t been able to solve the case. And since she´s an old friend of mine, I figured I´d help.’
“Are your aunts okay with you playing detective Serena?’ Salem asked.
“Of course’ Serena replied, “and with my magic powers, solving this case will be a piece of cake.’
“Speaking of cake, you think you could call room service?’ Salem asked, “I haven´t had anything to eat since we got here.’
Serena laughed, “all right’ she said, “We´ll eat first. Oh, and our old friends, Jodie and Kittycats are playing a concert tonight. We should stop by and say hello.’
“I´m looking forward to seeing Harmony again’ Salem replied.
Serena sighed; she knew how Salem acted the last time they met the group. “Just be on your best behavior,’ she cautioned “and no talking, we don´t want to draw attention to ourselves.’
“Serena please, you can trust me.’
That´s what you always say Serena thought.
Later that night, Jodie and company were setting up for their concert. The girls had been given a spacious dressing room and were currently inside it, preparing for the show.
“Harmony, could you go see if they have anymore blush?’ Jodie asked.
“Okay’ Harmony replied, leaving the room and heading down towards the makeup department. Just then, two men in event staff uniforms confronted her.
“Excuse me miss,’ the shorter one said, “but would you be part of the band?’
“I think so’ Harmony replied, “What band are you talking about?’
“We´ve been instructed to give you a special gift’ the taller one replied, “would you come with us.’
“Okay’ Harmony said, “I love gifts.’
The two men led her to a secluded part of the arena and stopped in front of a door.
“In here ma´am’ one said.
Harmony opened the door, and found it led to a janitor´s closet. “Umm, I don´t see a gift in here’ she said, “I think you guys made a mistake.’
“You´re the one who made a mistake!’ said the taller goon. Before Harmony could react, he clamped a chloroform soaked rag over her mouth. Her struggles and muffled cries were useless and she soon drifted off into slumber.
“Let´s get her tied up’ Lefty said, pulling a length of rope from his pocket. He quickly secured the blonde girl´s hands behind her back. Vinnie took out more rope and lashed her ankles together. Then, they secured her arms to her sides with even more rope. As a finishing touch, they stuffed one of the rags from the closet in her mouth, then tied another around it.
“Sweet dreams, sucker!’ Lefty said, closing the closet and locking it, leaving poor Harmony unconscious in the dark.
To Be Continued...