The cold war 36

Chapter 8 – Behind enemy lines

It had been four days since Ben had first seen the horrifying sight of Jake, feminised, and traipsing along behind Danila as he had watched helplessly on.

Nervously sat in the same position, Ben smiled at the man behind the reception desk, who kept looking over at him and smiling. He didn’t really have a plan, but he knew he had to do something, if he could just get up to the seventh floor somehow, he was sure he would think of something.

Returning home that day, he had been a blabbering mess as he found Irina and tried to explain to her what he had seen. Saying she was shocked would have been an understatement but after calming down, she convinced him to call the police.

Finding the card detective Peters had given him, Ben called the number. After a moment on hold, Detective Peters answered and Ben leaving told him exactly what he had just seen. The reaction was not what he was expecting.

After a scolding down the phone, telling him that he shouldn’t have put himself in danger and that he was interfering with an ongoing case, he at least agreed to check things out.

But four days later and having heard nothing, Ben had given up hope on the police helping him, so again, he took matters into his own hands.

Seeing the man behind the reception desk finally leave, going into the backroom, Ben seized his opportunity. Getting to his feet, he quickly crossed the lobby, making his way over to the elevator.

As he waited, he could feel his heart thumping in his chest as he looked at the familiar reflection of a woman in the shiny metal doors. He was dressed more casually than usual that day, but that was the idea, he wanted to blend in, not stand out.

A loud ping sound made him jump and with one last nervous look over his shoulder to check the coast was still clear, he darted inside the elevator and reached out to press the button for the seventh floor.

“No… aw come on”, Ben exclaimed in anguish.

The button wasn’t working, he needed a key card. Panicking he tried the other buttons with no luck either before leaning back against the wall, looking up, and sighing heavily.

Suddenly the elevator doors opened making Ben jump, and in stepped two large muscular men, blocking his exit, “are you going up, miss”? one of the men asked.

“Err… yes”, Ben replied nervously, “seven, please”.

The man smiled took out a key card and pressed number seven. 

As the elevator ascended, and the men kept looking him up and down, Ben got the feeling that something was quite right.

“Err… are you two going to floor seven, too”, he asked looking up at the large bald-headed man who had spoken to him moments earlier.

“Yes”, came the reply as the elevator continued its ascent.

“Ok, just be cool”, Ben thought to himself, “let them get out first and then find somewhere to hide”.

Slowing to a stop, the elevator pinged once more and the doors opened but nobody moved, “ladies first, the large bald-headed man said extending his arm.

“Oh… no, please, you go first”, Ben answered nervously looking up at the two men towering over him.

Stepping out Ben was faced with a long corridor with numbered doors on either side. Not knowing what to do he started walking as the two men stepped out behind to follow.

Terrified, Ben continued on down the corridor with his destination unknown, as he forced his shaking legs to press on down the endless corridor of identical-looking doors.

“Ok, Bunny, we’re here”, a gruff sounding voice announced from behind.

Ben swivelled around shocked, “What!”, he exclaimed, “how do you know my name”?

The man smiled, “you’re Bunny, right? here to see your friend Jacqueline, well she's right through that door to your right”.

Ben's eyes darted from one huge man to the other before glancing over his shoulder down the corridor.

“There’s nowhere to run, the only way down from here is that elevator, and if you make Boris chase you, trust me, he won’t be happy, we’ve just had a big breakfast”, Igor announced.

Ben turned to run but didn't even make it two feet before feeling a strong hand grip his shoulder, “come now, let’s say hello shall we”? Igor announced, taking out his keys and opened in the door.

Shoved into the room, Ben looked around the stylishly decorated living room. The walls were covered with paintings and the place was immaculately clean from its polished laminate floors to the shining glass coffee table.

Hearing a door open, Ben looked to his right to see a tall smartly dressed woman, step out gingerly from the adjoining bedroom on her gigantic platform heels. Her mouth dropped open in surprise, “Bunny, what… what are you doing here”? Jake exclaimed.

“I came to rescue you”, Ben said meekly feeling rather ridiculous.

“You shouldn’t have come here”, Jake said as his eyes darting from Igor to Boris, and then towards the door.

“Looking for the boss”? Igor said, “don’t worry, baby, he’ll be along in a moment, why don’t you come and join your friend on the sofa, I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do”.

The wait for Danila was excruciating for the two feminised boys as they sat silently in the tense hostile atmosphere, created by the two large Russian henchmen holding them against their will.

Ten minutes later, Danila made his entrance. No one spoke as he stepped in through the apartment door, slowly took off his coat and made his way towards the sofa, his heavy footsteps pounding on the wooden floor as he eyeballed his unexpected guest.

“Well, well, Bunny, what a surprise”, He announced after taking a seat in an armchair opposite the boys, “what brings you here today”?

Ben didn’t respond instead he lowered his head and stared down at his denim-covered legs.

Jake looked over at him, “please, Danila, she doesn’t….” he was cut off as Danila raised his right hand and stared him down, “silence, Jacqueline, I’m not speaking to you”.

To ease the tension Danila clapped his hands together loudly, “Ah, where are my manners, can I get you a drink Bunny”? he announced.

“Err… no”, Ben replied meekly, “I’m fine, thank you”.

“Nonsense, Igor, go fetch us some drinks”, Danila replied as Igor scurried from the room.

“So, what are we going to do now”? Danila said eyeballing the two crossdressed men opposite him.

“You can let us leave”, Ben suddenly announced finding his courage, “if you keep us here, that’s kidnapping, that’s a felony”.

Danila burst out laughing as Boris joined him, “kidnapping”, he boomed, “that’s a good one, how can it be kidnapping when Jacqueline is here of her own free will? She can leave anytime she likes, isn’t that right, Jacqueline”? Danila added looking over towards Jake.

Ben’s head quickly turned to look at Jake, who nodded his head and mouthed sorry.

“You see, there are no crimes being committed here, just a young man come to visit my personal assistant who happens to be an old school friend”, Danila said grinning at Ben.

It took a moment for the words to sink in as Ben’ slowly lifted his head, his face as white as a sheet.

“Oh, don’t look so surprised, Bunny, or should I say, Benjamin Quinn, I’ve known who you were since we first met”, Danila said, his piercing stare looking right through him.

(See image 8.1)