Tickling_Anime
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Note: Special thanks to a special someone who helped me edit this story!!! I appreciate you!
Link to chapter two: http://www.ticklingforum.com/showth...-Betsy-James-Case-of-the-Marble-Falcon-Part-2
The Ticklish Cases of P. I. Betsy “Bets” James
M/F
Summary: It is the 1930s and America is in the middle of the great depression. This is also the era known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Our story is about a woman, who is attempting to make a living using her skills as a private eye. Without any bias, she takes on the cases of those who are unable to go to the police, or those who sometimes have secrets they wish not to be revealed to the world. Getting paid to do the right thing is how she’d define her job description. But our heroine is no ordinary private eye, and sometimes deals in cases that are of supernatural origin. She has built a well-earned reputation for the period of time she lives in as a hard-boiled detective, who is determined to solve the case. Though, what happens when a closely guarded secret of hers is used against her? Will she be able to endure the perils that come with the job? Can she maintain her professional code of conduct, and have the courage to carry on as the villains she faces try to break through her tough exterior? Before long, she’ll find herself completely, tickled pink as her ultimate weakness is exploited on each one these cases of hers.
The Case of the Marble Falcon: Part 1 - The Marble Falcon
My name is Betsy James, but my friends call me, Bets. I’m a private eye, and I’m in some deep trouble. My wrists are bound behind my back and I’m sitting on a chair with one leg propped up on what I can assume by the texture is a wooden crate. I’d describe my surroundings to you but I’m blindfolded. I can tell you that I’m by the docks in what I can guess is a warehouse, and I can hear a couple of the men around me.
I overhear one ask, “What are we going to do with her boss? How are we going to get her to tell us where the falcon is?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get her to sing,” replied the boss.
You might be wondering how I got myself into this mess? Let me start at the beginning. It was yesterday, and I was sitting in the office with my black high heels on my large wooden desk. I didn’t mind putting my feet up even if I was wearing a grey skirt that went down below my knee. I struck a match and lit the cigarette in my mouth. I took a short drag and blew out a cloud of smoke while I swirled a glass full of a red liquid. There is something you should know about me before I continue. You see, I’m half-vampire. Now, I want to clear up some of the misconceptions about vampires. Number one, the whole using a cross to stop one doesn’t work, I even know some vampires who go to church every Sunday. Number two, if you think wearing a necklace of garlic will help, well let me tell you that I love my pasta with tons of the stuff. Number three, the whole thing about not being able to go into the sun is pure boloney, it does weaken a vampire but it doesn’t kill them. However, we do have pale skin. The final point I want to clear up is that we don’t turn into bats, I don’t know who came up with that but it is completely bogus. Though, the stories are true in some ways, vampires live hundreds, sometimes thousands of years. We do drink blood, which as you can guess is what I was drinking at the moment. It’s a mix of tomato juice, vodka, and some spices, making it a real Bloody Mary. Vampires also have improved strength, which unfortunately I do not have. Though, I do have the ability to heal incredibly fast. Like, really fast.
Anyway, there I was in my office and that’s when I saw her come in through the door that had my name written on the front. Her name was Shirley Adley, everyone in town knew who she was. She was the daughter of John Adley the owner of Adley industries which is prominent steel company. Shirley had fiery, red hair that looked as if the sun had blown a kiss in this pretty dame’s direction. She sauntered into my messy office; I wasn’t the overly clean type and I had plenty of boxes strewn about. She wore a long, crimson red dress that showed off her very curvy figure, I mean she had the hourglass body. She had huge, ample breasts and a fabulous rear end, both of which were quite bouncy. Her long, purple, satin gloves went up to her forearms just stopping short of her elbows. Our gaze met, and I stared into those gorgeous, hazel eyes topped with lavender eyeshadow. They were the kind of peepers a man would get lost in. Luckily, I wasn’t a man, and I knew had to ask for directions.
“What can I do you for?” I asked.
“I want to hire you. I hear you’re good at what you do,” she said. The words flowed from her ruby, red lips as if she was reading poetry.
I was known as being a good private eye, at least by those who were okay with me being a woman. I’d solve a couple of cases but all of the credit had gone to the chief of police. I wasn’t too angry at the situation, nothing a bottle of booze couldn’t fix.
Now, being half-vampire, I was a part of an underground network that started when a couple of vampires emigrated to America from Europe. This helped me on some of my cases but not always. It also had enabled me to really understand how crime worked in this town, because I knew how people liked to keep things hidden.
“Yeah, who’s asking?”
“My name is Shirley, Shirley-”
“Shirley Adley. I know who you are. What’s the job?”
Miss Adley sighed. “I need you to retrieve something and find someone for me.”
I took another puff from my cigarette. “I’m listening.”
“You see, Miss James.”
“Call me Bets,” I said. I was called that because I had been known to play a good hand of poker and make big bets.
“Yes, of course, Bets. My uncle Peter is a gambler and tends to run with a bad crowd. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”
I nodded. There were tons of crime families who were expanding there illegal gambling and loan sharking rackets in case prohibition was repealed. The mob liked to catch people who made horrible decisions by taking their money.
“Well, he has terrible luck. He lost rolling dice and took out a large loan from one the guys down by the docks. He wasn’t able to pay back the money, and the man whom he owed the debt to, told him that he’d wipe his debt clean if he did him a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” I’d seen this before, it never turned out well.
“They had my uncle steal a marble statue that’s shaped like a falcon.”
I raised my eyebrow. “What does the mob want with a marble statue that looks like a falcon?”
Shirley shrugged. “I’m not sure. It was an heirloom that my great grandfather brought with him when he came to America, but my father sold it along with other items when the stock market crashed on Black Friday.”
A billow of smoke came out of my mouth. “I’m guessing you want me to find it and get it back. Though, you didn’t tell me why.”
She nodded. “That’s correct. You see, when my uncle stole it, he murdered someone. The cops ended up blaming my brother for it and he’s now locked up. My father is on his deathbed and keeps asking for him, but I don’t have the heart to tell him. If I can get the falcon, I can prove that my brother didn’t steal it. I’ll pay any amount you want just please get it back. I only want to free my brother and make my father happy before he dies.”
I placed my cigarette into an ashtray on my desk and crossed my arms. “I’m guessing you told the authorities?”
“Yes, but they don’t believe me.” Shirley looked down. “They are sure it was my brother. Please Bets, you have to find the falcon for me. If you don’t I…” She sniffed and looked as if she was going to cry.
I sighed. “Alright, but it won't be cheap.”
***
The next day I put on my black trench coat and tied my jet black hair in a ponytail. What can I say? Black went well with the whole I’m a half-vampire thing. Now, I’m not as busty as Miss Adley, but I am quite the looker, because I have an amazing figure that includes a nice set of knockers. My beauty easily could’ve landed me a job at a night club. I knew I had a pretty face with sparkling emerald-colored eyes. I wasn’t above using the privileged good looks I had, as well as my womanly charm to get my way. If I blew a kiss from my ruby, red lips, I could stun a man. Not to mention I was 5’4, which put me just slightly above the average and that didn’t include the heels I wore. My skin was pale due to me being a half-vampire and all. To go with my coat, I wore a long sleeve, white blouse with my grey skirt that was just below the knees.
I made my way to the docks. Now, I can tell you that the docks had a good and bad side. Most of the men there were decent, they worked hard to make what they could. The docks were where a couple of different rival gangs had set up shop, the Italian, and Irish gangs were just two of the factions that had been fighting for control over the place for some time. The cops rarely treaded into the darker areas of the docks. Some were smart enough not to get involved, others were paid off, but most were afraid of the gangs. That’s why I always carried a Walter PPK with me at all times. The small gun fit snuggly in my coat and had gotten me out of plenty of jams.
Shirley had told me that her brother owed Larry the loaner. I knew Larry worked in the front of the underground casinos, because I had seen him there before. I also knew that Larry spent some time at Salon Bleu. Most people just called it the blue lounge. The Cabaret had become a speakeasy due to prohibition. I go to the joint every so often since it was one of the few places that I could get a bottle of blood or booze without drawing attention. The blue lounge dealt in underworld affairs and it was a place notorious for having mobster clientele. The owner had made it a neutral zone and didn’t cater to any of the rival factions. He in fact had made it a law that there was to be no fighting or killing while around his premises.
I approached the door and knocked three times. The peephole slid opened and a man asked, "What's the password?"
I leaned in a whispered, "Jake sent me to get some giggle water."
The man closed the peephole and opened the door. I entered the place in the midst of one of their shows. A line of women dressed in scantily clad lingerie danced on a shinning stage. Jazz music could be heard as the piano and trumpets played. The ladies' costumes sparkled in the dazzling lights and really got the men whooping, and hollering at them.
My eyes scanned the room and saw my friend, Jo, sitting on a client’s lap. She had been working here for quite some time. Jo was a beauty who got plenty of men excited when she did her strip tease on stage. Her long blonde hair was like it had been spun out of gold. My emerald eyes met her sapphires, and she excused herself from her client for a moment. She made her way over to me. “Hey Bets, what brings you to this side of town? Come to get a bottle of your usual wine?” She winked at me. Jo was one of the handful of people who knew my secret of being half-vampire.
I shook my head. “Not tonight Jo. I’m actually looking for someone. Have you seen Larry?”
Jo leaned her head to the side. “Yeah, he’s over there.” She pointed to a small table on the opposite side of the room. “Why are you looking for him? Are you on a case?”
I smiled. “Of course, you're the one who typically goes for the bad boys, not me. I’m actually working a job for Miss Adley.” Jo was always trying to be a moll for some reason I couldn't understand.
Jo blushed at my comment. “Adley, you mean Shirley. You know she use to sing here.”
“Really, she’s a canary?” I asked.
Jo nodded. “Yeah. She did it for a couple of nights. She’s really good.”
“Hm, that’s interesting.” I didn’t know it at the time but that was a clue.
Jo placed her hands on her hips. “You should talk by the way. You are always putting yourself in dangerous situations. Which reminds me, you still owe me for that incident with Floyd.”
Hearing Floyd’s name made my shoulders tighten. I stood there for a moment unable to speak. I blinked three times before I came back to the conversation. “Right. You really helped me out of that pickle. I’m still grateful to you.” The situation with Floyd was one I tried desperately not to remember. It had made me consider giving up being a private eye. I was lucky Jo had been there to save my bacon. The thought of Floyd still being in the big house where Jo and I put him was the only thing that set my mind at ease.
Jo waved her hand. “We can deal with it later. I’ll let you get back to your case. I’m guessing you’re going to use one of the back rooms.”
I nodded. “Yep. Thanks again, Jo.”
“My pleasure.” Jo went back over to her client.
I strolled over to where Larry was sitting and approached him with a smile. “Is this seat taken?” I motioned to the chair next to him.
Larry looked over at me. “For a dame like you, of course.” He wore a grey vest with a black-tie underneath; his hair was slicked back. Larry flashed his pearly whites at me, and I showed him a toothy grin as I sat down next to him. “Woah, you got a couple of nice fangs there.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t bite, unless you want me to. Besides, I would think a strong man like you could take it.”
“So, do you come here often? I feel like I’ve seen your face before.” He took a sip whiskey from a cup in front of him. He offered me a cup and the bottle.
I didn’t usually turn down booze, but I didn’t want to waste any time, so I refused. “Every so often. Though, enough about me,” I reached over and touched his thigh. “I want to hear more about you.”
He hesitated for a moment, “Well, I work with money.”
I put the bait on a hook and cast it out. “It seems you're a bit shy. Why don’t we go to somewhere more private, and you can tell me more?”
“Sure, that sounds-"
I cut him off by grabbing his tie and pulling him up as I got out of my seat. I led him to one of the small, dimly lit backrooms and closed the velvet curtain to give us some more privacy. I pushed Larry down onto the red leather couch and took off my coat. I unbutton my long sleeves and rolled them up to my elbows. Then I started to fiddled with the top button of my blouse. “So, tell me more about what you do.”
Larry watched my fingers twiddle around. “Well, I actually just hit a big score for my boss.”
I popped the top button open, and my fingers moved down to the next one. “Yeah?” I started to reel this fish in.
“Yeah, I just became one of the biggest earners in my family a couple of days ago. I’m probably going to get promoted,” Larry said as quickly as he could.
I undid another button and breathed a bit heavier. “Keep going. What’s this big score?”
“It was from this lame-brain. He can’t keep his paws away from playing with dice. Too bad he was on a losing streak. I lent him some money, but he couldn’t pay me back. So, he owed me a favor, which I collected on.”
My third button came loose. “Oh, what kind of favor?”
Larry’s knee twitched a bit. “He helped me get this statue of a falcon that my boss said was super important.”
I went through the rest of my buttons and revealed my black bra that was underneath. “Oh my, I’m getting so turned on that my blouse just so happened to come undone. I just love a family man, which family are you a part of?”
Larry’s eyes got a bit wider. “Oh… I shouldn’t talk about it.”
I straddled Larry and ran my finger down his chest. “Aw, please,” I pouted. “It gets me excited. Don’t you want me to get excited?”
Larry watched as my hand went further down towards his pants. “Of course, I do. I’m part of the Gallo family.”
“The Gallo family. Oh my, they are a tough bunch.” I cooed. “What happened to the statue? Where is it now?”
He turned his gaze away from me. “I’ve said too much already.”
I could tell he was conflicted. I just needed the last push to send him off the cliff. It was time to pull out all the stops. I grinded on his lap as I leaned in to his ear. “If you tell me, my bra will pop off because of how intense this all is,” I whisper with a bit of a moan. I pulled back and pushed my tits up a bit.
Larry didn’t look me in the eye, his gaze was too focused on my girls who worked their magic on him as they did a little shake and pushed him off a cliff, and retrieved the info I needed. “At dock six. My family runs the union for the dock workers; it should still be at the office inside the manger's desk.”
I smiled and got off of Larry.
He frowned. “Hey, what are you doing doll?”
I searched my coat. “Oh, I got a surprise for you.”
Larry perked up. “A surprise for me? What kind of-”
I pistol whipped Larry across the face. He fell to the side and was knocked out cold. I buttoned up my blouse up and put my coat back on. “Thanks Larry, but you unfortunately aren’t my type. Sweet dreams.” I moseyed out from the backrooms. I went over to Jo and whisper in her ear. “Larry’s in the back sleeping, make sure no one disturbs him. I need to pay a visit to dock six.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be here all night. Be careful,” Jo said.
***
My heels clacked along the old wood as I made my way to dock six and the office of the dock workers union. I could smell the salt water in the air. I could hear the waves crashing on the rocks and a buoy off in the distance ring. I was close to the south beach. When I got closer to the office, I slowed my pace and crouched down. Two guys were standing in front of the small building I need to get into, so I waited for them to start to make their rounds before I approached. I quickly picked the lock of the door and went inside. It was dark, so I used my flashlight to illuminate my surroundings and found the manager’s desk. Once again, I used my lock picking skills that I had learned just in case of such a situation. I opened the door and saw the marbled falcon statue. I picked it up and held it in my hand. I examined the statue, it was anything special, just a falcon with folded wings on a pedestal. I couldn't tell why the mob wanted it so badly. Out of the corner of my eye something caught my attention. I looked down and saw a piece of paper. It read: One of the workers was asking too many questions about the statue today. I interrogated him and found out he’s part of something called the Cult of Sea Dreamers; I found out they are working with some Nazi stooge. He then said something about when the sleeper of R’lyeh awakens we will all perish. He wouldn’t tell me anything else but now he is sleeping with the fishes. Hopefully we won’t have to deal with any other people going bananas. Watch out for anyone who asks about the marble falcon.
My eyes took a moment as I reread the paper. It didn’t say who it was from, but it got me wondering. I was about to continue looking when I heard someone say something and knew one of the men outside had spotted my flashlight from the office window. “Aw, nuts!” I ran out the door and saw the two men rushing at me. I took off towards a bunch of shipping containers hoping to lose them. I went left, then right, and continued to change direction, but I could still hear their voices getting closer. No matter how fast I ran and how much I tried to confuse them, I still couldn’t lose them. Beads of sweat began to form on my brow. I stopped for a moment to catch my breath. Damn it! Why didn’t I have vampiric strength or speed? I cursed myself. I had to act fast. I panted and looked at the statue in my hand, I needed to ditch the statue and hopefully convince them I was no threat. The gangs had been known to shown mercy towards women and children. Maybe I could convince them to let me go and come back for the statue later?
***
A couple of moments later I was making my way through the containers as I scanned to either side. Suddenly I saw a man who called out, “Over here!”
I went into a fighting stance. I wasn’t any old broad who didn’t know how to fight, I had learned a decent amount of boxing, and I was about to put it to good use. He ran towards me and lunged forward, I dodged to the right and smashed my fist into his face. He backed up with a yelp of pain. I went to go for my gun, but he was too quick. He recovered and threw a jab. I tried to move out of the way, but his fist clipped my cheek. The bit of flesh that had been hit stung, but my adrenaline was surging through me. I kicked him in his crotch. He bent over in pain and closed his eyes.
“There’s more where that came from!” I reached into my coat and pulled out my gun. I pointed it at him. “Don’t move dirtbag!”
The man raised his hands. “Woah woah. Calm down doll face.”
“Get on your knees!” I shouted.
“Okay, okay.” He proceeded to kneel down.
I was about to say something else when suddenly my world went black, and I was knocked out cold.
***
I don’t know how long I was out, but when I came to, I was in a precarious situation. I found myself without my coat, sitting in a chair with my hands bound behind my back and some rope around my stomach pushing my boobs up. I couldn’t see anything, because of the blindfold around my eyes. My right foot was propped on what felt like a wooden crate. It was held down by a piece of rope around my right ankle while my left foot was bound to the chair I was sitting on. I struggled for a bit but it was futile; they had tied me up nice and tight.
“What are we going to do with her boss? How are we going to get her to tell us the where the falcon is?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get her to sing.”
The people around me must’ve noticed I was awake when I raised my head up, all the chatter had stopped.
“Who are you? Why did you tie me up?” I asked.
“I ask the questions around here. Where’s the marble falcon?” the boss interrogated.
I tilted my head to the side. “Marble what?”
“The statue you took from the office!”
I tried to shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just taking a stroll along the docks when your goons jumped me.”
The boss raised his voice. “Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Well actually-”
“I know who you are Bets. Now what’s a P.I. doing snooping around my operation? Who hired you and where did you hide my statue?”
I tried to act dumb. “Okay, you got me. I was trying to serve a subpoena to-”
“You’re lying! You stole the marble falcon from my office. I’m not stupid. Now, you are going to tell where it is and who hired you, or else!”
“Or else what? You wouldn’t dare hurt a lady like me. It’ll destroy your reputation, and you’ll lose business. Why don’t we just skip to the part where you and your goons set me free.” I knew the mob had a policy of not hurting women and children. They needed at least something of a decent image. Otherwise, all of the people who couldn’t go to the cops wouldn’t do business with them, it had been part of their code. I attempted to call his bluff.
“Get a load of this crazy dame. She thinks she’s some sort of wise guy and is untouchable,” the boss said.
“I am untouchable! You can’t do a-” Just then I felt my high heel come off. My foot felt the cold air, and I couldn’t help but wiggle my bubbly black painted toes. It took me off guard for a second, and I felt a small bit of foreboding terror as a part of me questioned what was happening in my mind. I ignored that little voice in my head. I didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t know, or did he? I kept my poker face and didn’t show them what I felt on the inside.
“Make it easy on yourself and answer my questions.”
“Or what you’ll give me a foot massage?”
The boss scoffed. “It’s true that I can’t hurt you, but that don’t mean I can’t touch you. You see Bets, you think you're hard-boiled. Though, when I was in the big house a few weeks ago. I was the cellmate of an acquaintance of yours. He told me all about his run in with you and about your weakness.”
“You don’t mean-” I started, but he cut me off.
“That’s right, Bets. Floyd the feather.”
I gulped. Just hearing the man’s name sent a shiver down my spine and made me shudder. If I wasn’t pale already, I probably would’ve turned as white as a ghost. It took me a second to reign in my emotions. “I don’t know anybody named Floyd the feather.” It took all my strength to say his name without showing the dread building up inside me I hoped my bluff would work.
I couldn’t see it, but the boss had a cruel look in his eye. “Make this easy on yourself Bets. I have a feather here with your name on it.”
“What’re you going to do with that?” I asked unable to hold in my question.
“I think you know,” he said menacingly.
Panic spread throughout my mind and body. “You wouldn’t. You couldn’t. Not even a despicable monster would do such a thing!”
“I will if you don’t start talking,” he threatened.
The thought of giving up Miss Adley and where I had stashed the marble falcon crossed my mind. I took a deep breath. My stubborn, bull-headed nature along with my urge to see the case through won over my fear and took over. With all my courage, in one last hurrah I defiantly exclaimed, “Never you crook! I won’t talk no matter what you do!”
“This is your last chance to answer my questions. Otherwise, you’ll pay the penalty.”
I stayed silent and refused to say anything.
“Okay Bets, you had your chance. You talked a big game. Now you don’t wanna speak. Let’s see if this will loosen up your pretty lips.”
I held my breath, and tried to brace myself by shutting my eyes, pushing my lips closed, and clenching both of my fist tightly. I didn’t want to show him any satisfaction. I was hoping to stay in control of the situation, but from the moment his soft feather touched my vulnerable sole, I sputtered and let out all the air I had. “Ppppfffhhhhttt!”
I pulled at my bindings but it was useless. Each stroke of the feather turned me into a little schoolgirl and ushered out a steady stream of giggles. “Hahahahaha heehehe hahahahahaha!”
“Tickle tickle, Bets. Cootchie cootchie coo,” he teased.
High pitched, sweet, and beautiful laughter poured uncontrollably from my mouth. I attempted to stop it, but I couldn’t keep my sexy, feminine cachinnation from escaping. I knew I was in deep trouble. I can’t stand being tickled. Just the thought of it made me seize up. I couldn’t even scratch an itch on the bottom of my foot without cracking up. Now, my ultimate weakness was being used against me.
The feather continued to attack my delicate, soft, and defenseless foot as it made its way along my arch. Up and down, it went sending waves of ticklish torment throughout my body. I wanted to work on the ropes that bound my hands but was unable to concentrate.
“Come on Bets. I know this is driving you nuts. Just tell me what I want to know,” the boss said.
My head shook from side to side. “Hahuhuhahahaha! I… won’t… talk! Huhuhahahahahah!”
“Oh, you’ll talk. I will break you like Floyd almost did.”
“Hehehe huhuhu hahahahahahaha! He… didn’t… break… mehehehe… anndd... neither… will… youhuhuhahahahahahah!” Floyd had almost made me crack but he hadn’t, because Jo had come to my rescue. This time I wouldn’t be so lucky and I knew it.
He slid his feather up my arch and came within an inch of touching my toes, before it made its journey back. I moved my foot in an attempt to get away from the feather, but I couldn’t see where it was going, which made me unprepared for each surprise stroke. Why oh why was I so sensitive! I cursed the heavens for giving me such a ticklish body. Suddenly, he switched tactics and began to circle the ball of my foot. This forced another bout of powerful laughter from me. “Hahahahahahahahaha hehehehe hoho hahahahahahahah!”
My torturer didn’t let up. He changed his pattern by fiendishly flicking his plume along the side of my foot. My toes twitched and I tried to pull my foot away from its predicament, but my bonds held me firmly in place.
The boss chortled at my futile attempt to escape. “Where do you think you are going?” His feather explored the side of my foot, and I knew he was testing different parts in hopes of finding a weak spot. “Just tell me what I want to know and this will all be over,” he said and gave me a moment to respond, but I was too busy hysterically laughing my head off.
One of the henchmen had noticed my wild thrashing around and commented on it. “Hey boss, look at her go.”
The boss chortled. “Heh heh, maybe I should use this method more often.”
“Good idea boss. We could call you Tony the tickler,” the goon replied.
The boss seemed to find it amusing. “I like the sound of that. What do you think Bets?”
Damn this man I thought. He was a mean tickler and I was feeling his wrath. Why did I have to be the victim of someone who is this good at tickle torture? Why couldn’t he be a nogoodnik and suck at this? His exceptional skills and my horrendously sensitive tootsies were a match made in heaven for him, but was pure hell for myself. The way he moved his weapon of pure torment and torture really got me going. He was like a musician who was experienced and well versed. The worst part was that I was his instrument, and boy was he able to bring out my beautiful, melodic laughter. I found part of me admiring his ability. That wasn’t the only thing though, I could feel my body get a bit aroused even though my mind told it no. I pushed those thoughts and feelings back from wince they came. My want to be professional and keep control fought the sensations, but I couldn’t stop from being immersed in an unyielding onslaught of hysterics. He was slowly breaking me down piece by piece. That dastardly plume of his found my most sensitive areas, whether it was stroking along the side of my foot, running along my arch, or teasing my heel. It tickled every wrinkle and exploited ever piece of my delicate flesh. The man was good, he was damn good. I started to laugh as loud as I could and hoped someone would hear. Part of me knew it was fruitless, even if someone noticed they wouldn’t get mixed up with the mafia. I still had to try even if there was only a slim chance someone would come to help. There were only three ways I would get out of this. Either someone came to rescue me, I outlasted him, or I told them what I knew. I wasn’t sure I could out last him, even if I’d push myself to my limit. So, I put my faith in the last option and laughed my little heart out as I prayed for a good Samaritan to hear my suffering. “Hehehehe uuuuhuhuhu hahahahahaha! Aaaaaaahhhhhahahahahahahahahaha! Ooooooohhhhh! Eeeeeeeehehehehehe hahahahaahahah!”
I couldn’t tell how much time had passed by because I had been washed away in a sea of laughter. Out of nowhere he stopped. I thought I had won, and maybe he’d given up? I sucked in as much air as I could, trying to calm myself down.
“Put her left one up. I want both of her hocks available to me,” the boss ordered.
I felt someone untie my left foot. I went to kick, but he held it firmly. The person proceeded to bind it next to my right foot.
“Let’s see if the left one is ticklish.”
His feather began to tantalize my left foot as I resumed my fits of pure laughter. I did my best to try to protect one foot with the other but it didn’t work. He just tickled the foot I was using as shield, which sent it scurrying away. He then played a game with my feet as his feather kissed one, causing it to flex and wiggle in an attempt to get away. Before I knew it, he’d switch to the other and catch me off guard. Laughter erupted from my belly like a volcano. “Hehehe huhuhu hahahahahahahaha!” That infernal feather became the bane of my existence. It had been bad enough when it was just tickling one foot but now it had both of my peds. A part of me that wished I would just give up and end it was growing. I was having trouble not giving in. I had always tried to have an amount of control in my life by always being smarter. Though, now I was at the mercy of a man who was using a plume to torture me and drive me to crazy town.
The torment continued as more time went by, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go as each moment was unbearable. I wanted to keep any sense of control. I kept pushing myself, but my resolve was unwinding. Maybe if I could hold out, he’d stop. I hope it’d happen soon, because I couldn’t take much more. I squirmed like a worm in my chair. “Hehehe ooooh huhuhahahahahahah! I’m… not… going… to… eeeehehehe… tell… youhuhuhuh hahahaha just… hahahahaha give up! Hahahahahahahahahha!”
“She’ll never break boss. She’s too tough,” a goon said.
I prayed that this was the end, and I had survived the worst of it, but I was wrong.
“Oh, she’ll break,” the boss spoke with amusement in his voice, “You keep acting tuff Bets, but I can see you are beginning to break. I could do this all night and day. Besides, I’m beginning to enjoy this. I might keep you around for some laughs even after you tell me.”
I don’t know how he saw it, but he was right. My fortitude was slowly breaking. Small cracks had formed, and he was exploiting them, causing them to grow. Just hearing him say he liked doing this to me scared me. Though, the worse was when he mentioned holding me here. I couldn’t imagine being tickled by him each night. Both of his threats together was a massive blow to my ability to hold out. Once he saw that he had gotten into my head, that’s when like a shark waiting for the right moment he struck. It was then that he decided to finish me off. He let up for a second on physically torturing me but continued to psychologically play with my mind. “I wonder if those toes are ticklish.”
“No!” I screamed. “Not the toes!”
“Tell me what I want to know or the toes get it,” he threatened.
Unfortunately, I’m a glutton for punishment, and I said something I’d regret. “Do your worst! I won’t talk!”
“It’s your funeral.”
Again, his cruel tool of torture descended upon my exposed feet which were at his mercy, and he gave no mercy. He tickled my tootsies individually at first, giving each of them special attention. Next, he stroked along the tops of my toes. He then sawed his feather in between my toes. I threw my head back and fell into a world of hysterics. I wiggled my toes as furiously as I could. The floodgates open, the dam broke, and everything rushed out of me. I was completely consumed by the tickling. It ate me whole. He had me wildly thrashing in my chair. I was squealing, I was giggling, I was shrieking, I was hooting, I was hollering, I was cackling like a mad woman. The last little bit of my resistance had been destroyed. I felt utterly helpless about giving up the information, but at the moment all I wanted was the tickling to stop. He had me right where he wanted me and there was nothing, I could do stop it, besides telling him what I knew. I couldn’t take it anymore. I became his stool pigeon, and I sang like he had promised at the beginning. “GAHAHAHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAP HEHE HAHAHAHA! FOR THE LOVE OF PETE STOP! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I CAN’T STAND IT! HUHUHUHAHAHAHAHAHA PLEASE! HAHAHAHA NO MORE! HAHAHAH HOHOHO HAHAHAHAHAHA!” I snorted. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH NO! OH NO! HAHAHAHAHAHA I GIVE UP! HUHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I’M BEGGING YOU! HAHAHA WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I’LL DO ANYTHING! HAHAHAHA NO MORE TICKLING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH I’M SORRY! HAHAHAHAHA YOU WIN! HAHAHAHA HEHEHE I’LL TALK! HAHAHAHAH I’LL SING! HAHAHAHA JUST STOP TICKLING MY TOES! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA PLEASE HAVE MERCY! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THE FALCON’S IN A CRATE! HAHAHAHAH THE NUMBER ON THE CRATE IS 72890! HAHAHAHAHA!”
“Who hired you?” He asked, as he continued the tantalizing tickling of my toes.
“I WAS HIRED BY SHIRLEY ADLEY! HAHAHAHA!”
“Shirley Adley. You better not being lying to me.”
“I’M NOT! I SWEAR! HAHAHAHAHAHAH PLEASE! HUHUHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAP! I CAN’T TAKE IT! HEHE HAHAHAHAHAHUHUHU HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” I pleaded after I told him everything, but he still kept tickling. This drove me up a wall. I was frantically moving around in my chair and continued to ask for it to end. “BWAHAHAHAHAH! PLEASE! HAHAHAHAHA HEHEHE NO MORE! HAHAHAHA I’M BEGGING YOU! HUHUHAHAHAHAHA MERCY! HAHAHAHA I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING! HAHAHAHAHA WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?! HAHAHAHAHA STOP! HEHEHEHAHAHAHAHA LEAVE MY TOES ALONE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!”
Finally, he stopped, and I slumped in my seat panting. I was relieved the tickling had stopped. He could’ve asked me for anything, and I would’ve done it. Given him all my money, or even done sexual things to him. I didn’t care anymore. I just wanted the tickling to end. I could feel bits of tears running down my cheeks as I held my eyes closed.
“Boys. We’ll have to pay Shirley Adley a visit,” the boss said.
A man rushed in. “Boss! Boss! Come quickly we’re being attacked!”
“What? Everyone! Come with me!” the boss shouted.
I could hear their footsteps as they all ran out of what I assumed was a warehouse. I sighed and relaxed for a moment as I knew they were now gone. I was exhausted from the torment that had just befallen me. Though something inside of me knew this was my chance to escape. Just the thought of them coming back and tickling my toes was motivation enough. It gave me new strength as I attempted to free myself from my bonds. Luckily as I struggled, I was able to get my blindfold to fall down around my neck, and I was finally able to see. I was in a large, and dusty warehouse with tons of brown sacks in it. I wormed my ankles until they came free of the crate. Unfortunately, my hands were still tied behind my back, and my ankles were still bound together. Unsure if I could do anything, I took a moment. That same thought of my poor feet getting worked over by that feather came to mind, and now I wondered if they’d attack the rest of my body as well. I shook with fear and found more reasons to get out of this predicament. I moved my feet to the cold floor, which felt like a mix of good and bad. I stood up. My eyes looked over to see my coat and high-heels were over by a couple of sacks. With a sigh, I left them behind as I hopped over to the door.
I barely opened the door and made my way outside where I heard men yelling to my left. I decided to go to the right. After two small jumps I landed on a plank that creaked. I looked up planning on leaping again, when suddenly I saw a man standing half a yard away from me. My eyes widened as the terror of being caught entered my mind. Though before I could do anything, the plank underneath me broke. With a splash I fell into the icy, cold water. I tried to swim, but I was still bound so it didn’t work. I could feel myself slowly sinking towards the bottom. Was this the end of me? Was I going to die?
Link to chapter two: http://www.ticklingforum.com/showth...-Betsy-James-Case-of-the-Marble-Falcon-Part-2
The Ticklish Cases of P. I. Betsy “Bets” James
M/F
Summary: It is the 1930s and America is in the middle of the great depression. This is also the era known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Our story is about a woman, who is attempting to make a living using her skills as a private eye. Without any bias, she takes on the cases of those who are unable to go to the police, or those who sometimes have secrets they wish not to be revealed to the world. Getting paid to do the right thing is how she’d define her job description. But our heroine is no ordinary private eye, and sometimes deals in cases that are of supernatural origin. She has built a well-earned reputation for the period of time she lives in as a hard-boiled detective, who is determined to solve the case. Though, what happens when a closely guarded secret of hers is used against her? Will she be able to endure the perils that come with the job? Can she maintain her professional code of conduct, and have the courage to carry on as the villains she faces try to break through her tough exterior? Before long, she’ll find herself completely, tickled pink as her ultimate weakness is exploited on each one these cases of hers.
The Case of the Marble Falcon: Part 1 - The Marble Falcon
My name is Betsy James, but my friends call me, Bets. I’m a private eye, and I’m in some deep trouble. My wrists are bound behind my back and I’m sitting on a chair with one leg propped up on what I can assume by the texture is a wooden crate. I’d describe my surroundings to you but I’m blindfolded. I can tell you that I’m by the docks in what I can guess is a warehouse, and I can hear a couple of the men around me.
I overhear one ask, “What are we going to do with her boss? How are we going to get her to tell us where the falcon is?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get her to sing,” replied the boss.
You might be wondering how I got myself into this mess? Let me start at the beginning. It was yesterday, and I was sitting in the office with my black high heels on my large wooden desk. I didn’t mind putting my feet up even if I was wearing a grey skirt that went down below my knee. I struck a match and lit the cigarette in my mouth. I took a short drag and blew out a cloud of smoke while I swirled a glass full of a red liquid. There is something you should know about me before I continue. You see, I’m half-vampire. Now, I want to clear up some of the misconceptions about vampires. Number one, the whole using a cross to stop one doesn’t work, I even know some vampires who go to church every Sunday. Number two, if you think wearing a necklace of garlic will help, well let me tell you that I love my pasta with tons of the stuff. Number three, the whole thing about not being able to go into the sun is pure boloney, it does weaken a vampire but it doesn’t kill them. However, we do have pale skin. The final point I want to clear up is that we don’t turn into bats, I don’t know who came up with that but it is completely bogus. Though, the stories are true in some ways, vampires live hundreds, sometimes thousands of years. We do drink blood, which as you can guess is what I was drinking at the moment. It’s a mix of tomato juice, vodka, and some spices, making it a real Bloody Mary. Vampires also have improved strength, which unfortunately I do not have. Though, I do have the ability to heal incredibly fast. Like, really fast.
Anyway, there I was in my office and that’s when I saw her come in through the door that had my name written on the front. Her name was Shirley Adley, everyone in town knew who she was. She was the daughter of John Adley the owner of Adley industries which is prominent steel company. Shirley had fiery, red hair that looked as if the sun had blown a kiss in this pretty dame’s direction. She sauntered into my messy office; I wasn’t the overly clean type and I had plenty of boxes strewn about. She wore a long, crimson red dress that showed off her very curvy figure, I mean she had the hourglass body. She had huge, ample breasts and a fabulous rear end, both of which were quite bouncy. Her long, purple, satin gloves went up to her forearms just stopping short of her elbows. Our gaze met, and I stared into those gorgeous, hazel eyes topped with lavender eyeshadow. They were the kind of peepers a man would get lost in. Luckily, I wasn’t a man, and I knew had to ask for directions.
“What can I do you for?” I asked.
“I want to hire you. I hear you’re good at what you do,” she said. The words flowed from her ruby, red lips as if she was reading poetry.
I was known as being a good private eye, at least by those who were okay with me being a woman. I’d solve a couple of cases but all of the credit had gone to the chief of police. I wasn’t too angry at the situation, nothing a bottle of booze couldn’t fix.
Now, being half-vampire, I was a part of an underground network that started when a couple of vampires emigrated to America from Europe. This helped me on some of my cases but not always. It also had enabled me to really understand how crime worked in this town, because I knew how people liked to keep things hidden.
“Yeah, who’s asking?”
“My name is Shirley, Shirley-”
“Shirley Adley. I know who you are. What’s the job?”
Miss Adley sighed. “I need you to retrieve something and find someone for me.”
I took another puff from my cigarette. “I’m listening.”
“You see, Miss James.”
“Call me Bets,” I said. I was called that because I had been known to play a good hand of poker and make big bets.
“Yes, of course, Bets. My uncle Peter is a gambler and tends to run with a bad crowd. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”
I nodded. There were tons of crime families who were expanding there illegal gambling and loan sharking rackets in case prohibition was repealed. The mob liked to catch people who made horrible decisions by taking their money.
“Well, he has terrible luck. He lost rolling dice and took out a large loan from one the guys down by the docks. He wasn’t able to pay back the money, and the man whom he owed the debt to, told him that he’d wipe his debt clean if he did him a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” I’d seen this before, it never turned out well.
“They had my uncle steal a marble statue that’s shaped like a falcon.”
I raised my eyebrow. “What does the mob want with a marble statue that looks like a falcon?”
Shirley shrugged. “I’m not sure. It was an heirloom that my great grandfather brought with him when he came to America, but my father sold it along with other items when the stock market crashed on Black Friday.”
A billow of smoke came out of my mouth. “I’m guessing you want me to find it and get it back. Though, you didn’t tell me why.”
She nodded. “That’s correct. You see, when my uncle stole it, he murdered someone. The cops ended up blaming my brother for it and he’s now locked up. My father is on his deathbed and keeps asking for him, but I don’t have the heart to tell him. If I can get the falcon, I can prove that my brother didn’t steal it. I’ll pay any amount you want just please get it back. I only want to free my brother and make my father happy before he dies.”
I placed my cigarette into an ashtray on my desk and crossed my arms. “I’m guessing you told the authorities?”
“Yes, but they don’t believe me.” Shirley looked down. “They are sure it was my brother. Please Bets, you have to find the falcon for me. If you don’t I…” She sniffed and looked as if she was going to cry.
I sighed. “Alright, but it won't be cheap.”
***
The next day I put on my black trench coat and tied my jet black hair in a ponytail. What can I say? Black went well with the whole I’m a half-vampire thing. Now, I’m not as busty as Miss Adley, but I am quite the looker, because I have an amazing figure that includes a nice set of knockers. My beauty easily could’ve landed me a job at a night club. I knew I had a pretty face with sparkling emerald-colored eyes. I wasn’t above using the privileged good looks I had, as well as my womanly charm to get my way. If I blew a kiss from my ruby, red lips, I could stun a man. Not to mention I was 5’4, which put me just slightly above the average and that didn’t include the heels I wore. My skin was pale due to me being a half-vampire and all. To go with my coat, I wore a long sleeve, white blouse with my grey skirt that was just below the knees.
I made my way to the docks. Now, I can tell you that the docks had a good and bad side. Most of the men there were decent, they worked hard to make what they could. The docks were where a couple of different rival gangs had set up shop, the Italian, and Irish gangs were just two of the factions that had been fighting for control over the place for some time. The cops rarely treaded into the darker areas of the docks. Some were smart enough not to get involved, others were paid off, but most were afraid of the gangs. That’s why I always carried a Walter PPK with me at all times. The small gun fit snuggly in my coat and had gotten me out of plenty of jams.
Shirley had told me that her brother owed Larry the loaner. I knew Larry worked in the front of the underground casinos, because I had seen him there before. I also knew that Larry spent some time at Salon Bleu. Most people just called it the blue lounge. The Cabaret had become a speakeasy due to prohibition. I go to the joint every so often since it was one of the few places that I could get a bottle of blood or booze without drawing attention. The blue lounge dealt in underworld affairs and it was a place notorious for having mobster clientele. The owner had made it a neutral zone and didn’t cater to any of the rival factions. He in fact had made it a law that there was to be no fighting or killing while around his premises.
I approached the door and knocked three times. The peephole slid opened and a man asked, "What's the password?"
I leaned in a whispered, "Jake sent me to get some giggle water."
The man closed the peephole and opened the door. I entered the place in the midst of one of their shows. A line of women dressed in scantily clad lingerie danced on a shinning stage. Jazz music could be heard as the piano and trumpets played. The ladies' costumes sparkled in the dazzling lights and really got the men whooping, and hollering at them.
My eyes scanned the room and saw my friend, Jo, sitting on a client’s lap. She had been working here for quite some time. Jo was a beauty who got plenty of men excited when she did her strip tease on stage. Her long blonde hair was like it had been spun out of gold. My emerald eyes met her sapphires, and she excused herself from her client for a moment. She made her way over to me. “Hey Bets, what brings you to this side of town? Come to get a bottle of your usual wine?” She winked at me. Jo was one of the handful of people who knew my secret of being half-vampire.
I shook my head. “Not tonight Jo. I’m actually looking for someone. Have you seen Larry?”
Jo leaned her head to the side. “Yeah, he’s over there.” She pointed to a small table on the opposite side of the room. “Why are you looking for him? Are you on a case?”
I smiled. “Of course, you're the one who typically goes for the bad boys, not me. I’m actually working a job for Miss Adley.” Jo was always trying to be a moll for some reason I couldn't understand.
Jo blushed at my comment. “Adley, you mean Shirley. You know she use to sing here.”
“Really, she’s a canary?” I asked.
Jo nodded. “Yeah. She did it for a couple of nights. She’s really good.”
“Hm, that’s interesting.” I didn’t know it at the time but that was a clue.
Jo placed her hands on her hips. “You should talk by the way. You are always putting yourself in dangerous situations. Which reminds me, you still owe me for that incident with Floyd.”
Hearing Floyd’s name made my shoulders tighten. I stood there for a moment unable to speak. I blinked three times before I came back to the conversation. “Right. You really helped me out of that pickle. I’m still grateful to you.” The situation with Floyd was one I tried desperately not to remember. It had made me consider giving up being a private eye. I was lucky Jo had been there to save my bacon. The thought of Floyd still being in the big house where Jo and I put him was the only thing that set my mind at ease.
Jo waved her hand. “We can deal with it later. I’ll let you get back to your case. I’m guessing you’re going to use one of the back rooms.”
I nodded. “Yep. Thanks again, Jo.”
“My pleasure.” Jo went back over to her client.
I strolled over to where Larry was sitting and approached him with a smile. “Is this seat taken?” I motioned to the chair next to him.
Larry looked over at me. “For a dame like you, of course.” He wore a grey vest with a black-tie underneath; his hair was slicked back. Larry flashed his pearly whites at me, and I showed him a toothy grin as I sat down next to him. “Woah, you got a couple of nice fangs there.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t bite, unless you want me to. Besides, I would think a strong man like you could take it.”
“So, do you come here often? I feel like I’ve seen your face before.” He took a sip whiskey from a cup in front of him. He offered me a cup and the bottle.
I didn’t usually turn down booze, but I didn’t want to waste any time, so I refused. “Every so often. Though, enough about me,” I reached over and touched his thigh. “I want to hear more about you.”
He hesitated for a moment, “Well, I work with money.”
I put the bait on a hook and cast it out. “It seems you're a bit shy. Why don’t we go to somewhere more private, and you can tell me more?”
“Sure, that sounds-"
I cut him off by grabbing his tie and pulling him up as I got out of my seat. I led him to one of the small, dimly lit backrooms and closed the velvet curtain to give us some more privacy. I pushed Larry down onto the red leather couch and took off my coat. I unbutton my long sleeves and rolled them up to my elbows. Then I started to fiddled with the top button of my blouse. “So, tell me more about what you do.”
Larry watched my fingers twiddle around. “Well, I actually just hit a big score for my boss.”
I popped the top button open, and my fingers moved down to the next one. “Yeah?” I started to reel this fish in.
“Yeah, I just became one of the biggest earners in my family a couple of days ago. I’m probably going to get promoted,” Larry said as quickly as he could.
I undid another button and breathed a bit heavier. “Keep going. What’s this big score?”
“It was from this lame-brain. He can’t keep his paws away from playing with dice. Too bad he was on a losing streak. I lent him some money, but he couldn’t pay me back. So, he owed me a favor, which I collected on.”
My third button came loose. “Oh, what kind of favor?”
Larry’s knee twitched a bit. “He helped me get this statue of a falcon that my boss said was super important.”
I went through the rest of my buttons and revealed my black bra that was underneath. “Oh my, I’m getting so turned on that my blouse just so happened to come undone. I just love a family man, which family are you a part of?”
Larry’s eyes got a bit wider. “Oh… I shouldn’t talk about it.”
I straddled Larry and ran my finger down his chest. “Aw, please,” I pouted. “It gets me excited. Don’t you want me to get excited?”
Larry watched as my hand went further down towards his pants. “Of course, I do. I’m part of the Gallo family.”
“The Gallo family. Oh my, they are a tough bunch.” I cooed. “What happened to the statue? Where is it now?”
He turned his gaze away from me. “I’ve said too much already.”
I could tell he was conflicted. I just needed the last push to send him off the cliff. It was time to pull out all the stops. I grinded on his lap as I leaned in to his ear. “If you tell me, my bra will pop off because of how intense this all is,” I whisper with a bit of a moan. I pulled back and pushed my tits up a bit.
Larry didn’t look me in the eye, his gaze was too focused on my girls who worked their magic on him as they did a little shake and pushed him off a cliff, and retrieved the info I needed. “At dock six. My family runs the union for the dock workers; it should still be at the office inside the manger's desk.”
I smiled and got off of Larry.
He frowned. “Hey, what are you doing doll?”
I searched my coat. “Oh, I got a surprise for you.”
Larry perked up. “A surprise for me? What kind of-”
I pistol whipped Larry across the face. He fell to the side and was knocked out cold. I buttoned up my blouse up and put my coat back on. “Thanks Larry, but you unfortunately aren’t my type. Sweet dreams.” I moseyed out from the backrooms. I went over to Jo and whisper in her ear. “Larry’s in the back sleeping, make sure no one disturbs him. I need to pay a visit to dock six.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be here all night. Be careful,” Jo said.
***
My heels clacked along the old wood as I made my way to dock six and the office of the dock workers union. I could smell the salt water in the air. I could hear the waves crashing on the rocks and a buoy off in the distance ring. I was close to the south beach. When I got closer to the office, I slowed my pace and crouched down. Two guys were standing in front of the small building I need to get into, so I waited for them to start to make their rounds before I approached. I quickly picked the lock of the door and went inside. It was dark, so I used my flashlight to illuminate my surroundings and found the manager’s desk. Once again, I used my lock picking skills that I had learned just in case of such a situation. I opened the door and saw the marbled falcon statue. I picked it up and held it in my hand. I examined the statue, it was anything special, just a falcon with folded wings on a pedestal. I couldn't tell why the mob wanted it so badly. Out of the corner of my eye something caught my attention. I looked down and saw a piece of paper. It read: One of the workers was asking too many questions about the statue today. I interrogated him and found out he’s part of something called the Cult of Sea Dreamers; I found out they are working with some Nazi stooge. He then said something about when the sleeper of R’lyeh awakens we will all perish. He wouldn’t tell me anything else but now he is sleeping with the fishes. Hopefully we won’t have to deal with any other people going bananas. Watch out for anyone who asks about the marble falcon.
My eyes took a moment as I reread the paper. It didn’t say who it was from, but it got me wondering. I was about to continue looking when I heard someone say something and knew one of the men outside had spotted my flashlight from the office window. “Aw, nuts!” I ran out the door and saw the two men rushing at me. I took off towards a bunch of shipping containers hoping to lose them. I went left, then right, and continued to change direction, but I could still hear their voices getting closer. No matter how fast I ran and how much I tried to confuse them, I still couldn’t lose them. Beads of sweat began to form on my brow. I stopped for a moment to catch my breath. Damn it! Why didn’t I have vampiric strength or speed? I cursed myself. I had to act fast. I panted and looked at the statue in my hand, I needed to ditch the statue and hopefully convince them I was no threat. The gangs had been known to shown mercy towards women and children. Maybe I could convince them to let me go and come back for the statue later?
***
A couple of moments later I was making my way through the containers as I scanned to either side. Suddenly I saw a man who called out, “Over here!”
I went into a fighting stance. I wasn’t any old broad who didn’t know how to fight, I had learned a decent amount of boxing, and I was about to put it to good use. He ran towards me and lunged forward, I dodged to the right and smashed my fist into his face. He backed up with a yelp of pain. I went to go for my gun, but he was too quick. He recovered and threw a jab. I tried to move out of the way, but his fist clipped my cheek. The bit of flesh that had been hit stung, but my adrenaline was surging through me. I kicked him in his crotch. He bent over in pain and closed his eyes.
“There’s more where that came from!” I reached into my coat and pulled out my gun. I pointed it at him. “Don’t move dirtbag!”
The man raised his hands. “Woah woah. Calm down doll face.”
“Get on your knees!” I shouted.
“Okay, okay.” He proceeded to kneel down.
I was about to say something else when suddenly my world went black, and I was knocked out cold.
***
I don’t know how long I was out, but when I came to, I was in a precarious situation. I found myself without my coat, sitting in a chair with my hands bound behind my back and some rope around my stomach pushing my boobs up. I couldn’t see anything, because of the blindfold around my eyes. My right foot was propped on what felt like a wooden crate. It was held down by a piece of rope around my right ankle while my left foot was bound to the chair I was sitting on. I struggled for a bit but it was futile; they had tied me up nice and tight.
“What are we going to do with her boss? How are we going to get her to tell us the where the falcon is?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get her to sing.”
The people around me must’ve noticed I was awake when I raised my head up, all the chatter had stopped.
“Who are you? Why did you tie me up?” I asked.
“I ask the questions around here. Where’s the marble falcon?” the boss interrogated.
I tilted my head to the side. “Marble what?”
“The statue you took from the office!”
I tried to shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just taking a stroll along the docks when your goons jumped me.”
The boss raised his voice. “Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Well actually-”
“I know who you are Bets. Now what’s a P.I. doing snooping around my operation? Who hired you and where did you hide my statue?”
I tried to act dumb. “Okay, you got me. I was trying to serve a subpoena to-”
“You’re lying! You stole the marble falcon from my office. I’m not stupid. Now, you are going to tell where it is and who hired you, or else!”
“Or else what? You wouldn’t dare hurt a lady like me. It’ll destroy your reputation, and you’ll lose business. Why don’t we just skip to the part where you and your goons set me free.” I knew the mob had a policy of not hurting women and children. They needed at least something of a decent image. Otherwise, all of the people who couldn’t go to the cops wouldn’t do business with them, it had been part of their code. I attempted to call his bluff.
“Get a load of this crazy dame. She thinks she’s some sort of wise guy and is untouchable,” the boss said.
“I am untouchable! You can’t do a-” Just then I felt my high heel come off. My foot felt the cold air, and I couldn’t help but wiggle my bubbly black painted toes. It took me off guard for a second, and I felt a small bit of foreboding terror as a part of me questioned what was happening in my mind. I ignored that little voice in my head. I didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t know, or did he? I kept my poker face and didn’t show them what I felt on the inside.
“Make it easy on yourself and answer my questions.”
“Or what you’ll give me a foot massage?”
The boss scoffed. “It’s true that I can’t hurt you, but that don’t mean I can’t touch you. You see Bets, you think you're hard-boiled. Though, when I was in the big house a few weeks ago. I was the cellmate of an acquaintance of yours. He told me all about his run in with you and about your weakness.”
“You don’t mean-” I started, but he cut me off.
“That’s right, Bets. Floyd the feather.”
I gulped. Just hearing the man’s name sent a shiver down my spine and made me shudder. If I wasn’t pale already, I probably would’ve turned as white as a ghost. It took me a second to reign in my emotions. “I don’t know anybody named Floyd the feather.” It took all my strength to say his name without showing the dread building up inside me I hoped my bluff would work.
I couldn’t see it, but the boss had a cruel look in his eye. “Make this easy on yourself Bets. I have a feather here with your name on it.”
“What’re you going to do with that?” I asked unable to hold in my question.
“I think you know,” he said menacingly.
Panic spread throughout my mind and body. “You wouldn’t. You couldn’t. Not even a despicable monster would do such a thing!”
“I will if you don’t start talking,” he threatened.
The thought of giving up Miss Adley and where I had stashed the marble falcon crossed my mind. I took a deep breath. My stubborn, bull-headed nature along with my urge to see the case through won over my fear and took over. With all my courage, in one last hurrah I defiantly exclaimed, “Never you crook! I won’t talk no matter what you do!”
“This is your last chance to answer my questions. Otherwise, you’ll pay the penalty.”
I stayed silent and refused to say anything.
“Okay Bets, you had your chance. You talked a big game. Now you don’t wanna speak. Let’s see if this will loosen up your pretty lips.”
I held my breath, and tried to brace myself by shutting my eyes, pushing my lips closed, and clenching both of my fist tightly. I didn’t want to show him any satisfaction. I was hoping to stay in control of the situation, but from the moment his soft feather touched my vulnerable sole, I sputtered and let out all the air I had. “Ppppfffhhhhttt!”
I pulled at my bindings but it was useless. Each stroke of the feather turned me into a little schoolgirl and ushered out a steady stream of giggles. “Hahahahaha heehehe hahahahahaha!”
“Tickle tickle, Bets. Cootchie cootchie coo,” he teased.
High pitched, sweet, and beautiful laughter poured uncontrollably from my mouth. I attempted to stop it, but I couldn’t keep my sexy, feminine cachinnation from escaping. I knew I was in deep trouble. I can’t stand being tickled. Just the thought of it made me seize up. I couldn’t even scratch an itch on the bottom of my foot without cracking up. Now, my ultimate weakness was being used against me.
The feather continued to attack my delicate, soft, and defenseless foot as it made its way along my arch. Up and down, it went sending waves of ticklish torment throughout my body. I wanted to work on the ropes that bound my hands but was unable to concentrate.
“Come on Bets. I know this is driving you nuts. Just tell me what I want to know,” the boss said.
My head shook from side to side. “Hahuhuhahahaha! I… won’t… talk! Huhuhahahahahah!”
“Oh, you’ll talk. I will break you like Floyd almost did.”
“Hehehe huhuhu hahahahahahaha! He… didn’t… break… mehehehe… anndd... neither… will… youhuhuhahahahahahah!” Floyd had almost made me crack but he hadn’t, because Jo had come to my rescue. This time I wouldn’t be so lucky and I knew it.
He slid his feather up my arch and came within an inch of touching my toes, before it made its journey back. I moved my foot in an attempt to get away from the feather, but I couldn’t see where it was going, which made me unprepared for each surprise stroke. Why oh why was I so sensitive! I cursed the heavens for giving me such a ticklish body. Suddenly, he switched tactics and began to circle the ball of my foot. This forced another bout of powerful laughter from me. “Hahahahahahahahaha hehehehe hoho hahahahahahahah!”
My torturer didn’t let up. He changed his pattern by fiendishly flicking his plume along the side of my foot. My toes twitched and I tried to pull my foot away from its predicament, but my bonds held me firmly in place.
The boss chortled at my futile attempt to escape. “Where do you think you are going?” His feather explored the side of my foot, and I knew he was testing different parts in hopes of finding a weak spot. “Just tell me what I want to know and this will all be over,” he said and gave me a moment to respond, but I was too busy hysterically laughing my head off.
One of the henchmen had noticed my wild thrashing around and commented on it. “Hey boss, look at her go.”
The boss chortled. “Heh heh, maybe I should use this method more often.”
“Good idea boss. We could call you Tony the tickler,” the goon replied.
The boss seemed to find it amusing. “I like the sound of that. What do you think Bets?”
Damn this man I thought. He was a mean tickler and I was feeling his wrath. Why did I have to be the victim of someone who is this good at tickle torture? Why couldn’t he be a nogoodnik and suck at this? His exceptional skills and my horrendously sensitive tootsies were a match made in heaven for him, but was pure hell for myself. The way he moved his weapon of pure torment and torture really got me going. He was like a musician who was experienced and well versed. The worst part was that I was his instrument, and boy was he able to bring out my beautiful, melodic laughter. I found part of me admiring his ability. That wasn’t the only thing though, I could feel my body get a bit aroused even though my mind told it no. I pushed those thoughts and feelings back from wince they came. My want to be professional and keep control fought the sensations, but I couldn’t stop from being immersed in an unyielding onslaught of hysterics. He was slowly breaking me down piece by piece. That dastardly plume of his found my most sensitive areas, whether it was stroking along the side of my foot, running along my arch, or teasing my heel. It tickled every wrinkle and exploited ever piece of my delicate flesh. The man was good, he was damn good. I started to laugh as loud as I could and hoped someone would hear. Part of me knew it was fruitless, even if someone noticed they wouldn’t get mixed up with the mafia. I still had to try even if there was only a slim chance someone would come to help. There were only three ways I would get out of this. Either someone came to rescue me, I outlasted him, or I told them what I knew. I wasn’t sure I could out last him, even if I’d push myself to my limit. So, I put my faith in the last option and laughed my little heart out as I prayed for a good Samaritan to hear my suffering. “Hehehehe uuuuhuhuhu hahahahahaha! Aaaaaaahhhhhahahahahahahahahaha! Ooooooohhhhh! Eeeeeeeehehehehehe hahahahaahahah!”
I couldn’t tell how much time had passed by because I had been washed away in a sea of laughter. Out of nowhere he stopped. I thought I had won, and maybe he’d given up? I sucked in as much air as I could, trying to calm myself down.
“Put her left one up. I want both of her hocks available to me,” the boss ordered.
I felt someone untie my left foot. I went to kick, but he held it firmly. The person proceeded to bind it next to my right foot.
“Let’s see if the left one is ticklish.”
His feather began to tantalize my left foot as I resumed my fits of pure laughter. I did my best to try to protect one foot with the other but it didn’t work. He just tickled the foot I was using as shield, which sent it scurrying away. He then played a game with my feet as his feather kissed one, causing it to flex and wiggle in an attempt to get away. Before I knew it, he’d switch to the other and catch me off guard. Laughter erupted from my belly like a volcano. “Hehehe huhuhu hahahahahahahaha!” That infernal feather became the bane of my existence. It had been bad enough when it was just tickling one foot but now it had both of my peds. A part of me that wished I would just give up and end it was growing. I was having trouble not giving in. I had always tried to have an amount of control in my life by always being smarter. Though, now I was at the mercy of a man who was using a plume to torture me and drive me to crazy town.
The torment continued as more time went by, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go as each moment was unbearable. I wanted to keep any sense of control. I kept pushing myself, but my resolve was unwinding. Maybe if I could hold out, he’d stop. I hope it’d happen soon, because I couldn’t take much more. I squirmed like a worm in my chair. “Hehehe ooooh huhuhahahahahahah! I’m… not… going… to… eeeehehehe… tell… youhuhuhuh hahahaha just… hahahahaha give up! Hahahahahahahahahha!”
“She’ll never break boss. She’s too tough,” a goon said.
I prayed that this was the end, and I had survived the worst of it, but I was wrong.
“Oh, she’ll break,” the boss spoke with amusement in his voice, “You keep acting tuff Bets, but I can see you are beginning to break. I could do this all night and day. Besides, I’m beginning to enjoy this. I might keep you around for some laughs even after you tell me.”
I don’t know how he saw it, but he was right. My fortitude was slowly breaking. Small cracks had formed, and he was exploiting them, causing them to grow. Just hearing him say he liked doing this to me scared me. Though, the worse was when he mentioned holding me here. I couldn’t imagine being tickled by him each night. Both of his threats together was a massive blow to my ability to hold out. Once he saw that he had gotten into my head, that’s when like a shark waiting for the right moment he struck. It was then that he decided to finish me off. He let up for a second on physically torturing me but continued to psychologically play with my mind. “I wonder if those toes are ticklish.”
“No!” I screamed. “Not the toes!”
“Tell me what I want to know or the toes get it,” he threatened.
Unfortunately, I’m a glutton for punishment, and I said something I’d regret. “Do your worst! I won’t talk!”
“It’s your funeral.”
Again, his cruel tool of torture descended upon my exposed feet which were at his mercy, and he gave no mercy. He tickled my tootsies individually at first, giving each of them special attention. Next, he stroked along the tops of my toes. He then sawed his feather in between my toes. I threw my head back and fell into a world of hysterics. I wiggled my toes as furiously as I could. The floodgates open, the dam broke, and everything rushed out of me. I was completely consumed by the tickling. It ate me whole. He had me wildly thrashing in my chair. I was squealing, I was giggling, I was shrieking, I was hooting, I was hollering, I was cackling like a mad woman. The last little bit of my resistance had been destroyed. I felt utterly helpless about giving up the information, but at the moment all I wanted was the tickling to stop. He had me right where he wanted me and there was nothing, I could do stop it, besides telling him what I knew. I couldn’t take it anymore. I became his stool pigeon, and I sang like he had promised at the beginning. “GAHAHAHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAP HEHE HAHAHAHA! FOR THE LOVE OF PETE STOP! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I CAN’T STAND IT! HUHUHUHAHAHAHAHAHA PLEASE! HAHAHAHA NO MORE! HAHAHAH HOHOHO HAHAHAHAHAHA!” I snorted. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH NO! OH NO! HAHAHAHAHAHA I GIVE UP! HUHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I’M BEGGING YOU! HAHAHA WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I’LL DO ANYTHING! HAHAHAHA NO MORE TICKLING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH I’M SORRY! HAHAHAHAHA YOU WIN! HAHAHAHA HEHEHE I’LL TALK! HAHAHAHAH I’LL SING! HAHAHAHA JUST STOP TICKLING MY TOES! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA PLEASE HAVE MERCY! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THE FALCON’S IN A CRATE! HAHAHAHAH THE NUMBER ON THE CRATE IS 72890! HAHAHAHAHA!”
“Who hired you?” He asked, as he continued the tantalizing tickling of my toes.
“I WAS HIRED BY SHIRLEY ADLEY! HAHAHAHA!”
“Shirley Adley. You better not being lying to me.”
“I’M NOT! I SWEAR! HAHAHAHAHAHAH PLEASE! HUHUHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAP! I CAN’T TAKE IT! HEHE HAHAHAHAHAHUHUHU HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” I pleaded after I told him everything, but he still kept tickling. This drove me up a wall. I was frantically moving around in my chair and continued to ask for it to end. “BWAHAHAHAHAH! PLEASE! HAHAHAHAHA HEHEHE NO MORE! HAHAHAHA I’M BEGGING YOU! HUHUHAHAHAHAHA MERCY! HAHAHAHA I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING! HAHAHAHAHA WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?! HAHAHAHAHA STOP! HEHEHEHAHAHAHAHA LEAVE MY TOES ALONE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!”
Finally, he stopped, and I slumped in my seat panting. I was relieved the tickling had stopped. He could’ve asked me for anything, and I would’ve done it. Given him all my money, or even done sexual things to him. I didn’t care anymore. I just wanted the tickling to end. I could feel bits of tears running down my cheeks as I held my eyes closed.
“Boys. We’ll have to pay Shirley Adley a visit,” the boss said.
A man rushed in. “Boss! Boss! Come quickly we’re being attacked!”
“What? Everyone! Come with me!” the boss shouted.
I could hear their footsteps as they all ran out of what I assumed was a warehouse. I sighed and relaxed for a moment as I knew they were now gone. I was exhausted from the torment that had just befallen me. Though something inside of me knew this was my chance to escape. Just the thought of them coming back and tickling my toes was motivation enough. It gave me new strength as I attempted to free myself from my bonds. Luckily as I struggled, I was able to get my blindfold to fall down around my neck, and I was finally able to see. I was in a large, and dusty warehouse with tons of brown sacks in it. I wormed my ankles until they came free of the crate. Unfortunately, my hands were still tied behind my back, and my ankles were still bound together. Unsure if I could do anything, I took a moment. That same thought of my poor feet getting worked over by that feather came to mind, and now I wondered if they’d attack the rest of my body as well. I shook with fear and found more reasons to get out of this predicament. I moved my feet to the cold floor, which felt like a mix of good and bad. I stood up. My eyes looked over to see my coat and high-heels were over by a couple of sacks. With a sigh, I left them behind as I hopped over to the door.
I barely opened the door and made my way outside where I heard men yelling to my left. I decided to go to the right. After two small jumps I landed on a plank that creaked. I looked up planning on leaping again, when suddenly I saw a man standing half a yard away from me. My eyes widened as the terror of being caught entered my mind. Though before I could do anything, the plank underneath me broke. With a splash I fell into the icy, cold water. I tried to swim, but I was still bound so it didn’t work. I could feel myself slowly sinking towards the bottom. Was this the end of me? Was I going to die?
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