They think I’ve got nothing better to do... When I got back to my office, I sat into my office chair. With a daring idea, I took off my shoes, then...stretched my legs. I leaned back in my chair, and closed my eyes for a while. I thought over what is waiting for me at home: an empty fridge, a cold bed. If I consider it, it won’t matter if I stay here for tonight. I was startled by the knocking of high heels. I straightened up and put my shoes on. It was about time; my door opened and Bonnie. “Jack,” she said, “what are you doing?”“Like I said,” Jack said. “I had an idea. Just play along for a bit?”“Okay. For a bit.”“Roll over,” Jack said. “To your belly,”As she did so, it occurred to her that he was telling more than asking. Once she had rolled over, Jack took her wrist, slipped the end of the scarf around it, and tied her wrist to the headboard.“Jaaack?” Steph said.“Shhhh,” he answered, and, a moment later, he had tied her second wrist to the bedpost. It wasn’t firm or tight. She. Disappointed, she closed her eyes and turned away. When she turned back, the lion was gone. Her eye was caught by the cursive script on the bottle of laudanum, and she wanted to weep with the beauty of it. Her head thumped, and she roused herself enough to take a slug of the medicine. This time, it didn’t taste as revolting as before. Next time she opened her eyes, the room was almost dark and Jack was there, leaning over her, anxiety in his dark eyes. She put her up hand, pushed it into his. "Good lad, give me a few minutes and I’ll give you an introduction,” Chantelle said, then sat back down on her boyfriend's knee.I delivered the drinks I was carrying then skipped back over to the bar to tell Jamie and Mike what was happening."They’ll have to come for their own drinks from now, I’m on, I‘m fucking on!” I said animatedly, making sure that all my gear was fitting me in the right places.I had just finished the sentence when the unmistakable voice of Chantelle came over the.