Hide And Seek !

How had Diane found her so quickly ? Debbi thought that she had found the perfect hiding place. She had noted the hotel laundry when she had been racing to the squash courts last night and had thought that climbing into one of the large laundry baskets would be ideal. She vaguely remembered hearing that some famous football manager had done that when he was supposed to be banned from the dressing room. It may indeed have been a very good hiding place, were it not for the fact that Diane had made such good friends with the receptionist that she was able to follow Debbi's progress via the hotel security cameras ! She gave it ten minutes and then sauntered to the laundry to lift the lid of the basket on the surprised Debbi.

So it was that Debbi was now under intense pressure. Ingram had explained that it was a race against the clock and Debbi only had ten minutes to find Diane or she had lost again ! OK, so her clothes wouldn't be forfeit this time but she could not stand the thought of the further boasting and taunting that would come from Diane. Time was ticking down and Debbi had no plan. She was rushing aimlessly along the corridors like a headless chicken when Carol seemed to come to her aid. Her assistant was making exaggerated eye gestures in the direction of an insignificant looking unmarked door. Debbi grabbed the handle and went in.

It was a small dusty room, dimly lit by one hanging light bulb. A large wooden hatch was built into a wall and sitting before this was a large piece of L shaped furniture, like a cushioned seat without any legs. Two armrests were set high on the 'back' of the seat. There must be something behind that hatch, was Diane curled up in there ? Debbi opened the hatch to reveal a red curtain behind it. She could vaguely hear the activity of the staff preparing lunch in the dining hall in the distance. Debbi clambered onto the seat and placed her head through the hatch, there must be something on the other side. She leaned forward further, resting her arms on the side of the seat for balance. Suddenly, unseen hands behind her slotted a semi-circular piece of wood from each door of the hatch and closed it around Debbi's neck. The detached sections left a perfect circle that fit snugly around her, leaving her head trapped and staring forward at the curtain. It tickled her nose and she fought the urge to sneeze.

"Hey, what's happening ?" Debbi cried into the curtain. She was then dismayed to feel the same unseen hands beginning to fiddle with the zip on her skirt !