Settle it informally.

"We can settle this informally, okay? Let's just be ladies about it."

"You obviously haven't spent much time in the company of ladies. However, informally it is; step this way, Zia."

"How do you know my name?"

"Shopkeeper's secret. Now come along."

Ann glided over to the side of the shop and lifted aside a dressmaker's dummy wearing an elaborate rig of bondage straps. Zia firmly intended to bolt for the exit, but found herself following Ann anyway.

"What is this informal punishment? A spanking?"

"Nothing so immediate; now, stand here and raise your hands above your head."

Zia wanted to run but did as she was told. Ann stretched upward in front of her, giving Zia a potent exposure to the shopkeeper's rosewater fragrance and cinnamon breath. She felt something metallic clamping around her arms. When she looked up her wrists were encased in fine silver manacles. She tugged and found that they allowed her hands some play, but not enough to do anything useful. Meanwhile Ann was carefully unbuttoning her blouse and quietly humming a tuneless song.

"You're not going to..."

Ann slid the blouse gently up Zia's arms and off, folding it neatly and setting it aside.

"How did you do that? The chains!"

"Are no impediment to one who knows what she is doing." Ann reached behind Zia and unclasped her bra. Her c-cup breasts drooped free as Ann pulled the bra forward and off her.

"You just pulled the straps right through my shoulders!"

Ann looked up with impish eyes while folding the bra. "That would be impossible, dear Zia."

It really sank to Zia what was being done to her. "You're putting me on display, aren't you?" Zia was quietly mortified; while she did have a bit of a dark side, she had always maintained a mask of dignity and conservatism.

"It is said by some that intelligence is a very erotic quality; I happen to agree with them."

"Don't do this! Please, I beg you let me have my dignity."

"And why would I provide the gift of dignity to a thief?" Ann carefully removed Zia's stilettos, then unfastened her pants. Her soft but cool hands gently guided the trousers down Zia's shapely legs.

"This is illegal!"

"This is informal, as you requested." With a flick of her fingernails Ann cut the straps on Zia's panties, but when she picked the bit of cloth off the floor it was somehow intact. She folded the pair neatly and set it on top of the small pile of clothing. Finally Ann knelt down and gently guided Zia's ankles into a pair of shackles set about a foot apart on the floor.

"How long are you going to make me stay like this?"

"Until I deem you have been appropriately reformed."

Zia stood there, displaying her body to the world and wishing that she had chosen the police.