Frank placed his right leg on the empty chair and pulled up the cuff of the pants, showing her the ankle holster which encased his .38.<br/><br/>"See? Just in case you thought I was bluffing," he told her, grinning softly. Frank had a pleasant enough face, always with a trace of a 5:00 shadow but it wasn't one of those hard-boiled faces that screamed criminal or thug or goon. Despite his Italian heritage.<br/><br/>"In case you're wondering, it's your old pals at the Moxey who are sweet on you to return. To the tune of five thousand clams. I got half of those clams and I'm aiming to get the second half. But they want you in one piece, doll. Which is the only way a chick like you should be. In one piece."<br/><br/>Frank stopped short of telling the bound and gagged,  buxom redhead what the DA in Chicago wanted her for because he had precious little info. Other than she was witness to something.<br/><br/>"I have three days to get you there. So I can take my time. We'll stop frequently along the way. If we're near other people, you're gagged. If it doesn't matter who hears you, I keep the muzzle off you. You'll be cuffed most of the time. When it's safe I'll let you walk around a bit. Then it's back into chains. We will eat on the road when no one can hear you scream. Those are just some of the rules, doll."<br/><br/>Frank peered outside again. Still another 90 minutes or so before nightfall hit. He turned and looked at her.<br/><br/>"I know you have a car. HAD a car. I know which one it is.  The clerk got diarrhea of the mouth after I slipped him a Jackson. I'll clean it out before we go."<br/><br/>Frank smirked at her and stepped nearer. He reached out and brushed the back of his right hand against her left cheek, above where it bulged over the gag.<br/><br/>"Such a pretty songbird. I wish I could take that muzzle off. I'd like to hear you belt out one of those sultry numbers, like back in Chicago. You do have quite a voice, Lauren. Too bad I can't let you use it."<br/><br/>With that, Frank sighed and lowered his hand.<br/><br/>"Now let's get you packed and dressed, shall we?"<br/><br/>He opened the wardrobe next to the dresser and stepped back to look at all the choices.<br/><br/>Little did he know, Lauren's autograph seeker was roaming the halls of the motel, determined to get her signature. Grey suit knew that Lauren had a tiny tattoo of a rose just above her left ankle. And when she walked away, he noticed it.