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Masked from the street in the deep stairwell； I got out some picklocks and went to work。 The iron grill was easy。 The door had lately had a key jammed in it and was very abrased and stiff： it showed me they suspected nothing or they wouldn't have left a lock in that condition； it was very easy to pick。
When I opened the door I was hit with a blast of stale marijuana smoke and perfume。 My hair tended to stand up but I smoothed it down； with iron control。 I had my plans。
I took my bag inside。 I checked to be sure there was no evidence of my entering。 I closed and relocked both doors。
The main front room I would avoid。 I knew it had a bank camera in it and if I guessed right that camera was keyed to the safe； and if anyone tampered with that safe the camera would start to take pictures。 There even might be a connection to Miss Pinch's office。 No； I would avoid that room。 Just then I don't think I could have stood the sight of that bed and the shackles in there or the torture instruments； like cans of pepper and bottles of Tabasco sauce。 I had been under strain lately。
I went down the hall that flanked the rooms。 I looked out the rear door： the garden was just a mass of tin cans and leftover snow。 The board fence around it prevented any view in。
I opened the hall door to Candy's room。 Gingham everywhere； pink and white。 Organdy curtains and a bedspread stained with lipstick。
Good。 I would now get dressed for bat。
Something bit me。 This had been going on for quite a while and I was getting tired of it。 Here was my chance to get out of these clothes and get rid of some fleas。
I put my suitcase on the boudoir seat and opened it。 I took out another gun； my Ruger Blackhawk。30 caliber。 I laid it handy to the door with my Beretta。 I could not be too careful。 I knew exactly what I was dealing with。 But also I knew I had to get the bination to that safe； which only Miss Pinch had。 And I had the exact plan of how to do it。
But I had lots of time。 There was a closet there。 It was full of clothes； both Candy's and Miss Pinch's。 I suddenly found something astonishingly apt for my plot。
It was a black silk kimono； very long and very big。 It had an embroidered design upon the chest。 I recognized it at once！ It was a figure with two heads： at one end it was a horned dragon； at the other it was a fanged snake。 The Ninja！ They were a cult of outcast assassins； the most deadly secret executioners of Japan。 How apt！
I promptly got out of my clothes。 I went into the shower and let it run and run； washing off several fleas。 It was a relief。
The towels were all lipstick stained so I dried myself with a wad of Candy's underwear。
I put on the Ninja kimono。 Now I certainly looked the part。 I grinned at myself in the boudoir mirror。 If these two lesbians knew what horrible things awaited them today； they'd both collapse from shock and heart failure。
Oh； I would get that safe bination all right。
I took two objects out of my suitcase。 I picked up a pillow off the bed。
I went out into the hall。 I put the pillow down behind the front door so I could be fortable。 I sat on it and gently musing； grinning with glee from time to time； I waited。
Candy usually came home first。 What a horrible shock was going to be hers today！
I wondered idly if there might not be something to the philosophy of one of Earth's truly great wise men； the Marquis de Sade； renowned propounder of sadism。 When in Rome； do as the Romans do； they say。 When in the apartment of Miss Pinch； the behavior pattern she set was almost impossible to attain。 But I fully intended to go one better than even Miss Pinch's wildest nightmares。
I chuckled now and then； sitting there in the dark behind the door； savoring my plan。 A master of Earth psychology was about to improve even upon the Marquis de Sade。
Chapter 7
The sound of footsteps ing down the basement entrance steps。 The sound of a key being fitted in the iron grate。 The groaning sound of hinges as the grill opened。 The fumble of a key searching for the slot in the second lock。
I crouched back； waiting。
She came in the door。
Candy！
I gave her no chance to close it。 I rose up with a smooth and stealthy spring！
My left arm went around her throat to shut off any scream。
My right hand quivered in front of her face。 My thumb broke the capsule of five…minute knockout gas。
I let up on her throat。
She inhaled to cry out。
She didn't cry out。 She went down like a pile of laundry； out cold。
I closed the doors。
I took hold of her foot and dragged her down the hall and into her bedroom。
I worked fast。 I tore off her coat。 Her shoes hit the floor。 Her dress went flying to the back of a chair。 One stocking went one way； the other soared up and draped over a chandelier。
I stood and looked down at the unconscious body with a triumphant grin。
She was really not a bad…looking woman。
But I had no time for any more scenic wonders today。
I put a wad of stockings in her mouth and gagged her with her own brassiere。 I took down a piece of laundry line on which they hung their undies in the bathroom。 I cut it and used the shorter piece to tie her hands behind her。 I used the longer piece to strongly secure her ankles together。 I had it all planned out。
I left her there on the floor。 I closed the hall door to her room。 I made sure there was no sign of struggle in the hall。 I cat…footed back to my position behind the door。 I laid out the Beretta and the Ruger just in case。 The next one would be trickier； for it would be Miss Pinch。 She was the vicious one。
I crouched down to wait。 Sixteen minutes went by。
Footsteps on the basement entrance stairs。 The crackle of paper as though someone were juggling a bundle。 The sound of the bell。 It rang but once。 There was no one with her； then； for I knew the other signal。
Would she think Candy had not arrived yet？ I held my breath。
Another rustle of paper。
Triumph！ A key rattling in the grill lock。 The groan of its opening。 The rattle of another key in the door。
It opened！
〃Candy？〃 called Miss Pinch as she stepped into the hall。
I sprang。
My left arm went around her throat。
She kicked backwards with her heel！
A bag of groceries crashed to the floor。
She was trying to turn。
My right hand was in front of her face。 The second five…minute gas capsule burst under my thumb。 I eased her throat。 〃God d。。。〃 I kicked her。 An intake of breath。
Down she went to join the grocery sack！
I averted my face to avoid the dispersing gas。
I closed the grill and made sure it was locked。 I checked for any telltale signs outside。 I closed and barred the door。 Then I pushed the second； padded door securely into place。
I was in a soundproof apartment with Candy and Miss Pinch。 Now I would show the Marquis de Sade a thing or two！
I grabbed Miss Pinch's right arm and dragged her into the front room。 The place was much as I had seen it that agonizing last time。 There were even some m