No-LIMIT-Rooms 05 English

The creaking of the bed springs must have awakened the doc, because his snoring stopped abruptly and he looked wearily over at me. He straightened up in the recliner and wiped his mouth with his hand to remove some saliva.

"Hello Johanna, how are you?"

"Refreshed, as always, when I wake up here. How many days is it this time?" My voice sounded rough and hoarse.

He looked at me without understanding.

"Oh, forget it. What time is it?"

He looked at his wristwatch. "A little after 11. Gives lunch soon. Are you thirsty?"

I nodded. "Is this a new service here: wake-up care by the head doctor and beverage service, or is it only available to regular customers?"

He just shook his head and went to the table where there were bottles and glasses.

"Still, medium or sparkling?"

"Medium, please!"

"Here you go!" He handed me the full glass.

I drank and soothed my raw throat.

"So, am I going to find out why you slept here? Or did you want to propose to me as soon as they woke up? Then I'm sorry to disappoint you, my heart is already taken!"

He twisted his mouth into a wry smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Do you remember what happened last night?"

"My torture session? Let's see, I was whipped, clamped and electrocuted, is that what you meant?"

Reiner nodded.

"In summary, yes. You seem to remember. But do you also remember what happened at the end, I mean at the very end?"

"The Dalek pulled the clamps on my labia and I shouted the code word to shut it off. And then I was freed, yes!"

"You suffered shock from the pain at the end and collapsed!"

"No, I didn't collapse. I got a mega orgasm at the end," I blurted out.

Stunned, he stared at me.

"What? Surprised that a woman would be so open about it? I'm a sex worker, remember?"

"No, more like amazed at how shock can alter perception. The Dalek tore your labia!"

For minutes I stared at him, trying to comprehend what he had just said.

"How bad is it?", I finally brought out.

"Well, at least bad enough that you should stay here for three days and recover a bit, and abstain from sex for the next two weeks as well. But it will probably heal again without consequences."

My tension eased. I hadn't noticed at all how I had tensed up.

"So no permanent damage?"

He shook his head.

"Not this time. But if the Dalek had pulled on your clitoris instead of the labia clamps, well then..."

He does not finish the sentence.

"Is this just us?"

He looked around demonstratively.

"Do you see anyone else here?" he asked with a smile.

"I mean cameras and sound monitoring?"

"Nothing like that. There are cameras only in the ICU, why?"

I lowered my voice, "Your cell phone, did you get that from Rebecca or the Rooms, or ever let it out of your sight there?"

His smile widened.

"Do they think we are being monitored and bugged? I can assure you that is not the case."

Impatiently, I beckoned him closer. Hesitantly, he came closer and bent over to me. I spoke into his ear: "If you ever let your cell phone out of your hand, we will be bugged, I can assure you! Bring out your cell phone, please!"

My voice was a barely audible whisper.

He bent back and fished his cell phone out of his pocket. He looked at it thoughtfully.

I raised my eyebrows and nodded.

Sighing, he turned around and left the hospital room. It was a two-bed room, but I was lying here alone. There was a telephone next to me. I looked at the instructions. Crap, obviously I needed a phone card. The door opened and Reiner came in again.

"So," he began, "what do you feel you need to tell me that Rebecca or anyone else can't hear?"

"What is Rebecca blackmailing you with?"

Embarrassed, he smiled. "What makes you think I would be blackmailed?"

I tilted my head.

He became nervous. As a poker player, he would have lost now.

"Listen Johanna, maybe you should really look for another job. Not in the basement anymore!", he evaded.

"Can you get me a calling card, and hide that from Rebecca when she asks? Also not let it show up on my statement? Of course, I'll pay them back at the earliest opportunity."

Obviously relieved at this simple request, he waved it off. "It's a gift. Sure I'll get them one. Right after lunch, I'll get it for them."

"I don't think the hospital is part of the Rooms, is it?", I made sure.

Now he had to laugh. "No, fortunately not. It's a private clinic, but it's owned by a big company."

"Is Morosov a shareholder?"

Now he tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

I decided to speak frankly. "Reiner, you seem like a nice person. You don't work at the Rooms out of conviction, or even being a close friend of Rebecca's."

"How do they...?" he began to interrupt me, but I waved him off.

"If you trust me, I might be able to help you. But if Morosov is involved in the clinic, you shoul'd better find another job, too, if you're going to break with Rebecca."

"Who are you?"

Completely neutral, I looked at him.

"Listen, I didn't get much sleep last night and I'm on duty later. I'll get you the card and then we'll both forget the conversation, okay?" He looked almost panicked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, you know where to find me if you feel like having a nice conversation."

He left the room almost in a hurry.

I let myself sink back into my pillow. Had I said too much? Had that been a mistake? If I managed to get him on my side, he would be an important ally. But of course I first had to find out what Rebecca had him up to. He would definitely not tell me by himself, it was probably too explosive for that. But if I could get my friends access to Rebecca's computer, he would also be in their hands, if his secret could be found there.

Again the door opened. Rebecca strutted in. Actually, I would have expected her earlier.

"Good afternoon, Johanna!" She nodded at me and sat down on the chair where Reiner had been sleeping just 45 minutes ago.

"Rebecca!", I greeted back curtly.

She raised an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes, "Seriously? Good day, Mistress Rebecca. I'm sorry I didn't throw myself on the floor as soon as they came in! But as you can see," I raised my arm with the drip on it," I'm a little indisposed! Eighteen is really inconsolable." My voice was just dripping with sarcasm.

She did not let us see what was going through her mind. But then she nodded.

"All right, let's not get into this. I think your reaction is understandable and also justified."

"Oh what?"

Again she raised an eyebrow.

"That's all right, I'll shut up. Was really just expecting flowers and a get-well card."

"Doctor Meier taught you?"

Now I raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't my medical condition fall under doctor-patient confidentiality?"

For a very brief moment, anger flashed through, then she had her facial expressions back under control. Interesting.

"You have not read the slave contract carefully enough. There you gave me power of attorney to obtain information from your doctors about your state of health."

"Even already in my lease? Or before that?" I know sometimes I really should shut my mouth, but my blood pressure was skyrocketing right now just thinking about Rebecca. And really, all I wanted to do was get away from her. Preferably right away.

"Love from Isabell!"

Damn!

"She's very worried about you. She saw everything from the bar. Only with difficulty had the others been able to hold her back!"

"Why was she present?"

"Because she has my trust. Well, at least still in some things. And when it comes to your safety, definitely. Do you want to know what the others had to hold her back from?"

My facial expressions had to form a single question mark.

"Killing Edward!" she resolved the question. "He did it. How did you figure it out?"

The thoughts were racing around in my head. Did you find out? My last words to Diana came back to me. Yes, how actually?

"I don't know exactly, it was kind of a hunch."

Very thoughtfully she looked at me.

"An absolutely accurate hunch. And thanks to your tip, we were able to catch him in the act. With Isabelle's help."

It took me a few seconds to realize what she had just revealed to me.

"I was a decoy?" my voice boomed with anger.

Annoyed, she raised a hand. "You have no idea what that was all about. So tone down your tone!"

I couldn't believe my eyes. What was it all about? My life, right? I was too angry to answer immediately, but my face must have turned red, because Rebecca immediately raised her hands in appeasement.

"We had everything under control. When you shouted 'Red,' we had already hit the stop button! Four minutes later, Edward was on the floor, overwhelmed by security. It would have happened in 30 sec if they hadn't had to drag Isabell off him first."

Silently, I thought for a moment.

"What happens to him now?"

Rebecca tilted her head. "Unattractive things. Very unattractive things!"

I understood the threat in these words all too well. I absolutely had to get myself under control again and find my way back into my role. So I just nodded.

Rebecca seemed to relax a little. Aha, she was nervous, too. Good to know. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes briefly. Then I looked at her again.

"Six months remission?"

"You didn't make the four hours, did you?"

I had expected nothing less from Rebecca.

"But three months is worth it to me for exposing Edward."

Stunned, I opened my mouth. "Only three?"

She raised her hands again in a placating manner.

"You should be happy with that, Fifteen!"

Silently, I looked into her eyes. She stared back ice-cold and without emotion. She was the toughest opponent I had ever faced. But she had betrayed herself. Only for a tiny moment, but still. Should I take advantage of it now or better wait?

I decided for the moment to admit defeat, apparently.

"Thank you mistress!" My tone may not have been quite right, but at least it was no longer dripping with sarcasm.

But it seemed to be enough for Rebecca. She looked at me penetratingly for a moment, then nodded contentedly.

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. It was the orderly who brought the food.

"Well, I'll leave you alone again. Have a good rest!" Rebecca stood up.

"Mistress," I stopped her. "May Isabell, uh, I mean Five come visit me?"

"I'll bring them tomorrow!" she nodded.

"Thank you mistress!"

Without another gesture, she turned away and strode out of the room. Was it imagination, or did her steps sound relieved?

After the meal Reiner briefly looked in again and brought me the promised phone card. He did not linger long, however, but disappeared immediately afterwards without speaking to me yet. I had obviously frightened him. I hope he didn't talk to Rebecca about it.

But I couldn't worry about that now.

My drip had been removed shortly before the meal, so I could now walk around unhindered, if I disregarded the lack of clothing.

Hopefully my phone wouldn't be tapped here, popped into my head as I dialed Holger's number. It took a surprisingly long time before he answered.

"Hello?" his familiar voice answered. Oh yes, he didn't know the number.

"Hi, Holger, Johanna here!"

He remained calm and waited.

"I'm calling from the clinic. I'm in the room, hold on," I glanced at my display. "328."

"Another show?" His voice didn't sound surprised.

"Another show," I confirmed.

"Are you alone?"

"Would I call otherwise?"

He was silent.

"Are you my mother?"

"Why not like that?" The reproachful tone betrayed his tension to me.

Sometimes I felt like I was in a bad spy movie. I wasn't being monitored by the BND after all. But of course I was also nervous.

"Sorry. Happened a lot."

"Can I guess if you're already back at the clinic. Just today?"

"Three days, probably."

"Can you get out?"

"Not by bike. Besides, I don't have anything to wear."

He was silent, probably thinking. A visit from him would probably be too conspicuous.

"Can't you organize something to wear?"

"Yes, probably."

"Tomorrow, at ten, in the cafeteria?"

"I think I can handle it."

Without another word, he hung up. Paranoid, really!

I pulled the phone card out of the machine and looked around to see where I could hide it so that no one would find it. No, I wasn't paranoid, just cautious.

Reiner did not show his face again. I started to get bored, although I enjoyed being able to look out the windows. Unbelievable what four days in the basement can do. My mind wandered and I began to think about the past few days. Rebecca hadn't told me exactly what had happened yesterday.

Hopefully she would be more talkative tomorrow, although of course I would prefer to be alone with Isabell then. But I was under no illusion. Rebecca would hardly risk that. Rebecca's goal was still a mystery to me. Just to make me her slave, to add me to her 'collection', the whole thing seemed much too elaborate to me. Besides, it didn't fit that she had already drugged me on the first day and interrogated me under truth drug. If only I could somehow get my hands on the recording. Would I get access to it again, or would they close the loophole?

I needed to speak to Reiner, so I rang for the orderly. He appeared shortly after and inquired what was wrong with me. I pointed to my full drainage bag. He immediately set about changing it.

"Doctor Meier told me he was still on duty tonight. Can you send him a note?"

"Sure, what should I tell him?"

"I wonder if he could get me something to wear and also borrow a tiny bit of change. I'd like to go to the cafeteria."

The orderly grinned a little suggestively. "Did you come in naked?"

"Yes, totally!" I looked him straight in the eye.

Immediately his grin disappeared. "Sorry, I'll tell him. There, done. Do you need anything else?"

I was about to shake my head, but reconsidered. "Do you have anything to read here?"

Reiner didn't show up, but after the shift change, a nurse brought me a one-piece pink jogging suit, bathing slippers and a toilet bag. Among other things, it contained a twenty.

Pink? The only thing missing was cute bunnies on it. I didn't know whether I should be grateful to him or hate him. I would get even with him.

When she noticed my glance at the suit, the nurse began to grin.

"Not your taste?"

"No, not at all!"

"Then the doctor doesn't seem to know you that well yet?"

Surprised, I looked at her.

She became embarrassed. "I'm sorry, it's none of my business."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he had bring you in yesterday and spent the whole night here, even though he wasn't on duty."

Oh.

"No, we're not together, if that's what you mean. But we have a mutual friend."

"It's really none of my business."

My ass. I was at the source of the house gossip here, I was sure of it.

"Is the doc married?"

I had it. A few clever questions and an hour later I knew almost everything that was known or at least rumored about the doctor here in the house. Then she had to hurry to get her other work done and hastily took her leave.

I was relatively sure that until just now I had been the next fiancée of the doctor in the house gossip. But I couldn't care less. Well, vengeful ex-lovers and angry, rejected colleagues. Not a good reputation, doctor!

Single, not divorced, currently no known girlfriend or mistress. No affair in the house. Although now I was sure she wouldn't reject him, even if I had noticed her wedding ring. Her relief had been too obvious when I casually mentioned that I had a steady girlfriend. Her flow of words dried up only when I tried to steer the conversation to me and other girls from the apartment. Then it ended abruptly. Aha, that was a taboo subject in the house. Nevertheless, I could certainly find out something about it from her, if I were to be clever about it. Let's see. For today I had experienced enough.

Tired, I stretched out in the comfortable bed. That did so good, better than the couch in the basement, not to mention the bunker. My pussy itched and burned. Automatically I wanted to grab there and hit the barrier of diaper and plaster. Damn, someone must have had a sense of irony up there.

Fortunately, after breakfast the next morning, my urinary catheter was removed. So I didn't have to go down with the bag in my hand. Not that I would have sunk to the ground in shame because of it, by now I had become jaded, but it wouldn't have been great either. The jogging suit bothered me more.

Yes, there were many women who were into that kind of thing. But not me, never, never! I was an SM-ler! Black was my color. Normally I would have to wear tattoos and piercings. And piercings I would get soon. I also liked tattoos, but I had been put off a few years ago by an article about toxins in the colors. When I looked into it more, I decided to wait to get a tattoo until the health authorities also started to examine and test the colors. At the moment there were neither guidelines nor controls. As sorry as I was, I didn't want to risk cancer. Just because there were hundred-year-old, fully tattooed Japanese, the colors that were currently on the market did not have to be harmless.

There was nothing going on in the cafeteria. The clinic wasn't that big either. How was Holger going to make contact with me here inconspicuously? I got myself a coffee and sat down, facing the entrance.

At ten o'clock on the dot, Sacha entered the room, also bought himself something to drink and sat down at my next table. He took out a rather thick book and began to read.

Seriously? I looked around. We were alone.

"Is it good?"

He looked up in apparent surprise.

"Yes, very good. It's even been made into a movie. That's why I wanted to read it." He held it so I could make out the title. 'Game of Thrones,' 'Winter is Coming,' aha. Had seen it once, but didn't find it that exciting.

He looked around. There was no one to be seen. Suddenly he pressed it into my hand. "You really should read it. Get well soon!"

He stood up, took his cup with him and left the room, leaving me completely stunned. That had really not been inconspicuous. But no one had observed it. Well, he was a student, not a full-time agent, at least I assumed.

I finished my coffee and went back to my room with the book. There I looked at it more closely. It was a hardback edition, not the paperback version. I flipped through it and some notes fell out. They turned out to be a disassembled instruction manual for a cell phone. Okay, so where was that? Had they cut a hole in the book? Again I flipped through it. No, everything was normal. Following an intuition, I looked in the spine of the book. Sure enough, there was something in it! I pushed it out with my index finger. It was a small cloth bag. Inside was the smallest cell phone I had ever seen. Smaller than two fingers. Plus a short USB charging cable that took up more space than the phone itself. Wow, was this an agent's version?

After a short study of the clear user manual, I came to a different conclusion. This was more of a China gadget. Not even a camera or phone book function. So you had to have the number you wanted to call in your head. Well, at least that was no problem for me. I almost called Holger right away, but then reconsidered. I didn't know if and when someone could barge in here. Nor when Rebecca and Isabell would visit me. But there was the smokers' balcony at the end of the corridor. There I could see through the glass door if anyone approached. So I went there and called Holger.

38 Trafficking

What a fucking phone! I cursed inwardly. Not only was it stupid to hold in my hand, but the voice quality was so bad that I had to speak and listen quite clearly. Having a whispered or muffled conversation with it was completely out of the question. Fortunately, traffic was rushing nearby and I didn't see anyone within earshot. Nevertheless, I paid a lot of attention to what I said and how I phrased it, in case someone did overhear something.