Little Miss Marker

I remember watching a movie when I was a kid titled "Little Miss Marker". It was based on a story by Damon Runyan, and was about a young girl who was left with gamblers as a "marker" for a debt. Now I find myself in the role of Little Miss Marker.

My dad has a gambling problem. Our family thought he had it beat, but during football season he ran up a huge debt. The bookies demanded payment and my father asked for time to get the money together. They demanded collatoral, or a marker, something of value that the gamblers could hold until the debt was paid.

My dad told them he couldn't come up with a marker. The bookies decided to take action, as they felt my dad was stringing them along, which he was. They decided to hire a guy named Matt to do a job for them: kidnap me, Little Miss Marker.

My actual name is Karen. I am five feet, five inches tall, weigh 120 pounds, have blonde hair and have measurements of 32-22-30 with a C cup. I am not buxom by anybody's standard, but I have nice curves and nice legs. The bookies figured that if I disappeared and my dad knew what happened to me, it would inspire him to come up with the money.

Matt was a mercenary who would do just about any job as long as the price was right. He was a handsome, charming guy who was in his late 20s. He was five feet, 10 inches tall, weighted 175 pounds and had brown hair with a muscular build, as he lifted weights and trained in karate. Most girls would consider him a hunk.

The bookies gave Matt a picture of me and explained the situation. He was told that when my dad paid up, he would get 10 percent of the amount, which came to $15,000. Matt asked what happened if they weren't paid. They said they would have no choice but to whack my dad, and I would belong to Matt, and he could do whatever he wished with me. Matt agreed, figuring there were ways he could make much more money than $15,000 from this venture.

So Matt went to work, cyber stalking me. He found out where I went to college. He hacked into my school's records and found my schedule, and the address of the apartment where I lived. So one night I came home from the libary at midnight, let myself into my apartment, and there was a man whom I had never met sitting on my couch, watching the TV. I froze.

Matt looked at me and called out "Hi Karen, don't be alarmed, please come in. Don't do anything foolish like try to run or yell for help. Come in and join me and we will talk." It was then I noticed he had a pistol with a silencer. I put my books and backpack on a table, went over the couch, and Matt said "sit down and join me."

I sat down, looked at Matt and said "this is about my dad, isn't it?" Matt smiled and replied "smart girl, yes it is." Matt explained that my dad was dragging his feet about coming up with a marker for his debt, so he was hired to kidnap me as a marker. I sighed and shook my head. "Don't worry, Karen, everything is going to work out, but you have to trust me on this." I gave him a strange look, but he had the gun, the other options I had were all bad, so I decided to go along.

"First, go to the bathroom, because it is going to be a long night, then follow me into the bedroom," Matt said. I did as I was told and when I entered the bedroom I saw several coils of thin, soft cotton rope lying on top of the bed. "Face down on the bed, Karen," Matt ordered. "Again, you have to trust me on this, even though some of this doesn't make sense right now."

I went face down on the bed and Matt took hold of the rope. He started by tying my hands and arms behind me in a boxtie. Next, he crossed my ankles slightly and tied them. He ran the rope to my bound wrists and created a tight hogtie, then he had the rope continue to my neck, where he tied it in a way where it forced me to hold my head upright. He finished things off by stuffing a cloth into my mouth, then holding it firm with a cleave gag.

It was simple but impressive work. If I tried to move my arms and legs, I risked choking, so I was forced to hold still. Once he had me in place, he patted me on the butt and said "good girl." Then he called my dad and told him "I want you at Karen's apartment at college so we can discuss your gambling debt as soon as possible."

My dad drove through the night and arrived at about 6 a.m. Neither Matt nor I slept, waiting for my dad to get there. My dad knocked on the door, Matt let him in and led him to the bedroom. My dad gasped when he saw me, and we both started crying.

"Save the tears," Matt said to my dad. "This happened because you tried to play the bookies for fools. I was hired to kidnap your daughter as a marker." My dad stammered a bit and eventually spit out "I just couldn't come up with that much money that quickly. I wasn't trying to play them."

Matt looked at my dad and said "Save it. There is a way out of this. I am working as an informant for the FBI. They have been wanting to bust these bookies for a while. Add kidnapping and extortion charges to bookmaking, and these guys go to prison for life. Here are the options. You owe $150,000. Pay me $50,000 and I get you and your daughter out of this. I need to know now, as the bookies will be here about 8 a.m. to make sure I have Karen."

My dad sat on the edge of the bed and muttered "this is all so confusing." Matt became angry and said "don't be stupid. Once the bookies get here, the deal is off the table. They will want the money and you will have two choices. You pay, or they will put a hit out on you. If they whack you, Karen will become my property, and I'll make at least $50,000 by selling her to slavers." When I heard that, I started grunting through the gag and shaking my head in protest.

So my dad agreed. Matt asked what time can you be here with the money. My dad said 11 a.m. He went out to arrange the wire transfer. Matt also instructed my dad, "after this goes down, not a peep about giving me any money, understand?" My dad nodded. Matt made some calls to the FBI, setting up the sting. I started grunting on the bed, signalling that I really wanted to be untied. Matt looked at me and said "not yet, Karen. A couple of hours and we will all be home free."

The bookies came in on schedule at 8 a.m. Matt led them into the bedroom, where I was hogtied on the bed. One of the bookies remarked "nice work Matt, you came highly recommended and you did not disappoint." Matt told them "I showed the guy his daughter, and he is getting the money now. He is supposed to be here at 11 a.m. He is going to bring $200,000. I told him there was a surcharge for making us kidnap his daughter. Once we all get what we want, we go our separate ways."

The one bookie smiled and said "fantastic work, Matt. There will something extra in it for you. By the way, have you been having fun with Karen while you were waiting?" Matt shook his head and said "no, the job is not done. And if her dad does not come through the with the money, Karen is mine and I will get paid by slaving her out, and the slavers will not want her damaged."

I was really impressed with how cool Matt was staying as he played all parties for his benefit. When he mentioned slaving me out to the bookies, I started grunting angrily. Matt looked at me and I thought I saw him give me a wink.

At 11 a.m., my dad entered the apartment. He handed Matt an envelope and said "here is the money, you will find it all there." Seconds later, the doors burst open and FBI agents stormed the apartment. The bookies were arrested. Agents took my dad down to headquarters for questioning. One of the agents told Matt, take care of Karen, then the two of you come down to our office to answer some questions.

Matt quickly cut me loose and I went limp on the bed. My hands and feet were numb. My legs were knotted with cramps. Every muscle in my body ached. Matt sat by me and massaged me and said "you were wonderful, Karen." I looked at Matt, smiled and said "thank you. What about my cut?" Matt said incredulously "your cut?" I managed a smile and said to Matt "yes, my cut. The way I figure it, you have committed extortion and conspiracy with your little plan. So I'm either in on the plan, or blowing the whistle." Matt laughed and said "OK, how much." I thought for a moment and said "$10,000. I figure I was tied up for about 10 hours, and my fee for being tied up is $1,000 an hour. And you still walk away with $40,000."

Matt looked at me for a moment and then smiled. "OK, Karen, you are in," he said, "as long as you never saw me get an envelope from your dad."

I nodded yes, and Matt said "you've earned it. I had you tied up in a really tough position so it all seemed realistic, and you kept your composure." Matt started looking at me differently. There may be prettier girls, Matt thought, but Karen is very good looking and there aren't many girls who could have handled themselves as well in this situation.

Matt then resumed massaging me and I let out a sigh of relief as he eased some of my aching muscles. I started looking at Matt differently. Yes, he is a rogue and a scoundrel, I thought, but I liked how he handled himself throughout this, and perhaps there is such a thing as a loveable rogue and scoundrel.

Matt then looked at me. In a voice that was lacking all the previous bravado and confidence, he asked "Karen, when this is all over, could I possibly call you?" I smiled and said "yes ... as long as you don't call me Little Miss Marker any more."

(original rendering of 3D art, which inspired this story, was from SpittingCobra, who is currently inactive on this site)