151 Rescue Attemp

John gave her water to drink of which she swallowed it fast. She lay down.

"What is Gino Gallante's work in the prostitution den?" Leonard continued to ask in a soft voice, careful as not to trigger her hysterical outbursts.

"He is Panther's external secretary," she said like a whisper.

"And, please, don't be offended but are you one of the girls who was sent there through a job placement agency?"

Her pride was triggered and reacted outright, sitting straight. "No, I'm not. I'm an artist. My full name is Lisa De Leon. I studied in the US and worked as a Hollywood make-up artist. I'm a master of life-like masks creation. I was hired with good pay."

Leonard half shrugged. "So you know about the operations they used these masks?"

"I don't know. I only make one base on the picture they gave me. At first, I asked but they won't answer so I stopped asking," she answered in a calm manner.

"Can you tell us more about your life there in the den?"

"I was not living in that place but kept in a house up in the hills of Balamban. I have my own studio up there. Life was fine back then, though guarded 24 hours until I heard one of the guards said that one of the girls who wore my mask killed herself." Her eyes teared up. "I insisted to know what happened and when I won't cooperate anymore, they brought me to the underground den and transferred my studio there. I hated that place. Dennis was the only friend I can trust inside that hell."

"So Dennis stayed there the whole time?"

"No, his father sent him for special occasions. He also hated that place," she said while tears kept falling.

"But why were you beaten like this and how did you get out?"

"I tried to formulate plans for my escape. I told them I'll cooperate as long as I'll be out from that hell. But I was mistaken, instead, they assigned me to entertain Panther's personal guards." She sniffed in between sobs. "I played along hoping I can find a way to escape. These men started to trust me and brought me anywhere inside and outside the den. After memorizing the whole place, I planned my escape. My mistake was bringing a girl I thought was my friend but she was a mole." Her sobbings intensified, her hands rigidly pulling the blanket. "I was brought to a coal mine and the men...," suddenly she screamed hysterically, clasping her head.

"Stop the interrogation," John shouted as he stood and reached out Lisa's shoulders, shaking her again. "Lisa, this is Dr. Rivera. It's over. Calm down."

Dr. Ben briskly injected a sedative on her dextrose tubal opening. A minute after, the sedative hit her but she was still sobbing deliberately. John tucked her on the bed. Then for some reason, she continued to speak. "I thought I'm going to die ... then Dennis came and killed those men."

Friday 3:00 p.m.

Next, she needed something she could use to protect herself. There was nothing more in the room but a bed and a box of condoms. Diane went to the bathroom. It only had tissues, soap, and other amenities. She felt desperate but her eyes caught the flusher. She closed the bathroom door and opened it, disengaging the lift chain.

Within the big hall, Dennis stood at the side and saw Lino. His blood pressure rose when he saw the guy, but held his emotions in check. This was not the right time and place to exact his revenge, he told himself. He went to stand at Lino's back, listening to his conversation with one of Panther's henchmen.

"So, you're back," said the man, holding a glass of wine.

"I'm back but not for long," Lino said.

"I heard you brought a girl?"

"Yes, my gift for Panther," Lino took a glass of wine from a tray and drank, enjoying he presumed a fine evening for him.

"Oh, the girl should be pleasing if you want Panther to hand you your money," the man said with a smirk.

"Of course, she is a fine lady," boasted Lino, lifting the glass up to drink.

"What's her name? Hehe," the man bent closer whispering, "I might call on her while she's still fresh."

"Just ask for a Diane," Lino said as he amusingly sipped the wine.

Dennis' hair tingled. Was he talking about his ex-fiance? He hurriedly strode out to the lobby and met a group of blindfolded men with number cards in their hands. Out of a sudden, he went with the men and acted as their guide to send them to their rooms in order. He nodded at the guard at the heavily guarded door. The guards let them in.

He called their numbers and each one replied and he sent them to their respective rooms. But one man went to #9 while his number was #10. As the man pushed opened the door, Dennis caught a glimpse of Diane dressed beautifully sitting on the bed. He suddenly pulled the man out. Diane missed seeing him.

"Sir, this is not the room for you."

"I like that girl," the man said, stretching his neck to catch a glance at Diane as Dennis pulled him away.

"Sorry, but we are strict here and we make sure you get what you paid. Here is your room, Sir." Dennis opened room #10 and pushed the man in but his hand speedily snatched the number card before closing the door.

Diane sat there silently with the lift chain from the flusher. Killing someone was against her principles but better die fighting than doing nothing. "God will understand." She said stubbornly.

When the door opened, Diane positioned herself, two hands clutching the chain. She imagined if the man comes nearer and touches her, she would strangle the man with no hesitation. The man went in head down. Her hands firmly held the chain, ready to do the deed. But before she could move, Dennis pushed her on the bed and covered her mouth. He whispered to her ear, "it's me, Diane, play along with me and I'll get you out of here," then he kissed her cheek.

She knew that voice and turned to see a smiling Dennis.

"Hi, beautiful, I was only teasing you before we make out. Come, I want to do it somewhere special." He stood and assisted Diane to stand up. Diane hesitated but Dennis' mouth whispered, "just follow me. I will bring you out of here."