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The tubs were about two feet deep. Each looked large enough to permit someone to sit down or kneel. John stoppered the drain of one, and turned on the water. |
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'Let's do Bill first,' Cassy suggested. |
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Roscoe the chef dragged the young man to his feet. John held a knife on him while Roscoe removed the belts lashed around his arms and legs. Lynn and Cassy held onto his arms. He struggled against them until John pressed the blade to his throat. 'Calm down, pal.' Bill glared, but stopped resisting. |
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Steve and Carol kept watch on the other three as Roscoe, Lynn and Cassy stripped Bill down to his underwear. He was mostly black to his neck. From his shoulders to his feet, he looked clean except for his hands. Apparently, he hadn't been under the rain long enough for it to penetrate his clothes to the skin. |
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'I don't think we'll have to put him in,' Cassy said. |
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'Yeah,' John agreed. 'Just dunk his head and hands.' |
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Roscoe shoved Bill against the sink and pushed his head down into the water. Lynn and Cassy plunged his hands in. The three of them held him under, Roscoe rubbing his hair. The water turned murky gray. Then they let him up. He lurched out of the water, gasping. His hair was blond, his face red. He looked around, blinking. |
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Cassy gave him a dish towel. He frowned at her. |
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'How are you?' she asked. |
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He shrugged. 'OK. I guess it worked, huh?' |
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'Did it?' Cassy asked him. |
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