Free Naughty in Leather by Berengaria Brown Page A

boys to Ted, the senior security guard.
    There was a
burst of static, a fair amount of swearing, then Ted’s resigned comment, “I was
much too far away. They were in their car before I got outside. But I’ve got
them on security video clearly showing the paint on the kid’s back as he was getting
into their car.”
    “Thanks, Ted.”
Rhonda sighed, checking the stock where the boys had been to see what was
missing. The bulge under the other’s kid’s t-shirt had been a rather nice pair
of ladies leather shorts. “I bet he gives them to his girlfriend. I must keep
my eyes open for anyone wearing them around here.”
    Ted came round
and Rhonda gave him pictures of items identical to what was missing. “Why are
they doing this, Ted? What’s the point?”
    “Likely they’re
just bored, and it’s an exciting game to them. But it’s also possible it’s
initiation into a gang or something. Either way, I’m going to get the little
bastards. No one wants to be losing stock this way.”
    “Yeah,” sighed
Rhonda. “It takes the shine off the sales figures, that’s for sure.”
    ****
    Throughout the
afternoon various other shopkeepers visited Rhonda, all with their own stories
about the group of teenagers who were shoplifting from the mall. Tilly came
too, bringing two new squishy balls of paint. “I don’t think they’ll visit your
store again, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared, like the Boy Scouts. I’m sorry
they ripped you off,” she said, hugging Rhonda.
    “One of them
took a pair of girls’ leather shorts like these ones. Keep your eye out for a
teenage girl wearing them, and likely we’ll have another link to the gang,”
said Rhonda. The shorts were now the centerpiece of one her displays, so
everyone would know what they looked like.
    “Likely she
won’t be stupid enough to wear them here, but you never know,” said Tilly.
    “If the boy
doesn’t say they’re stolen she will. All the young girls like to show off their
new clothes here. Besides, everyone loves our air conditioning, and it’s still
mighty hot outside.”
    “Now that’s
true. I’m so glad I’m not delivering newspapers anymore,” grinned Tilly.
    Just then Scott
and Ty arrived at Rhonda’s store and Tilly, smiling even more widely, left.
    “Hi, honey, had
a good day?” asked Scott.
    Rhonda waved at
the leather shorts on the display. “A couple of teenage boys stole two belts,
and a pair of shorts like those ones. I got the second one on the back with the
paint bag, but they got away,” she said.
    “Damn.”
    “Paint bag?”
asked Ty.
    Rhonda showed
them the little beanbag. “When you throw it, it explodes paint dye that doesn’t
wash out. It helped Ted, the security guard, track the kids to their car, but
they got away.”
    “Did he get the
number plate?” asked Scott.
    “I don’t know.
He didn’t say, so I guess not. But he’s got security camera footage, so when
they’re caught it’ll be a bit more evidence toward convicting them. It’s just a
pain though. Those shorts are an expensive item, so it hurts to lose them.”
    “If you came out
to dinner with us tonight, we could cheer you up,” suggested Ty.
    “Oh, yeah. We’d
make you really, really happy,” added Scott with a wicked grin.
    “I just bet you
would.” And suddenly that’s what she wanted more than anything else. She’d
already decided to accept their invitation the next time they asked her. But
now, she couldn’t wait. She wanted to see what they’d say, what they’d do. What
they wanted of her. She felt sure it was a whole lot more than a dinner date,
and she was ready for that. For dinner and whatever else might happen. She
wanted these men so much it hurt.
    “Okay, yes, I’ll
come to dinner with you tonight. When and where?”
    “You close the
shop at 5:30, right? We’ll be waiting in the parking lot for you then,” said
Scott.
    “Actually it’s
closer to six, because I have to cash out the till, and deposit the money