Jay’s Thanksgiving
Monday
“Thanks for
coming over for the break,” Brian Holderness-Carter said as he sat on one side
of the coffee table, his wife Sarah beside him wearing a dusky pink tracksuit
with a white t-shirt underneath. “I take
it there was no problem with Lisa and Charlie staying with friends for the
week?”
Yvonne
Williamson shook her head as she said “they jumped at the chance to stay at the
farm for a few days, for some unknown reason.”
“I cannot
imagine why,” Sarah said with a smile as she looked at Yvonne and her husband
Mark. Yvonne was wearing a red jumper
and black leggings with short black boots, while Mark like Brian was wearing a
jumper and jeans.
Mark laughed
and shook his head as he said “well, it actually gives us a chance to spend a
week on our own on holiday – a rare treat these days. Although I have to admit, it was a surprise
to hear from you – the type of surprise that makes me wonder if there was
another motive for inviting us.”
“What my
darling husband is trying unsuccessfully to say subtly,” Yvonne said as she
shook her head, “is do you have an assignment for us to help with.”
“They know you
too well,” Sarah said, shaking her head as Brian nodded. “There is actually – and it’s one of those occasions
when Ophelia will have a part to play in certain events as well.”
“Okay – that in
itself tells me something,” Mark said as he leaned forward, “so what are we
looking at.”
“Something
that, for reasons I can explain later, needs to take place this Thursday,”
Brian said as he stood up, and made his way to a bureau at the side of the
room, “and we need to make use of another associate of ours – you’ve met her,
but we need her expertise without finding out who you are…”
Saturday
As Brian looked
up, he smiled at the teenager who was walking towards him at the table outside
the café.
“Hey Tammy –
thanks for coming to see me,” he said with a smile as the brunette sat down,
the watch on her wrist glowing as the waitress came over.
“Iced latte,”
Tammy said as she looked at the tall Australian, and said “okay – the fact you
called me tells me there is an assignment coming up – Project Pink Widow?”
“Not as such,”
Brian said with a smile, “I need to tell you a secret – one you can’t even tell
your family.”
“But it’s
related to you and Sarah?”
As Brian
nodded, he said “sometimes, Sarah and I need to get access to systems or people
for a variety of reasons – usually so Sarah can do some counselling, and I can
do some work, but the circumstances we get access by are – well, illegal.”
“You – complain
about doing something illegal? What on
earth do you do – go in under cover of a home invasion,” Tammy said with a
smile – and then she saw Brian slowly nod.
“Tell me – ever
heard of Jay Edwards?”
“I’ve seen his
name in the papers a few times – oh no, don’t tell me you know who he is?”
“I do – and no,
I’m not going to tell you. Not even Anne
Duncombe knows. But later this week, Jay
Edwards and his associates are going to do a home invasion – and under cover of
that Sarah and I are going to go in and do our thing. The thing is, we need an extra pair of hands
– one with special skills…”
“Ooookay – you
know this means I’m committing a crime?”
“For the
greater good yes – can you help us?”
Tammy slowly
nodded as she said “so what do I need to know?”
Monday
“Tammy? Well, so long as she never finds out who we
are,” Mark said quietly, “so who else?”
“You get to
pick the other three,” Barry said as he put a photograph down on the
table. “This is Chuck Newman, the
financial director of a blue chip company – one we know has dealings with
foreign powers, but we have never been able to prove. He lives in a mansion near Martha’s Harbour,
with his wife Simone, his mother Jessie, and two daughters Lola and
Caitlyn. The rest of the people are
friends of the family, but the other woman on the left is Astrid, a live in au
pair.
“Okay,” Mark
said, “so he is the target?”
“Yes – but
there’s more. Which is why it has to be
Thursday.”
“I was going to
say – Thanksgiving?” Yvonne looked at
the photos and said “hence Mrs McPhee – but why Ophelia and this other girl –
Tammy?”
“The Newmans
invite two families of their neighbours to come for the meal – one of them had
a recent traumatic experience, which Ophelia wishes to help with. As for Tammy – the security system at their
home is very sophisticated, and she can help with that.”
Mark nodded as
he said “okay – so we take over the house, and give them a Thanksgiving they
will never forget?”
“That is the
intention – the twins are spending the holiday with Amy and the family, so we
have this window Thursday and Friday morning.
So, can you make the call?”
Thursday
7.30 am
Martha’s Harbour
The three men
got out of the cars, looking at each other and nodding as they walked to the
grey panel van. One of them knocked on
the side as they pulled the hats down over their heads, smiling as the doors
opened and they got into the back.
“Jay – good to
see you again,” one of them said as he looked at the five other people, like
them wearing balaclava masks, “and I see Mrs McPhee and Ophelia are here as
well. This is?”
“Tessie is a
special operative, working with me,” Jay said in his Geordie accent, the
younger woman nodding as she looked round.
“You remember Blair of course.”
“Yup – so where
are we going?”
“To spend
Thanksgiving as unexpected guests – we have three families and all ages to deal
with, and we want them to celebrate the holiday despite the fact we have
business to conduct.”
“So I hope ye
hae yer holday faces,” one of the women said in a broad Scots accent, “it’s
gonna be a braw day…”
9.30 am
The Newman Mansion
“I’m off to the
golf course,” Chuck Newman said as he came into the kitchen, wearing a grey
jacket over a polo shirt and grey pants.
“I promise I will be back for the meal.”
“Why do you
have to do business today,” Simone Newman said as she sat at the table. She was wearing a grey long sleeved top, blue
jeans and brown knee length boots, a mug of coffee in her hands as she looked
at her husband.
“It’s just one
of those things,” Check said with a smile as he kissed Simone, and then left as
she shook her head.
“Where are the
girls Astrid,” she said as she looked at the au pair. The young woman replied “they are in their
room, Mrs Newman,” in a strong Swedish accent.
Her long light brown hair fell over the shoulders of her long sleeve
green top, while like her employer she was wearing a pair of brown boots with
the legs of her jeans tucked into them.
“Not causing
trouble, are they?”
“No, Miss
Jessie,” Astrid said as Jessie Newman came into the kitchen, and poured herself
a mug of coffee. She had a white jumper
on, as well as a pair of black pants and flat shoes.
“Well, I’ll go
and see what they are up to,” she said with a smile as she walked out of the
kitchen, Astrid nodding as she turned to a large bucket and took the turkey
out, placing it on the roasting tin.
As the car
drove out of the gates, Brian and Tammy watched from behind a hedge as the
gates swung close.
“So this is
where we’re going to spend the day,” Tammy whispered as she looked up and down
the road.
“Indeed – but
first we need to get in without raising the alarm inside. And that, Tammy, is your first task of the
day.”
“That’s the
control box on the wall,” she said with a smile. As Brian nodded, she stood up and walked out
and up to the box, placing her hand on the box and then smiling as the gates
swung open.
“Good work
Tammy,” Brian said as the grey panel van drove through the gates, “now put your
mask on and come with me…”
“Well, that’s
the first thing done,” Simone said as she watched Astrid put the turkey into
the oven, “Chuck’s mom and I will help prepare the rest of the meal in due
course – what the…”
“Good morning –
I must ask you to remain where you are, and put your hands on your head,” the
man said in an English sing-song accent as he walked into the kitchen. He was wearing a blue boiler suit, with a
black balaclava covering his head so that only his eyes and mouth were showing,
and he had leather gloves on his hands.
Simone and
Astrid could only watch as he was followed in by four men and three women, all
dressed and masked in the same way, the men carrying guns and bags while the
women looked round, two of them walking to Astrid and the third to Simone.
“Allow me to
introduce myself,” the man said as he smiled at Simone, “my name is Jay
Edwards.”
“Jay… Jay Edwards?
Oh no, my babies – and today of all days!”
“Mrs
Newman? What is happening?”
“Stay calm,
lassie,” one of the women said in a Scottish accent. “We’re gonna hae a very special Fanksgiving
fer all of ye.”
“Now,” Jay said
as two of the men put their bags down, taking lengths of rope from their bags
and walking behind the women as their arms were taken behind their backs, “we
need to cover some business with your husband tonight, Mrs Newman, so we are
going to be in charge for the day. Do as
we say, and all will be fine.”
“We’re going to
be your hostages,” Simone said quietly as Jay nodded.
“Indeed – but
trust me, it will be an interesting day.
Now, let me ask the obvious question – where are the rest of the
family?”
“Upstairs…”
“Very well then
– Mrs McPhee, Ophelia, Blair, will you kindly go and invite them to join us. Astrid – it is Astrid? Come and sit down with Mrs Newman, and we
will explain what is going to happen…”
“So when will
the others get here Gran,” Lola asked as she and her sister Caitlyn sat at the
table. The twelve year old had a white
woollen top on, her long light brown hair falling freely over her shoulders,
blue jeans and a pair of flat soled tan suede boots in a Native American style,
the fringes just under the top.
“They’ll join
us after lunch,” Jessie said as she sat at the table with them, “we’ll have the
meal together, and then we can have some fun together before we watch the
firework display from the garden.”
“I wish Pops
had not gone to play golf today,” eleven year old Caitlyn said as she scribbled
on the paper. She had light blonde hair,
with a light blue headband holding the fringe back, and was wearing a long
white jumper, a long scarf in the same colour as her headband tied loosely
round her neck and hanging down in front of her. The legs of her grey pant were tucked into a
pair of dark grey boots, a lighter detailed trim at the top and around the
ankle.
“I know – I
wish he was here as well,” Jessie said quietly, “but his business has a habit
of getting into the way of family…” Her
sentence was cut short as the room door opened, and she saw a tall man and two
women walk in, wearing blue boiler suits, black leather gloves – and black
balaclava masks. Caitlyn took one look
at the man and screamed, as the smaller of the two women said “now now lassie –
there’s nae need tae scream, we’re no here tae hurt ye.”
“You’re
Scottish,” Jessie said quietly as she looked at the masked woman, and then her
face paled as she said “oh my god – are you…
Are you Mrs McPhee?”
“I see our
reputation precedes us,” the woman said with a light laugh. “Ae, Ah’m Mrs McPhee – and these are my
friends, Ophelia and Blair. Now, none of
ye move, and we’ll tell ye wha’s gonna happen.”
“Grandma,
what’s going on,” Lola asked as she looked at her grandmother. Jessie swallowed, and said “girls, I thank
we’re going to have a different day.
This lady works with a man called Jay Edwards - he’s a criminal, who
steals from large businesses, by holding families hostage.”
“Hostage? You mean they’re kidnappers,” Caitlyn said quietly
as she fiddled with her scarf.
“Not in that
way,” Ophelia said in a West Coast accent.
“But we are going to be spending Thanksgiving with you, and you are
going to spend a lot of the day doing very different things. But I promise you, you are to going to be
hurt, and we’ll make it as much fun as possible.”
As she spoke,
the masked man put a bag down on the table, and smiled as he said “but we do
need to make sure you cannot get in the way of us.”
“You speak
funny,” Lola said as she looked at him.
“I do,” he said
with a smile as he took a length of white rope out, “but before we take you
down to see your Mom, we need to make sure our arms and wrists are secure. Let me sure you on your grandmother – please,
stand up and put your hands behind your back.”
“Are you going
to tie us up,” Caitlyn said quietly.
“Aye – but when
we dae, we’re gonna has a lot o fun,” Mrs McPhee said as the girls watched
Blair take their grandmother’s hands behind her back and tie her wrists
together. “Ophelia and I will take care
o both o ye, so stand up and put yer hands behind yer back.”
“It’s all
right, Caitlyn – I don’t know why, but you can trust them,” Jessie said quietly,
watching as the two masked women took the hands of the granddaughters behind
their backs. Lola felt the rope round
her wrists as they were held firmly together, and wriggled her fingers as she
looked at Caitlyn.
“Let’s make
this a big game, all right,” she said, her younger sister nodding as her wrists
were tied together, and then rope was taken round their waists to make sure
their wrists stayed against their backs.
As Mrs McPhee and Ophelia did this, Blair took a longer length of rope
and bound Jessie’s arms tightly to her sides, but she wasn’t afraid.
“Now, we need
tae make sure ye both stay quiet,” Mrs McPhee said as she took a roll of white
tape from the bag, tore a strip off and put it on the back of Caitlyn’s
hand. “Does that hurt?”
“No,” Caitlyn
said with a smile as Mrs McPhee took a long strip off the roll.
“Guid – noo put
yer lips togefer.” As Caitlyn did so,
the masked woman gently pressed the tape over her mouth, and then pressed a second
strip over Lola’s mouth while Jessie watched.
“Shall we,”
Blair said as he opened the door, Jessie waking with him while the girls came
with Mrs McPhee and Ophelia.
“Oh my god –
are you all right girls?”
“Whrrfhnnmmm,”
Lola said as they walked into the kitchen, Caitlyn looking at the other masked
man and a third masked woman as one of the men smiled.
“Hello Lola,
Caitlyn, Jessie – my name is Jay Edwards, and I lead this group. I take it Mrs McPhee explained what is
happening?”
“I’ve heard of
you – I told them what was going to happen,” Jessie said as she looked at him. “Should we be honoured or terrified?”
“A little of
both, but do as we say, and everyone has a very special day to talk about,” Jay
said with a smile as Jessie looked at Simone and Astrid. They were sat down, their hands behind their
backs, and Astrid had a strip of tape over her mouth as well. “Now, Simone – I hope you don’t mind first
names – my friends will take care of your daughters and mother in law while you
and your au pair continue the preparations for the meal tonight. We know you are expecting guests – they will
join in the event when they arrive, as will your husband.”
Simone nodded
as she said “just do what they say girls.”
“I understand
there is a rec room in the basement,” Jay said with a smile, “take them down
there so that they can watch some television until the next guests arrive.”
“Aye – show the
way,” Mrs McPhee said as she looked at Jessie, the grey haired woman nodding as
they walked along the corridor, hearing Jay say “so, do nothing stupid, and we
will help…”
“That door,”
Jessie said quietly, Blair opening the door and looking in before he motioned
for the others to follow. They walked
down a staircase to a large cellar, Ophelia smiling as she saw the large
television set and comfortable couches.
“Guid – sit
yerselfs doon,” Mrs McPhee said, Jessie sitting in the centre of one couch
while the girls sat either side of her.
They watched Mrs McPhee, Ophelia and Blair as they each took a new
length of rope from the bag Blair had been carrying, knelt in front of them,
and then bound their ankles tightly together, taking the cords around and
between their legs.
“Hllwhbhhrhlldh,”
Lola said as she felt the rope pressing her ankles together, the fabric of her
boots seeming to lighten as the ropes were tied tightly.
“Och nae –
ye’ll be jumpin roond and haeing fun when the offers get here,” Mrs McPhee said
with a smile as all three took more rope, and tied their legs together below
their knees, Caitlyn giggling at the squeaking sound her boots made as she
rubbed her legs together.
“Jumping
round? While they are tied up and
gagged?”
“You’ll see,”
Ophelia said with a smile as she stood up, and looked at a rack of blu-rays. “DO you girls like to sing along to Disney
movies?”
As both Lola
and Caitlyn nodded, Ophelia turned on the television while Blair pressed a
longer strip of the white tape over Jessie’s mouth, “Well, then, all three of
you can try to sing along to this,” she said as she started Moana, the girls
looking at each other as they started to sing along to the first song while he
walked out of the basement.
Jessie looked
at her granddaughters, amazed at how relaxed they were given their situation –
and she had to admit, as they started to sing along, she was getting more
relaxed as well, and even beginning to enjoy the film. As Ophelia and Mrs McPhee watched, she even
began to sing along as the villagers were working…
Muhnnhh, mhkwh, mhk wh
Muhnnhh htshtmmuhknh
Thfhllhjfmhthnehsshluhnhd
Thdnsrssrepruhctshn
Thdhnsthhnhnshntntshn
Hnhhddhnhshn?
Thsshldhnshlwnhd
As the girls watched, Jessie sang on her own
Thsthhdshnnsshrmsshn
Hndmuhnnhh thrssmshthd
Mhkwh!
Cdhnttrhphnththrht
Thtshluhnhd
Whshrrfryfnwhmhk, ehmhk
Whjhkhndwwhfhrbshkhts, h!
Thfhsshrrmhnchmbhkfhrmthsss
The three of
them continued to sing along, the tape moving over their lips, until the girls
nudged Jessie as Gramma Tala started to sing, Jessie nodding as she began…
Hlhkthdnsswfthewhtr
Thhndrthhndthwfs
Theshtrssmschhffss, H!
Hlhkhwhtmsshbhfs
Thfillshmhfhnkhmchrsss
Hrsshhhdhffthfr
Bhthnssuknhhwhtulhk
Whhl, thruhrr
She looked at
Lola and Caitlyn before she continued
Uhhruhrfhrrsdhtr
Sthhbrnssshndprhd
Mhnddwhthsssbhtrhmbhr
Umhhhrhfssshnshd
Hndfthvssthrrtsthshwpr
Thfhllthfrhtsstshr
Munhnnhh, thtfssshuhhr
Leaning over,
she pressed her gagged lips on their cheeks as they continued to sing, but as
the song finished they all heard the door to the rec room open, all of them
looking over as the third masked woman walked down with some others.
“And hae dae we
hae here, Tessie,” Mrs McPhee asked as she smiled. Lola smiled under the
tape, and said “hllhhjhdhndbhbbee – chmhndjhnsss…”
“How can you do
this – hold my family hostage and then watch us as we prepare the food,” Simone
said as she and Astrid worked at the sink.
Their ankles were tied together with ropes, a short length between them
allowing them to move slowly, and two of the masked men were watching as they
prepared the vegetables. The smell of
the turkey cooking was rising from the oven, as Jay sat at the table.
“Very easily –
and I know this is a special day for all of you,” Jay said as he stood up, “but
there are many things that need to take place today, Mrs Newman…”
In the office,
Brian smiled as he watched Tammy running her hand over the boxes. “Okay – the disks are wiped,” she said as she
looked at the tall Australian. “What was
in there?”
“Information that
we can use,” Brian said quietly as he looked at the teenager. “So – how are you coping?”
“I’m not quite
sure,” Tammy said quietly, “I mean, that guy Jay can take charge, and there’s
something calming about the way he and Mrs McPhee work… Did you and Sa…”
“Ophelia,”
Brian said quietly as he looked to the door.
“Did you and
Ophelia meet them on a Project Pink Widow case?”
“We did – and
now they work alongside us from time to time, this been one of those – ah.”
“Ah?”
“Ah,” Brian
said as he glanced out of the window, “it is time for the next players in
today’s little pageant to arrive. Come
with me…”
Jay nodded at
Astrid as she pressed the button, looking at the cameras as the jeep drove
through the gates.
“Now, not a
word,” he said quietly as Simone watched the tall man and the third woman walked
in, “just open the door, and then show them into here. We will take it from there.”
As she nodded,
Simone wiped her hands, and made her way towards the front door…
“Well, here we
again,” Robert Dean said as he climbed out of the jeep. He was in his early thirties, casually
dressed in a denim shirt and slacks, and smiled as his wife Harper got out from
the front of his car. Harper was the
same age, and had long brown hair, a yellow rose hair clip holding it back from
her head. Her white top had a thin gold
belt round the waist, while a long brown skirt covered her legs to just above
her knees, the fabric pleated at the front.
Her brown tights were just visible between the hem of the skirt and her
knee length burgundy leather boots, with three leather bows on the outside of
each one.
“I hope Lola
and Caitlyn have something fun to do,” Jade said as she jumped out of the back
of the jeep. Her hair was the same
red-brown colour as her husband’s, and she was wearing a white cardigan over a
short sleeved purple dress, green tights with a white pattern, and red
trainers.
“It’s all right
for you – Jimmy won’t be here until later,” her younger brother Bobby said as
he got down from the other side.
“Don’t worry, Bobby,”
Robert said as he rubbed his son’s brown hair.
The eight year old had on a short sleeved orange shirt, faded bell
bottom denims, and brown shoes. He was
younger by a year than Jade, and was afraid of what been among so many girls this
early was going to lead to.
“Why not, Dad?”
“Well, there’s
the game later – and I know it could be boring at first, but I’m sure it will
still be fun eventually,” he said as he saw the front door of the house open
and Simone stand in the doorway. “Hey –
Happy Thanksgiving!”
“I brought the
pies,” Harper said as she handed Robert two boxes, and took two more out of the
back of the jeep before Bobby closed the door.
“Where can I put them?”
“Bring them
through to the kitchen,” Simone said, a smile on her lips as she stood to the
side and allowed the Dean family to come in.
“We can all have a drink there.”
“It’s quiet
Simone,” Harper said with a smile, “got the girls tied up somewhere?”
She saw the
look in her friend’s eyes, and then gasped as she saw the masked man close the
door, smiling as he said “actually, we have.
Welcome – please, all of you, slowly walk through to the kitchen.”
“Simone, what’s
going on,” Bobby said as he saw two more masked men appear in the hallway.
“We’re… We’re been held hostage,” Simone said
quietly, “and I’m sorry but you’re going to have to be as well…”
“Mom,” Jade
said, her eyes wide open as she gripped her father’s legs, “What’s going on?”
“Well, the
first thing is not to be afraid,” the man who had closed the door said, Bobby
noticing his English accent. “Come on
through, and I’ll explain what is going to happen.”
Robert looked
at his children, and said “let’s go with the man – don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid
Dad,” Bobby said quietly as they walked in, Harper finally noticing the rope
between Simone’s ankles as Astrid looked over from the sink, and said “oh god…”
“Please, all of
you, sit at the table,” the man said as he smiled, “my name is Jay Edwards, and
my friends are staying here today. I
know it means a different Thanksgiving from the one you may have been
expecting, but trust me, it will be exciting.”
“They’ve got
Mom and the girls in the rec room,” Simone said quietly as Jade watched one of
the men taking lengths of rope out of a bag.
“The children
will join them in a moment,” Jay said with a smile. “Tessie, please, get our young friends a
drink.”
“What are your
names,” Tamera said with a smile.
“I’m Jade, and
he’s Bobby – are you a bad person?”
“Not really –
but Jay,” she said as she looked across the table, “needs you all to be kept
safely together. So, I’ll get you a
drink.” As she stood up, the two kids watched
as another of the masked men took the pies from her father, and then used one
of the lengths of rope to tie his wrists together behind his back.
“What… What are you going to do with us,” Harper
said as she watched the man bind her husband’s arms to his sides.
“Well, your
husband is going to spend some time in another room,” Jay said with a smile,
“but we’ll find something to amuse him with.
As for you, dear lady, I am sure your help here in the kitchen will be
appreciated.”
“And Jay? Bobby?”
“They will join
the girls and their grandmother downstairs and have some fun with my friend Mrs
McPhee,” Jay said as he looked at them.
“Are you going
to do that to us as well?”
“Actually,
Tessie here is going to do it to you – so if you’ve had enough of your drinks,
put the glasses down, then stand up and put your hands behind your back.”
“Do as he
says,” Robert said quietly before a strip of white tape was pressed over his
mouth, and the tall masked man escorted him out of the room.
Tessie nodded
as she took a length of rope, and gently crossed Jade’s wrists behind her back,
the young girl nodding as she felt the soft rope forcing her wrists tightly
together. Jay nodded as she took the
rope between her wrists, and then tied it round her waist to make sure they
stayed in place.
She then
watched as she did the same to Bobby, Harper nodding as Simone said “don’t ask
me why I think this, but I know they will be safe.”
“Who is this
Mrs McPhee?”
“Another
intruder - she and another woman, Ophelia, are downstairs with Jessie and the
girls. I just pray they are not
panicking down there.”
“Nicely done,”
Blair whispered into Tessie’s ear as she tied the rope off round Bobby’s
waist. “Now, we need to make sure you
can’t talk easily, and then you can go and join Caitlyn and Lola, all right?”
“You’re both
very brave – and Daddy and I love you very much,” Harper said as she looked on.
“We love you
too Mom,” Bobby said as Tessie tore a wide strip of white tape from the roll,
and then pressed it gently down over his mouth, making sure it formed to the
contours of his face as he looked at Jade.
“Does it hurt,”
she said quietly as she watched the young masked woman tear another strip off
the roll.
“No – now put
your lips together,” she said quietly, Jade nodding as she felt the tape
tugging slightly on her skin as the gloved hands smoothed it into place.
“Good – would
you please take our latest guests down to join the others, Tessie, and ask
Ophelia to join us? Mrs McPhee will
appreciate your help down there.”
“Of course
Jay,” she said as Bobby and Jade looked at each other. “Come with me, children.”
As they walked
out of the kitchen, they saw their father in the front room, sitting in an
armchair, his ankles and legs bound as he saw them walk past. He nodded as Tessie opened a door, and said
“walk down carefully” as they went into the basement.
Lola smiled
under the tape, and said “hllhhjhdhndbhbbee – chmhndjhnsss…” as she saw Jade
and Bobby walking down the stairs, Jessie nodding as Tessie followed them down.
“This is Jade
and Bobby Dean,” she said as she came to the foot of the stairs, “their parents
are upstairs, but Jay thinks they will be happier down here.”
“Och aye –
welcome bof o ye. Ah’m Mrs McPhee, and
ah’m gonna look efter ye today. Why
don’t ye tahk a seat on the couch?”
“Ophelia, Jay
wants you to go upstairs, I’m to stay down here,” Tessie said, the other masked
woman nodding as she walked up the stairs while Jade sat next to Lola, and
Bobby to Caitlyn. They watched Mrs
McPhee as she took some more rope form a bag, and knelt down, putting Jade’s
ankles side by side before she tied them tightly together.
After she had
secured the young’s girls legs together below her knees, she nodded to the
others as she watched her brother’s ankles and legs been secured together in
the same way, while the film carried on.
“Noo then – let’s
watch the rest of the film, an then we can hae a wee dance…”
“They want
Chuck to rob his own company?”
“That’s what
they said,” Simone whispered as she and Harper were peeling potatoes. Astrid was now sat at the table, rope tied
round her waist and tape over her mouth as she wrapped streaky bacon round
chipolata sausages. “We’ll eat, we watch
the fireworks – and then I have this horrible feeling we’re all going to be
spending the night tied up and gagged.”
“Oh my god –
Rhoda…”
“I know,” Simone
said as she looked at the clock, “I don’t know what she is going to do when
they get here…”
“I will talk to
them,” Ophelia said quietly. “I know a
little about what happened to them – so I will help them.”
“You – you can
do that? They’re going to freak when
they see what’s going on…”
“Be assured, I
am very good at this…”
Rhoda
Morgenstern looked out of the window of the SUV as it motored along the tree
lined road, a worried look on her face.
The forty year old woman had long light brown hair, falling over her red
cardigan, that in itself over a grey-brown top.
The bottom of her grey leggings were tucked into brown mid-calf leather
boots.
“Penny for
them?”
She turned and
smiled at her husband Geoff, and said “sorry – some memories I just can’t let
go of.”
He slowly
nodded as he said “I know it still affects you, but it has been two years now
Rhoda…”
“I still see
them,” she said as she looked in the rear view mirror at her three
children. Jimmy was 13, his checked shirt open to show
his black t-shirt, the blue jeans over his sneakers. He was beginning to look so much like his
father now, as she looked at Geoff in his dark shirt and jeans.
Jenny was eleven, a brown hair clip in her long blonde hair, and a short
sleeved mustard coloured woollen jacket over her paisley print dress. She was also wearing jeans, the legs tucked
into a pair of brown fur booties.
The youngest,
Nikki, had just turned six, and wore a mustard coloured pinafore dress over a long
sleeved black top, grey tights and short brown leather boots. She was looking out of the window as well,
before she turned and said “are we nearly there, Mom?”
“Another mile
or so,” Rhoda said quietly as the sun filtered through the trees above…
Simone looked
over as the intercom sounded, Ophelia looking at the screen before she pressed
the button to open the gates. She then
looked at Harper, the tape covering their mouths as they sat at the table with
Astrid, while the masked woman walked with Jay and the tallest of the other
masked men to the front door.
“Ready,” Brian
whispered to Sarah as they stood there.
She watched as the masked woman nodded and looked at her watch, the face
glowing green as they heard the car pull up outside.
“Well, here we
go,” Geoff said as he and Jimmy carried some Tupperware boxes in their arms,
Rhoda nodding as she held the hands of the girls and they walked towards the
open front door.
“You can play
with the girls,” she said with a smile as they went inside – and then her eyes
opened wide, her face paled as she whispered “oh god, oh god, please, not
again…”
“What,” Geoff
said as he and Jimmy came in – and then he saw the three masked people, one of
the men smiling as he said “Welcome, Geoff, Rhoda – do not panic, we have no
intentions of harming you, but we are going to have to take steps to ensure you
do as we say.”
“No, no, not
again,” Rhoda called out as she hugged her girls, Jenny staring as she said
“Mommy, they look like…”
“Who are you,”
Geoff said quietly as the tall masked man took the boxes from him and his son.
“Good question
– my name is Jay Edwards, and these are my friends Blair and Ophelia. Will you all come into the front room with
me?”
Geoff nodded as
he looked at his wife and children, Jimmy shaking as he said “do you… Do you have any idea what seeing you is doing
to my family?”
“Why don’t we
all go into the front room,” Ophelia said quietly as she indicated the door,
Geoff and Rhoda leading the children in as they sat round a coffee table. Ophelia smiled as she took off her gloves,
and sat between Rhoda and Jenny. “Take my
hands,” she sad to each of them as Blair watched, “and then all of you hold hands.”
As she did so,
Rhoda was surprised to feel some of the fear she had experienced leave her, and
she nodded to the others as Jenny said “Why…
Why am I less afraid?”
“I’ll tell you
later, but now you need to tell me why you are so frightened by us,” Ophelia
said as she looked at Rhoda. “I know we
are masked, but do we have any guns?”
“No,” Jimmy
whispered, “but you do look like those men…”
“Why don’t you
tell me about the men, Jimmy?”
The young boy
looked at the masked woman, and nodded as he said “I was eleven – I remember it
was dark, and I was asleep, when I was woken up by someone in my room.”
“Can you tell
me about them?”
Jimmy nodded as
he said “it was a man – a big man – he had a mask on, like you, but he didn’t
talk quietly, and he had a gun. He
pulled my covers off me and told me to stand up, put my hands on my head, and
walk out of the room to Mom and Dad’s room.”
Ophelia looked
at Rhoda, who nodded as she said “they woke me and Geoff up first – four of
them, masked, armed. Two of them went
out of the room as we were forced to sit up, and had our wrists tied behind our
backs. One of them came back with Jimmy,
the other with Jenny and Nikki.”
As the youngest
girl nodded, she said “Jenny woke me up – I remember holding my teddy as she
held my hand, and we went to be with Mummy.”
She looked at Jenny, who said “I was really scared – especially when we
saw Mom and Dad, and then the men pulled my hands behind my back and tied my wrists
together. Another one did the same to
Jimmy, while a third one took Nikki’s bear from her and put it on the bed, then
tied her wrists as well.”
“We had to
watch them do that,” Geoff said, “and then they forced me and Jimmy to walk out
of the room.”
Ophelia nodded
as she looked at Rhoda. “Tell me what
you were thinking when they left.” The
brown haired woman swallowed, a tear forming at the corner of her eye as she
said “I… I was terrified that they were
going to hurt Geoff or Jimmy – but then the men started to tie ropes around our
arms. It was tight and the way my
nightdress was stretched the way they looked at me and the girls…”
“What do you
mean Mommy,” Nikki asked quietly.
“It’s all right
Nikki,” Ophelia said with a smile, “why don’t you tell her Rhoda?”
Rhoda looked
over and said “I was scared the men might be tempted to do something bad to us,
so ‘I stayed quiet while they tied the ropes around our wrists, and around our
arms. Do you remember how it felt
Jenny?”
The older girl
nodded as she said quietly “I know the man tying me up had a funny smell, a
funny look in his eyes. I just wanted
him to stop, the ropes felt really funny on me…”
“Anyway,” Rhoda
continued, “they then made us all lie face down on the bed, and they started to
tie our ankles and our legs.”
“I remember
that bit,” Nikki said quietly, “the rope rubbed on my ankles as they were held
together, and then he folded the skirt of my nightdress back and tied my legs
together below my knees. I didn’t like
the way he stroked my legs – that scared me.”
“It felt funny
when the man did it to me – and I had pyjamas on,” Jenny said as she started to
cry.
“While this was
going on, where had they taken you and your son,” Ophelia said as she looked at
Geoff.
“They took us
to my office,” he said as he gripped Jimmy’s hand, “and tied Jimmy to my office
chair with ropes. They then pressed some
sticking plaster over his mouth, and held a gun to his head to make me open our
safe.”
“You were
scared as well, Jimmy?” She smiled as
the young boy nodded, and then started crying as he said “I did not want them
to hurt my daddy…”
“What are you
doing to us,” Geoff said as he looked over, “we’ve never been able to talk
about this…”
“It’s a gift –
so Rhoda, the men were in the office, you and the girls were face down on the
bed. What happened next?”
Rhoda looked at
her daughters, before she said “they pushed cloths into our mouths…”
“What sort of
cloths?”
Rhoda sighed as
she said “three pairs of my panties – then they used two of my long scarves to hold
them in Jenny and Nikki’s mouths, tying them between their lips and then
pulling their ankles back and tying the ends of the scarves to them.”
“And you?”
Rhoda started
to cry as well as she said “they used a pair of my tights – a used pair – and
tied the legs round my head, then secured my ankles with them as well. We were helpless, they could have done
anything to us – and when they started massaging our bottoms…”
“But they
didn’t get very far, did they?”
Rhoda shook her
head as she looked at Geoff, and said “I guess the others finished with you?”
“They trussed me
up and tape gagged me on the floor once they had emptied the safe and left me
with Jimmy,” Geoff said quietly.
“The man was
really angry – he shouted at the ones who had tied us up to leave us alone,”
Jenny said, “and we rolled onto our sides as he pushed them out of the
room. We were tightly tied, we could not
move, and I was so scared…”
“So was I, but
Mommy was there,” Nikki said as she gripped Rhoda’s hand, and they all started
crying, Ophelia watching as they did so.
“I want you all
to listen to me,” she said quietly when they had finished, “because I have to
tell you that we are holding everyone else captive, and we have tied them up
and gagged them as well.”
“So are you
going to do the same to us,” Jimmy asked.
“We are – but
we are not the people who did that before.
Are you afraid of us, even with the masks?”
The family
looked at each other, and were surprised to see each other shake their heads as
Ophelia smiled.
“When we have
done that, the kids will go and join the others, and Geoff here can join Robert
until the man of the house comes back.
You, Rhoda, can help the other women with the final preparations for the
meal – the men folk can all watch the game then, while the ladies have a little
fun.”
“Okay,” Geoff
said with a little smile, “we’re all going to do what they say, and we won’t be
afraid, will we?”
The others
shook their heads as Ophelia looked up.
“So, why don’t we begin – I want us to let go of each other’s hands now,
stand up, and then put them behind your backs while we use some soft rope to
secure your wrists together. We’ll also
tie some rope round your waists,” she said as she looked at Jimmy, Jenny and
Nikki, “while we use more rope for your dad.”
“Where will
they be,” Rhoda asked as she felt one of the men wrap the rope round her
wrists, and bind them tightly together.
“The others are
downstairs, so I’ll take them down,” Ophelia said as she tied Jimmy’s wrists
together, and then tied the rope round his waist. He watched as she did the same to Jenny and
Nikki, while Jay tied their father’s wrists together behind his back, and then
tied ropes around his arms to hold them in place.
“You also all
need to be quiet a little while longer,” Ophelia said as she held up a roll of
white tape. “This will not hurt, but it
will stop you talking. So, lips
together…”
“Lhkkhsshrrr,”
Jade said as the film ended, and they heard footsteps coming down, Ophelia
opening the door to show the three latest arrivals in.
“Whlchmmtthshhjhmmee,”
Bobby said as Jimmy walked over and sat next to his friend, watching as another
of the masked women tied his ankles together.
“Thrrnsshshllee,” Jimmy mumbled, the smile clear under his lips as Mrs
McPhee said “Ah guess that’s Jimmy, and this is Jenny and Nikki?”
Caitlyn and
Lola nodded as Jessie looked at the new arrivals, and said “dhnnwhrree
whrrfhn…”
“Noo then, Ah’m
Mrs McPhee, this is Tessie, ahn ye’ve ahlreddee met Ophelia,” the woman said as
he tied Nikki’s ankles together, and stood up.
“Wh’ll look efter ye today – ye’ve missed the film, buht ye’r jusht in
time fer dancing.”
“Dhnsshnn? Hwww?”
Bobby and Jimmy
looked at each other as Mrs McPhee said “go on, on yer feet,” the girls
wriggling forward and managing to stand as she put a CD into a player, and the
music started to play. For a moment,
they started to look at each other, and then they started to jump around and
across the floor, Jessie shaking her head as she watched.
“Do you not
want to join in,” Jessie said as she looked at the boys. They both shook their heads, content to
watch…
“RHODA! Are you all right?”
“If I said yes,
would you be as surprised as I am,” Rhoda said as she came into the kitchen,
joining Astrid, Simone and Harper as they stood in the kitchen. “That woman – Ophelia – she just talked to
us, let us express our fears over what happened, and now – well, look at me.”
Simone nodded
as she looked at the rope holding her friend’s legs in a loose hobble, and then
hugged her, saying “I was so worried about what you and the family would do
when you found out we were been held hostage…”
“I almost
fainted – but somehow, all the fear went as we talked to her. The kids are tied up – she said they were
going to join the others?”
“They’re down
in the romper room with Chuck’s mother,” Simone said as Astrid took the turkey
out, “we get to finish getting dinner ready.”
“But what do
they want,” Rhoda said quietly.
“For Chuck to
rob his company – but they also said we would enjoy the Thanksgiving together,
so they have promised we will all eat together, even if…”
“Simone – you
in the kitchen?”
“Call him in,”
Jay said quietly as he stood by the door, “and not a word of warning,
understand?”
Simone nodded
as the others stood with her, and she said “we’re in the kitchen Chuck – can
you come in a minute? I’ve got a
surprise for you.”
“I hope it’s a
good one,” Chuck said as he came in – and then stopped short as he saw the four
women, their ankles secured with a length of rope between them, and the two
masked men standing behind them.
“What the…”
“Hello Chuck,”
a man with a strange accent said behind him, “my name is Jay Edwards. Perhaps you have heard of me?”
As Simone
looked on, Chuck slowly nodded as he said “oh my god – today, of all days?”
“Be at ease –
your mother is with the children, and we’ll take some food and drink down to
them soon. Now, I want you to put your
hands behind your back – we’ll take you to join the other gentlemen, and then
bring you through when it is time to eat your meal.”
“The other
men?”
“Robert and
Geoff – they’re in another room,” Rhoda said as Chuck felt his arms bene pulled
behind his back, and rope around his wrists.
Jay then tore a strip of tape from the roll and pressed it over Chuck’s
mouth, before he led him out of the room as Ophelia came in.
“So – let’s
prepare some snacks and drinks for the children, and then one of you can bring
it down with me while the others stay here…”
“Hmhghddd,”
Chuck said as he saw Robert and Geoff sitting in armchairs in the room, their
ankles and legs secured with ropes and tape over their mouths as he was made to
sit in a third seat, and then his legs secured as well.
“Keep an eye on
them,” Jay said to the man in the room, “in a while we’ll bring the boys up to
join them.”
“Whtfhrrr.”
“To watch the
afternoon game, of course…”
“Oh my god –
are you all all right?”
“Hllhmmhmm,”
Caitlyn said as she saw her mother walk in with a large plate of sandwiches in
one hand, and a bowl of snacks in the other, Ophelia following with a tray
filled with box drinks. As they both set
them down on the low tables, Mrs McPhee said “Noo, if ye all promise tae sit
nicely, we’ll untie yer hands and take the tape awa so that ye can eat and
drink.”
They all nodded
as they jumped over and let Tessie and Mrs McPhee untie their hands, and then
peel the tape away from their mouths as Simone looked at Jessie. “Are you all right?” she said, Jessie nodding
as Mrs McPhee removed the tape from her mouth as well.
“What’s
happening upstairs,” Jessie said as she worked her mouth.
“Rhoda and
Harper are helping me and Astrid to fix the dinner – the menfolk are been kept
quiet in another room,” Simone said quietly as the box drinks were handed
round. “How are they coping?”
“Amazingly
well,” Jessie said with a smile, “that woman – Mrs McPhee – she has something
about her. They’ve watched and sung along
to Moana, and even had a dance down here.”
“The boys as
well?”
“No,” Jessie
laughed, “they just sat and watched.”
“Well, apparently,
they’re going to be taken upstairs to watch the game with the fathers,” Jessie
said quietly, “but I have no idea what you are all going to be doing down
here…”
“Somehow, I
think she will think of something,” Jessie said as she shook her head. “How is the meal coming anyway?”
“Everything is
ready to go – so I think we’ll eat at about five…”
“Chnnuhghtfhrree?”
Chuck shook his
head as he wriggled round, trying to find some give in the ropes holding his
wrists and ankles together, but it was far too tight. He looked at Robert and Geoff, before the
door opened and Jay came in.
“Well, I have
good news and bad news gentlemen,” Jay said as he touched a button on the side
of the wall, a screen moving up to reveal a large television. “The good news is you will get to watch at
least some of the game.”
“Hwghhnnhruss -
hnd the bhdnhsss?”
“No beer,” Jay
said with a smile, “but I think the boys want to join you. Show them in, Tessie.”
Geoff and
Robert looked to the door as Bobby and Jimmy jumped in, their hands tied again
behind their backs and their mouths taped over, and sat themselves on a couch
Bobby said “fhnkssdhddeee – lhhtswshhthghmtghfrrrr…”
In the
basement, Jessie watched, her mouth taped again like the girls as Mrs McPhee
led them in a series of games, the girls giggling and clearly enjoying
themselves.
“Thank you,”
Astrid said as Tessie took the pie and put it to the side, and then helped
Ophelia and Rhoda to finish setting the table for the meal, the starters set
out in plates from each of them.
“Now then,”
Simone said, “I guess we’re ready for people to come and sit at the table. So how is this going to happen?”
“I think the
girls are coming first,” Harper said as she looked to the door of the dining
room, to see Jade jump in with Lola and Caitlyn, the girls giggling as they
jumped over to one of the chairs and sat themselves on it. Jenny and Nikki then came in, followed by
Jessie and Mrs McPhee, the girls jumping while Jessie walked over. When they were sat in their chairs, the three
masked women went round and tied their waists to the chairs with lengths of
rope, while Jay looked in.
“I’ll get the
others in now,” he said with a smile, “why don’t the rest of you ladies take a
seat – you too Astrid, we can bring the food in and out for you.”
They all nodded
as they sat down, raising their arms as their waists were also tied to the
chair backs, and then they watched the boys and men as they jumped in, sitting
down as they were tied to the chairs in turn.
The ropes were
then taken from the wrists of the others, before Mrs McPhee said “ye may remoof
yer tapes noo.” As they did so, Ophelia
collected the strips and put them in a bag, as Chuck looked round.
“Well,” he said
finally, “this is not how I envisaged Thanksgiving going today, but I cannot
deny, you all seem to have enjoyed the day, even if we were a bit –
restricted.”
The kids
laughed as Simone smiled at her husband, before he said “but this is a special
day, and a special meal – so why don’t we all hold hands, close our eyes and
give thanks for everything we have, and everything we’ve done.”
Jay and the
other masked gang members watched as they all closed their eyes, praying to
themselves before Lola said “and thank you for the people who have been with us
today, for not hurting us and keeping their promises.”
“Amen.”
Ophelia smiled
at Rhoda’s loud reply, before they all opened their eyes and Simone said “Well,
dig in. Pass the plates round everyone…”
“So are we
still going to see the fireworks,” Jade asked as she passed the potatoes to her
side.
“Of course you
are,” Jay said as he stood to the side, “of course, you may not be able to say
very much, but I see no reason why you cannot do so with your parents before
Caitlyn’s father has to leave to take care of some business for us.”
“And what’s
going to happen to us when he goes,” Simone said as she looked at Mrs McPhee.
“Well, ye’ll
all be nice and snug and quiet – eventually,” she said with a smile, “but we’ll
do it in ae guid way – youngest furst and all tha’.”
“So we’ll be
tied up together,” Nikki said.
“Aye – ah think
the boys in one group, the younger twa girls in another, and the other three
together. Then couples together…”
“And finally,”
Jay said as he looked at Simone, “you, your au pair and your mother in law in
rooms. Don’t worry – we make it a real
sleepover for the kids, and at least two of you get to be with your husbands
for the evening.”
“Tell you
what,” Tessie said as she looked at the younger girls and smiled, “you go up
together, we make sure you’re safe together, and one of us stays with you and
reads a story or watches a film. Sound
good?”
Jade and Nikki
both nodded as Caitlyn said “can we watch a film as well?”
“We’ll sort it
all out later,” Jay said with a smile.
“Now, let us clear the dinner plates and bring out the pies for you…”
As the pudding
plates were cleared away, Jay walked forward and said “now, while you let your
dinner digest, Blair and I are going to have a word with you two gentlemen,
discuss exactly what is going to happen later – be assured, you will be joining
them soon.
“Please put
your hands behind your backs,” Blair said as he held two plastic zip ties in
his hands, Geoff and Robert looking at each other as their wrists were secured,
and then they were released from the chairs.
As they stood up, Geoff said “we’ll see you in a few minutes” before
they were taken out to the front room.
“You will be
both be secured with your wives,” Jay said quietly as he looked at them, “the
children will be taken to get ready first, and then you will go with your wives
one at a time. Be assured, do as we say,
everyone will be fine.”
Robert nodded
as he said “I need to…”
Jay nodded as
he looked at one of his associates.
“Take him to do what he needs to do, then re-secure his wrists and bring
him back,” he said, the masked man nodding as he took Robert out of the room,
Brian closing the door before both masked men looked at Geoff.
He in turn
looked back at the, twisting his wrists around before he said “thank you
Brian.”
“Well, you did
ask – sit down,” Brian said as he looked at Jay. “Okay – one thing I didn’t tell you. Geoff is a contact of mine, and he asked if
there was a way I could arrange for Sarah to talk to him and the family. Geoff – Jay works with me from time to time,
and this is one of those times. Once I
knew you were going to be coming here, we brought the two together.”
“I get it –
deniability on my part,” Geoff said, “let me say this, while I get a chance –
you, Jay Edwards, and your crew are the most effective and caring group I have
ever coming across.”
“I’ll take that
as a compliment – so we can trust in you and your family to set an example when
the time comes?”
Geoff nodded as
he said “yeah – I guess you’ll take care of the kids first, and that’s
fine. How do you keep everyone so calm
anyway?”
“It’s a gift.”
“The same way
Brian and Sarah have gifts?”
“No comment,”
Brian said quietly as the doors opened, and Chuck came in with the women, all
with their wrists secured behind their backs.
“Mrs McPhee and
Tessie are making sure the kids get a chance to go to the toilet before they
come in,” another of the men said as Robert joined them, all of them sitting
down as Jay said “well, we have a few hours before the fireworks. Normally, we’d get you to play a game with
the kids, but may I suggest a slightly different thing today – a family quiz?”
Chuck and
Selina looked at each other before he said “we have a PlayStation game that
will do that – it’s hooked up to the screen in here anyway.”
“Then we shall
get that ready,” he heard Blair say as Bobby and Jimmy came in, their hands
secured behind their backs, and sat down with their parents as Tessie went back
out.
As the doors to
the garden opened out, Jay led the families out, their hands still secured
behind their backs, with coats fastened over the children as they stood in
front of their parents, looking at the darkening sky.
“And in
three… Two… One…”
The sky
suddenly lit up in a blaze of colour as fireworks went off in the sky, the kids
laughing and cheering as Simone, Harper and Rhoda rested their heads on their
husband’s shoulders. Jessie looked at
Astrid, and then at Mrs McPhee as she said “I guess it has been a good Thanksgiving
after all – the children certainly seem to have enjoyed themselves.”
“Ach, they’re
guid kids,” Mrs McPhee said, “they’ll be fine later once we hae them secured.”
“I need to ask
a favour – Astrid should stay with the older girls, so that they know they are
all right.”
Mrs McPhee
nodded as she said “we’ll tak the older gahsl doon tae the cellar, and leave
them there. She can join them later, ahl
richt?”
Jessie nodded
as more fireworks went off, the kids laughing and cheering as Astrid kept her
eye on them. Eventually, however, the
last firework went off, as Jay said “okay then – we all go back inside, and we
start to get ready for tonight. Mrs McPhee,
Tessie – will you please take Bobby and Jimmy upstairs? We have taken the liberty of bringing pyjamas
they can change into, before we make them secure for the night.”
“We’ll see you
both in a few minutes,” Rhoda said, Jimmy nodding as they went up the stairs
with the two masked women, while the other family members went into the front
room.
“Richt,” Mrs
McPhee said as she untied the wrists of the two boys, “go in ahnd get yerselfs
cleaned up and changed, then we can begin.”
The two boys
nodded as they went into the bathroom, Jimmy rubbing his wrists as he looked at
the younger boy.
“How are you
doing,” he said as Bobby started to get changed.
“Is it wrong to
see I feel excited,” he said as he looked at Jimmy. “I mean, I was so scared when we got here,
but then that masked lady spoke to all of us, and all the fear just seemed to
melt away – and then we joined you with the Scottish lady.”
“She’s nice –
made sure we weren’t scared when Jade and I were taken down to see the other
girls,” Jimmy said as he pulled on a pair of red and black tartan pyjama
bottoms. “Even when they were dancing
around, I felt as if we were all safe and secure.”
“Yeah – those
ropes were tight, but they didn’t really hurt, did they?”
Jimmy shook his
head as he watched Bobby pull a blue top over his head, and then put on a pair
of blue and white striped bottoms. He
fastened a matching jacket on, and then said “I think you need to make sure you
go to the toilet now.”
“Why?”
“Something
tells me we’re going to be even more tightly tied,” Jimmy said quietly, “and it
might not be easy to go later.”
Bobby looked at
the older boy, his eyes wide as he said “really?”
“Really –
ready?”
Bobby nodded as
Jimmy opened the door and they went out, Mrs McPhee smiling as she said “cum in
here a minute.” They went into one of
the bedrooms, where Tessie was waiting, while Mrs McPhee opened a bag and took
out two sponge balls.
“Noo then Jimmy
– take these, ahnd make fists wi them.”
She watched as Jimmy did that, and then took a roll of silver duct tape,
using it to cover his hands so that it looked as if he was wearing silver
boxing gloves.
“Ye hold these
noo Bobby,” she then said as she handed the younger boy two more sponge balls,
“ahnd let Tessie here cover yer hands as well.”
He nodded as he
made two fists, watching as the younger masked woman covered his hands as well,
while Mrs McPhee took a pair of white sports socks and covered Jimmy’s hands,
pulling them up over the sleeves of his top before she used white tope to fix
the tops to his sleeves. Tessie then did
the same to Bobby as Mrs McPhee picked up a length of white rope.
“Noo, we need
tae secure yer arms. Jimmy, put yer
hands behind yer backs, and cross yer wrists.”
“Told you,”
Jimmy said as he winked at Bobby, and then moved his hands, feeling the rope
over the socks as his wrists were crossed and tightly secured together behind
his back. She then took more rope round
his waist to secure them against his back, as Tessie made sure Bobby’s wrists
were secured in the same way.
They then
looked at each other as the masked women took longer lengths of rope, Tessie
watching Mrs McPhee and copying her as it was tied round each of the boys in a
double figure of eight, wrapped round their arms and locking them to their
sides so that they could not move them apart.
“Well, if this
is what our arms are like, what’s next,” Jimmy said as he looked over.
“Tha’s fer
later – come on, ye can join the others now.”
“Well, that
answers one question,” Chuck said quietly as Mrs McPhee and Tessie brought the
two boys into the front room, Rhoda and Harper nodding as they said “we’re the
first, aren’t we?”
“You are,” Jay
said with a smile, “so have a look at them girls – because you’re next. Jade, Nikki – go with Mrs McPhee and Tessie,
please.”
As they walked
off, Jay looked at Chuck and said “once the children are prepared, you will
leave with one of my associates, and he will tell you what to do. He will also check in regularly with me – so
if you do anything he tells you not to do…”
“I understand,”
Chuck said as he looked at the masked men and woman, before they heard the
giggling from upstairs.
“Good –
Ophelia, would you kindly take Astrid to get ready? I believe she will be staying with the older
girls, so it makes sense that she is prepared at the moment as well.”
The young Swede
nodded as her legs were untied, and she went with the masked woman, smiling as
she said “you look secure.”
“We are,” Jade
said as she came in with her friend. She
had changed into a white onesie with grey stripes, and a koala bear on one
side, while Nikki was wearing a pair of blue pyjamas with a black and white bear
on them. Both girls, however, had their
arms behind their backs, and as they turned round Simone and Jessie could see
the white socks, covering their hands and taped to their sleeves.
“Look at us
Mummy,” Jade said as she sat on Simone’s lap, while Nikki sat next to her
mother.
“Lola, Caitlyn
and Jenny – come with me please,” Tessie said, watching as the three older
girls stood up and walked out with her.
As they walked up the stairs, Tessie said “when you are ready and
downstairs, your father is going to go with our friend.”
“Jay said that
– and we are going to have a slumber party?”
“Something like
that,” she said as they got to the top of the stairs, and Mrs McPhee cut their
wrists free. “For now, go in, wash,
change, and come back out.”
As Jenny closed
the door, Caitlyn sat on the dirty laundry basket, and said “oh my god – what a
day…”
“I know,” Lola
said, “and I get the feeling we’ve got an equally quiet night ahead of us. But – well, is it wrong to say I’m not scared
about that?”
“Neither am I,”
Jenny said quietly, “But – the way the boys and our sisters have been
tied. How is that going to feel?”
“Hopefully, not
too bad – come on, the sooner we get changed, the sooner all of this begins…”
Mrs McPhee
smiled as they walked out, and said “Aye, yer’re ready fer yer special nicht.” Lola was wearing a long sleeved pink top, and
yellow bottoms with white polka dots.
Caitlyn had on a white vest top with red hearts, and bold striped
pants. Finally, Jenny had on a white and
grey striped onesie with coloured stars.
She looked at them, and said “noo, all o ye, hands oot and make fists
wif these sponges.”
As the three
girls did that, Tessie took the roll of silver tape and wrapped it round their
fists, before Mrs McPhee pulled long white socks over their fists and arms, and
Tessie used the white tape to fix them to their sleeves – or in the case of
Caitlyn, her bare arms.
“Does it hurt,”
Lola asked as she looked over. Caitlyn
shook her head, and said “it tugs a little, but it doesn’t hurt,” as her arms
were taken behind her back, and Tessie started to bind her wrists together.
Soon, all three
had their wrists bound behind their backs, and their arms tied tightly to their
sides as they looked at Mrs McPhee.
“noo, yer’e
gonna gae straight doon tae the cellar, and spend the nicht there,” she said
quietly, “so we need tae make sure ye’r gonna be quiet noo. So, say anything ye need tae say.”
The three girls
looked at each other, before Caitlyn said “can I see that Daddy is all right
before we go down?”
“Aye – noo, all
of ye, Ae need ye tae open yer moofs nice and wide.”
“Ready girls,”
Caitlyn said, the other two nodding as they opened their mouths, and Mrs McPhee
put a folded cloth in behind their teeth.
Tessie then gently pushed the knot in a strip of towelling between their
teeth, and tied that tightly round their heads to stop them pushing the cloth
back out.
“Shhfhrrshghddd,”
Lola said, and then she heard the soft ripping sound as Mrs McPhee tore the end
free from the roll of white tape, gently pressed it to her cheek, and then
wound the tape round her head, trapping her hair at the back of her neck and
then sealing her mouth. As she walked
along, Tessie then wound the silver tape round their heads as well, taking care
to make sure it sat on top of the wide white band.
“Nhwhhchnthlkkk,”
Jenny said as the three girls looked at each other, before Mrs McPhee folded a
white headscarf and tied it round Caitlyn’s head to cover the tape and cloths,
doing the same for the other two girls as they looked at each other.
“Dinnae worry –
the other kids will ahl get the same, as while yer parents. Noo, let’s go and say goodbye tae yer daddy,”
Mrs McPhee said quietly, the girls nodding as they walked down the stairs.
As they did so,
they heard Chuck say to Simone “just do as they say, and we’ll be… Well, I see you girls are ready.”
“Are you… Are you all right,” Simone said as she looked
at her older daughter, Caitlyn nodding as the other two did so as well.
“Ah good –
ready to sing along with another film I say.
Astrid is already waiting downstairs Mrs McPhee, so if you would make
them comfortable there?”
“Aye, come on
gahls,” the masked women said as they walked off, Jay turning to his partner
and handing him a USB stick.
“You know what
to do – contact me at the intervals as planned, and make sure he behaves.” The masked man nodded as Chuck kissed his
wife and then the girls on the head.
“You have all
made this a very special day,” he said before he walked off, Jay saying “so,
shall we head up and you can get ready,” while Mrs McPhee and Tessie took the
girls down into the cellar.
“Hllhghrls,
hmhjhnnuh,” was the sound they heard as they came down, and they saw Astrid
sitting on a bean bag. She was wearing a
long grey t-shirt and grey cycling shorts, but her upper body was just as
tightly bound as theirs, and the gey scarf round her head covered her mouth –
and whatever else might be sitting in there.
“Sit yerselfs
doon,” Mrs McPhee said as the girls sat themselves down on the long seat,
Caitlyn looking at Astrid’s legs as they stretched out. Her ankles had been crossed and bound tightly
together, the rope going around and between her legs to hold them together, and
a second bad had been tied round her legs below her knees.
The au pair
watched as the two masked women took more ropes, Ophelia standing in the
background as they crossed and secured the ankles of each of the legs together,
and then secured their legs below their knees, the girls giggling as the gloved
hands tickled the back of their legs.
“I’ll start the
film in a minute,” Tessie said as Ophelia beckoned to her and Mrs McPhee. As they walked over, she whispered “how are
you coping so far, Tessie?”
“An experience
– will they be all right like that?”
“They should –
but just in case, stay with them. We’ll
check with you regularly.”
As she nodded,
she went and turned the large screen on, and then the girls began to sing along
as Hairspray started. Mrs McPhee and
Ophelia looked at each other, and then slowly walked up the stairs.
As they walked
into the main room, Harper and Rhoda looked over, and said “the girls?”
“They’ll be
fine,” Ophelia said as she picked up some ropes, “but now we need to secure the
legs of your four, so cross your ankles, and sit very still.”
“All right,”
Jade said as they looked at each other, then watched as the to masked women
tied their ankles together, and then secured their legs below their knees, so
that they could only wriggle them round.
As Jade looked up, she then said “you’re ready as well Mom?”
“It looks that
way,” Simone said as she came in. She
had changed into a pair of pink pyjamas, but they could see the white socks
that came up to her elbows, and the bands of rope holding her arms tightly to
her sides. She walked over and sat down,
watching as Blair knelt in front of her and secured her ankles tightly together
with rope, and then her legs below her knees.
“I think it’s
time the younger girls were taken to a bedroom,” Ophelia said, “but we need to
make sure they are quiet first – and the boys as well. So, each of you, say goodnight to your
parents, and then open your mouths.”
“We’ll all talk
in the morning,” Rhoda said as the adults watched the cloths going into their
mouths, then the knotted strips of towelling, the layers of tape, and the
folded scarf, before Jay and one of his assistants lifted Jade and Nikki up in
their arms, and carried them out of the room, Mrs McPhee following them.
“Are you boys
all right,” Robert asked, Jimmy and Bobby nodding as they looked on over the
white bands covering their mouths…
“Lay them on
the bed,” Mrs McPhee said as Jay and his assistant put the two girls down, and
then tied rope round the band holding their ankles together, and secured them
to the foot of the bed. “Noo then, ye
boff gonna be all richt?”
As they nodded,
she picked up a book from Jade’s shelves, and sat down, saying “let me read ye
ae story,” Jay motioning to the masked man as they left them alone. They then looked in the other bedrooms, as
Jay took out his cell phone.
“This is Jay
Edwards.
“Good –
continue as planned.” Ending the call,
he smiled as they walked down the stairs.
“Where have the
other women gone,” Harper asked as Jay came back in.
“Tessie is
making sure the older girls and Astrid are fine,” he said, “and Mrs McPhee is
reading a story to the younger girls.”
He then looked around the room, and said “Blair, Ophelia, would you
please take Geoff and Rhoda to the second bedroom on the left upstairs, allow
them to change, then secure them.”
“Whllbhlrrhthtdhd,”
Jimmy said as he watched his mum and dad stand up and walk out of the room with
the masked man and woman, Jessie watching before she said “so we get taken one or
two by one now?”
“Indeed,” Jay
said with a smile…
“Please,
change,” Blair said as they walked into the room, Geoff looking at Rhoda as he
said “are you scared?”
“A little bit,”
Rhoda said quietly, “but I know we’re not going to be hurt this time.” She sat on the bed and started to remove her boots, Geoff nodding as he unbuttoned his shirt and
removed it.
A few minutes
later, Geoff watched as Rhoda buttoned up the silk pyjama jacket, admiring the
bold red floral print as he stood in his pale blue top and checked knee length
shorts. They hugged each other, Geoff
kissing her forehead as he said “ready?”
“As ready as
I’ll ever be,” Rhoda said, a little smile on her lips as Blair said “well,
let’s start. Hold these sponges in your
hands and make fists.”
“Ah – so that’s
what was under the socks,” Geoff said as he watched Blair wrap the silver tape
round their hands, and then Ophelia pulled the socks up over their arms and
taped them in place.
“Do you truly
wish to be together completely for the night,” Blair said, Geoff looking at
Rhoda as they both nodded. “Good – I
want you to kneel on the bed, facing each other, and then wrap your arms round
one another.”
“What are you
going to do,” Geoff as ked as the two masked people picked up lengths of rope
and then he nodded as Blair crossed his covered wrists behind Rhoda’s back and
started to bind them tightly together, Ophelia doing the same to Rhoda.
“Well, this is
certainly different,” Rhoda said as she looked into her husband’s eyes, feeling
the rope on her arms as they were secured together, and then her ankles as
Ophelia secured them in the same way.
She then looked over Geoff’s shoulder as more rope was passed round her
upper arms, pulling them tightly into her sides as Geoff had his upper arms secured
in the same way. A shorter length of rope
was then carefully tied between their bodies, holding the two bands together,
before rope went around their waists to force them even closer together.
“Comfy,” Geoff
said as he looked at Rhoda.
“Surprisingly,
yes,” Rhoda said quietly as they were both helped to lie on their sides, and
then they felt more rope as their legs were secured together below their
knees. They then saw the sponges that
were compressed in the gloved hands in front of their faces, as Ophelia said
“open your mouths as wide as you can – it is a little uncomfortable at first,
but you will get used to it.”
“Talk to you
later,” Geoff said quietly, Rhoda nodding as the sponges were pushed gently
in. they both felt the material expanding
inside their mouths as they closed their lips, and then the white tape was
pressed firmly over their lips.
“Snhhtshnmmhskhds,”
Rhoda said as she looked at Blair.
“No – bet
before we go, we’ll make sure you have a scarf tied round your heads as
well. We both thought you might lie the
chance to – try to talk to each other,” Ophelia said as Rhoda felt her feet
been pulled back behind her, and then rope tied between her ankles, before the
rope was secured somewhere else. She
wasn’t sure where, until she watched Blair do the same to her husband, and then
felt the pressure on her wrists.
“We’ll check
you every few minutes,” Ophelia said, Geoff nodding as they left the room and
turned the light off. The bound and
gagged couple looked at each other, before Geoff pressed his tape covered lips
on Rhoda’s forehead.
“Mssnsss,”
Rhoda said as Geoff saw her lips under the tape try to smile. “Whchllddhhthghn.”
Geoff went to
kiss her forehead, but Rhoda moved her head up so that their mouths met, and
they gently gag kissed….
Tessie smiled
as the girls sang along to the film, Astrid nodding as her eyes slowly closed,
and she fell asleep. Ophelia had told
her what to do if that happened, the three girl watching as she gently laid Astrid
on her side, pulled her ankles back and tied them to her chest ropes, before
putting a cushion under her head as she slept.
“Hrrughnndthhtthusss,”
Caitlyn said as she looked over, Tessie nodding as she said “we need to be sure
you stay down here, girls.”
“Whlddhthnhhh,
hnddwhlwshhnffrfhlm,” Jenny mumbled, the other two nodding as Tessie took three
lengths of rope and laid them on their stomachs, pulling their ankles back and
tying them to their chest ropes as they wriggled round.
“Now,” Tessie
said quietly, “how about a really scary movie…”
“Where are
Rhoda and Geoff,” Harper said as Blair and Ophelia came back in.
“Enjoying some
up close personal time,” Ophelia said as she smiled at the sight of Bobby
leaning against his mother, his eyes opening and closing. “Blair, Jay, I think it’s time for the boys
to be taken up to the bedroom.”
“So it would
appear – Jay, will you give me a hand please?”
“Of course,”
Jay said as he gently lifted Bobby up, Blair lifting Jimmy up as Harper
whispered “take good care of him please.”
“We always do,”
Jay said as the two masked men carried the boys out of the room, Mrs McPhee
coming in and saying “the wee lassies are asleep. Noo, who’s gonna be next?”
“I will go,”
Jessie said as she slowly stood up, “then you two can go together wherever you
are going.” Robert and Harper nodded as
the older woman was taken by Ophelia, as Jay took another phone call.
“I suppose I
should thank you,” Jessie said as they walked up the stairs, “for making this
as unscary a day as possible.”
“It is Jay and
Mrs McPhee who take the lead in that,” Ophelia said as they went into her
bedroom, “but be assured, with everyone remaining calm, there is minimal risk…”
“I think it’s
time for you to be quiet,” Jay said as he looked at Sophia, “so open your mouth
please.”
“Before you do
that – I’m really sorry you all got caught up in this,” Sophia said as she
looked at Robert and Harper. “I know
this is not how you imagined today going.”
“Well, it has
been different – but it also has been exciting,” Harper said as she blushed,
Robert nodding in agreement as Jay pushed the folded handkerchief into Sophia’s
mouth, and then eased a knotted strip of towelling between her lips as he tied
the strip round her head. She nodded as
the white tape was wrapped tightly round her mouth, and then the silver tape,
before a folded pink scarf was tied over the tape and cloth.
“Whllthtsthtt,”
she mumbled as she twisted round, Robert and Harper looking at each other as
Jay said “it’s time for both of you – come with me and Mrs McPhee.”
As Blair walked
along the hallway, he saw the door to the cellar open, and Tessie come out.
“They’re all
asleep – how are the others?”
“Come and have
a look with me – I’m on patrol anyway,” he said as they walked up the stairs, Tessie
looking in the first room as she saw Jade and Nikki lying on their sides, sound
asleep. The next room had Bobby and
Jimmy, also asleep.
As Blair looked
in the next room, he said “ah – don’t go in there,” as they walked past, and
then they saw Jay and Mrs McPhee with Robert and Harper, securing the ropes
around their arms and upper bodies.
Robert was wearing a white t-shirt and purple and pink striped shorts,
while Harper had changed into dusky pink cotton pyjamas with a grey fern
pattern.
“Ahl the gahls
asleep,” Mrs McPhee said as she looked over, tying the ropes off as Harper
looked round, Tessie seeing the pink scarf tied round her head, and the white
one round Robert’s.
“All asleep –
we’ll check them every so often, as ordered,” Tessie said, Jay nodding as the
couple were allowed to lie facing each other on the bed, while their ankles and
legs were secured, and then their feet pulled back, their ankles tied to their
chest ropes.
“Come on,”
Blair said as they went to the next room, where Ophelia was finishing a hogtie
on Jessie. The grandmother was wearing a
white nightdress, a white scarf wrapped round her mouth, as she looked up and
said “hsshffreehnhrhtt?”
“They’re fine –
relax, do not struggle, and all will go well,” Ophelia said as they left,
turning the light off as they joined Jay and Mrs McPhee. As they walked down, they saw Sophia asleep
on the long couch, Jay walking over and binding her ankles and legs, before he
rolled her onto her stomach and hogtied her.
“She can remain
there for now – let’s start the clean up, get ready for when we get the call…”
Friday
It was the
sound of the door opening that woke Sophia up, as she looked round the dimly
lit room. She trued to move, and then
remembered the previous day and night, as she called out “hhssthrrrr?”
“Is there
anyone in there,” she heard a male voice say – one she did not recognise, as
she called out “HNNNNHHHHRRRRR!”
The door to the
main room was thrown open, a police officer looking in as he said “we’ve got
someone in here – spread out, search the house top to bottom.” He walked quickly over, pulling the scarf
down her head to her neck, and then whistling before he took a small penknife
from his pocket and cut through the layers of tape and the strip of towelling,
then eased the cloth from her mouth.
Sophia coughed,
and said “please – there’s people all over the house, including the
basement. My husband?”
“Safe – let’s
get you untied, and then you can tell us exactly what happened here…”
“So it was a successful
evening?”
“It was,” Brian
said as Sarah came in and handed Tammy a cold drink, “but a long one. You were incredible – thank you.”
“It’s strange –
but if it met a good need, then it was worth it. Will the children be all right?”
“That’s a guarantee,”
Sarah said, “especially George’s family.”
“Do they have a
gift as well – Jay Edwards and Mrs McPhee?”
“Very much so –
but their identity remains a secret for now.
Let’s just say, we owe them a great deal – and so do our masters now…”
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