Beauty and
the Best - Friends
“Hey,” Tom said
as Barbara came in, and slumped into the comfy chair, “long day?”
“Like you would
not believe,” Barbara said as she opened her jacket up. “There’s a number of shows
coming up our group are doing the backgrounds for, so it was all hands to the
pump.”
“You love it
really,” Tom said with a smile. “So, what was this one?”
“Hopkins
Studios.”
“The
photography firm? I hear they have had some very big contracts recently.”
“They have
Natalie Hopkins is a talented photographer,” Tom said as he passed his partner
a magazine, Barbara looking through it. “Oldest daughter of John and Mary
Hopkins.”
“THE John and
Mary Hopkins?”
“The very same
in some ways she is the black sheep of the family, not working in high finance
and modelling,” Tom said with a laugh, “but making a good and profitable living
out of it.”
“So why this
interest in her?”
“Because we
have the water rates to pay?”
Barbara nodded as
she said, “so when do we visit them?”
“No, no and for
the third time NO!”
Natalie Hopkins
was sitting forward in her armchair as she looked at her sisters. She was
casually dressed a grey top, faded blue jeans with ripped knees, and flat black
shoes and had long blonde hair which fell loosely.
“But I don’t
understand?”
“I know neither
of you do,” Natalie said as she stood up, “I don’t think you ever did.” She
looked at her two younger sisters as she said, “I’m happy as things are, I don’t
need any handouts.”
Joy and Fi
Hopkins just looked at each other. Joy was the middle sister, a talented
financier, and was wearing her work ‘uniform’ as she called it a black silk
blouse and skirt, dark horse and knee length tight black leather boots. By
contrast, Fi Hopkins was wearing a red dress with elbow length sleeves and a
deep neckline, matching high heels on her feet, reflecting her position as a
fashion designer.
“But it is a
tribute to Dad,” Fi said as she held her hands together on her lap.
“Look,” Natalie
said, “I have my reasons “
“Ah are we
interrupting a family discussion?”
“Come, on in
Akira I need the moral support.”
As she came in,
the Asian woman looked at Joy and Fi. She was wearing a short sleeved green
satin blouse, a short black skirt, dark hose and black heels. With her was a
blonde-haired woman, who was wearing a similar outfit, only her blouse was
purple.
“This is Jade,”
Akira said, “the new model I told you about. I thought we could have a chat
before the session.”
“Sure let me
get some more coffee,” Natalie said as she left the room. Akira and Jade sat on
another small couch, as Joy said, “when’s the session?”
“Tomorrow did
we walk in on you trying to persuade her to go to the memorial?”
“You did,” Fi
said, “why won’t she come?”
“If she will
not tell you, I cannot tell you.”
“But you know,
don’t you?”
The
conversation was interrupted as Natalie came back with the coffee.
“I take it Ally
and Belle are upstairs?”
“No they’re
with their father. He’ll drop them off, but not come in, if you know what I
mean.”
All four of
them nodded in agreement as there was a knock on the front door.
“That’s not
him, is it,” Joy asked.
“No they would
run in. Give me a minute.”
They watched
Natalie as she walked out of the room and to the front door, opening it before
she said, “It’s not Halloween, is it?”
“No, no it’s
not, Natalie. Please go back in nice and slowly, hands in the air.”
“You You’re
serious?”
“We are now do
as Best says please.”
Natalie walked
back, raising her hands as the young couple came in. The man was wearing a
black jumper and pants, with black shoes, while the woman was wearing a tight
black sweater and leggings tucked into over the knee black suede boots nut both
of them were also wearing black gloves, black woollen hats, and a black eye
mask with their skin noticeably darker under the eyeholes as well as very real
pistols in their hands.
“What’s going
on,” they both heard Akira call out from the front room as the woman closed the
door.
“Shall we tell
them Beauty?”
“We shall Best
we shall.”
As Natalie came
back in, Fi said “Fashion statement, Nata OHMYGOD!”
She cried out
as she saw the masked couple come in, the man saying as he said “please, don’t
do that again we have no desire to harm anyone, but if you insist on
continuing, we will need to take measures.”
“I think I’m
being robbed,” Natalie said.
“Natalie is
quite correct you can call me Beauty,” the masked woman said, “and this is my
friend and partner, the Best.”
“The best at
what?”
“Making sure
you do as we ask,” Best said quietly, “Would you like me to show you how now?”
He smiled as he said this, but Fi fell silent as she saw the look in her eyes.
“That’s better,”
Beauty said with a smile. “Now as you may have realized, we are here to relieve
Natalie of her valuables but you all should play apart in that experience.
First, however, I must ask you to show me your mobile phones.”
The four women
looked at each to her as Natalie said, “mine is on the table.”
“As I can see
ladies?” Beauty watched as Joy, Fi, Akira and Jade removed their phones, then
collected them and put them in a plastic bag which she placed to one side.
“Excellent,”
Beauty said as she covered them. “Noe remove your watches, and your jewellery,
and place them in the bag that my friend Best is going to bring round.”
“We had better
do as he says,” Jade said as she removed the gold necklace from round her neck
and placed it in the bag along with her watch and earrings. He walked along the
line and collected the rings, earrings and other items, before he collected the
purses that sat on the floor and took them out of the room.
“Excellent,”
Beauty said, “now place your hands on top of your heads, palm down. Natalie,
place your hands slowly behind your back.”
“What are you
going to do,” ~Natalie said a ssh slowly moved her arms down and then the
others watched as Beauty took a length of rope from her waistband and used it
to secure the young woman’s wrists together behind her back.
“That’s tight,”
she said.
“I know - sit
down please,” Beauty said as Best came in, carrying a duffel bag which he
placed on the floor and opened, removing several lengths of white rope from the
inside. He handed one to Beauty before he walked behind the couch Jay and Fi
were sitting on, taking Jay’s wrists behind her back and securing them together
as well.
“Once we have
you all secured and silent,” Beauty said as she stood in front of them, the gun
in her gloved hand, “then we will take Natalie here for a walk round the house.
After that, we will see what happens.”
“Why, what is
likely to happen,” Joy said as her own arms were gently pulled down behind her
back.
“You will find
out,” Best said as he tied the ropes off, and then went behind Akira and Jade,
the two women looking at each other as their wrists were secured as well.
“You seem to be
remaining calm,” Best said quietly.
“We may have
some - experience,” Akira said quietly as the masked man knelt down in front of
her and wound more rope round her slender ankles to hold them together. The
rope went around and between her limbs, holding them tightly together before he
moved along to secure the ankles of the other three women.
“Now then,” he
said as he stood up, “I am going to make sure you stay quiet.” He went back to
the bag and removed a roll of silver tape, tearing strips off and pressing them
down over the lips of the other four women as Natalie watched.
“Whhlthstht,”
Fi said as she looked round the room.
“Now,” Best
said, “shall we?”
All of them
then looked to the door as the front door opened and closed, and two young
girls ran in. One was nine years old and was wearing a long-sleeved peach top
with denim shorts over striped wool tights. Her long brown hair was loose,
while that of the seven-year-old girl was pulled back in a ponytail. She was
wearing a black leotard, white tights and silver ballet slippers, a pink lace
ballet skirt completing her outfit.
“Mum, we’re ba
What’s going on Mum?”
The two girls
looked at the masked man and woman, before she came over and squatted in front
of them. “Hi,” she said as she smiled, “you must be Ally and Belle.”
“Who are you,”
the younger girl said quietly, “and why are my aunts like that?”
“Well, Belle,”
Beauty said, “my name is Beauty, and my friend here is called the Best.”
“Why are you
wearing masks?”
“Because we are
criminals does that scare you?”
“A little,”
Ally said as she looked at her.
“Well, I
promise you, there is nothing to be afraid of, but now that you are both home,
I need to make sure that you are both just the same as your aunts. Best will
you hand me some rope please?”
The masked man
nodded as he handed Beauty two lengths of rope, which she gave the girls to
hold. They looked at Natalie, as she said “I promise you, it doesn’t really
hurt, but they do need to do this. You can sit with your aunts while I go and
do something with them, and then we can all be together.”
Ally nodded as
Beauty took the rope from her, and turned her round before she crossed the
young girl’s wrists behind her back and secured them together as well.
“Mum’s right it
doesn’t hurt,” she said as Belle was turned round and felt the rope on her
wrists as well. They then walked over, Fi and Joy moving to the side as Belle
sat between them, and Akira and Jade allowing Belle to sit there. They watched
as Beauty collected more ropes and then secured their ankles as well, before
she stood up and covered their mouths with the silver tape.
“Girls?”
“WWhrrhfhnmhm,”
Ally mumbled, Belle nodding as Akira and Jade looked at her.
“Please come
with me, Beauty will look after the others,” Best said as he helped Natalie to
stand up, and they walked out of the room, heading up the stairs.
“Which bedrooms
do the girls use?”
“Those two “
“Then we head
in here,” Best said as he opened the third door in the row, and they walked
into the master bedroom. Looking round, he said “nice sit on the bed, and tell
me where you keep your valuables.”
“Do you get off
on tying little girls up?”
“Well, forgive
me for stating the obvious, but it was Beauty whop tied them up,” Best said
with a smile, “but no it is something we have to do, but we try to make it as
painless and non-frightening as possible. Did they look afraid?”
Natalie shook
her head before she said, “so why me?”
“You are a
wealthy and talented woman Natalie, and we have need of your funds,” Best said.
“Why?”
“To live.” He
looked at the bound woman, who was staring at him. “Oh, I do not kid you,
Natalie this is what we do because it is our way of surviving. Our way to
ensure we do not starve, do not lose our home, do not go cold.”
“You’re not
joking, are you?”
Best turned and
shook his head before he opened a wardrobe.
“My god if my
father is involved in this “
“Oh, I am well
aware of your father and his business interests,” Best said as he removed a
long box, opened it, and then placed a set of pearls into a black sack.
“If you are
aware,” Natalie said with a small smile,” then you’ll know I’m not exactly
unhappy you are taking my mother’s pearls.”
“I understand
were your sister’s trying to get you to attend that awards dinner for him?”
Natalie looked
up at him, and then nodded as she said, “so you’re one of his tenants?”
“No but I
understand where they are coming from,” Best said as he emptied the contents of
a jewellery box into the bag. “I admire your convictions as well as your
photography. I recognized Akira when I came in.”
“You are a fan?”
“In a way,”
Best said with a smile. “Now, where else should I look?”
As Best came
into the room, Joy looked at Natalie and said “whhdhdhhdh?”
“Robbed me of
course are you two hungry?”
Ally and Belle
nodded as Beauty said “well, I will help your mother prepare some food. Best,
keep an eye on them, will you?”
“Of course,”
Best said as they swapped places, Beauty taking Natalie into the kitchen before
she untied her wrists. Natalie brought them round and rubbed them, before she
said, “Best told me what your motivation is I am truly sorry you have to do
this.”
“So are we,”
Beauty said with a smile, “so are we. Now, what shall we cook?”
“Thanks, Mum,”
Belle said as she accepted the plate from Natalie. All of them now had their
hands untied and the tape removed from their mouths, but they also now had rope
holding their legs together below their knees as well.
“So, what
happens next,” Jade asked as she looked round the room, “I mean if we need to
go a place “
“One of us will
escort you,” Best said quietly. “For now, eat, drink.”
“And after
that?”
“We make sure you
cannot raise the alarm,” Beauty answered with a smile as they looked at each
other. “Then we wait.”
“For what?”
“Sundown eat
up.”
“Look at me
Mum!”
Natalie looked
over as Ally jumped into the front room, Beauty following her. She now had her
wrists secured behind her back, while bands of rope held her arms against her
sides at her stomach and shoulders.
“All done and
comfortable?”
Ally nodded as
she sat down next to Natalie, while Beauty helped Belle to sit up and jump out
of the room. Her mother had her wrists and arms bound in the same way, as Ally
rubbed her head on her mother’s arm.
“How are you
Aunt Joy?”
“I guess I will
cope,” Joy said as best pulled the ropes tight around her upper body. They
forced her arms against her sides as Fi, Akira and Jade looked over. As they
wriggled round, Natalie said “I guess we are all going to stay here.”
“Nats,” Fi said
as Best went behind her, and she wriggled her fingers as the rope was pulled
around her arms, “Dad isn’t like that.”
“Yes, he is I
have seen the properties, when I did a shoot in the city,” Natalie said, “I
cannot see him being honoured when he does that.”
“Mum can’t know
“
“Mum is the co-director
of the firm,” Natalie said as she looked at Joy, “she knows.”
Fi looked at
her, before she said “we had no idea “
“I know,”
Natalie said as she watched Best pull the ropes tighter. Once he had finished,
he walked over to the armchairs, Akira and Jade feeling the ropes as their arms
were tied as well.
“This is fun,
Mum!”
Natalie smiled
as Belle jumped back in, the rope tied round her body now as well as she pushed
herself back on the couch and snuggle into her other side.
Beauty smiled
as she took a roll of white tape from the bag and peeled a length off before
she said to Belle “Youngest first put your lips together.”
“Lhhkthsss.”
“Like that,”
Beauty said as she smoothed the tape down over the young girl’s mouth, Natalie
seeing the shape of her lips under the tape before she peeled a second length
and pressed it down over Ally’s mouth.
“Whllhsshnhshhrrr.”
“Good,” Beauty
said as she rubbed them both on their head. “We are going to do the same to
your mother and aunts now.”
“Ghhdhd,” Belle
said as she placed the tape over her mother’s mouth, Natalie pressing her taped
lips on their heads as one by one the other older women were silenced as well.
Best turned the
television on as Belle and Ally relaxed, the other women nodding as Beauty
walked over.
“A fan of
Akira?”
“Her usual
modelling I know she does other work, but still “
Beauty smiled
as she stroked his cheek with her gloved hand, and then said “all right, I
believe you. Keep an eye out.”
Natalie suddenly
opened her eyes and looked round. The room was in darkness, but she could hear
her daughters gently snoring as they rested against her arms.
As her eyes
adjusted to the light, she saw her sisters and friends, all asleep, their
chests gently rising and falling.
“Thffghn,” she
mumbled as the door opened and she was blinded by torch light.
“In here seven
bound and gagged, including two children.” She saw the police and ambulance
crews as they came in, and started to cry
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