Three Sisters
Westfield, Shepherd’s Bush
1 pm
The Village is
the part of the vast shopping centre that provides luxury items for people, in
the form of jewellery, gold and other items – and as such, tends to be visited
mainly by the richer or more prominent publically people.
But it was a
Sunday morning, before the real crowds arrived, as the two sisters were walking
along the corridor doing a fair degree of window shopping. Sabella was wearing a long brown leather coat
over a red jumper and black leather trousers, black ankle boots on her feet and
a black scarf tied over her hair with the ends dropping down in front of
her. Her sister Kaarina had a mustard
coloured scarf tied over her hair, the black leather jacket held close by a
matching belt round her waist. A black
roll neck sweater with a silver necklace, grey jeans and knee length cream leather
boots completed her outfit.
“Have you seen
anything yet,” Sabella asked as she looked in the window of another jeweller.
“Nom and I
really want to find something to wear for Gamila’s wedding,” Kaarina said as
she shook her head. “We only have a
week, after all.”
“True – coffee
break?”
“Coffee break,”
Kaarina said with a smile.
“You head to
the café - I’ll take a black coffee and cake.
I just need to stop off somewhere on the way first.”
“Of course,”
Kaarina said as she walked off, Sabella smiling as she turned off the main
shopping area and made her way to the restroom.
She walked into the booth, closing it as she concentrated on what she
needed to do.
As she came out
and made her way to the washbasin, she smiled at the other two women who had
come in. Both were wearing black hijabs
and long black gowns, and once again Sabella found herself wondering why there
had to be such different interpretations of the dress code.
She started to
run the water and soaped her hands, washing them before she glanced up and saw
one of the women in the mirror. Before
she could do anything else, a white pad was clamped over her nose and mouth,
taking her completely by surprise as she opened her mouth to scream. As she did so, she inhaled the sweet smelling
fumes form whatever the cloth was soaked in – fumes that made her eyes go
blurry, and her head started to swim as she struggled in the grip of the woman.
Her partner
waited as she slowly closed her eyes and slipped into unconsciousness, then
walked forward as Sabella was lowered to the floor, checking her pulse before
she pressed a strip of clear tape carefully over her mouth, making sure there
were no creases before she left the washroom.
The first woman put the cloth to one side, and crossed the unconscious
Sabella’s wrists in front of her, securing them together with thin white rope
which she took around and between her arms, and then tied the ends off out of
reach of her fingers, before she repeated the process on her ankles, the edges
of the leather pants sticking out under the band.
The second
woman returned, this time wearing a paramedic’s outfit, her short dark hair
visible as she laid a blanket in the chair and helped her partner to lift
Sabella in. They wrapped the blanket
tightly round her, covering the bindings, and then strapped her in before she
was wheeled out, and the trio made their way to a waiting ambulance…
Kaarina glanced
over to the entrance to the coffee shop, wondering where her sister had got to,
the coffee cup streaming in front of her as she sipped from her own cup. It was unlike her to take so long…
The ping of her
phone made her look at the screen, and read the text that appeared.
“Sorry. Met a friend, going with her. See you at home. Sabella.”
“No the first
time that has happened either,” Kaarina said as she put her phone away,
finished her coffee and stood up, leaving both the empty and the full one as
she made her way to where their car was parked.
As she parked the
car in the appointed place, Kaarina wondered once again how it was possible
that they had to pay £1000 a month just to park their car. Yes, it was Knightsbridge, but still?
Getting out,
she opened the boot and leaned in to get the first bag – then stopped as she
felt a pressure on her back.
“What you are
feeling, darling, is the business end of a Luger,” a female with a Californian
accent said, “and believe me, you do not want to find out what it could do if
it was discharged.”
“Who are you,”
Kaarina said quietly, “what do you want?”
“Good
questions,” the voice said, “and I will answer them – eventually. Right now, close the trunk, and hand me the
car keys, nice and naturally.”
Kaarina nodded
as she slowly closed the boot, and handed the keys back over her shoulder, the
voice saying “thank you. Now, darling,
nice and slowly, turn round and walk to the van you will see, then get inside.”
“You do not
know what you are doing,” Kaarina said quietly,
“I think you
know I do know what I am doing – now, please, do as I say.” Kaarina slowly turned and slowly walked to
the grey panel van, stepping in as the pressure on her back continued, and the
doors were shut.
“Kneel down,
and put your hands behind your back.”
As she did
this, Kaarina felt someone grab her wrists and cross them, and then felt rope
on her bare flesh as they were quickly, but tightly bound together. She was also aware of a second person putting
her ankles together and securing them as well, the sound of squeaking as the
rope rubbed on the leather clear to all.
“Now stay
still,” the American voice said, and as Kaarina watched white rope was passed
over her head, then pulled tight under her chest as her arms were forced into
her sides, the rope going round to form two bands that framed her chest as her
jacket was forced open by the tension.
When the rope
was tied off, she saw the woman who had spoken walk in front of her. She was slim, with shoulder length blonde
hair, wearing a blue trouser suit with a white camisole underneath. She smiled as she said “I’m afraid you need
to come with us now – but don’t worry, we will take exceptionally good care of
you, darling.”
“Who are
you? Why are you doing this?”
“All in good
time,” she said as she took a roll of brown sticking plaster from her jacket
pocket, tore a strip off, and pressed it firmly over her captive’s mouth. As she was helped to sit down, she saw a
second woman, this one dressed in black with a balaclava over her head, as she secured
her legs together below her knees, the band of rope sitting on the top of her
boots.
“Get
comfortable, it won’t be a short journey,” the American woman said as she got
out of the van, closing the door and banging on the side as it moved off while
Kaarina struggled on the floor, the rope ribbing on the leather as the second
woman sat silently…
“It is truly
magnificent,” the young woman said as she looked at the white dress, inlaid
with gold thread and pearls, “I shall look like a true princess.”
“Well, it is your
wedding day,” the designer said as she looked at her client. She was standing admiring the work, a grey
ribbed blazer over a one piece pants suit, black with grey stripes, the black
fabric boots visible under the cuffs of the legs. A black hijab was covering her head, neck and
shoulders.
“So we will
bring it next Saturday for the ceremony?”
“Indeed – and
thank you again.”
“no, thank you
Gamila,” the designer said as Gamila slipped a black leather biker’s jacket on
over her blazer, then put her satchel over her shoulder before she smiled and
left the store.
Stepping out,
she breathed in the air and then made her way towards Hyde Park, deciding to
take in some fresh air and have a walk before she headed home It would give her sisters time to finish
whatever it was they were planning that day, and then they would plan the
evening meal.
As she walked,
she thought of her fiancé, his handsome face filling her mind as she looked
forwards to the new life she was entering…
“Oh, I am so sorry!”
The collision
took Gamila completely by surprise, as she looked at the young woman standing
next to her. She was wearing a shocking
pink tracksuit, earbuds visible under the brown hair, and Gamila had to admit
the colours suited her dark skin tone.
She looked down
to see the water stain on her jacket, but she smiled and said “it’s all right,
accidents happen. What are you listening
to that is so good anyway?”
“Tracy Chapman
– my mother used to play it at home all the time, so I love her singing. Anyway, again, my apologies,” she said
quietly as she started to run off, Gamila shaking her head as she walked
towards the Serpentine.
As she looked
out over the water, she yawned slightly – she was surprised to suddenly feel
tired, but it had been a busy morning, so she went to a booth and bought a
coffee, then sat down and started to drink it.
“Hello again –
are you all right?”
Gamila looked
up and said “oh – have you finished your run?”
“Yes I have,”
the jogger said with a smile as Gamila stared at her, “but I wondered of you
would like to come and take a walk with me.
I was going to get some cold water.”
“Water – yes,
water,” Gamila said as she slowly stood up, the jogger putting her arm round
her as they walked along the path. The
air seemed to smell so fresh and clean to Gamila, as if her senses had been
heightened. But her new friend was with
her, walking with her, talking with her, as they approached a SUV with a blonde
haired woman standing by it.
She smiled as
she opened the rear door and Gamila was helped to walk in, smiling as the
jogger got in and put her hands in front of her. She could hear a rasping sound, and she could
not move her wrists apart – or her ankles, but she was relaxed, she was happy.
Even the slight
pressure over her mouth, the slight tugging on her skin, felt nice as she
allowed her eyes to slowly close, the vehicle moving off….
Gamila was
aware of being lifted in someone’s arms and then carried into a room, laid on
something soft and comfortable, and then whatever was holding her wrists
together removed as her jacket was eased off.
She softly mumbled something as her wrists were held together, and a
soft band wrapped round them, holding them tightly yet softly together.
She could feel
them been lifted above her head, and then that band being tugged on before she
was lifted up and then back down again.
Whoever it was then used another band to secure her legs together, at
her knees by the feel of them, before there were footsteps, and then a door
opening and closing.
She lay there,
letting the feeling of cloudiness clear from her mind, as she became aware of
voices – muffled voices, not making much sense, but definitely in the same room
as her. She turned her head to the side,
and as her vision cleared she saw two more beds – and two more women looking at
her, twisting round as the voices became clearer as well.
“GHWMMHHLEE!”
Her eyes
suddenly opened wide as she realised the two women were Kaarina and Sabella,
their arms raised above their heads and their wrists tied to the head of the
beds, their legs secured with rope at the ankles and legs with more rope as
they twisted round, their mouths covered with something that prevented them
talking.
“HMGHHDDDD!”
she cried out as she started to twist round as well, wondering what had
happened.
The jogger
walked into the control room with the blonde haired driver, smiling as she said
“I see you were both successful as well.”
“Indeed,
darling,” the blonde Californian said as she sat in front of a monitor. “The run obviously did you the world of good
Tracey.”
“Well, I do
like a good run,” Tracey said with a smile as she took a drink of water. “How was Westfield?”
“Not that busy
– we got the first target into the ambulance with no interference,” the dark
haired woman said as she stood against the wall. “But why have we been deployed to bring these
three in?”
“Madame wants
them out of the way,” Lily said as she accepted a bottle of water, “I’m sure
we’ll find out why in due course. Right
now, monitor them, and make sure they get food and water in a little while…”
“What the hell
is going on,” Kaarina said as she sat on the bed, rubbing her wrists as she
looked at her sisters. “I got your text
Sabella…”
“My text? I didn’t send a text,” her sister said as she
slowly stood up. “I went to the washroom
– and the next thing I knew, I was here and they were carrying you in.”
“But who are
they,” Gamila said quietly as she looked at her sisters. “One of them did something to me to make me
follow them, but apart from that…”
“Good evening
ladies.”
All three
turned to see a tall, auburn haired woman standing in the doorway, Gamila recognising
the two women with her as she came in. She
was elegantly dressed, in a black Dior suit with a white blouse underneath.
“I trust you
have not been ill-treated,” the woman said as the dark skinned one closed the
door.
“You kidnapped
us, and then you ask that question?”
“Your anger is
understandable,” the woman said as she looked at Gamila, “but misplaced. I regret the way you were brought here, but
it was necessary to have you three safely out of the way for a short while.”
“Why?”
The blonde
looked at Kaarina, before she said “because my employer here requires your
father to do something for her.”
“Our
father? But he is dead – he died five
years ago…”
“No,” the auburn
haired woman said as she looked at Sabella, “he is not dead, he is resident in
– a country we do not share good diplomatic relations with. I, however, know exactly where he is – and
right now, he is performing a task at my request. When the task is done, you will be returned
home. Until then, please, relax, eat,
drink – the food and water is excellent.”
“May we know
your name?”
The older woman
turned and smiled at Gamila as she said “I am known as Madame X. Please, enjoy the meal.” She indicated the trolley with the domed
plates and then left, the other two going with her as the door was closed.
“Madame X? Who is she?”
Kaarina and
Gamila looked at Sabella, who was nodding.
“Do you know who she is?”
“I know – and our
not so late father must have done something particularly bad.”
“But he’s
alive…”
“No – he has to
be dead to us,” Sabella said as she looked up.
“We have to trust her – what is on the plates?”
Kaarina walked
over and lifted the cloches. “Lamb kofta
and rice – we do need to eat.”
“And when we
get out of this?”
“We look
forward to your wedding,” Sabella said with a smile.
“They seem to
be relaxed, Madame,” Lily said as she looked over, “who is their father?”
“A man who had
to disappear, but he is where I need him to be to do something for me, and for
the sisters,” Madame X said quietly.
“Show them all courtesy during their stay…”