Coffee
Morning
“I have to
admit, this is a nice neighbourhood,” the taller of the two men said as they
looked out through the windscreen of the transit van.
“Indeed – I
feel this is going to be a very pleasant morning,” the smaller of the two men
said, “So shall we make a move?”
“Indeed – I
think it is the right thing to do…”
Gloria smiled
as she poured the coffee from her machine into the china pot, and then placed
it on the tray along with the china cups, the sugar bowl, and the cream
jug. Carefully, she picked up the tray
and carried it through to the front room, hearing the slight swish from her
legs as they rubbed together, the leather pants moving as if they were a second
skin.
The lower half
of her black trousers were tucked into a pair of knee length leather boots,
while on her upper body she was wearing a long sleeved smock top with a black
and white leopard skin print. Her long
dark hair was but into a bob that framed her face, her smile genuine as she
laid the tray down on the coffee table.
“Ah good –
they’re here,” she said as she heard the ring of the door bell, and she walked
quickly to the front door, opening it as she said “come in, I’ve…”
“Very kind of
you to invite us,” the taller of the two masked men said as they walked
in. They were dressed identically –
black leather jackets over sweaters, pants, shoes, gloves – and the black
balaclava that covered their faces, leaving only their eyes and mouth
visible. Gloria stared at them,
wondering who they were, especially given the disparity in height between them.
And then she
noticed the gun in the hand of the taller of the two gentlemen, and she
whispered “oh no…”
“Oh yes – and
we apologise for the shock this situation is doubtless causing you to
experience,” the tall masked man said. “Perhaps
introductions will help – I am Mister Tall, and this is my associate Mister
Small. May I assume you are Gloria
Stenden, the owner of this house?”
“Yes – but
who…”
“Ah, explanations
in good time,” Mister Tall said with a smile, as he sniffed. “Fresh coffee – are you expecting guests?”
“Yes, but – oh
no, you’re the Gentlemen Robbers?”
“Our reputation
precedes us yet again,” Mister Small said with a smile as he took Gloria’s
arm. “Please, have a seat, and if you
would be so good as to raise your legs and put your feet on the coffee table,
for a moment, we will explain what is going to happen.”
“What? Oh, of course,” Gloria said as she sat and
placed her feet where Mister Small had asked, watching as he opened the bag he
was carrying, removed a length of white cord and doubled it over, then crossed
her ankles before he wrapped the rope around them and started to bind them
together.
“As I was
saying,” Mister Tall continued as his partner worked, “we are indeed the
Gentlemen Robbers, and as such we are going to rob you. But it need not be an unpleasant experience,
for you or your soon to arrive guests.
So we will ensure moving from your seat is a little more difficult, and
then you may enjoy your coffee and – oh dear, are the cakes still in the
kitchen?”
As Gloria
nodded, Mister Tall said “excuse me a moment” and left, as Mister Small took
the rope between her legs and pulled it tighter, then secured the ends behind
them. He then produced a second length of
rope, and proceeded to bind Gloria’s legs together below her knees, the rope
rubbing lightly on the leather as he did so.
“I should be
terrified – but I’m not. Why?”
“You recognise
we mean you no harm or ill will?” As he
spoke, Mister Small’s gloved hands stroked her legs as he took the rope between
them, making the binding even tighter before he secured the ends as well.
As he did this,
Mister Tall brought in a cake stand, and placed it next to the jug as the
doorbell rang. “Please, excuse me once
more, and I will bring your first guest in,” he said as he left the room.
“I hope you
have the coffee ready, Glo… You’re not
Gloria.”
“Indeed I am
not – please, come this way, and you will see her. I must ask you to remain calm, and not try to
raise the alarm.
Gloria sighed
as she saw her friend Audrey come into the front room, her eyes wide behind her
large glasses. Audrey had short cut
strawberry blonde hair, and was wearing a black top with elbow length sleeves,
a white abstract pattern printed on it, and a black lace waistcoat. Her black satin cargo pants went down to
cover the top of her black ankle boots.
“Gloria – are
you being robbed?”
“Right now, she
is about to serve you some coffee,” the tall masked man with Gloria said. “May I know your name?”
“Audrey.”
“Well, Audrey,
if you will sit down, my friend Mister Small will ensure your legs are as
tightly and comfortably secured as Gloria has hers, and then you may proceed
with coffee and chat.”
“Very polite,
isn’t he?”
“We aim to be,”
Mister Small said as Audrey sat down, putting her feet on the coffee able and
crossing her ankles while he started to bind them together, while at the same
time Gloria slowly lowered her own legs.
Mister Tall had been right – it was tight, but comfortable, as she
picked up the coffee pot and started to pour the brown liquid into a cup.
“You’re very
calm about all this, Audrey,” she said as Mister Small finished securing her friend’s
ankles, and then started to bind her legs together below her knees.
“Well, it’s not
like this is the first time this has happened to me,” Audrey said as she
watched the masked man at work, “and they are been very polite about it. So these are the Gentlemen Robbers?”
“Yeah – but
when did it happen to you before?”
“Oh it was when
I was ten years old – my mother and I were robbed at home. We were both wearing those long corduroy
dresses that were the fashion at the time – brown ones, if I remember
correctly, over roll neck sweaters, and we both had brown leather boots on.”
“Would it be impolite to ask what happened,”
Mister Small said as he secured the second length of rope, Audrey twisting her
legs round before she lowered them and accepted the coffee cup from Gloria.
“No – the men
made us go up to my mother’s bedroom, and then they tied our wrists together in
front of us, and rope round our arms and bodies. We then had to lie next to each other, and my
mother kept talking to me while they secured our ankles and then tied rope
round our legs over the skirts of our dresses.
They then then put brown sticking plaster over our mouths, and left us
on the bed while they robbed us.”
“What happened
then,” Gloria said as Audrey took a sip from her cup.
“I fell asleep,
until my father came home. I just felt
safe with my mother – and somehow, I have that same sense I am going to be safe
with this. Although I suspect before
these young gentlemen leave, our hands may be a little more secure.”
Gloria nodded
as Mister Small walked to the door. “I
will ensure the security systems are disabled,” he said as Audrey looked at
Mister Tall.
“Have a cake,
Audrey?”
“Thank you –
where is Simone anyway?”
The doorbell
made them both look as Mister Tall said “excuse me once again” and left the
room.
“Good morning –
you must be Simone. Gloria and Audrey
are in the front room – please, come through and join them.”
“What do you
mean, they are in the – oh dear lord this is a robbery isn’t it?”
“It is,
Simone,” Gloria said as she looked at the latest arrival, “but we are having
coffee, so please be seated. You’re
going to have your legs secured as well, I suspect."
Simone slowly
nodded as she looked at her friends. She
was wearing a light pink hooded top, with a matching scarf wrapped loosely
round her neck, grey pants and black mid-calf leather boots. As she sat, she put her hand through her
greying black hair, and said “well, when in Rome…”
“An excellent
attitude to have for the moment Simone – if you would be so good as to cross
your ankles and raise your feet onto the coffee table for a few moments, I will
ensure you are as secure as Gloria and Audrey.”
“Well, I cannot
fault the way he talks,” Simone said as she watched Mister Tall take a length of
cord from the bag, “I may as well have some coffee then.”
“Audrey was
telling me about the time she and her mother were robbed – what,
mid-seventies?”
“Yes, that’s
right,” Audrey said as Gloria passed a cup of coffee to Simone, while Mister
Tall pulled the rope round her ankles, “has this ever happened to you?”
“It has –
although it wasn’t quite as convivial an atmosphere,” Simone said as she sipped
her coffee, watching as the masked man wound the rope around and between her
ankles.
“What happened
to you?”
“Have you heard
of the China Doll Gang?”
“I have
indeed,” Audrey said quietly, “was that what happened when Charles was on that
business trip?”
“It was – I was
doing my workout when this gloved hand went over my mouth, and I saw them.”
“Is it true
they never speak,” Gloria whispered as she handed Simone a cake.
“Well, it was
for me – and the way they look, all in grey with those masks, it just added to
the feeling of helplessness. I was in my
grey leotard with my lime green body stocking under it – the one I used to wear
for those Pilates classes you got me to go to.”
“I know the one
– so what did they do,” Gloria said as Mister Tall went on to binding Simone’s
legs below her knees.
Well, they had
the longest rope I had ever seen – they draped it over my shoulders, and then
started to wind it round them as they pulled them back. By the time they had finished, my arms were
so secured I could not move them at all.”
“I understand
they are very skilled,” Mister Tall said with a smile as he took the rope
between Simone’s legs.
“Well, they
were fast. They then made me lie on the
floor, bound my ankles and legs, pulled my ankles back and tied them to my
arms, and finally put a cloth in my mouth.
They just left me there for the cleaner to find the next morning.”
“Well, be
assured, although we will be leaving all three of you as secured, and as
silenced, it will note for a while,” Mister Tall said as he stood up and Simone
saw a smaller masked man come in.
“The security
system is disabled – the safe awaits your attention Mister Tall.”
“Excellent – if
you do not mind keeping these fine ladies company while I am at work?”
“Of course
not,” Mister Small said with a smile as he sat down, “so what is the topic of
conversation?”
“Past
encounters with compatriots and predecessors of our good selves.”
“Indeed? Tell me more?”
It was
certainly the strangest hour the three friends has spent for some time, before
Mister Small said “with some regret, ladies, the time has come to ensure you
cannot raise the alarm upon our departure.
If you would leave your cups on the coffee table, and then each of you
hand me your mobile phones and handbags?”
“Well, there
goes that idea,” Simone said with a smile as she handed her handbag over, Audrey
doing the same as Gloria handed her mobile phone over.
“I thank you ladies,”
Mister Small said as he stood up and deposited the handbags on the other side
of the room, before looking in his bag and taking out more lengths of white
rope. “Simone, let us start with
you. Please lean slightly forward, and
put your hands behind your back.”
“And what are
you going to do to make sure we are entertained when you leave us helpless,”
Audrey said, Gloria raising an eyebrow as Simone shook her head. She felt the masked man crossing her wrists
behind her back, and then the rope on her barre wrists as he secured them in
the same way as her ankles.
“Well, I could not
help but notice your excellent choice of musicals on CD,” Mister Small said as
he wound the rope around and between Simone’s wrists, and then tied the ends together
out of reach of her long fingers, “if you will select something you all wish to
listen to, then I will with great pleasure ensure that is what you listen to.”
“What do you
think – Help,” Gloria said as Mister Small took a longer length of rope,
doubling it over before he wrapped it round Simone’s arms and body and forced
them into her sides.
“You do know
how old I am young man?”
“Be assured,
beyond wishing to make sure you cannot raise the alarm or move your arms, I
have no other wish for doing this,” Mister Small said with a smile as he took
the rope around her body above her chest, the bands tightening before he
secured the ropes behind her back.
“Pity.”
“SIMONE!”
“Well, I’m not
going to apologise,” Simone said as she tried to move, Mister Small taking two
more lengths of rope from the bag as he said “if you would be so kind, Audrey?”
“Why not – it
could be interesting,” the blonde said as she put her hands behind her
back. “Seriously though Gloria – what
about the Les Mis concert version?”
“Ah, the one
with Michael Ball as Javert? An
excellent choice,” Mister Tall said as he came in, Mister Small securing
Audrey’s wrists together before he began to wind the rope round her arms and upper
body. “My thanks for your cooperation,
Gloria – be assured, there is a minimum of mess in the upper rooms.”
“A minimum of
mess?”
“Yes – sadly
some of your papers are on the floor, but I have tidied them as best I
could. How are we doing Mister Small?”
“I will be
finished momentarily,” the smaller of the two men said as he pulled the ropes
tighter round Audrey’s body, Mister Tall nodding as he took more ropes from the
bag and walked behind Gloria.
“If you would
be so kind?”
“I have a
choice,” Gloria laughed as she leaned forward and put her hands behind her
back, watching Audrey and Simone as Mister Small secured the last rope, and
then collected the coffee cups on the tray.
“Is my china on
the list as well?”
“Oh no – but we
need to ensure it is safely placed in the dishwasher and the program started.”
“You’re
joking!”
“Oh no – Mister
Small is very particular about making sure things are properly dealt with,”
Mister Tall said as he pulled the rope between Gloria’s wrists, the captive
woman flexing her fingers as Mister Small picked up the tray and carried it out
of the room.
“Well, I never
imagined being robbed would be like this – oh.”
Gloria let out a gasp as the rope was pulled tightly round her body,
below her chest, and then taken round above her chest as her top was stretched
over her breasts.
“Yeah – strange
feeling isn’t it,” Simone said, “but it’s not as bad as with those women –
actually, don’t think me strange, but it feels – nice?”
“So I’m not the
only one?”
Simone shook
her head as she looked at Audrey, and Gloria had to admit – she wasn’t going to
be able to move, but her legs felt fine, and it did feel good like this.
“There now,”
Mister Tall said as she heard the dishwasher start. “The time has come to ensure you all are
unable to raise the alarm – even while listening to the excellent choice in
music.” Going back to the bag, he took
out a clear plastic bag and removed three silk squares, all black, folding them
into pads as he said “one of these will go into your mouth – it will feel strange
at first, but that will pass. Just sit
still, and you’ll all be safe and quiet.”
“Thank you.”
“For what,”
Mister Tall said as he looked at Gloria.
“For – being
you, I guess.”
“IT is my
pleasure – now please, open your mouth.”
Gloria nodded
as she felt the soft touch of the material on her tongue, Mister Tall gently
pushing the folded scarf in as she closed her lips over it, then watched as
both Audrey and Simone received the same treatment. The masked man then took a wide roll of white
tape from the bag, tore a long strip off, and smoothed it onto her mouth, the
material sticking to the contours of her mouth and chin as he did so.
She watched as
he did the same to Audrey, the shape of her lips visible underneath, and then
to Simone as Mister Small came into the room, wiping down the table with a
cloth before he picked up the bag.
“I think our
work is concluded – ah, one thing.”
Putting the bag down, he went to the CD player and put a disk in, the
women watching as Mister Tall nodded.
“Indeed – the
Gentlemen Robbers bid you adieu, ladies,” he said as Mister Small picked up the
bag again, “may we never meet again.”
The three women
watched as they left the house, the front door closing as the music started to
play.
“Look down,
look down
Don't look 'me in the eye
Look down, look down
You're here until you die
“The sun is
strong
It's hot as hell below
Look down, look
down
there's twenty years to go.
“I've done no
wrong
Sweet Jesus, here my prayer
“Look down,
look down
Sweet Jesus doesn't care
“I know she'll
wait
I know that she'll be true
“Look down,
look down
They've all forgotten you
“When I get
free
You won't see me
'Ere for dust
“Look down,
look down
Don't look 'me in the eye.
“How long, O
Lord
Before you let me die?
“Look down,
look down
You'll always be a slave
Look down, look down
You're standing in your grave.”
“Chldbewhrsss,”
Gloria said, the other two nodding as they twisted in their seats, failing to
find any give in the ropes as the music continued.
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