Graduation
Day
“Agafya Khan!”
The young woman
was glowing as she walked forward, holding the large black cap in her
hand. The cream silk scarf that covered
her head and neck was tucked into the roll neck of her long cream wool dress, a
wide black leather belt round her waist and a matching pair of flat riding
boots over her feet, the tops under the hem of the skirt.
In her seat in
the audience, her mother Kilya was beaming with pride. The older woman was wearing an olive green
coat dress, buttoned up the front, and black pants with black ankle boots. Like her daughter, she had a scarf covering
her head and neck, in her case a large gold scarf with a floral pattern printed
on it. She applauded as her daughter
stood at the dais, the cap placed on her head and the degree certificate handed
over, and then went down to join the rest of her classmates.
It was a most
precious day, and as such, she wished her husband could be here – but Agafya’s
father had returned home on family business before the travel restrictions, and
now…
She applauded
as the next person was capped - after this, they would go home and celebrate…
“I wish he was
here as well, mama,” Agafya said as the car turned into the driveway of their
detached home, “but he is not. I am sure
he will call later to talk to us.”
“As am I,”
Kilya said as they brought the car to a stop in the front of the house, and
they both got out. Neither of them
noticed the grey transit van that pulled up at the bottom of the driveway as
they walked in.
“So shall I
prepare some food while you take a seat,” Kilya said as she closed the door.
“Why not,”
Agafya said as she walked into the main room and turned the music centre
on. As the air was filled with tunes,
she was surprised to hear a knock on the front door.
“Shall I see
who that is, mama?”
“Please,” Kilya
called back as Agafya made her way to the front door, opening it as she said”
how can I…”
“Good evening
my dear – please, quietly, walk back and keep your hands where we can see
them.”
Agafya stared
at the two men who walked in – identically dressed, with black leather jackets
over roll neck sweaters, trousers, sneakers, gloves, and balaclava masks. The only difference between them, apart from
the fact one was pointing a gun at her, and the other carrying a holdall, was
their height – the armed intruder stood a good foot taller than his partner.
“Allow me to introduce
myself,” he said with a smile. “I am
Mister Tall, my partner Mister Small.
And you would be?”
“Agafya,” she
said quietly, “why are you pointing a gun at me?”
“To get your
attention – be assured, do as we ask, and nobody gets hurt. Agafya – where is your mother?”
“My
mother? She is… No, please, do not hurt her…”
“Agafya,” the smaller
man said as he put the bag down, “my friend is quite correct- so long as you
both do what we say, then no harm will come to either of you. I regret the fact we will need to restrain
and silence you, but apart from that inconvenience, you will both be fine.”
She looked at
them both as Mister Small opened the bag and took out a length of white cord,
doubling it over as he walked behind her, and then guided her arms behind her
back. She felt the rope rubbing on her
wrists, as Mister Small secured them together, taking the lengths around and
between her arms as she looked at Mister Tall.
“So what
exactly do you want?”
“To take your
valuables,” Mister Tall said with a smile as Mister Small tied the ends
off. “Shall we repair to the front
room?”
Agafya nodded
slowly as she flexed her fingers, walking with the two men into the front room
as the masked men looked round.
“Please,”
Mister Tall said as he indicated the long red upholstered couch, “be
seated. Mister Small, would you ensure
Agafya’s ankles are secured together.”
“Of course,”
the second man said as he produced more rope form the bag, and knelt in front
of Agafya, wrapping the rope around her boot4ed ankles and forcing them
together as she looked to the doorway.
“So, who was at
the door, Agafya… Oh my.”
She groaned as
she saw her mother come in, staring at her as the man kneeling there took the
rope around and between her ankles.
“Good evening,
Kilya – as you can see, my friend Mister Small is ensuring your daughter stays
where she is. For your own safety, I
recommend you do not scream or try to raise the alarm – neither of us has any
desire to cause you any real harm.”
“Mister
Small?” Kilya watched as the masked man
stood up and smiled, and then looked to her side. “That would make you Mister Tall, correct?”
“At your
service,” he replied with a smile and an inclination of the head, “do I have
your word you will do what we ask?”
“DO I have a
choice?”
“Of course,
dear lady, but I do strongly recommend you accept what we are saying, for your
own well-being. Now, I require you to
put your hands behind your back.”
“You intend to
tie me up?”
“I intend to
ensure you are kept safe, with your daughter, when we leave. For now, however, kindly put your hand s
behind your back.”
“Have they hurt
you, Agafya?”
“They have not,
mama,” Agafya said as she watched Mister Small stand up, walking to the bag and
retrieving a length of cord which he handed to Mister Tall before he took the
gun. “I do believe them when they say
they will not harm us.”
“As do I,”
Kilya said quietly as she moved her hands behind her back and felt the rope on her
wrists as Mister Tall started to secure them together. “We will do what you ask.”
“As it should
be,” Mister tall said with a smile as he took the rope between the older
woman’s arms to tighten the band, and then secured the ends out of reach of her
fingers. “Now, here is what is going to
happen – my friend will stay with your darling daughter, and make sure she is
not in a position to raise the alarm, while you and I take a pleasant walk
around this house to find what we can find.
Then I will bring you back here, and ensure you and Agafya stay right
here.”
“We do not have
much of value…”
Mister Tall
smiled as he said “be assured, my dear lady, I will know what is of value and
what is not. Often it is the things we
do not notice that are the most valuable.
Which reminds me – do you have a mobile phone?”
“In my handbag.”
“And you, my
dear,” Mister Tall said as he looked at Agafya.
“Also, in my
bag – why?”
“Mister Small,
once you have made Agafya comfortable, ensure you have their phones so they may
not use them – and then ensure that their means of communication are
disabled. Shall we?”
“Be brave,”
Kilya said to her daughter as Mister Tall escorted her out of the room, Mister
Small nodding as he said “I now need to ensure you truly cannot move. I mean no disrespect and apologise in advance
if I inadvertently call you distress.”
“In what way”
Agafya asked as she watched him walk back to the bag and remove a longer length
of rope, doubling it over as he walked behind the couch she was sitting on, and
then passing it round her and pulling it tight under her chest as her arms were
forced against her body. She looked down
as he took the rope around her again, this time above her chest, then made
several more passes so that her arms were held tightly against her, leaving her
unable to do more than twist round.
“this is
tight,” she said quietly, “but it is comfortable. How is that possible?”
“Practice on my
part,” Mister Small said with a smile as he walked back round, and then looked
at the certificate on the table.
“A degree in
psychology?”
“Yes – I
graduated today,” Agafya said as she wriggled round, perplexed by the lack of
ability to move and also hearing the sound of the rope on her leather boots.
“Then allow me
to offer my congratulations,” Mister Small said with a smile, “it is a most
useful skill and understanding to have.”
“So, if I was
studying you now?”
“I would be flattered,”
Mister Small said as he arranged some cushions on the arm of the couch. “But for now, I have to do something
else. May I assist you to lie down and
rest your head on the cushions?”
“Why?”
“For your
comfort and safety. May I?”
“I have no
choice but to accept,” Agafya said as Mister Small lifted her legs and helped
her to move round, watching as she laid her head down before he adjusted the
skirt of her dress, and then used a length of rope to secure her legs together
below her knees. She tried to move round
again, with little success as Mister Small found both mobile phones and turned
them off.
He then walked
into the hallway, unplugging the main phone as Agafya looked at him, before he
came back in and took from the bag a wide roll of white tape.
“What is that
for,” she said as she watched him literally peel the edge of the tape free from
the roll, and then tear a long strip off.
“Allow me to
show you,” Mister Small replied with a smile.
“Please, put your lips together…”
“I need to
thank you for your cooperation,” Mister Tall said as he placed the necklace in
the velvet bag.
“It would have
done me no good to fight,” Kilya said as she looked at him, “so what now?”
“As I said, we
join your daughter – if you will allow me,” the masked man said with a smile as
he helped her to stand up and walked her out of the door, and then down to the
main room.
“Mhmmm…”
“Oh my,” Kilya
said as she saw Agafya try to talk to her, her lips moving under the white tape
that covered her mouth and chin. She was
laid out on the couch, a band of white rope holding her legs together over her
skirt, and her arms heled tightly to her sides.
“Has he taken advantage of you?”
Agafya shook
her head from side to side as Mister Small looked up from the laptop he was
typing on.
“Have you found
what we were looking for, Mister Small?”
“I have, Mister
Tall – do you need assistance?”
“Not at this
time, no,” the taller mans aid with a smile as he reached into the bag and took
out a longer length of rope – one he shook free and doubled over, and then
passed round her, forcing her arms against her sides as he wound it round her
stomach and her upper arms.
“You do know
what you are doing,” Kilya said quietly.
“Well, I ama
professional,” Mister Tall said as he pulled the ropes tighter, Agafya watching
as he tied the ropes off, and then helped her mother to sit in an armchair.
“If you would
kindly raise your legs and put your feet on the table for a moment, crossing
your ankles?”
“Very well
then,” she said as she complied, watching as he wound rope round her ankles and
secured them tightly together, and then secured her legs together below her
knees, each band cinched with the rope between her legs, before he lowered them
again and took the roll of white tape out of the bag.
“And now,
regretfully, I must ensure you are as quiet as your daughter,” Mister Tall said
as he tore a strip of tape away. “Keep
your lips together, and breathe through your nose – that way, there will be no
problems.”
“Very well
then,” Kilya said as she felt the tape being smoothed down over her face,
adhering to the contours of her chin, and covering her mouth. IT was not uncomfortable, but it kept her
quiet as she said “fhkuhhfhruhrkhndnhss.”
“It is our pleasure,”
Mister Tall said as Mister Small stood up, closing the laptop as he did
so. “My work is done, Mister Tall,” he
said quietly as he put other items into the canvas bag.
“Excellent –
then we need to be on our way,” Mister Tall said as he looked at the room and
smiled. “The Gentlemen Robbers bid you
adieu ladies – may we never meet again.”
Agafya and
Kilya watched as the two masked men left, closing the door behind them before
Kilya started to twist round, desperate to find a way to break free – but with
little luck, as Agafya said “Mhhmmhh, htsnhghhddd. Hlppwhlchmshnn.”
“Hwchnubshrrr?”
“Fhhfrhsnhttchlllhd. Whthpphnswhnhchnnhtthlkthhs?”
“They should
not be too long in being rescued,” Mister Tall said as the two men removed the
balaclavas and sat in the transit van.
“You sent the message?”
“I did – and I
have the information our contact wanted.
I pray they will not feel too discommoded.”
“As do I –
shall we?”
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