Home Working
As they looked
out from the front of the grey transit van, the man behind the wheel said “so, we
know the lady of the house runs her business from there with the help of her
two assistants and the afternoon is their prime trading period.”
“So if there is
any interruption to that trade over, say, the next two hours, then it will be
noticed?”
“Exactly so I
have a suitable way to avoid that possibility.”
“Oh and what
exactly is that way?”
“We are not
going to interrupt trade with the help of her two assistants. On which not
e-shall we bring their lunch hour to an end?”
“Regretfully, I
believe we must “
“So we cease
trading at 4 o’clock,” Jasmine said as she sipped from her coffee mug. The
twenty-four-year-old had dark hair pulled back in a bun on her head, and was
wearing a pale blue trouser suit with a grey blouse underneath, as well as grey
ankle boots.
“Well, it is a
weekend,” Ivy said as she sat opposite. She was a year younger, wearing a black
trouser suit with a white blouse, the lapels of her blouse over those of her
jacket, as well as black leather shoes, her long light brown hair falling over
her shoulders. “The boss lady has approved?”
“Well, she hasn’t
said no,” Jasmine said quietly as she heard the doorbell. “Are we expecting a
delivery?”
“I wasn’t want me to check with her?”
“Nah I’ll get
it,” Jasmine said as she stood up, Ivy finishing her coffee before she stood up
as well.
“Ivy?”
“Yeah, what “ She turned to see Jasmine standing there, her hands in the
air as two men stood behind her. They both had black balaclava masks over their
heads, as one of them said “Good afternoon Ivy please, remain calm, and do
exactly what I ask you to do. Are those your workstations over there?”
“Yes “
“Good why don’t
you and Jasmine go and sit in your chairs, hand son your head, and Mister Small
here will make you comfortable for the afternoon shift while I go and have a
conversation with your employer?”
“They have
guns,” Jasmine whispered, Ivy nodding as she raised her own hands and they
walked over to where two desks were arranged, sitting at them as they faced
laptops.
“Thank you -
kindly put your hand son your head, palm down,” the masked man said, the two
women complying as he put a holdall on the floor,
drew from it two lengths of rope, and used them to secure their waists to the
chair backs and the central support.
He then turned
Jasmine round as she looked at him, in his black leather jacket, jumper and
pants, before he bound her ankles tightly together and secured them to the seat
support. Turning her back, he did the same to Ivy, before he stood up and said “please,
answer a question for me ladies will your work for the afternoon require you to
actually speak to anyone?”
“No,” Jasmine
said, “why?”
“Good “
Anna McKenzie
was sat at her desk, looking at the screen of her laptop as she rested her chin
on her hands on front of herself. She was wearing a grey blazer over a purple
jersey dress, her grey hair cut in a bob as she looked through her glasses and
spoke quietly to herself.
“I suggest the
red Jack on the black Queen.”
The male voice took
Anna by surprise as she turned round in hr chair and looked at the unexpected
arrival. He was tall over six foot by her reckoning and dressed in black
including the leather gloves on his hands and the balaclava mask that covered
his head.
“Good
afternoon,” she said quietly as she removed her glasses, would it be impolite
to ask who you are, and what you are doing in my home?”
“Not at all,
Anna if I may call you Anna. I am Mister Tall, and my partner Mister Small is
currently ensuring your two assistants continue to work while we discuss
matters.”
“Ah,” Anna said
quietly, “and why should I not press my personal alarm?”
“It would be a
regrettable thing to do, Anna,” Mister Tall said as he smiled. “Neither of us
has any desire to hurt anyone, and our style is to respect everyone but do not
mistake that for softness on our part. Please, do not do that.”
Anna looked
closely at him, and then said quietly “you make a most persuasive argument. So,
Mister Tall, what exactly do you wish me to do?”
“Well, firstly,
place your handbag and your mobile phone on the table, where I can see them,
and then with regret I must ask you to remove your jewellery and place them
next to your phone.”
“I do not think
I have a choice?”
“There is
always a choice, Anna but choose wisely.”
Anna laughed
quietly as she folded her glasses and put them on the table, then lifted her
handbag from the floor and put that next to her glasses, removing her phone and
placing that on the other side. She then removed her watch, rings, necklace and bracelets and set them down, before she said “and
now?”
“And now, I ask
you to open the safe, and then to stand perfectly still, with your hands behind
your back.” “I rather expected that would be the case,” Anna said with a sigh
as she knelt in front of a safe, and then opened the door, before standing with
her hands behind her back. She felt the rope as her wrists were forced together, before she said “and my assistants?”
“Hard at work,
I am sure.”
Jasmine and Ivy
looked at each other, and then continued to type on their laptops, taking care
of requests and other enquiries as the white tape covered their mouths,
preventing them from talking to each other. As they did so, Mister Small was searching the cabinets, behind them, placing certain items
into the holdall he had as he was doing so.
“Continue
ladies,” he said with a smile.
Anna grunted as
the ropes forced her arms against her sides, the two bands framing her chest as
her jacket was forced open when her chest was forced up and out.
“I trust that
is not too uncomfortable,” Mister Tall eventually said as the ropes were tied
ff.
“It is not
uncomfortable,” Anna said as she twisted round, “I presume we are not satisfied
with the contents of the safe?”
“Given none of
your jewellery is present within, I do believe we have to visit your bedroom
and look there,” Miser Tall said, and then they heard the doorbell ring. “Not a
word,” he said as he put a gloved finger to his lips, “allow my friend to take
care of them “
“Who was it who
decided 3 pm on a Friday is a good time for a team meeting?”
“Anna, who
else,” April said as she pulled up outside the house. She was the tallest of
the three women, her dark hair in a ponytail, and was wearing a black jacket
over a grey camisole, a knee length white linen skirt and white high heels.
“Of course she
would,” May said as she unfastened her seatbelt, “she has no life outside of
work after all, no excitement.” She had long straw blonde hair, which feel over
the shoulders of the cream jacket she was wearing over the white top with thin
black horizontal stripes. A pair of dark trousers and suede heels completed her
outfit.
“Let’s just get
this over with,” June said as she got out of the rear of the car, “I have a hot
date tonight.” The youngest of the three, she had long brown hair, and was
wearing a grey jacket over a white top, grey checked pants and grey shoes.
As the trio
approached the front door of the house, it opened up
before them, so April ed the way in, saying “hey Jasmine I hope you’ve got the
coffee brewing.”
“I regret to
say Jasmine and Iny are busy. Please, slowly lower your handbags to the floor,
and then stand with your hands in the air.”
The three new
arrivals turned to see the black clad man standing there, smiling as the
balaclava covered his head. “What’s going on,” June finally said.
“Well, at the moment,
I am asking you to put your handbags down before I make sure you cannot raise
the alarm,” he said with a smile. “You can call me Mister Small please, do as I
have asked now.”
The three women
looked at each other, and then slipped their handbags off, lowering them to the
floor as Mister Small watched them.
“Excellent
thank you all for your cooperation. Now, I also need your mobile phones if, as
I suspect, they are in your jackets and not in your handbags. If you would be
so kind?”
June nodded as
she reached into the inside pocket of her jacket, and handed her phone over as
the other two girls stood there.
“Thank you now,
please, come into the front room. I need to ensure you are comfortable.”
“My god are you
two all right?”
Jasmine and Ivy
nodded as they looked over from where they were working, Mister Small following
them before he said “Please kneel in front of that couch, and put your hands
behind your back. Your colleagues will join you soon enough “
“At least he’s
asking nicely,” May said, April and June nodding as they knelt
down and looked at each other while Mister Small knelt with a number of
ropes, and started to bind their wrists tightly together.
“That’s the
last place,” Anna said quietly as Mister Tall tipped the box into the bag, and
then looked at her.
“I believe you
Anna,” he said quietly, “and thank you for your cooperation.”
“So what
happens now?”
“Well, I think
you come and join your work colleagues,” Mister Tall said as he folded a black
silk square, “but I cannot allow you to communicate with them clearly. Please,
open your mouth it will feel strange for a while, but you will get used to it.”
“In the same
way I’m getting used to being trussed like a chicken.”
“Not quite like
a chicken,” Mister Tall said with a smile, “but yes. If you are ready?”
“Not really,
but “ Anna opened her mouth wide and tasted the silk
on her tongue as the cloth was pushed in, then heard the soft peeling sound as
the tape was torn from the roll and then pressed down over her lips. She sat
for a moment, getting used to the feel, before Mister Tall helped her to stand
and they walked down the staircase to the main room.
“Boss?”
“Shrhrghrls,” Anna mumbled as she walked into the room and
saw April, May and June sitting on the floor, their arms held against their
sides by the bands of rope that framed their chests. Mister Small was knelt
next to June, passing the rope round her legs and
binding them together as she saw the material gathered under the ropes.
April and May
were moving their legs from side to side, seeing the bands round their own
ankles and legs, as the smaller of the two masked men stood up and said “there
now Mister Tall, if you would ensure their silence, I will bring these two fine
ladies over to join them.”
“Allow me to
ensure Anna is comfortable,” Mister Tall said as he guided his own captive over
to a chaise longue, allowing her to sit down before he knelt
down and crossed her ankles, then passed the thin white rope round them
to secure them together. She watched as he then secured her legs together below
her knees, and then helped her to lie down while Mister Small wheeled Ivy over,
and then took her hands behind her back.
“Hrruuuhkrht,” Anna said, Ivy nodding as eh
felt the rope rubbing on her skin, and then on her arms as they were forced
against her sides above her chest. She then watched the taller of the gentlemen
as he took a roll of white tape from his pocket, and tore strips off, pressing
them down over the mouths of the latest arrivals to ensure their silence before
Jasmine was brought to join the group.
As May was
gagged, Mister Small bound the wrists and arms of the last captive, Jasmine
mumbling “fhknnuh” as she looked at the others. “Swhhtthnh?”
“Are we cleared
in here Mister Small?”
“I believe we
are, Mister Tall,” his partner said as he looked round. “Ladies, it has been a
pleasure to meet all of you, and we offer our most sincere apologies for the
interruption to your normal working schedule.”
“Indeed but you
are at least free for the weekend eventually,” Mister Tall said as he picked up
a bag, “the Gentlemen Robbers bid you adieu may we never meet again.”
The group of
women watched as the intruders slipped quietly out, and then all six started to
struggle in an attempt to get free an attempt that
over time was proving more and more futile.
“Thhkhnnwhthwhrdhn,” Ivy said as she looked at Jasmine, her
work partner nodding before they heard the doorbell.
“HLLLLPHHSSSS”
Jasmine called out, as the doorbell rang again, and then it opened in.
“Jas? You in .
Dear god!” The young man stared at her and then ran over peeling the tape away
from Jasmine’s mouth as he said “I tried to call, but your phone was turned
off, so I came round “
“I’m glad you
did,” Jasmine whispered, “call the police, then get us free “
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