Unexpected Hosts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim Yakamoto smiled as she said “great – can you just extend a little more,” the young blonde model nodding as she posed again.  She was wearing a diaphanous brown dress and black thigh high boots, smiling as the photographer continued to take the pictures.

 

Kim herself was in her late forties, and was one of the best known female fashion photographers in the country.  For today, she was wearing a yellow cashmere sweater with a roll neck, a gold circle necklace hanging loosely round her neck.  Her skirt was a sliver pleated material that came down over her knees, a pair of quilted effect black leather boots coming up under the hem of her skirt to her knees.  A thin silver studded belt was fastened loosely round her waist.

 

“Good, good,” Kim said quietly, her brown hair pinned up on her head with  a red clasp.  It was a good day, and a few minutes later she said quietly “great – that’s a wrap everyone.”

 

“Got plans for tonight Kim,” the model said as she came over.

 

“Only in the sense my dinner is coming over for dinner,” Kim said with a smile, “and then an early night.”

 

“Sounds fun?”

 

“No – nice quiet night…”

 

 

 

Kim pulled her car up in front of her detached two storey house, smiling as she got out and opened the boot to remove her camera case.  The house stood a small way back from the road, allowing her some privacy – a thing she valued greatly.

 

Walking to the front door, she unlocked it in and walked in, putting the silver case down on the floor as she closed the door, and walked over to the control box for the alarm.

 

Only to stare at the panel as she whispered “did I forget to set the alarm this morning?”

 

“No – no you did not, Madame Yakamoto – my friend here switched it off when we entered your home.”

 

Kim spun round, her skirt flowing in the motion, to stare at the two men who were standing behind her.  They wore black leather jackets over roll necked sweaters, dark trousers and shoes, black leather gloves – and black balaclava masks over their heads, allowing only their eyes and mouths to be seen.

 

“who…”

 

“Allow me to introduce ourselves,” one of the men said as he pointed a gun at Kim, “I am Mister Tall – my friend and associate, Mister Small.”

 

“You…  You’re serious?”

 

“Indeed we are,” The armed man said as Kim continued to stare at both of them.  The disparity in height, and hence the names, were clear, as she finally said “I presume you are here to rob my house?”

 

“A fair assumption,” Mister Tall said, “and in answer to your next question, yes, I regret to say it will be necessary to ensure you cannot prevent us from being about our appointed assignment.  I assure you, however, do as we ask and you will be left as comfortably secure as possible.”

 

Kim raised an eyebrow, as she said “Comfortably secure?”

 

“Indeed – Mister Small?”

 

She looked at the smaller of the two men as he drew from a jacket pocket a length of white rope, and said “I want you to turn round, Madame Yakamoto, and cross your wrists behind your back.”

 

“Ah – I think I see what you mean now,” she said quietly as she turned and moved her hands behind her back, looking over her shoulder as the smaller of the two men walked behind her.  She felt the rope on her wrists as it was passed around them, the cuffs of her jumper providing some protection to her skin – but it was tight, and as the masked man worked Kim knew the chances of her getting her wrists free were slim.

 

“You – gentlemen seem to know what you are doing?”

 

“We are well versed,” Mister Tall said with a smile as his partner puled the rope between Kim’s wrists, and then secured the ends out of reach of her fingers.  “Shall we head to your main room?”

 

“I really do not have a choice, do I,” Kim said as the masked pair took her by the arms and walked her in.  she could see the curtains were drawn, and on the couch she saw several coils of rope neatly laid out.  Mister Small selected one, and shook it loose, doubling it over as he walked back behind Kim and passed it round her body.  She felt her arms being forced against her sides as the rope was pulled tight under her chest, and then the pressure as it was taken round her above her breasts.

 

“I have your word I will come to no actual physical harm?”

 

“You have our word,” Mister Tall said as he watched Mister Small continue to take the rope round their captive’s body, her sweater stretched over her chest before he tied the ends off.  Taking a further length, he passed it round the two bands between her arm and body, pulling it tight before it went round the back of her head, and then was secured on the other side.

 

“There – I trust it is not too uncomfortable, Madame?”

 

“No – no, I can cope with this,” Kim said as she looked at herself, the white bands on the yellow.  “So what happens now?”

 

“Well, I must ask you to accompany me on a tour of your home,” Mister Tall said, “while Mister Small continues to examine your possessions in the lower rooms.”

 

Kim slowly nodded, her mind focused on her current predicament as Mister Tall took her by the arm and helped her to walk up the staircase n the hallway.  Mister Small hummed to himself as he made his way to the kitchen…

 

 

 

Suki Yakamoto turned from the main road onto the driveway of her mother’s house, checking her phone as she did so.  The twenty year old had long black hair hanging loose, her fawn leather jacket fastened up over her white t-shirt.  The flat soled black leather boots she was wearing were zipped on the inside of her legs to her knee, the flap up and covering her knees on the side as well as the lower half of her electric blue leatherette leggings.  The leggings themselves had a V-shaped pattern, but fitted her like gloves.

 

She looked up and round before she open the front door, stepping in as she called out “Mother?  I’m here?”

 

She could hear movement on the upper floor, so she imagined the e silence was for – personal reasons – so she made her way into the front room and headed for the drinks cabinet.  Pouring herself a whiskey, she smiled and took a sip.

 

“Good evening.”

 

The male voice took her by surprise, as she slowly turned to see the man standing there, dressed and masked in black.  He was about five foot seven tall, six inches smaller than her, but she could also see the gun in his hand, as she said “who are you?”

 

“The media refer to me as Mister Small – perhaps you have heard of me?”

 

Suki slowly nodded as she said “if you are he, then your partner in crime?”

 

“Is currently with your mother - I regret to say your plans for this evening have been – changed.  Please, remove your jacket, kneel in front of the very comfortable couch there, and lean forward with your hands behind your back.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because it is necessary for me to secure you,” Mister Small said with a smile.  ~”If you would please do as I ask?”

 

Raising an eyebrow, Suki walked over and knelt down, her leggings creaking slightly as she unfastened her coat and slipped it off, and then moved her hands behind her back.  Mister Small smiled as he put the gun down where she could see it, took  a length of rope from those she now saw on the leather cushions, and felt him wrap it round her bare wrists as he drew them together.

 

“So you are a Gentlemen Robber,” she whispered as she felt the cords tighten, “I have to say, your manners do justify the name.”

 

“We find it works for us,” Mister Small said as he passed the rope between her wrists and then tied the ends off.  He knelt down and crossed her ankles before he began to secure them, using the same rope in the same way as he had to secure her wrists.

 

 

 

“So your – friend is securing my daughter?”

 

“Indeed, Madame Yakamoto,” Mister Tall said as he emptied the money he had found in her safe into his bag.  Her necklace, as well as her rings and earrings, were also in there – although he had allowed her to keep her wedding and engagement ring on her finger.

 

“I should thank you allowing me to keep these,” she said quietly as she looked behind her, “a reminder of my late husband.”

 

“We are not monsters, Madame – but I thank you for showing me where other things are,” Mister Tall said as he emptied the contents of one jewellery box into his bag.

 

“So what are your intentions for us when you leave?”

 

“Well,” Mister Tall said as he looked at her, “I will take you ack to the main room, and you and your daughter will be left together.  I will say, however, that we will ensure it is not simple for you to free each other – and we will leave you so that you will not be in a position to raise the alarm vocally.  In return, you have my word we will alert he authorities of your situation once we have had sufficient time to ensure we are safely away.”

 

“Well,” Kim said as she twisted round, “I cannot ask for more than that.”

 

“Excellent – allow me to help you to stand, and we will take you to be with your daughter.”

 

 

 

Suki looked through the door of the room as her mother walked down the staircase, a tall, masked man following her, and then gasped as she saw her walk in.  She was now sitting on the couch, feeling the ropes tighten on her chest as Mister Small wound them round her above and below her chest, her breasts forced up and out as he took the rope under one arm, up and around the back of her neck, and then under the other arm.

 

“Mother…”

 

“I know,” Kim said quietly as Mister Tall indicated she should sit in an armchair, 2has he hurt or harmed you?”

 

“No – in fact, he has been polite to a fault,” Suki said as Mister Small tied the ropes off.

 

“Perhaps the ladies would appreciate some water?”

 

Kim and Suki nodded as Mister Small left the room, Mister Tall taking more of the white rope that was beside Suki as he knelt down and started to secure Kim’s ankles together.

 

She heard the squeak as her legs were made to rub together by the binding, as Suki said “I imagine we will have alate supper then?”

 

“I think so, yes,” Kim said as the ropes were tied off, and then Mister Tall looked at her.  “Forgive me, Madame Yakamoto,” he said as he folded back the front of her skirt, and then bound her legs together below her knees, the rope going round and between her limbs before he tied it off, and folded back her skirt.

 

He then went over and knelt in front of Suki,  doubling more rope over and passing it round her legs below her knees before he pulled it tight, then wrapped the rope around and between her legs to secure them together.

 

As he stood up, Mister Small returned with two glasses of water, straws in each as he handed one to Mister Tall.  The two masked robbers then allowed Kim and Suki to slowly drink the liquid, both women looking at each other as they did so.

 

“Have you had enough,” Mister Small said as he took the straw from Suki’s lips, wiping her chin with a white napkin.

 

“Yes , thank you.”

 

“Excellent – open your mouth as wide as you can, please.”

 

“Time for us to stop talking,” Kim said, Suki nodding as the white cloth was pushed into her open mouth, filling the space as she closed her lips over it.  Mister Small then put the glass down, and tore from a roll a wide strip of white tape, pressing it gently down over Suki’s mouth as it formed to the shape of her chin.

 

“Suki?”

 

“Mhhlrhthtmhfr”, Suki mumbled through the cloth and tape as she looked at her mother. Kim nodded as Mister Tall wiped her own chin , and then pushed the white cloth gently into her own mouth. She closed her lips over the material, feeling it pressed down on her tongue, and watching as Mister Tall peeled a length of white tape from the roll and pressed it down over her own mouth. She could feel the slight tug on the skin around her lips as he did this but when she tried to speak, all she heard was “Htrrhlkhsmhqhht.”

 

Mister Tall nodded and smiled as he made sure the tape was holding firm. At the same time, Mister Small helped Suki to lie on her side on the couch and rolled her over onto her stomach, Kim watching as he gently pulled her bound ankles back, and then secured them to the ropes that held her arms against her sides.

 

“I trust you are not too uncomfortable,” he said as Suki rolled over onto her side, feeling the short heels of her boots with her fingers as she shook her head.  He nodded, and then took the two glasses out of the room.

 

“Wrhshshghn?”

 

“To do the washing up,” Mister Tall replied, the two women hearing the sound of water running and then shaking their heads.  Suki could feel the cloth absorbing the moisture in her mouth, but no matter how much she tried to twist her lips, the tape held firm.

 

“All done,” Mister Tall said as Mister Small came back in.

 

“all done – thank you for your hospitality, ladies, but we have what we came for, and now with regret we must leave you.”

 

“Uhphrhmmshdd.”

 

“I did,” Mister Tall said, “and I shall keep my promise.  The Gentlemen Robbers bid you both adieu, ladies – may we never meet again.”

 

Both men made a low bow and left the room, Kim watching as the front door opened and closed.  She then looked over at Suki as her daughter started to try and twist round on the couch, seeing fi there was any way she could start to loosen the ropes that held her body.  She could hear the squeaking noise, either of her boots or her leggings rubbing, the sweat on the younger woman’s forehead as she tried to get free.

 

“Shkjkhhe?”

 

Suki stopped and looked over, beads of sweat on her forehead as she said “Mhffhr?”

 

“Dhnntt – hddhntwhntuhthghthrt.”

 

“Bhttheerhbbhdhs.”

 

“Hknnhh – bhtthsrrhsphcthdhs.”

 

“Thhddhd?”

 

Kim nodded as she slowly pushed herself forward, and then managed to stand up, her skirt falling down to cover the binding round her legs below her knees.  She stood still for a moment, and then started to jump over to where Suki was lying, small jumps as her skirt rose up and down.

 

Eventually, she managed to sit in the middle of the couch, and looked over her shoulder as she rubbed on the edge of the tape over her daughter’s mouth with her fingers.  It seemed to take an eternity as Suki lay still, but eventually she managed to get the edge of the tape loose, and grip it between two fingers.

She looked over her shoulder and nodded as Suki slowly started to move her head, the tape coming away from her face before she managed to get it off, and then used her tongue to push the now soaking wet and dark cloth onto the cushion of where she was lying.

 

Kim watched as Suki inhaled deeply, and then said “Mother, thank you.  What did they promise to do?”

 

“Chhlthphlhhsss.”

 

“Call the police?”

 

Kim nodded as Suki said “I hope they do – but I think they will . I cannot reach a knot.  Can you?”

 

Kim looked at her and then shook her head as Suki nodded.  “In that case, can you sit down, and I will try to do the same to you so we can talk?”

 

Her mother nodded as she knelt down, Suki rolling over and then looking over her shoulder as Kim placed her taped mouth near her daughter’s fingers…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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