Jay's Full House (MF/Ff)
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 3:27 pm
“Nay lassie,†she said in a soft Scottish accent, “and it’ll be a grand adventure fer all o ye. But ye’re the furst, so ye get tae show the others that it’s no ae bad thing.â€
“It’s all right Chloe,†the older woman said as she stood by one of the men, “we’ll all get through this together. You were going to have an adventure day with the other girls anyway – this makes it even more so.†She was in her late twenties, and wore a grey sweater, blue denim knee length skirt, dark tights and long black felt boots. She also had a long purple woollen scarf tied loosely round her neck.
She lived with her daughter as the manager of this retreat house – hosting groups for weekends away, and this weekend she had a booking for the wives of three of the directors of a prestigious financial advisor business coming with their daughters. The plan had been for her and Chloe to welcome them, and then provide some food before they took the girls on a walk – then come together and let them play some games while she cooked dinner.
That plan had suddenly taken a very different turn with the arrival of the unexpected guests. Chloe had been sitting at the table in the kitchen, eating her breakfast when the rear door had opened, and they had come in. They were dressed identically – blue boiler suits, dark gloves, boots, and balaclava covering their heads so that only their eyes and mouths were visible. There were five of them – four men and one woman, who was now kneeling in front of Chloe.
“Mum, this will be an adventure, right?â€
The older woman nodded as the man beside her said with a Geordie accent “now then, Mandy, do you understand what you have to do this morning?â€
“Welcome the guests, take the children into the games room where Mrs McPhee will be waiting with Chloe, then bring the mothers in here.â€
“Very good – and if the telephone rings?â€
“Take a message and hang up quickly.†Turning to face the man, she said “I’ve heard of Jay Edwards – I do believe you mean us no harm.â€
“Put yer hands together in front of ye, lass,†Mrs McPhee said, Chloe nodding as she put her hands together in prayer, and watching as the woman doubled the rope over, and tied it round her wrists, pulling them together before she wrapped it round several times. She then tucked the ends into one loop, separated them, and passed them between her wrists so that they were held firmly together.
The young girl was wearing a peach coloured sleeveless dress, dark pants with holes in the knees, and the legs of the pants tucked into a pair of black leather boots. They had a quilted pattern, and false buckled straps around the ankles and the tops.
“That’s different,†she said as Mrs McPhee tried the rope off, and she twisted her arms round.
“Aye – noo, why don’t ye show me this games room?â€
“Please,†Mandy said as Jay took her wrists behind her back, and tied them together with rope, “let me go with her so that I know she is all right?â€
“Of course,†Jay said as Chloe stood up, shaking her head as he light brown hair moved with it, and then they made their way out of the kitchen and along a long corridor to the main entrance hallway. Mandy then opened a door, the others following her and Chloe in as Jay looked round.
“Ah – this will be perfect,†he said as he walked and carefully looked out of the windows, “this cannot be seen from the main way up.â€
“Where dae ye wanna sit,†Mrs McPhee said as she looked at Chloe. The young girl walked over to a large bean bag in front of the wall mounted television and sat down, the masked Scottish woman nodding as she took some more ropes from one of the other masked men and walked over. Kneeling down, she tied Chloe’s ankles together in the same way as she had tied her wrists, the little girl giggling as the gloved fingers managed to tickle the back of her legs.
“Will she be all right in here?â€
“Oh yes – by bringing the girls in here, Mrs McPhee can stay with my friend here, and once they are all secured they can have fun together. When is the first car due to arrive?â€
Mandy glanced up at the wall mounted clock, and said “in about half an hour.â€
“then we have plenty of time,†Jay said with a smile as Mrs McPhee tied Chloe’s legs together, the band of rope sitting on top of her boots and below her knees, and then bent her legs before she tied her wrists to that leg binding. The bright January sun shone through the window as Mrs McPhee said “noo, this needs tae be a surprise fer all of them, so a little tape oer yer moff for a whuile, awl richt?â€
Chloe looked at her mother, who nodded as Mrs McPhee stuck the white tape over the young girl’s lips. Chloe looked at Morag, and said “Hlllbhhfhnn†as the television was turned on, Jay said “stay with Mrs McPhee, make preparations†as he left a bag on the floor, and then guided Mandy out.
“Let’s return to the kitchen – and wait,†he said quietly as his mind went back to last week.
“You have to be kidding me,†Mark Williamson said as he looked at the laptop screen, “Patterson Holdings? I have dealings with them!â€
“I know,†Brian Holderness-Carter said from the screen, “but we have credible information someone in the board of directors is money laundering – we just don’t know if it is the chief executive, the chief financial officer or the head lawyer. Which is why we need to take this rather – radical approach.â€
“You’re telling me,†Mark said quietly as he looked at the papers Brian had sent over. “You do remember what happened last time I had to use a country retreat for a visit?â€
“This is different,†Brian said with a smile, “the arrangements have already been made for the families of all three to spend the day there while the husbands are at various meetings. You take them as Jay Edwards – two of them are just the mother and daughters coming, but the Chief Financial Officer is driving his family up – he’s the one you get to weave your magic with.â€
“And the other two?â€
“I have plans in place for them once you signal me that all three families have arrived. Can you do this?â€
“We can do it,†Yvonne said as she sat next to Mark, “I’ll plan accordingly. So who is the first package?â€
“Mandy Dale, and her eleven year old daughter Chloe. Widower – her husband was killed in Iraq – and runs the retreat house. Plan to get there early, so that rooms and other things can be set up.â€
“How do you do it,†Mandy asked as she sat at the kitchen table, Jay sitting with her.
“How do I do what?â€
“Manage to keep us both so calm – I should be terrified, but…â€
“It’s a gift,†Jay said with a smile as he looked at his phone. “But right now, your first guests are arriving. Shall we?â€