Beauty and The Best - The Offer (MF/Fmf)

[KP Presents]

“You have got to be joking,” Tom said as he looked across the kitchen table at his partner. “A pay CUT?”

“Yup,” Barbara said as she sipped her coffee, “so I’m just glad you are getting some extra hours – for now.”

“Yeah,” Tom said, “but that won’t last forever – I think we may have to go out again this weekend.”

“Even though it is the Easter weekend?”

“I really don’t think we have a choice in the matter,” Tom said with a sigh. “So, we need to make it a good one – and I think that means the special target.”

“Margaret Baines?”

“Indeed – the esteemed Lady Mayoress,” Tom said with a sigh as he stood up. “I’ll get the material and we can review it together. I know she has the family round for holidays by past practice - which means we need to be prepared for a few others if we go on Friday…”

Good Friday
1 pm

“That was a good service,” Margaret Baines said as she unlocked the front door of her country house, and walked in, her daughter Cindy and her grandson Allan following her. Margaret was in her late fifties, and owned a chain of local businesses, as well as the office of Mayor. Her hair was dyed blonde and cut to frame her face, and she was wearing a blue cardigan over a blue and white striped top, jeans and a pair of blue moccasins.

Cindy was her youngest daughter at thirty years old, with long dark brown hair, and was wearing a lemon-coloured cardigan over a white top, jeans with the cuffs of the legs turned up, and her own blue moccasins. Her six-year-old son Allan had short light brown hair and was wearing a white jacket over a yellow polo shirt, checked shorts and grey shoes.

“Can I have a drink Gran,” he said as Margaret closed the door.

“Of course, you can – you go into the living room with your mother, and I will fetch us all a cold drink,” Margaret said with a smile. Allan nodded as he took Cindy’s hand and they both walked through one door, Margaret smiling to herself as she made her way into the kitchen.

It was as she was walking back with a tray, three glasses of iced drinks on it, that she heard the knock on the door and saw two figures through the frosted glass. “I’ll get it – you give Allan his drink,” Cindy said as she came out of the room, Margaret nodding as she made her way on and set the tray down on a low table, handing a glass to Allan.

“Thank you, Gran,” he said as he took the drink, and Margaret looked to the door.

“Hi Jackie,” she said as she came over and greeted the new arrivals. Jackie was her oldest daughter and was wearing a white cardigan with thin black stripes over a blue top, and jeans tucked into a pair of knee length black leather boots. With her were her two children – ten-year-old Judy was wearing a white denim jacket over a yellow top, a blue patterned skirt and white thong sandals, while eleven-year-old Billy was wearing a dark and light blue polo shirt with jeans and white trainers.

“You two grab a drink as well,” Margaret said as Cindy embraced her sister, “I’ll go and do some coffees for the three of us.” She left the room again, and went back to the kitchen, finding three mugs before she put the water on to boil.

As she stirred the water in the cups, she heard the knock on the back door. That in itself was not unusual – she had deliveries through the rear door regularly. What was new was the sight as she opened the door, and a young man said “thank you, Mrs. Baines – please, allow us to come in.”

“What the…”

“Please, Mrs. Baines – or may I call you Margaret – allow us to come in.” It was a young woman who spoke this time, Margaret backing up as they both came in. They were young – she reckoned no older than twenty – and wearing black wool caps on their heads, as well as domino masks over their eyes with dark makeup around their eyes themselves. The young woman was wearing a tight-fitting black sweater and leggings, with over the knee black felt boots, and black cloth gloves, while the young man was wearing a black sweater, pants and shoes as well as leather gloves. He also had a gun in one hand and a large bag in the other, the young woman carrying a second bag.

“Thank you,” she said as she closed the door, “my name is Beauty, and this is The Best. Please, do not panic – we have no desire to hurt anyone during our stay here.”

“What do you want,” Margaret said quietly.

“For now, we need you to take the coffees you have made to your guests,” Best said quietly, “and we will explain everything while you have your drinks. Will you do that for us?”

“I… All right,” Margaret said as she slowly picked up the tray and walked in front of them to the front room. As she walked in, she said “everyone – please, don’t react or panic at who is behind me.”

“Why. Mum – who is…” Cindy slowly stood up and looked at the three children as the two masked arrivals came in, Beauty smiling as she said, “hello there – please, everyone sit down, the grownups can have their coffee while I talk to the children.”

“Do as they say – they have guns,” Margaret said quietly as Cindy and Jackie looked at each other, then slowly sat down as Margaret handed them a mug of coffee and sat down herself as Best watched over them.

“Hello,” the masked woman said as she knelt in front of the children, “my name is Beauty. Can I know your names?”

“I’m Billy, this is my sister Judy and my cousin Allan – are you… Are you robbers?”

“Yes, we are,” Beauty said with a smile as Judy pushed herself back, “but you don’t need to be scared of me or my friend – he’s The Best. We are robbers, but so long as you do what we ask you to do, it won’t be bad or hurt you, all right?”

“What are you going to do to me,” Judy said quietly.

“Let you all finish your drinks first,” Beauty said as she opened her bag, “but I will be honest – we need to make sure you cannot run off or try to let others know what is happening. So while you three finish your drinks, I am going to use some of this rope to tie your ankles together,”

“And you’re not going to hurt us?”

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Beauty said as she doubled the rope over, and passed it round Judy’s ankles, gently pulling them together as her brother and cousin watched.

“You’re tying up our children,” Cindy said in a shocked voice as she looked at Best.

“We are – and we will be tying you up as well,” he said quietly. “It is regretful, but we do need to make sure you cannot raise the alarm while one of us takes Margaret here round the house. You can then eat together, before we make sure we can get away safely.”

“But they’re CHILDREN!”

“Please,” Best said quietly, “do not shout. I promise you we will take very good care of all of you.”

“Cindy, Jackie,” Margaret said quietly, “don’t do anything to upset them. I can tell they are serious, and we need to let them do what they have come to do.”

“Why?”

“Trust me – it’s not the first time this has happened to me,” Margaret said quietly as she watched Beauty securing Allan’s ankles together, and then securing his legs together below his knees with a second length of rope before she moved to Billy.

“Mum?”

“I’ll tell you all later,” Margaret said as she looked at Jackie, and then said, “are you three all right?”

“Yes Gran,” Allan said as he tried to move his legs, and then gave Beauty his glass before she put it next to the other two.

“Now I want you to put your hands behind your back, while my friend Best does the same thing to your mothers.”

“It’s all right – let her do this,” Jackie said as she and Cindy watched Best take some ropes from the bag and walk behind them, and they watched Beauty take Judy’s hands behind her back and start to bind them together.

“It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

“No – thank you, Miss Beauty,” Judy said quietly as she felt the thin rope rubbing on her wrists, and then watched as she moved to stand behind Allan. Jackie was feeling strangely proud -and then realized her own wrists were secured together as she turned her head in the other direction and watched Best binding her sister’s wrists.

“Why are you doing this,” Cindy said quietly as her wrists were forced together.

“We may tell you later,” he said quietly as he tied the ropes off, and then went behind Margaret, as Beauty walked round and looked at the three children.

“There – do you think you are going anywhere for a while?”

They all shook their heads as she smiled, and said “and your mothers do not need to be afraid for you, do they?”

“No – but are you going to stop us talking,” Billy said quietly.

“Ah – yes we do need to, but we’ll show you what is going to happen with your mothers first.”
All three watched as Best knelt down and crossed Cindy’s ankles, then bound them tightly together as well as her legs below her knees, and then did the same to Jackie. He then went to the bag and took out two black scarves, before he went behind Cindy and rolled one of the scarves into a thick band.

“Well, this ghhnthbhfhn,” she said as he pulled the scarf between her lips, and then secured the ends at the base of her neck. He gagged Jackie in the same way, as Beauty fetched three more scarves from her bag.

“Just remain calm, we’ll put the television on for you to watch,” she said as one by one she rolled up a scarf and then pulled it between their lips, Alan’s eyes widening as Billy nudged him and said “whllbhffhhnhnhshthly.”

“Hkkhh,” the young boy said as Margaret looked at all of them a strange look on her face.

“Penny for them, Margaret.”

“Nothing – so what happens now,” she said as she looked at them.
“Come with me please,” Beauty said with a smile. “Best is going to stay here and make sure everyone stays nice and safe.” She turned the television on and put a Disney film on as Margaret slowly stood up.

“I promise you, we will all be fine – just relax,” she said, Cindy and Jackie nodding as she left the room with the masked young woman, Best sitting and putting the gun on his lap as he looked at all of them.

“Why don’t we go into your home office first,” Beauty said.

“You have done your homework, haven’t you?” Margaret saw Beauty nod before she walked to a door and opened it, Beauty following her in and then closing the door.

“Now, please open your safe, and then stand with your hands behind your back.”

“So, my daughter asked you a question – why do you do this,” Margaret said as she moved a picture on the wall, and then opened the safe door.

“Why are you asking,” Beauty said as Margaret put her hands behind her back, the older woman feeling the rope rubbing on her wrist as they were bound tightly together.

“Well, you are professionals, I can see that – and I have to admit, you managed to keep everyone calm. So, you do this for the thrills?”

“No,” Beauty said as she pulled the rope between Margaret’s arms, and then secured the ends before she took from her bag another longer length of rope and doubled it over. “Although I will admit, the thrill is an added bonus.”

“Okay,” Margaret said as the rope was passed round her arms and body, and then pulled tight under her chest, “so you do it because you are greedy.”

“No – we do it because we are hungry.”

Margaret swallowed a grunt as she felt her arms being forced against her sides, the rope going above and below her chest. “I’m sorry?”

“You are the Lady Mayoress,” Beauty said as she pulled the ropes tighter, and then tied the ends off, “and you are a successful businesswoman. You have been very lucky – some of us are not so lucky, and struggle to find enough money to buy food and basic things.”

“And you are one of those unlucky ones?”

Beauty indicated a seat at the desk, which Margaret sat in as the masked intruder looked at her. “In many ways – Best and I have nothing, and so we find ourselves having to get the money we need in this way.”

“You’re not joking, are you,” Margaret said quietly. “This isn’t steal from the rich to line your own coffers, but to get what you need to line your own stomachs?”

“Does that shock you?”

“I… I genuinely do not know,” Margaret said quietly as she watched Beauty empty the contents of her safe into a bag, “this is rather a radical approach, surely?”

“It works for us – we only target those we know can afford to give a little to help us, and we sorry we have to do things that may scare people, but we truly did not see any other choice when we started.”

Margaret slowly nodded as she said, “and now?”

“Now, we…” Beauty then heard the front door opening nd closing, and said “not a word…”

3 pm

“Sorry, we’re late Mum, but – OHMYGOD!”

“Hello,” Best said as he looked at the new arrivals, “as you can see, things are a little different this afternoon – my partner is with your mother, so please, none of you, call out or make any sudden moves. May I ask you name?”

The thirty-one-year-old woman looked at him, then at the others as her son and daughter held her hands tightly. “I’m Bunty,” she eventually said.

“Ah – Margaret’s third daughter – which means this must be Danny and Pearl, right?”

The two children slowly nodded as they looked at their cousins wriggling on the couch. Danny was seven years old and was wearing a blue striped cardigan over a white T-shirt, yellow shorts and trainers, while his nine-year-old sister Pearl was wearing a sleeveless blue dress and white sandals. Their mother was wearing a short sleeved black lace top over a white vest, and jeans tucked into knee length burgundy leather boots.

“Well, you can call me The Best,” the masked man said as he leaned forward, “and me and my friend Beauty are robbing your grandmother, Danny and Pearl. As you can see, we had to make sure your aunts and cousins could not raise the alarm – and I have to tell you, I need to do the same to you as well.”

“Jackie? Cindy?”

“Wheerhfhn,” Jackie mumbled as she twisted her legs round, her boots squeaking. “Dhntphnhc.”

“Mummy am I going to be like Judy,” Pearl said quietly.

“I – I think we all are,” she said as Best stood up, and said “why don’t you have a seat, and your children can stand in front of you – I’ll take care of them while you watch, so you know I will not hurt them, and then I will take care of you.”

Bunty slowly nodded as she sat down, Danny and Pearl standing in front of her as he fetched more ropes and knelt behind them, before taking their hands behind their back. “Where’s Mum,” she asked Judy.

“Jhssghnphst,” she mumbled, Bunty looking to the door as Margaret walked past with a masked young woman. She then looked at Pearl as her wrists were secured behind her back and said “I know this is scary.”

“A little, but I’m brave, Mummy,” she said quietly as she watched Best secure Danny’s wrists together and then they walked over and sat with the other children as he took more rope and walked behind Bunty. She felt the rope forcing her own wrists together before he walked over and knelt down to secure her children’s ankles and legs together.

“Well, we will all be the same,” she said quietly as Best then cleave gagged both of them then brought over more ropes and a scarf as he knelt down. “Do you enjoy tying children up?”

“No – it is a necessary evil however.”

“Necessary?”

“Ask me later,” he said as he pulled the rope tight round her ankles.



3.30 pm

Margaret was sitting on the bed, watching as Beauty looked through her jewelry cases and emptying them into her bag.

“So, you are serious – this is how you manage to pay bills and buy food?”

“It is either this or food banks,” Beauty said quietly, “and there are far more deserving and needful cases than us for what little they can provide. It is an inconvenience for those we visit, but I assure you we do as much as possible to make it not that scary.”

“It’s strange,” Margaret said quietly, “I read in the papers of robbers who convince the parents to make it a game for any children, and there’s Jay Edwards who somehow manages to keep them calm – but you just admit this is why you do it? I almost admire that.”

“Almost?”

“You’ve got to be aware sooner or later you may get caught.”

“So far, so good.”

“So, if I was to offer both of you a job, would you consider stopping this approach?”

Beauty put the last tray back and turned to look at the grandmother. “Say that again, please?”

“You agree to stop this approach, I will see that both of you are employed by one of my companies at a good wage.”

Beauty put her head to one side, and then said, “I need to take you back to the children now – your daughters can start to prepare some food for all of you.”

“I am serious,” Margaret said quietly as she stood up.

“I will – ask the Best,” Beauty said as she walked Margaret back down. As she entered the room she said, “hi Bunty, kids – very different afternoon, right?”

“Nhkhddhhnn,” Bunty said as she wriggled round.

“Best, would you help the mothers to stand up, and then escort them to the kitchen? There they can be untied and prepare some food for everyone – because you know your mother and your children are still with me, correct?”

Judy, Cindy and Bunty looked at each other and then stood up, jumping towards the door as Best followed them out. “Have a seat, Margaret, while I secure your legs and gag you.”

“Would you allow me to talk,” Margaret said as she sat down, “I want to tell my grandchildren a story.”

Beauty nodded as she took more ropes from her bag and secured Margaret’s ankles and legs together, then stood up as she squirmed round and said “tight, isn’t it?”

“YHsghrhn,” Billy said as he looked at the others.

“Well, this is not the first time this has happened to me – and I was about your age when it happened Billy.”

“Uswhhrrr?”

“Well, I was twelve – your Great Aunt Elaine was ten, and your great Uncle Andrew was eight. Funnily; enough it was Easter then as well – would you like to hear what happened to me?”

The five grandchildren nodded as Margaret sat upright, her hands against her back.

“Well, Andrew was wearing a brown V-necked jumper over a white shirt, brown shorts, brown socks, brown shoes – it was the seventies after all. Elaine and I were wearing these sleeveless dresses which had a green and cream striped pattern and flowers printed on them, Elaine wearing long white socks and black slippers, and me short white socks and black sandals. I also had a white headband in my hair.”

“Shnddhrhdd,”

“We thought they were the height of fashion,” Margaret said with a smile. “Anyway – we were sitting out in our back garden while Mum was in the house. I remember she was wearing a purple jacket and knee length skirt with a white blouse and white shoes. It was a sunny April day, and we didn’t have a care in the world – and then Mum came out and told us to come in.

“I could see she was upset about something, so we came in as she had asked us to do – and then we saw two men in the front room, and the curtain had been pulled across the curtains. They were both wearing suits, with a shirt and tie, and black shoes – and black glasses as well as black gloves. What really scared us was one of them had a gun, and the other had some lengths of washing line in his hands.

“The one with the gun told us to keep quiet, and to kneel in front of our old wooden couch, and Mum told us to do as he said. I told the others we would do what Mum said, so we knelt down as we were told to put our heads down.

“I heard the man kneel behind me and then he pulled my hands behind my back, and I felt the thin rope as he bound my wrists tightly together. He wasn’t like Beauty or the Best – he was rough and didn’t care that he was hurting me, tying the rope off and then using a second length to bind my ankles together.

“I heard Elaine crying beside me as he tied her up, and I looked at her, told her not to cry, we would all get through this together. She looked at me and nodded as Andrew cried out when the man tied him up, and then we were told to raise our heads up.

“As we did, I saw the other man had tied Mum’s wrists together behind her back, and he was now wrapping rope round her arms and body – the same way that our captor was forcing my arms against my sides now, with one band round my stomach and another round my upper arms. It wasn’t like this – it was really tight and really hurt, so I had to tell both Elaine and Andrew not to show them they were afraid. Very Famous Five stuff, but there you are…

“Anyway, we were then made to sit on the floor and Mum was made to sit between Elaine and Andrew. The men them tied more rope round my legs below my knees, while his – friend – tied Mum’s ankles together, and then her legs below her knees.

“He then made her lie on her side as the one ying us up finished with Andrew’s legs, and then took a roll of Elastoplast from his jacket pocket. He used that to gag all of us, and then ordered us to sit and lie quietly as he sat and watched us.

“Mum tried to tell us how brave we all were – at least, I think she was trying to say that, because all I heard was some mumbling as the brown fabric covered her mouth and stopped anything else coming out. Andrew was just looking ahead, shaking slightly, and Elaine – Elaine was looking at me as I nudged her and nodded, then she nudged Andrew – and he looked at us, which seemed to make him a little happier.

“Well, after a while the other man came back, and they both left us in the room. I turned my head to look at Mum, who nodded as she started to try and get herself free – but I just sat there, because I knew I could not untie the ropes.”

“Dhdsshhghtfhrrrh?”

“No, she did not,” Margaret said quietly, “it was my grandparents who found and freed us. They had taken us hostage to force my father to do something for them – and they had left him beaten up. So, I guess I just want to say two things.

“First, it’s all right to be scared, but I have talked to them, and they really are not going to hurt us.

“And the other thing is this – I think you are all going to be tied like me later, but don’t worry, it will not hurt. And I think we may all be gagged in a different way, but again just keep doing what you are doing now, all right?”

Beauty looked at the five children as they nodded, and Margaret said “thank you – you can gag me now…”






“You’re not joking.”

“No, I am not,” Best said as he watched Cindy, Bunty and Jackie preparing the food. “We do this because we genuinely have no other way of paying our bills or having the funds to feed and clothe ourselves.”

“But surely your parents…”

“Did I say we had parents? No, I know it may shock and surprise you, but I am only telling the truth.”

“And after we eat?”

“We’re going to make you all more secure and quiet, then wait for the right moment to slip away. Don’t’ worry – you will all be together. Just 0- nice and quiet.”

“Well, in that case,” Jackie said quietly, “will you eat with us?”

“It would be an honour to do so…"

6 pm

“Thanks, Gran,” Allan said as he accepted the plate and started to eat the pizza fingers. The family were gathered round the table, free from their bindings and the gas removed from their mouths, as they sat and talked.

“You’re very pretty, Miss Beauty,” Judy said as she looked at the masked woman.

“Why thank you,” Beauty replied with a smile, “you are a very pretty young girl as well.”

“So, what did you tell the kids when we were cooking, Mum,” Jackie said before she sipped from her glass.

“Something that happened to me when I was their age,” Margaret said quietly, “to encourage them all to accept what was happening. I know they were scared, but it’s important that is not the case anymore – because after we have eaten, I think we are going to be more securely bound and gagged.”

“So do I,” Bunty said quietly as Cindy looked at Allan.

“If that’s the case, I want my son to be with me – right next to me.”

“That is the plan,” Best said as he looked over, “but do you want him next to you, or on your lap.”

“On my lap.”

“As you wish…”

“Thank you,” Cindy said quietly as she looked at her son, who was talking to Billy and Danny.

“How did it feel to you,” Judy asked Pearl quietly.

“I’m not sure – it was tight, but if Granny is right, it’s going to be even tighter later.”

“Yeah – does is round funny if I say I’m wondering what it is going to be like?”

“No – I was wondering as well, and wondering if the boys are going to be able to cope with it.”

“They’re not going to be able to complain, are they,” Judy giggled…


“The girls aren’t going to be able to cope, are they,” Danny said as he looked at them.

“Oh, I think they can manage – and we can get to be the heroes and free them,” Billy said quietly.


“I don’t know – I think Gran told us we would not be able to move,” Allan said, “but I’ll be with Mummy, so I’ll be fine.”



“I need to talk to you once we have them all secured,” Beauty whispered to the Best.

“What about?”

“I’ll tell you later…”


“Has everyone had enough?”

Margaret looked round the table as everyone nodded, while Beauty stood up.

“Well, then, we have to make sure you all stay nice and quiet in one place now. Does anyone need to go to the toilet?”

“I do,” Allan said as he raised his hand.

“Best, will you take Allan with his mother and see he is all right? While they are out, who wants to be first.”

“We will be,” Bunty said as she looked at Danny and Pearl. Beauty nodded as she took from the bag three lengths of rope and said, “very well then – come and stand in front of everyone.”

“Margaret watched as the masked man took Cindy and Allan to the bathroom, and then watched as Bunty’s hands were taken behind her back, and Beauty started to bind her crossed wrists tightly together.

“Your turn now,” she said to Danny as she took his hands behind his back, and he felt the rope rubbing on his bare wrists as she bound them tightly together. He bit on his lower lip as they were pulled together even more tightly and the ends tied off, before he turned his head and watched Pearl as her wrists were tied together as well.

Beauty then went to the bag and brought out a longer rope, doubling it over before she passed it round Pearls’ body and pulled it tight round her stomach, forcing her arms to her sides. “Do you have to do that,” Bunty said as the rope was taken round her upper arms, and then the bands added to with each pass.

“Don’t worry - this is going to be done to all of you,” Beauty said as she tied the ropes off, Pearl twisting round as the masked woman made sure Danny’s arms were held against his body in the same way, and then their mother as well, the bands framing her chest as they were formed.

“Wow,” Danny said quietly as he looked at her mother, Bunty smiling as she said “well, thank you, I guess – now what?”

“Please sit down, while I take care of your aunt and cousins,” Beauty said as she looked at Judy, Billy and Jackie.

“Let’s do this,” their mother said as she watched Bunty, Danny and Pearl sit down, the three of them standing up as Pearl said, “did it feel this tight for you, Gran?”

“Yes, it did,” Margaret said as she saw Cindy and Allan come back in – both of them with their hands behind their backs, and two bands of rope holding their arms tightly against their sides. All of them watched as the two children had their wrists and arms secured as well, then their mother.

“Let’s go back to the front room,” Best said, standing to the side as the family group walked back in, Margaret coming with Beauty. As they went in, Best said “so – Jackie, you sit in the middle of one couch, and your children can sit either side of you. Bunty, you and your children do the same on the other couch, and Cindy have a seat in an armchair. Allan – would you like to stand with your grandmother while I make sure nobody can get up, and Beauty takes care of her as well?”

“Okay,” Allan said quietly as the other sat down, Best taking a bag of rope over and kneeling in front of Jackie to begin with while Beauty said, “please put your hands behind your back Margaret.”

“Have you considered my offer yet?”

“We will tell you later,” she said quietly as she took Margaret’s wrists behind her back, Allan watching as she then wrapped the doubled over rope round his grandmother’s wrists and pulled them together. As he watched, Best secured his mother’s ankles together, and then her legs below her knees, before he moved over and started to bind Judy’s ankles together. He worked along the couch, making sur each person had their ankles snugly tied, and then their legs below their knees, as Jackie and Bunty kissed their children on the head.

“Is it tight, Gran,” Allan asked as Beauty pulled the rope round Margaret’s arms and stomach.

“Yes, it is,” she said with a smile.

“As tight as the time you told us about?”

“In a different way – I’m not scared this time, are you?”

“No – Miter Best was very good when he tied me and mummy up and asked us if we hurt anywhere. I didn’t.”

“Well, I am glad to hear it,” Margaret said as the bands grew tighter and pressed on her chest, but she knew there was nothing she could do to stop this. Eventually, Beauty tied the ropes off, and said “there – you are all the same now, so you have a seat in the other armchair Margaret. Best, would you take care of Allan now please?”

“Of course – come and sit on your mother’s lap,” Best said as Allan ran over, and he picked the young boy up, sitting him across Cindy’s lap as he rubbed his head on her body. They both watched as the masked man secured the young boy’s ankles and legs, while Beauty did the same to his grandmother.

“Thank you, mister Best - you really are the Best,” Allan said as he wriggled on Cindy’s lap, before Best said “now, we need to keep you all quiet – so we’re going to put some special tape over your mouths. It does not hurt, but it will make it difficult for you to talk. So just relax, and you will be fine. Beauty?”

“Please open your mouth,” Beauty said to Margaret, the others watching as she pushed a folded cloth into the older woman’s mouth and then let her close her lips over it, before she peeled a long strip from a roll of white tape and then pressed it gently down over, Margaret’s mouth and chin with her gloved fingers.

“Gran?”

“Htthlbfhnn,” Margaret mumbled as Best looked at Cindy. “You first, then your son,” he said, Cindy nodding as she allowed him to gag her, then watched as he gagged Allan in the same way. The young boy looked at his mother and nodded before he rested his head against her chest, watching as one by one his aunts and cousins were all gagged in the same way.

“You can watch a film now,” Beauty said as she turned the television on, and then she motioned to Best to follow her out of the room.

“What is it,” the young man said quietly.

“Margaret made me an offer – she would give you and me jobs if we stopped doing this.”

“Good paying ones?”

“Yes – and believe me, I am tempted,” Beauty said quietly, “but we’ve been doing this for a while now, and – I actually like doing it.”

“There is another problem if we accepted her offer,” Best said, “she would know who we were, and always have that over us.”

“Still, a tempting offer…”

“We can’t,” Best said quietly as he put his gloved hand on Beauty’s cheek. She nodded as she said, “I know – but I have another idea to put to her.”

Margaret watched as the two walked back in, and Beauty knelt next to her. “We’ve talked about your offer,” Beauty whispered, “but we cannot accept, as generous as it is. You would know who we are, and your family would as well – we can’t take that risk.”

“Hhhnhrdsthhnd,” Margaret said quietly. “Btthhwhchhlp?”

“There is a way – make a donation, a good one, to local food banks, and look to employ people leaving care. Just because they have no family does not mean they cannot do a good job, given the chance.”

“Hndduh?”

“We keep doing what we do – but in this case, it is to preserve our identities and our liberty. But thank you for showing you do care.”

Margaret slowly nodded as Beauty stood up and smiled, then went to look out of the window as the sun started to go down.



10.30 pm

“Hey – Margaret, is Jackie here with you?”

Margaret suddenly opened her eyes and saw her daughters and grandchildren asleep in the darkened room, the hall light shining through the open door as a figure appeared in the doorway.

“What the…”

“Chhllfhrhrhlpp,” Margaret called out as she wriggled round, the figure nodding and turning as she heard him say “Police – I need to report a robbery…”




Midnight

“We did do the right thing, didn’t we,” Barbara said as she looked across the kitchen table at Tom.

“We had no choice – but I am pleased someone out there does still care,” Tim said as he held his mug. “There may be hope for others after all…”