Jay's Thanksgiving (MF/MmFf) - COMPLETED
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 2:37 pm
“Thanks for coming over for the break,” Brian Holderness-Carter said as he sat on one side of the coffee table, his wife Sarah beside him wearing a dusky pink tracksuit with a white t-shirt underneath. “I take it there was no problem with Lisa and Charlie staying with friends for the week?”
Yvonne Williamson shook her head as she said “they jumped at the chance to stay at the farm for a few days, for some unknown reason.”
“I cannot imagine why,” Sarah said with a smile as she looked at Yvonne and her husband Mark. Yvonne was wearing a red jumper and black leggings with short black boots, while Mark like Brian was wearing a jumper and jeans.
Mark laughed and shook his head as he said “well, it actually gives us a chance to spend a week on our own on holiday – a rare treat these days. Although I have to admit, it was a surprise to hear from you – the type of surprise that makes me wonder if there was another motive for inviting us.”
“What my darling husband is trying unsuccessfully to say subtly,” Yvonne said as she shook her head, “is do you have an assignment for us to help with.”
“They know you too well,” Sarah said, shaking her head as Brian nodded. “There is actually – and it’s one of those occasions when Ophelia will have a part to play in certain events as well.”
“Okay – that in itself tells me something,” Mark said as he leaned forward, “so what are we looking at.”
“Something that, for reasons I can explain later, needs to take place this Thursday,” Brian said as he stood up, and made his way to a bureau at the side of the room, “and we need to make use of another associate of ours – you’ve met her, but we need her expertise without finding out who you are…”
Saturday
As Brian looked up, he smiled at the teenager who was walking towards him at the table outside the café.
“Hey Tammy – thanks for coming to see me,” he said with a smile as the brunette sat down, the watch on her wrist glowing as the waitress came over.
“Iced latte,” Tammy said as she looked at the tall Australian, and said “okay – the fact you called me tells me there is an assignment coming up – Project Pink Widow?”
“Not as such,” Brian said with a smile, “I need to tell you a secret – one you can’t even tell your family.”
“But it’s related to you and Sarah?”
As Brian nodded, he said “sometimes, Sarah and I need to get access to systems or people for a variety of reasons – usually so Sarah can do some counselling, and I can do some work, but the circumstances we get access by are – well, illegal.”
“You – complain about doing something illegal? What on earth do you do – go in under cover of a home invasion,” Tammy said with a smile – and then she saw Brian slowly nod.
“Tell me – ever heard of Jay Edwards?”
“I’ve seen his name in the papers a few times – oh no, don’t tell me you know who he is?”
“I do – and no, I’m not going to tell you. Not even Anne Duncombe knows. But later this week, Jay Edwards and his associates are going to do a home invasion – and under cover of that Sarah and I are going to go in and do our thing. The thing is, we need an extra pair of hands – one with special skills…”
“Ooookay – you know this means I’m committing a crime?”
“For the greater good yes – can you help us?”
Tammy slowly nodded as she said “so what do I need to know?”
Monday
“Tammy? Well, so long as she never finds out who we are,” Mark said quietly, “so who else?”
“You get to pick the other three,” Barry said as he put a photograph down on the table. “This is Chuck Newman, the financial director of a blue chip company – one we know has dealings with foreign powers, but we have never been able to prove. He lives in a mansion near Martha’s Harbour, with his wife Simone, his mother Jessie, and two daughters Lola and Caitlyn. The rest of the people are friends of the family, but the other woman on the left is Astrid, a live in au pair.
“Okay,” Mark said, “so he is the target?”
“Yes – but there’s more. Which is why it has to be Thursday.”
“I was going to say – Thanksgiving?” Yvonne looked at the photos and said “hence Mrs McPhee – but why Ophelia and this other girl – Tammy?”
“The Newmans invite two families of their neighbours to come for the meal – one of them had a recent traumatic experience, which Ophelia wishes to help with. As for Tammy – the security system at their home is very sophisticated, and she can help with that.”
Mark nodded as he said “okay – so we take over the house, and give them a Thanksgiving they will never forget?”
“That is the intention – the twins are spending the holiday with Amy and the family, so we have this window Thursday and Friday morning. So, can you make the call?”
Thursday
7.30 am
Martha’s Harbour
The three men got out of the cars, looking at each other and nodding as they walked to the grey panel van. One of them knocked on the side as they pulled the hats down over their heads, smiling as the doors opened and they got into the back.
“Jay – good to see you again,” one of them said as he looked at the five other people, like them wearing balaclava masks, “and I see Mrs McPhee and Ophelia are here as well. This is?”
“Tessie is a special operative, working with me,” Jay said in his Geordie accent, the younger woman nodding as she looked round. “You remember Blair of course.”
“Yup – so where are we going?”
“To spend Thanksgiving as unexpected guests – we have three families and all ages to deal with, and we want them to celebrate the holiday despite the fact we have business to conduct.”
“So I hope ye hae yer holday faces,” one of the women said in a broad Scots accent, “it’s gonna be a braw day…”
9.30 am
The Newman Mansion
“I’m off to the golf course,” Chuck Newman said as he came into the kitchen, wearing a grey jacket over a polo shirt and grey pants. “I promise I will be back for the meal.”
“Why do you have to do business today,” Simone Newman said as she sat at the table. She was wearing a grey long sleeved top, blue jeans and brown knee length boots, a mug of coffee in her hands as she looked at her husband.
“It’s just one of those things,” Check said with a smile as he kissed Simone, and then left as she shook her head.
“Where are the girls Astrid,” she said as she looked at the au pair. The young woman replied “they are in their room, Mrs Newman,” in a strong Swedish accent. Her long light brown hair fell over the shoulders of her long sleeve green top, while like her employer she was wearing a pair of brown boots with the legs of her jeans tucked into them.
“Not causing trouble, are they?”
“No, Miss Jessie,” Astrid said as Jessie Newman came into the kitchen, and poured herself a mug of coffee. She had a white jumper on, as well as a pair of black pants and flat shoes.
“Well, I’ll go and see what they are up to,” she said with a smile as she walked out of the kitchen, Astrid nodding as she turned to a large bucket and took the turkey out, placing it on the roasting tin.
As the car drove out of the gates, Brian and Tammy watched from behind a hedge as the gates swung close.
“So this is where we’re going to spend the day,” Tammy whispered as she looked up and down the road.
“Indeed – but first we need to get in without raising the alarm inside. And that, Tammy, is your first task of the day.”
“That’s the control box on the wall,” she said with a smile. As Brian nodded, she stood up and walked out and up to the box, placing her hand on the box and then smiling as the gates swung open.
“Good work Tammy,” Brian said as the grey panel van drove through the gates, “now put your mask on and come with me…”
“Well, that’s the first thing done,” Simone said as she watched Astrid put the turkey into the oven, “Chuck’s mom and will help prepare the rest of the meal in due course – what the…”
“Good morning – I must ask you to remain where you are, and put your hands on your head,” the man said in an English sing-song accent as he walked into the kitchen. He was wearing a blue boiler suit, with a black balaclava covering his head so that only his eyes and mouth were showing, and he had leather gloves on his hands.
Simone and Astrid could only watch as he was followed in by four men and three women, all dressed and masked in the same way, the men carrying guns and bags while the women looked round, two of them walking to Astrid and the third to Simone.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” the man said as he smiled at Simone, “my name is Jay Edwards.”
“Jay… Jay Edwards? Oh no, my babies – and today of all days!”
“Mrs Newman? What is happening?”
“Stay calm, lassie,” one of the women said in a Scottish accent. “We’re gonna hae a very special Fanksgiving fer all of ye.”
“Now,” Jay said as two of the men put their bags down, taking lengths of rope from their bags and walking behind the women as their arms were taken behind their backs, “we need to cover some business with your husband tonight, Mrs Newman, so we are going to be in charge for the day. Do as we say, and all will be fine.”
“We’re going to be your hostages,” Simone said quietly as Jay nodded.
“Indeed – but trust me, it will be an interesting day. Now, let me ask the obvious question – where are the rest of the family?”
“Upstairs…”
“Very well then – Mrs McPhee, Ophelia, Blair, will you kindly go and invite them to join us. Astrid – it is Astrid? Come and sit down with Mrs Newman, and we will explain what is going to happen…”