Jay Watches Carefully (MF/MFmf)

[KP Presents]

“Goodies… Goodie Goodie Yum Yum…”

As Yvonne Williamson came into the front room of their house, she was surprised to see her husband Mark watching three men on an extended bicycle chasing after a giant tabby kitten.

“Seriously? What on earth has got you going down memory lane,” Yvonne said as she sat down and handed him a glass of wine.

“The need for slapstick,” Mark said with a smile, “and also it gives me a chance to say the name Goodie.”

“As in…”

Mark opened a manilla folder and placed a picture of a middle-aged couple on the low table.

“Tom and Barbara Goodie – I was wondering if we should pay them a visit this weekend?”

“Oh – and what have you heard on the grapevine?”

“GBE has had an exceptional return on their portfolio,” Mark said with a smile, “and I think they will enjoy an exciting visit.”

“I thought she was pregnant?”

“No – that’s Barbara’s sister, Suzanne Baird. And I understand she and her family are away this weekend – so it will be Terry and Linda that Mrs McPhee will need to keep occupied. Do you think she can manage that?”

Yvonne smiled and said in a soft Scottish accent “Aye, ah cahn dae that…”



“Mother, why on earth are you dressed as if you are going out to dinner?”

“And why should I not dress well,” Ursula Carruthers said as she sat down, the skirt of her long purple velvet dress opening up to reveal her slim legs and the silver Grecian style sandals she was wearing. Her grey-blonde hair was cut short, the sixty-year-old smiling as the dress hugged her body, the deep neckline revealing only a little of her chest.

Suzanne Baird smiled and shook her head - and then groaned as she held her back. The very visible bump in her stomach was covered by a grey jumper which she was wearing over a white blouse, dark blue jeans on her legs and her feet in black fat shoes.

“Junior kicking again?”

“Oh yes,” Suzanne said with a sigh. “I’m going to go to the kitchen and get some water – I’ll see you and Barbara in a few minutes.”

Ursula nodded as she walked into the front room, while Suzanne slowly walked down the hallway and into the kitchen. As she walked in, she saw the pitcher of water and the glass, and poured herself a drink, sitting down and sipping the water before she felt the movement inside her.

“You’re going to be just as lively as your sisters,” she said to herself with a smile before she groaned again and held her back – and then heard the back door open, looking over as a group of five men and one woman walked in. All of them were wearing blue boiler suits, with black boots, gloves – and balaclava masks, one of the men smiling as he said “Well now – I see Barbaraa Goodie has some visitors today. It is Suzanne, isn’t it?”

The Geordie accent took Suzanne by surprise, as she said, “oh my god – Jay Edwards?”

“Indeed – my friend Mrs McPhee. Are you all right?”

“Please,” Suzanne whispered, “Don’t hurt my babies or me…”

“My dear lady, we have no desire to harm you – our business is with your sister and her husband. On the other hand, your presence here does mean, regretfully, you and your daughters will have to remain here until our business is completed.”

“Remain here - how?”

“Secured, silenced.” Jay saw the concern in the young woman’s face and said “please, do not be afraid – we will treat you as gently and carefully as we can, but be assured you will be unable to raise the alarm. Now, who else is here?”

“My mother…”




“I was surprised to see you and Suzanne here when I got back with the kids,” Barbara Goodie said as she put the coffee cup to her lips. The thirty three year old was wearing a black trouser suit with a white blouse, her feet in soft leather heels, as Ursula sat back and crossed her legs, the skirt of her dress falling open over them.

“Well, we wanted to come and see you,” Ursula said, “and it gave me the chance to get changed for my night out with the ladies tonight. I will head straight there from here.”

“How did we end up with the cougar for a mother,” Barbara said as she shook her head. “I wonder how much longer Suzanne has to go?”

“You never know,” Ursula said as she looked at her daughter with a smile.

“What?”

“Have you and Tom…” Ursula raised an eyebrow as Barbara sipped from her cup.

“No comment – where are the girls?”

“They went up the stairs to play with Terry and Linda. It’s good they look after their young cousins, isn’t… Suzanne?”

Barbara looked to the door as Suzanne came in, her hand sin the air as she said “don’t panic.”

“About what – OHMYGOD,” Barbara said as the masked gang came in, one of them a woman.

“Good morning, Barbara – and this must be your mother,” one of them said in a Geordie accent, “allow me to introduce myself – my name is Jay Edwards.”

Ursula saw the colour drain from her daughter’s face as she stuttered “oh god no…”

“Barbara? Who is this man, and what is going on?”

“Mum,” Barbara said quietly, “this is a notorious gang- it means they want Tom to steal from his company, And we are the way he will be forced to do that.”

“WHAT? Please, my daughter…”

“I can see how – well, how far along your daughter is,” Jay said with a smile, “and I offer you my personal assurance that so long as everyone does what they say, nobody will be hurt. Inconvenienced, yes – unhurt, most definitely. Also, be assured we will take very good care of your children. Now, kindly keep your hands where we can see them. Suzanne – please have a seat next to your mother.”

Suzanne slowly walked over and sat down as Barbara said “look, we’ll do what you ask – just be careful. What’s going to happen toteh children?”

“Ah – a good question. Mrs McPhee – would you and one of the others please ensure the children know what is happening, and make sure they are unable to raise the alarm?”

“Aye - a’hll tak guid care o them,” the masked woman said as she nodded to one of the masked men, Suzanne watching as he carried a bag when they both left the room.

“Now then - kindly hand to my friend here your handbags and phones, and then just sit quietly with your hands on your laps – we need to make sure that you all stay here of a while…”






“All right then – here we go. One... Two…”

Terry and Linda Goodie looked at each other and then ran out of the room as the game of Hide and seek started. Terry was seven years old, and was wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes, while his five year old sister Linda was wearing a pink top, faded blue jeans and white trainers.

“You’re really going to count to a hundred?”

“Nah – but I’ll give them a chance to get a hiding place,” Soo Baird said as she looked at her younger sister. The thirteen year old was wearing a white t-shirt and tight silver pants, her feet in white socks and black trainers. Her sister Tammy was eleven, wearing along sleeved black top with tight black shiny pants and white trainers.

“So when’s your date tonight,” she said as she looked at Soo.

“It’s not a date, it’s a group of us going to the cinema and a pizza…”

“Does Toby know that?”

Soo shook her head as she said “mind your own beeswax – we need to… Who are you?”

Tammy turned her head to see the two people who had walked in, both masked so that only their eyes and lips could be seen, the man holding a bag while the woman looked at them.

“Wud ye twa be Soo ahn Tammy?”

“They heard the Scottish accent as Tammy said, “who is asking?”

“Ye cahn call me Mrs McPhee – ahn ah’m here tae tell ye wha is happening doonstairs. Ye see, this is ah robbery – ahn ah need ye twa tae stay nice and cahlm.”

The two girls looked at each other before Soo said “Mum…”

“Yer mahm is juhs fine. No, where are the wee yins?”

“Hiding – we were playing hide and seek – is that rope?”

Mrs McPhee nodded as the masked man put the bag down and opened it, taking out lengths of white rope. “Dinnae be ahfraid, ye will noo get hurt if ye do as ah say. So we’re playing hide ahn seek? Guid – both of ye, hahns behind yer back, ahn yeh cahn play a different game…”

The two girls looked at each other as Soo put her hands behind her back, and she felt the rope forcing her wrists together…



Linda had to stop herself from giggling as she heard the room door open and close, and she heard someone moving round. Eventually, she heard Soo say “come on out Linda – I know you’re in the wardrobe.”

As she came out, however, she saw that Soo had her hands behind her back, and there were bands of rope round her arms and chest – and there was a masked woman in a blue boiler suit standing with her.

“Soo – who’s your friend?”

“Well,” Soo said quietly, “this is Mrs McPhee, and she’s here because she’s – well, she’s part of a gang that are holding us hostage to make Uncle Tom steal from his company.”

“Seriously?”

“Aye,” Mrs McPhee said, “so that means ah’ll be watching all o ye up here fer a while – ahn I need tae be sure ye cannae raise the alarm. Yer brother and cousin are waiting in the playroom – but afore ye gae there, ah need tae do tae ye wha I did tae Soo here.”

“Take a look,” Soo said as Kinda walked round, looking at the way her wrists were held together.

“And – I will be like you?”

“Aye – so stahn nice ahn still,” Mrs McPhee said as she walked behind the young girl and guided her hands behind her back, using some of the white cord to secure her wrists behind her back. She then passed a longer length round Linda’s arms, forcing them against her sides as she stood still.

“It doesn’t hurt, does it,” Soo said as Mrs McPhee tied the ropes off.

“No – so where are Tammy and Terry?”

“Come with us,” Soo said as they walked back to the playroom, Linda’s eyes opening wide when she saw Terry and Tammy sitting on bean bags/ they also had their hands behind their backs, and rope around their arms and body, but they also had ropes holding their ankles together, and their legs below their knees, while each of them had a rolled up scarf pulled between their lips.

“Shhfhnduhthn,” Tammy mumbled, Linda nodding as she was sat next to Terry, and Soo watching as Mrs McPhee bound her cousin’s ankles together, and then her legs below her knees.

“Opehn wide,” she then said as she rolled up a white scarf, Linda feeling the cloth on her tongue as it was pulled between her lips and tied tightly round her head. She nudged her brother as Soo was bound and gagged in the same way, before Mrs McPhee turned the television on.




“What are they watching,” Barbara said as they heard the music downstairs.

“Something suitable,” Jay said as he passed the rope between her legs and secured the end, while one of the other man was pulling a knotted scarf between Ursula’s lips. All three women were bound in the same way, although Suzanne had one band of rope round her upper arms and one round her waist, the two bands framing her stomach.

“Now, we wait for your husband to come home,” Jay said quietly. “I suspect Mrs McPhee may have them jumping around soon, but worry not – she isa very good babysitter to those we visit. Now, open your mouth please.”

As the gag was pulled into Barbara’s mouth, she twisted her legs round, and hoped Tom would understand, Ursula had her legs bound under the skirt of her dress, as she thought of the night out that would not now take place.

And Suzanne – Suzanne was hoping she could remain calm and safe…




“Did ye enjoy tha,” Mrs McPhee said as the film came to an end. All four nodded as she looked at them seeing the darkness at the corners of their mouths on the gags, before she said “up ye ahl get - time ye had a danse.”

“Uhshnshs?”

“Oh yes,” Mrs McPhee said as she put on a CD player and started to play a CD, all four of them looking at each other and then smiling as they started to jump around and dance to the music.,

On the ground floor, the front door opened and closed as Tom Goodie came in, putting his briefcase on the floor as he closed the door. He was wearing a black suit over a white shirt, the black and white tie knotted under the collar, and black shoes. He heard the music upstairs, and smiled as he hoped the children were all having fun, before he walked into the front room.

“Barbara, I see we have…”

“Yes, you have visitors Tom – I suggest you remain calm while you process the situation.”

Tom turned and saw the masked man standing behind him, the smile on his face as he said “My name is Jay Edwards – your wife, mother in law and sister in aware, as you can see, safe and well – as are your children and their cousins. I need you to relax – and to put your hands behind your back.”

“Jay… Jay Edwards? Oh dear god – Barbara, Suzanne, are you all right?”

“Whgrrfhnnhh – shmmhh,” Ursula mumbled as she felt the damp knot pressing her tongue down, “fhkkuhfhrrhhmsh.”

“And you Ursula,” Tom said as he felt the rope forcing his wrists together. “Seriously - Suzanne, are you…”

“Hmfhhnhhn, Suzanne said as she shifted in her seat, while Barbara said “Thmhmmwhhfhfnhtshhnthkhds.”

“The children,” Tom said as the rope forced his arms against his sides, “where are they?”

“Mrs McPhee is bringing them down to join you – for now, have a seat.”

“Please, we’re not going to raise the alarm – let us talk?”

Jay nodded as Tom took a seat on the free armchair, while his two companions removed the soaking wet gags from the mouths of the three women.

“Tom,” Barbara said, “we’re fine,. Just a little scared at first – but somehow we’ve all stayed calm.”

“So what are you going to do,” Tom said as one of the men knelt down and tied ropes around his ankles and legs.

“Well, when the kids come down, you can watch some television while my friend Mrs McPhee sorts out some supper for all of you,” Jay said, “and then I will ask you to go with a friend of mine back to your offices. Do as he says, and everyone here will remain secured but unhurt. I trust you understand what I mean?”

Tom nodded slowly as there was the sound of someone thumping down the stairs, and then Tommy and Linda jumped in, Barbara saying “oh my god – are you two all right” as she saw the dark corners of the gag in their mouths.

“Whrrfhfhnmhm, mhssmhfhhs fhn,” Linda said as they jumped over and sat on the floor.

“Mhmmmhuhllrht?”

“I’m all right girls,” Suzanne said as Soo and Tammy jumped in with the other two masked intruders, and then sat on the floor with the two younger children, stretching their legs out as their mother saw the bands of rope round their legs.

“Please, let them talk as well,” Ursula said, and Mrs McPhee nodded as she removed their gags.

“Thank you Mrs McPhee,” Tommy said, “we’re fine Mum – I was scared at first, but Mrs McPhee made us feel much better. We watched Wallace and Gromit, and then danced to my new CD before we came down.”

“Mum are you sure you’re all right,” Soo said as she turned her head to look at her mother.

“I’m fine – don’t worry, junior is fine as well,” their mother said as Tom looked at everyone.

“Well, I guess you’re staying for dinner and for the night…”

“they will be,” Jay said as Mrs McPhee and the other man left the room, “so we’ll allow you to call and let people know you will be late – and cancel any arrangements you may have made.”

“And what is going to happen to us,” Ursula said quietly.

“Well,” Jay said, “once you have all had some food and ha da chance to change,., we are going to make sure the kids have a fun sleepover – and you will be made comfortable and quiet in separate rooms,” Jay said, “while Tom takes care of some business for us. He does what he is told, the worst that happens is none of you can raise the alarm – and we will keep especially good care of you Suzanne.”

“Thanks - I think,” Suzanne said as she twisted round. “Barbara, I may have to borrow some clothes from you – good thing the girls come here regularly for sleepovers as well.”

“Now,” Jay said as he switched on the television, “just watch quietly for a while – the telephone has been disabled, and once you are all in bed, we will disconnect the internet. For now, just sit quietly, talk, relax…”




“Well, this was not quite the meal I was expecting to have tonight,” Barbara said as the plates were passed round the table, everyone helping themselves to the finger food and placing them on their own plates. The families were seated round the table, secured to the chairs with ropes round their waists as Soo talked on her mobile phone.

“Yeah, I’m sorry as well, but this family meeting was sprung on me,” she said as she looked at the masked men and woman in the room, “I’ll see you tomorrow. You can tell me if the film is any good.

“Yeah,. See you then,” she said as she ended the call, and then gave her phone to the masked manas Mrs McPhee said “Fahnk you lassie.”

“I’ll call your father in a little while, let him know we are staying until late,” Suzanne said before she groaned again.

“Are you sure you are all right,” Ursula said quietly.

“I’m fine Mum – trust me, I don’t think anything is going to happen. I certainly hope not- but if anything did happen…”

“We would know what to do,” Jay said quietly, “but do not be afraid.”

“I don’t know why, but I really am not afraid,” Suzanne said, “how did you manage that?”

“It’s a gift – now, eat up,” Jay said as Ursula took her phone from Mrs McPhee. “Rebecca – I am so sorry, but a family matter has come up.

“No, Suzanne has not gone into labour – but I won’t be abele to join you for dinner tonight…”

“So if we’re having a sleepover,, Mrs McPhee,” Tammy said after she had taken a drink, “are we going to be tied up and gagged again?”

“Aye – tighter and mair quiet – but ye’ll ahl be in the same room ahn the same way. Ahll find another film fer ye all tae watch.”

“Not a soppy one,” Tommy said as she looked at the three girls.

“Nahm, sumfihn ye cahn all watch,” Mrs McPhee said with a smile. “Trust me.”

“I do – even if you are a bad lady,” Linda said with a smile…





As Tom came back into the front room, he adjusted his jumper and looked round the room.

“Well, I see you four are ready for the sleepover,” he said as he looked at the four children. Terry and Linda were wearing grey hooded onesies with pictures of birds in flight on them, as well as a pair of socks that the legs of the onesies were tucked into. Soo was wearing a pair of candy striped pyjamas, and Tammy light blue pyjamas with white polka dots.

“Yeah – Mrs McPhee says we will start tog et ready down here after you go, before we go upstairs,” Soo said as she looked at the other three. “Just do what the man tells you to do, Uncle Tom.”

“I[m not going to do anything that might lead to you getting hurt,” Tom said as he hugged his son and daughter and kissed them on the forehead. “You do as Mrs McPhee tells you to, and enjoy whatever she has ready for you to do.”

The four children nodded as Tommy said “I love you Daddy – come home safely.”

“I will, he said as Jay escorted the three older women into the room. Barbara was wearing a sleeveless white nightdress with a purple floral print, the skirt coming down to her knees, while Suzanne was wearing a short sleeved grey top which covered her bump, and lighter grey leggings. Finally, Ursula was wearing a short sleeved pink nightdress. All three women were wearing white socks, as one of the masked men put several pairs of white socks down on the seat.

“Now then,” Jay said, “you will go with my friend here Tom, and do exactly what he tells you to do. He will update me regularly – just dopo what he tells you to do, and you can tell everyone what happened in the morning. “

“Tom, come home safely,” Barbara said as she hugged her husband, and then whispered into his ear. Tom’s eyes opened wide as Barbara slowly nodded, then kissed her as he said “of course I’ll be back safe tomorrow. Good luck, all of you.”

“Be safe,” Barbara said as Tom put his coat on, and left the house with one of the masked men, the children seeing the headlights through the closed curtains as the car drove off.

“Noo then,” Mrs McPhee said, “time tae get ye ahl ready. Hold yer hanhns oot.”

The four children nodded as they held their hands out, and half sponges were put into their hands. As they gripped them in their fists, Mrs McPhee covered their hands with silver tape, and then pulled socks up over their hands, covering them and taping them to the sleeves of their tops with white tape.

“Well, we can’t free each other now,” Tammy said as she raised her hands.

“Damn - there goes that plan,” Soo said as Tommy and Linda laughed. Mrs McPhee then took Soo’s hands behind her back and crossed her wrists before she secured them tightly together with rope, Jay taking a longer length and passing it round her arms. He pulled them tightly against her sides in two bands as his partner moved on to Tammy, their mothers watching as all four children ended up with their arms forced against their sides, smaller lengths of rope tied between their arms and body to make the bindings even tighter.

“How does it feel,” Barbara said as she looked at Linda.

“It’s tight – but it’s as if I’m being hugged,” Linda said as she smiled at her mother. The other three nodded as they twisted their bodies round, Ursula smiling as she looked at her grandchildren.

“You are all very brave,” she said quietly.

“Well, Dad said to do as they said,” Tommy said as he watched Mrs McPhee looking in the bag.

“Noo, ye heed tae be really quiet,” she said, “men fihrst. Come oer here Tommy, ahn open yer moff nice ahn wide.”

The other three watched as she pushed a folded cloth into Tommys mouth, and the eased between his teeth the knot in the centre of a towelling strip. She then tied the strip tightly round his head, pushing his cheeks in, and then she lifted the hood over his head.

“Whtsshtthfhr,” he mumbled as she then peeled the end of a roll of silver tape from the roll.

“Maihr quiet,” the Scottish woman said with a smile as she stuck the end of the tape to the hood and then wound it round his head, covering his mouth as the gag was reinforced. She then wound the white tape over his head, covering the silver tape as she looked at the others.

As he tried to talk, Mrs McPhee beckoned with a gloved finger to Soo, the young girl swallowing hard before she walked over and she was gagged in the same way. Suzanne looked at the others as the other tow girls were then gagged in the same way, before she said “I don’t think I can cope with something like this. My girl’s hair…”

“This tape is special,” Jay said as he put his gloved hand on her shoulder, “it does not damage hair. And for you, Suzanne, we will do something less – restrictive.”

“Thank you,” Suzanne said with a sigh as one of the men gave her two sponge balls to hold, and then he started to wind silver tape round her fists as well. As he puled the socks up her arms and used the white tape to secure the ends to her arms, Jay said “when you are done, I want you to secure her wrists together in front of her, and then secure her arms so the lower band sits under the bump.” The man nodded as she crossed her covered wrists in front of her, watching as the masked man took rope around an between her wrists to secure them together, and then sitting still as the rope was wrapped round her upper arms and body, feeling the pressure as her arms were forced against her sides, and then the rope was taken under one arm, up and around the back of her neck, and then under the other arm as the ends were secured.

“How does it feel,” Ursula said as she watched the man move to her other daughter.

“Not too bad – I can cope with this,” Suzanne said as Mrs McPhee picked up a bag.

“Ahl richt – ahl o ye oop the stairs,” she said, as their mothers watched the four children leave with her and another of the men, Jay smiling as he said “they will be fine – we can look in on them before we make you all comfortable as well.” Taking two more sponges, he went over to Barbara and said “now then, please make fists with these in your hands, and we can start to make you secure as well.”

“It’s not so bad,” Ursula said as her covered hands were taken behind her back, and she felt the ropes rubbing on her wrists as they were secured tightly together. “What were you saying to Tom before he left anyway?”

“Well,” Barbara said as she watched the tape covering her hands, “remember you were asking earlier if Tom and I were going to try for another child?”

“Yes, and then we got rather surprisingly…” Ursula then looked at her daughter as Suzanne said “How long?”

“Six weeks – I found out yesterday, but wanted to tell him tonight,” Barbara said with a smile as the socks were pulled up over her hands.

“Well, this is a reason to celebrate – tomorrow,” Ursula said, Barbara blushing as she felt the rope forcing her arms against her sides. She looked at her mother, the bands of rope framing her chest as it stretched her night dress over her body, and then the way it tightened as the rope went under her arms and round the back of her neck.

She felt the man’s gloved hands as she was secured in the same way, but he was taking care not to do more than he had to, until she felt the ends behind her back as they were secured.

“Now then,” Jay said quietly, “we can head upstairs – we can finish securing you and making sure you stay quiet up there. Shall we?” He then held a hand up as he looked at his phone, and then said “This is Jay.

“Excellent – and there are no problems?

“Proceed and check in at the next scheduled time.” He ended the call and said to Barbara “your husband is behaving himself – so you can celebrate with him tomorrow. Now, please come with me.”

The three women walked behind Jay up the stairs and then looked into one of the bedrooms. Soo looked over as the door was opened, and said “Hllmhmh” through the tape and cloth that kept her quiet.

Mrs McPhee nodded as she stood at the side of the room, watching the television as Barbara saw her children sleeping on their sides, their chests rising and falling under the bands of rope as Soo and Tammy watched the television.

“Stay calm,” Suzanne said, Tammy and Soo nodding as Jay closed the door, and they made their way into the next bedroom. “Please, lie on the bed,” he said to Suzanne, her sister and mother watching as she lay down, while Jay took from a bag more rope, then bound her ankles tightly together, followed by her legs below her knees. He then tied another rope between her ankles and took it to the foot of the bed, tying it to the metal support there as Suzanne said “Comfy – surprisingly enough.”

“Good,” Jay said as he took a red sponge ball from the bag and compressed it in his gloved hand. “I am going to put this in your mouth, then cover it with the white tape that we used to keep the socks up your arms. Just lie still, breathe through your nose, and if you feel uncomfortable at any time tell my friend, who is going to stay in the room with you.”

“Okay,” Suzanne said, “talk to you both tomorrow.”

“Bet on it- we have something sot plan,” Barbara said as they watched Jay gag her sister, the shape of her lips visible under the tape which stretched from cheek to cheek. He then said to the masked man “watch her carefully, let me or Mrs McPhee know if anything happens.”

“Got it Jay,” the man replied as he picked the bag up, and beckoned to Ursula and Barabara to follow him out of the room. As he did, he closed the door and then they made their way to the next bedroom.

“Sit ton the bed, Ursula,” he said as Barabar watched her mother sit down, then the second man who had come with hem knelt and started to bind her ankles together as Jay folded another cloth.

“So we are going tot be like the kids?”

“That’s right,” Jay said as he pushed the cloth into the older woman’s mouth, then pulled the knotted strip of towelling between her lips before the tied it round her head. The white tape was then wrapped tightly round her head, before the layer of silver tape was added on top.

“All right, Mum?”

Ursula nodded as she was helped to lie on her side, her head resting on a pillow before Jay pulled her ankles back and hogtied her. He then took Barbara by the arm and walked her to the master bedroom.

“I guess I should say thank you,” she said as she sat down and watched him bind her ankles and legs, “you did what you said you would do, and nobody has been hurt.”

“Well, given your news today, I am glad we could do this without too much trouble,” Jay said as he folded back the skirt of her nightdress, and then secured her legs together below her knees before folding the skirt back. “Now, it is time for you to be quiet. Please, open wide.”

As the layers of the gag were added, Barbara controlled her breathing, then lay down as she felt Jay pull her ankles back and secure them to the ropes holding her arms against her sides. It was surprisingly comfortable, and as she turned the light off she realized her eyes were slowly closing…






“Lhndhddh?”

Linda slowly opened her eyes and rolled over to see Tommy looking at her.

“Whtthmshhhtt?”

“Dnhttnnh,” Tommy said as she looked at his sister, “chnnuhghtfhrrhh?”

Lina tied to move her hands, but the ropes were still tight as she shook her head. “Chuh?”

Tommy shook his head as he heard Soo say “Hwwhruhth?”

“Whrrfhn – whthtmhsht?”

“Dhntnhh – shnnhrrhnhfhn?”

The two younger children shook their heads before Soo heard a car pull up outside…



As he got out of the car, William looked at the house. He had woken up to find the rest of his family had not come home last night, and he had driven to Tom and Barabar’s house to see what had happened to them.

Barbara’s eyes opened a ssh heard the front doorbell ring, and she tried to get free – to no avail. The four children tried to call out, but their gags meant all that came out was the low mumble as Suzanne said “hmgghhddd – hphnhthdhhr…”

“What’s going on,” Williams said as he heard the approaching sirens, and turned to see three police cars pullup outside the house, the rear door of one opening as a very worried Tom got out.

“Tom – what the hell’s happened?”

“Jay Edwards – that’s what,” Tom said as he opened the front door, William letting the police go in first as Tom called out “BARBARA! WHERE ARE YOU?” Both men heard the muffled calls as they ran up the stairs, Tom looking in his bedroom as he said, “oh my god” and ran to where his wife was looking at him.

“SUZANNNE!”

“Hnnhhrr,” William heard as he went to another door, and ran in to see his wife looking at him. He went over and peeled the tape away from her mouth, then eased out the sponge as Suzanne coughed and then looked at him.

“Have you been like that all night?”

“Yes- but you need to cut me free quickly.”

“Why?”

“The contractions have started….”






“I am sorry to hear that Tom - but pass on my congratulations to William and Suzanne,” Mark said as he looked at Yvonne. “Tell the family they are in our prayers.”

“News?”

“Oh yes – Suzanne has given birth to a baby boy, -and the family seem none the worse for their night.”

“Good – now sit down, and have your coffee…”

[Smythdean]

Jay Edward can come visit me any day