Beauty and The Best - Aunties (MF/Fmf)
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 4:07 pm
They were watching from the van as the SUV pulled up outside the house, Tow holding the steering wheel as Barbara finished applying the red lipstick to her lips. The woman who got out was in her late forties, with long greying hair, and wearing a pair of large glasses. She had on a long grey sweatshirt and old blue jeans with a pair of light brown Ugg fur-lined boots.
“From the way she dresses,” Tom said quietly, “you would never believe she was one of the richest women in the area, and the daughter of a viscount.”
“The black sheep of a daughter,” Barbara said as she put her lipstick away, “married a bank manager, and four children.” They continued to watch as a sixteen-year-old and a fifteen-year-old girl got out next. Both had long brown hair, the older daughter wearing a long-sleeved grey top with white loops and frills on the upper sleeves, dark jeans and knee length brown riding boots. Her sister was wearing a blue denim jacket over a grey top; her jeans tucked into a pair of lighter brown leather boots.
“Where are the boys?”
“Football game – they’ll be back soon enough,” Tom said with a smile as the three women walked into the front door of the large house. He looked at the rear mirror and finished applying the dark makeup round his eyes before he looked at his partner.
“Shall we?”
“Yes, yes we shall…”
“Do you want a coffee, Mum?”
“Thank you, Fiona,” Ruth Holborn said as she turned the television on and sat down. As the film started, she smiled to herself – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang had been a favourite of hers since she was a girl.
“I’ll see who it is,” her younger daughter Holly said as she heard the doorbell ring, and then heard Holly say “Hello, can…”
“Yes, you can – just step quietly back and keep your hands where I can see them.”
“Holly?” Ruth stood up and went to the doorway to see her daughter slowly walk back, her hands raised as two people came in. A young man and woman, the man wearing a black leather jacket and jumper with pants the woman a tight-fitting jumper and leggings tucked into over the knee black suede boots. Both were identical in other ways – the black woollen caps on their heads, the leather gloves on their hands, the black eye masks, and the guns they were both holding…
“What the… Who the…”
“Let’s not panic,” the woman said as she looked at Ruth, “and yes, we will take a coffee as well once you have brought that to your mother.” Ruth looked to the side to see Fiona standing there, the mug in her hands and a shocked look on her face.
“Mum?”
“Allow me to make the introductions,” the man said as he looked at three women, “I am called The Best.”
“The Best at what,” Holly said quietly, her eyes fixed on the gun.
“The Best at making sure you all behave – I am Beauty,” the masked woman said. “Now, why don’t we all go into the front room and have a seat – the coffee for us can wait, and we need to explain what is going to happen.”
“Is this a robbery,” Ruth said quietly.
“Well,” Beauty said with a smile, “yes – please all of you, come in and sit down, and Best will make sure you are – comfortable and secure.”
Holly and Fiona looked at each other as they sat on the couch facing the screen, Best walking behind them and opening the bag he was carrying, then removing a length of white rope as he took Holly’s hands behind her back and started to secure her wrists together.
“Mum?”
“I know, darling,” Ruth said as she watched the masked man pass a longer length of rope round her daughter’s arms and forced them against their sides, her denim jacket opening up as the ropes were pulled tighter and tighter. “If we do as you tell us to do, do I have your word you will not hurt us?”
“You have my word,” Beauty said as she knelt down and started to use more of the white rope to secure Holly’s ankles together, the rope squeaking on the leather as Best started to secure her sister in the same way. The rope went around and between the young woman’s legs, her mother watching as the ends were secured and then the masked woman secured her legs together below her knees in the same way.
“Now, m once we have your daughters secure,” Best said as he looked at Ruth, “we can wait for the rest of your family to arrive. We know your husband is away on business, so we can take our time to make sure our stay has the maximum return for us.”
“And us?”
“Well,” Beauty said as she shifted over and knelt in front of Fiona, the rope forcing her ankles together as well, “You will be safe and unable to prevent us going about our work with your mother.”
“But why are you robbing us?”
“To survive.”
The three of them looked at Best as he walked over and moved Ruth’s hands behind her back, as he said “We need to live, and need funds to live – so you will help us to survive. Think on it in that way, and it may be less of a painful time for you.”
Ruth looked at Beauty as she stood up, and said “what does that mean?” Before an answer could be given, however, the front door opened and closed, and two boys came in. John was thirteen, and was wearing a crimson red sweatshirt, blue jeans and black trainers, while eleven-year-old Carl was wearing a brown fleece and blue jeans with grey trainers. They both stopped and stared before Carl said, “oh wow – is this a game?”
“No young Carl,” Beauty said with a smile, “this is a real robbery, and we’re going to tie you both up now as well.”
“You are?”
“I am – unless you don’t want to be tied up by a woman with a gun.”
“Boys,” Ruth said as she felt the rope forcing her arms against her sides, “let her tie you both up. I don’t’ want any of you to get hurt…”
Best looked out from the curtains as Ruth looked over and said, “are you expecting visitors?”
“No – why?”
“You have some. Beauty, will you welcome them please?”
“Hhshshhttt,” Holly said as she looked at them, the white tape covering her mouth.
“I don’t know, dear,” Ruth said quietly as the masked woman walked out of the room, Best putting a gloved finger to his lips as the doorbell rang.
“Hello,” Beauty said as she opened the door, “I invite all three of you to come in and not say a word – please.”
Ruth sighed as she heard a familiar voice say, “what’s going on?”
In the hallway, Beauty was looking at a woman in her late thirties, her arms round her two children as they both looked at the gun in her gloved hand. She was wearing a red leather jacket over a white laced top, a grey top visible underneath, blue jeans and knee length brown leather boots. A brown and cream mobius scarf was wrapped loosely round her neck as well.
Her twelve-year-old son was wearing a chocolate brown padded gilet over a checked shirt, as well as jeans and brown shoes. On the other side was his ten-year-old sister, a black and white bow in her blonde hair. She was wearing a black top with a Nordic print at the top, and white pants tucked into knee length brown leather boots. She was shaking as Beauty knelt in front of her and brushed her hair away from her eyes.
“I know we look a bit scary,” she said quietly as Best appeared in the doorway, “but I promise you we haven’t hurt anyone, and I am not going to hurt you or your mother.”
“But you look scary in that mask – why do you wear it?”
“Well – what is your name?”
“Lorna…”
“Well, Lorna,” Beauty said with a smile, “we are robbers, and it would not be good for us if people could recognise us, so this is our disguise. Now, I’m going to ask all three of you to turn round, and I am going to use some rope to make sure your hands stay together behind your back. Once that is done, I’ll take you and your mother to join the other women, while my friend Best takes your bother to where the boys are watching the football game.”
“Mum?”
“It’s all right, Richard,” the woman said before she said, “we’ll all do what you have asked us to do.” They all turned round, as she called out “Ruth, can you hear me – and can you talk?”
“I’m all right – if a little tied up, Yvonne,” she heard Ruth say as she felt the gloved hands crossing her own wrists behind her back, the rope rubbing on her skin as they were secured together. She smiled at Robert and Lorna as she said, “the rope is soft, and it doesn’t hurt – be brave and let the lady do the same thing to you as well.”
Robert nodded as his wrists were bound, then he said to his little sister “just stay calm, and don’t try to stop them sis – we’ll be fine.”
“Indeed,” Beauty said as she tied the ropes off. “Best, please take Robert to join the boys – I’ll take Yvonne and Laura to join the girls.”
“Come with me, young man,” the masked man said as he took Robert by the arm, the young lad looking over as Beauty finished securing his mother’s wrists together behind her back, and then heard her say “now then- let’s get you both comfortable as well…”
“Where are we going,” Robert said as he looked at the Best.
“In here,” the masked man said as he opened a door, Robert walking into be greeted by a call of “hrhhbbhrtchmhndwhshsthgm.” John and Carl were sitting on large beanbags, their legs stretched out as Robert saw the bands of rope holding their ankles together, as well as their legs below their knees. They also had two bands of rope holding their arms against their sides, and their hands were behind their backs, while wide strips of white tape covered their mouths.
They were facing a wall with a widescreen television on, the football game progressing as Best took more ropes from a bag in there and wrapped them around Robert’s body as his arms were forced against this sides. He looked over at the screen, and said “United are winning?”
“Yhhmhhchlhlhhphn” John said as the ropes were pulled tighter, and the ends tied off before Best pulled a third bean bag over and helped the new arrival to sit down. Robert watched as his ankles and legs were secured wit bands of rope, going around and between his legs, and then he heard the soft peeling sound as more tape was taken off a roll.
“So, what happens, now,” he said before he was gagged.
“You both get to watch this game while I and Beauty talk to your mothers – after that, we shall see,” he said with a smile as he closed the door, Robert looking at his cousins and saying “whllthsshsnh…”
As he came back into the room, he saw Beauty smoothing white tape over Lorna’s mouth as she sat between her older cousins, the two of them smiling as they all started to wriggle their legs, their boots squeaking as they did so.
“You really are robbing her,” Yvonne said as she looked over from the other armchair. Like the three girls, the bands of rope were tied tightly round her arms and upper body and her wrists were secured together behind her back, her jacket opening up underneath, while her ankles and legs were also secured.
“We are,” Beauty said as she looked over, removing a longer length of white tape from the roll as she did so, “so you keep the girls company and watch thee television, while I take Ruth for a walk round the house.”
Yvonne nodded as the tape was pressed down over her mouth, Ruth seeing the shape of her lips underneath, and then she was helped to stand up as Best switched on the television.
“Clhffshrhrd?”
Yvonne nodded as Summer Holiday started…
“Why target us – just because we are slightly better off than others?”
“Lady Ruth, despite the way you live and behave, we know you are a lot better off than most,” Beauty said quietly as they walked up the stairs, “and we only take from those who can afford to lose a little, so that we can live a reasonable life.”
As they reached the top of the stairs, Ruth said quietly “you’re serious aren’t you – you take from em to live?”
“To pay the utilities, feed ourselves – it should not be the case we have to do this to meet those most basic of needs, but it is – unfortunately. I know we have scared your families, but we mean them no harm. It is just – part of what we have to do.”
As they entered the bedroom, Ruth said “so keeping the boys and the girls apart is part of keeping them safe.”
“And calm – the boys are watching the football, the girls an admittedly slightly cheesy but a still amusing musical.”
“It’s one of my sister’s favourites actually,” Ruth said with a smile. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
“Of course not,” Beauty said as Ruth sat on the bed and looked at her. “You can’t be much past twenty.”
“No comment.”
“I’d guess you one who was brought up in the system – that never prepares young people well. But still, to be driven to these sorts of extremes…”
“Who would you blame? Us?”
“No – we allowed ourselves to become this sort of society, again.”
“Again?”
Ruth looked at Beauty and said “you need a crash course in social documentaries and dramas of the sixties – Ken Loach and others. You may find it – depressingly illuminating.”
“Perhaps – in the meantime, why don’t you tell em where your valuables are, and we can make a start on what will be leaving with us…”
“Thank you,” Laura said quietly as she finished drinking the milk through the straw, Best nodding as he wiped her mouth and chin with a napkin and then smoothed the tape back down over her mouth as the two older girls looked on.
“Shtrrhhchtlwhllbhhnshn.”
“And you would all like to watch, correct?”
As the girls nodded, Ruth twisted her bound ankles and legs round and then looked to the door as Best walked out, returning a few minutes later with John, Carl and Robert, the three boys jumping in as the girls looked over.
“Chthtlhkkrhbhrt,” Laura mumbled as the other two giggled. For his part, Robert was staring at his older cousins, the ropes framing their breasts and stretching their clothes over their chest.
“Fhnkkchlnfhthths.”
He looked at his older cousins as they were helped to kneel on the floor and nodded, then grunted as his ankles were pulled back and secured to the bands of rope that held his arms against his sides. He looked to the side as John and Carl were hogtied in the same way, and then heard his mother say “hrruhlhhrhtrhbhrt?”
“Hmmfhnmhm,” he said as he looked at Yvonne, who was sitting in the armchair, and then groaned as he heard the theme music for Strictly Come Dancing start.
“Now you must support the ladies, Best said with a smile as Ruth said “I’m proud of all of you – and I understand they have not tried to hurt us, just to stop us. I think I’m going to be left unable to talk now, but once this is over, we’ll have some supper and talk about it, all right?”
The children nodded as the sound of boots squeaking when they rubbed together started again, and Beauty pressed the adhesive tape firmly down over Ruth’s mouth and jawline.
She watched as Best walked to the windows and looked through the drawn curtains.
“It’s getting dark,” he said quietly, “we will leave in a few minutes, and alert the authorities to your predicament in due course.”
Ruth and Yvonne nodded as the masked intruders collected their bag and quietly left the room, the boys looking at each other as the girls watched Stefaan Dennis start to dance the Rumba…
“Yvonne? Are you and the kids still here?”
An hour had passed, as Yvonne looked at Ruth and called out “Whrhrhenhhhrrr!” She looked to the door as her husband came in, looked at the bound and gagged captives, and whispered “what happened?”
“Gtthththshfmhmhf.”
He walked quickly over and peeled the micropore tape from her mouth as she said “Ruth was robbed - call the police, and then find some scissors…”
“From the way she dresses,” Tom said quietly, “you would never believe she was one of the richest women in the area, and the daughter of a viscount.”
“The black sheep of a daughter,” Barbara said as she put her lipstick away, “married a bank manager, and four children.” They continued to watch as a sixteen-year-old and a fifteen-year-old girl got out next. Both had long brown hair, the older daughter wearing a long-sleeved grey top with white loops and frills on the upper sleeves, dark jeans and knee length brown riding boots. Her sister was wearing a blue denim jacket over a grey top; her jeans tucked into a pair of lighter brown leather boots.
“Where are the boys?”
“Football game – they’ll be back soon enough,” Tom said with a smile as the three women walked into the front door of the large house. He looked at the rear mirror and finished applying the dark makeup round his eyes before he looked at his partner.
“Shall we?”
“Yes, yes we shall…”
“Do you want a coffee, Mum?”
“Thank you, Fiona,” Ruth Holborn said as she turned the television on and sat down. As the film started, she smiled to herself – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang had been a favourite of hers since she was a girl.
“I’ll see who it is,” her younger daughter Holly said as she heard the doorbell ring, and then heard Holly say “Hello, can…”
“Yes, you can – just step quietly back and keep your hands where I can see them.”
“Holly?” Ruth stood up and went to the doorway to see her daughter slowly walk back, her hands raised as two people came in. A young man and woman, the man wearing a black leather jacket and jumper with pants the woman a tight-fitting jumper and leggings tucked into over the knee black suede boots. Both were identical in other ways – the black woollen caps on their heads, the leather gloves on their hands, the black eye masks, and the guns they were both holding…
“What the… Who the…”
“Let’s not panic,” the woman said as she looked at Ruth, “and yes, we will take a coffee as well once you have brought that to your mother.” Ruth looked to the side to see Fiona standing there, the mug in her hands and a shocked look on her face.
“Mum?”
“Allow me to make the introductions,” the man said as he looked at three women, “I am called The Best.”
“The Best at what,” Holly said quietly, her eyes fixed on the gun.
“The Best at making sure you all behave – I am Beauty,” the masked woman said. “Now, why don’t we all go into the front room and have a seat – the coffee for us can wait, and we need to explain what is going to happen.”
“Is this a robbery,” Ruth said quietly.
“Well,” Beauty said with a smile, “yes – please all of you, come in and sit down, and Best will make sure you are – comfortable and secure.”
Holly and Fiona looked at each other as they sat on the couch facing the screen, Best walking behind them and opening the bag he was carrying, then removing a length of white rope as he took Holly’s hands behind her back and started to secure her wrists together.
“Mum?”
“I know, darling,” Ruth said as she watched the masked man pass a longer length of rope round her daughter’s arms and forced them against their sides, her denim jacket opening up as the ropes were pulled tighter and tighter. “If we do as you tell us to do, do I have your word you will not hurt us?”
“You have my word,” Beauty said as she knelt down and started to use more of the white rope to secure Holly’s ankles together, the rope squeaking on the leather as Best started to secure her sister in the same way. The rope went around and between the young woman’s legs, her mother watching as the ends were secured and then the masked woman secured her legs together below her knees in the same way.
“Now, m once we have your daughters secure,” Best said as he looked at Ruth, “we can wait for the rest of your family to arrive. We know your husband is away on business, so we can take our time to make sure our stay has the maximum return for us.”
“And us?”
“Well,” Beauty said as she shifted over and knelt in front of Fiona, the rope forcing her ankles together as well, “You will be safe and unable to prevent us going about our work with your mother.”
“But why are you robbing us?”
“To survive.”
The three of them looked at Best as he walked over and moved Ruth’s hands behind her back, as he said “We need to live, and need funds to live – so you will help us to survive. Think on it in that way, and it may be less of a painful time for you.”
Ruth looked at Beauty as she stood up, and said “what does that mean?” Before an answer could be given, however, the front door opened and closed, and two boys came in. John was thirteen, and was wearing a crimson red sweatshirt, blue jeans and black trainers, while eleven-year-old Carl was wearing a brown fleece and blue jeans with grey trainers. They both stopped and stared before Carl said, “oh wow – is this a game?”
“No young Carl,” Beauty said with a smile, “this is a real robbery, and we’re going to tie you both up now as well.”
“You are?”
“I am – unless you don’t want to be tied up by a woman with a gun.”
“Boys,” Ruth said as she felt the rope forcing her arms against her sides, “let her tie you both up. I don’t’ want any of you to get hurt…”
Best looked out from the curtains as Ruth looked over and said, “are you expecting visitors?”
“No – why?”
“You have some. Beauty, will you welcome them please?”
“Hhshshhttt,” Holly said as she looked at them, the white tape covering her mouth.
“I don’t know, dear,” Ruth said quietly as the masked woman walked out of the room, Best putting a gloved finger to his lips as the doorbell rang.
“Hello,” Beauty said as she opened the door, “I invite all three of you to come in and not say a word – please.”
Ruth sighed as she heard a familiar voice say, “what’s going on?”
In the hallway, Beauty was looking at a woman in her late thirties, her arms round her two children as they both looked at the gun in her gloved hand. She was wearing a red leather jacket over a white laced top, a grey top visible underneath, blue jeans and knee length brown leather boots. A brown and cream mobius scarf was wrapped loosely round her neck as well.
Her twelve-year-old son was wearing a chocolate brown padded gilet over a checked shirt, as well as jeans and brown shoes. On the other side was his ten-year-old sister, a black and white bow in her blonde hair. She was wearing a black top with a Nordic print at the top, and white pants tucked into knee length brown leather boots. She was shaking as Beauty knelt in front of her and brushed her hair away from her eyes.
“I know we look a bit scary,” she said quietly as Best appeared in the doorway, “but I promise you we haven’t hurt anyone, and I am not going to hurt you or your mother.”
“But you look scary in that mask – why do you wear it?”
“Well – what is your name?”
“Lorna…”
“Well, Lorna,” Beauty said with a smile, “we are robbers, and it would not be good for us if people could recognise us, so this is our disguise. Now, I’m going to ask all three of you to turn round, and I am going to use some rope to make sure your hands stay together behind your back. Once that is done, I’ll take you and your mother to join the other women, while my friend Best takes your bother to where the boys are watching the football game.”
“Mum?”
“It’s all right, Richard,” the woman said before she said, “we’ll all do what you have asked us to do.” They all turned round, as she called out “Ruth, can you hear me – and can you talk?”
“I’m all right – if a little tied up, Yvonne,” she heard Ruth say as she felt the gloved hands crossing her own wrists behind her back, the rope rubbing on her skin as they were secured together. She smiled at Robert and Lorna as she said, “the rope is soft, and it doesn’t hurt – be brave and let the lady do the same thing to you as well.”
Robert nodded as his wrists were bound, then he said to his little sister “just stay calm, and don’t try to stop them sis – we’ll be fine.”
“Indeed,” Beauty said as she tied the ropes off. “Best, please take Robert to join the boys – I’ll take Yvonne and Laura to join the girls.”
“Come with me, young man,” the masked man said as he took Robert by the arm, the young lad looking over as Beauty finished securing his mother’s wrists together behind her back, and then heard her say “now then- let’s get you both comfortable as well…”
“Where are we going,” Robert said as he looked at the Best.
“In here,” the masked man said as he opened a door, Robert walking into be greeted by a call of “hrhhbbhrtchmhndwhshsthgm.” John and Carl were sitting on large beanbags, their legs stretched out as Robert saw the bands of rope holding their ankles together, as well as their legs below their knees. They also had two bands of rope holding their arms against their sides, and their hands were behind their backs, while wide strips of white tape covered their mouths.
They were facing a wall with a widescreen television on, the football game progressing as Best took more ropes from a bag in there and wrapped them around Robert’s body as his arms were forced against this sides. He looked over at the screen, and said “United are winning?”
“Yhhmhhchlhlhhphn” John said as the ropes were pulled tighter, and the ends tied off before Best pulled a third bean bag over and helped the new arrival to sit down. Robert watched as his ankles and legs were secured wit bands of rope, going around and between his legs, and then he heard the soft peeling sound as more tape was taken off a roll.
“So, what happens, now,” he said before he was gagged.
“You both get to watch this game while I and Beauty talk to your mothers – after that, we shall see,” he said with a smile as he closed the door, Robert looking at his cousins and saying “whllthsshsnh…”
As he came back into the room, he saw Beauty smoothing white tape over Lorna’s mouth as she sat between her older cousins, the two of them smiling as they all started to wriggle their legs, their boots squeaking as they did so.
“You really are robbing her,” Yvonne said as she looked over from the other armchair. Like the three girls, the bands of rope were tied tightly round her arms and upper body and her wrists were secured together behind her back, her jacket opening up underneath, while her ankles and legs were also secured.
“We are,” Beauty said as she looked over, removing a longer length of white tape from the roll as she did so, “so you keep the girls company and watch thee television, while I take Ruth for a walk round the house.”
Yvonne nodded as the tape was pressed down over her mouth, Ruth seeing the shape of her lips underneath, and then she was helped to stand up as Best switched on the television.
“Clhffshrhrd?”
Yvonne nodded as Summer Holiday started…
“Why target us – just because we are slightly better off than others?”
“Lady Ruth, despite the way you live and behave, we know you are a lot better off than most,” Beauty said quietly as they walked up the stairs, “and we only take from those who can afford to lose a little, so that we can live a reasonable life.”
As they reached the top of the stairs, Ruth said quietly “you’re serious aren’t you – you take from em to live?”
“To pay the utilities, feed ourselves – it should not be the case we have to do this to meet those most basic of needs, but it is – unfortunately. I know we have scared your families, but we mean them no harm. It is just – part of what we have to do.”
As they entered the bedroom, Ruth said “so keeping the boys and the girls apart is part of keeping them safe.”
“And calm – the boys are watching the football, the girls an admittedly slightly cheesy but a still amusing musical.”
“It’s one of my sister’s favourites actually,” Ruth said with a smile. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
“Of course not,” Beauty said as Ruth sat on the bed and looked at her. “You can’t be much past twenty.”
“No comment.”
“I’d guess you one who was brought up in the system – that never prepares young people well. But still, to be driven to these sorts of extremes…”
“Who would you blame? Us?”
“No – we allowed ourselves to become this sort of society, again.”
“Again?”
Ruth looked at Beauty and said “you need a crash course in social documentaries and dramas of the sixties – Ken Loach and others. You may find it – depressingly illuminating.”
“Perhaps – in the meantime, why don’t you tell em where your valuables are, and we can make a start on what will be leaving with us…”
“Thank you,” Laura said quietly as she finished drinking the milk through the straw, Best nodding as he wiped her mouth and chin with a napkin and then smoothed the tape back down over her mouth as the two older girls looked on.
“Shtrrhhchtlwhllbhhnshn.”
“And you would all like to watch, correct?”
As the girls nodded, Ruth twisted her bound ankles and legs round and then looked to the door as Best walked out, returning a few minutes later with John, Carl and Robert, the three boys jumping in as the girls looked over.
“Chthtlhkkrhbhrt,” Laura mumbled as the other two giggled. For his part, Robert was staring at his older cousins, the ropes framing their breasts and stretching their clothes over their chest.
“Fhnkkchlnfhthths.”
He looked at his older cousins as they were helped to kneel on the floor and nodded, then grunted as his ankles were pulled back and secured to the bands of rope that held his arms against his sides. He looked to the side as John and Carl were hogtied in the same way, and then heard his mother say “hrruhlhhrhtrhbhrt?”
“Hmmfhnmhm,” he said as he looked at Yvonne, who was sitting in the armchair, and then groaned as he heard the theme music for Strictly Come Dancing start.
“Now you must support the ladies, Best said with a smile as Ruth said “I’m proud of all of you – and I understand they have not tried to hurt us, just to stop us. I think I’m going to be left unable to talk now, but once this is over, we’ll have some supper and talk about it, all right?”
The children nodded as the sound of boots squeaking when they rubbed together started again, and Beauty pressed the adhesive tape firmly down over Ruth’s mouth and jawline.
She watched as Best walked to the windows and looked through the drawn curtains.
“It’s getting dark,” he said quietly, “we will leave in a few minutes, and alert the authorities to your predicament in due course.”
Ruth and Yvonne nodded as the masked intruders collected their bag and quietly left the room, the boys looking at each other as the girls watched Stefaan Dennis start to dance the Rumba…
“Yvonne? Are you and the kids still here?”
An hour had passed, as Yvonne looked at Ruth and called out “Whrhrhenhhhrrr!” She looked to the door as her husband came in, looked at the bound and gagged captives, and whispered “what happened?”
“Gtthththshfmhmhf.”
He walked quickly over and peeled the micropore tape from her mouth as she said “Ruth was robbed - call the police, and then find some scissors…”
