Postby KP Presents » Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:19 am
The trip into town took a few minutes, especially as Eddie had to negotiate the way into the back yard behind the florist’s shop, but eventually we managed to get into position and park by the back door.
Getting out, we walked over and knocked three times on the back. It was just after one, and as a rule Cathy’s mother shut the shop on a Saturday at one. The one possible flaw in the plan was that she decided to open a bit later today – but when Mary opened the door and beckoned us both in, I breathed a sigh of relief. We looked through from the back to see her put the “closed“sign in place, her other mother with her. Belinda was wearing a long layered skirt, white blouse and brown suede waistcoat, with brown felt boots, while Penelope was in a pair of tight black leggings and an electric blue blouse with a wide belt around her waist, finished off with a pair of back ankle boots.
“Right, Cathy,” Penelope said as they looked towards the door, “What is this challenge you wanted to set us?”
“Well,” I heard Cathy say from beside the door, “I was reading this story where a robber used only silk scarves to keep his victims quiet and out of the way. I think it can be done – but I want to see if you can get out of it before I suggest it to the others.”
“Scarves,” Belinda said, “Well, so long as you don’t out them anywhere inappropriate?”
“Now would I do that, Mummy?”
“You’re growing up Cathy – who knows? But all right – where do you want us?”
I then saw Cathy walk forward and put a pile of scarves on the counter. “Did you raid our wardrobe,” Penelope said with a raised eyebrow.
“Yup – you can ground me later. Lean over the counter, and cross your wrists behind your back.”
“I keep telling you that you have too many scarves,” Penelope said to Belinda, as they did what Cathy asked them to do, and she used two long blue silk rectangles to secure their wrists together, taking it between their arms as well.
“You’ve been practising,” Belinda said as Cathy then took two similar scarves and used them to tie their arms together below their elbows.
“She has as well,” Mary whispered, “on me. It felt different from rope, but just as strong.”
We watched as she tied the scarves off, and then made them kneel facing each other on the floor. She then used two shawls each, folded into bands, to secure their arms to their bodies, and used four smaller scarves each to cinch the bands under their arms.
“Hmmmm – this feels nice,” Penelope said as she leaned forward and gave her partner a little kiss.
“And difficult to get out of,” Belinda said with a smile. “So are you going to do out legs next?”
“No – I think I need to keep you two quiet now,” Cathy said with a smile as she folded two blue silk squares into pads. “Open wide now.”
“Talk to you later, Penny,” Belinda said as she opened her mouth and allowed Cathy to push a folded silk cloth in.
“Hopefully, Bindy,” Penelope said before she too had a folded scarf pushed into her mouth. They watched as Cathy folded two large head squares, both red with a yellow cross pattern, tied a knot in the middle of the band, and then gently pulled the knot into their mouths before tying the bands around their heads.
“There,” Cathy said as she looked at both of them, “I’ll take care of the legs in a moment, but I’m going to blindfold you both as well, make it more realistic for you.”
She removed the glasses from Penelope, and then used two white scarves to cover their eyes.
“My cue,” Mary said as she slipped out of the back door, and then rang the rear bell.
“WShhtththt,” Penelope said as she looked to the rear door.
“It’s all right – I’ll get it,” Cathy said as she came through, and hugged me before opening the door again while I slipped in.
“Hello Mrs Harmer, Mrs Harmer,” I said as I looked at them.
“Jnneee? Wssstu?”
“No I’m afraid not,” I said as Eddie and Cathy came in, “but I am here to invite you for a little trip. Let my friends take you to the car.”
“Bttthhtkngss…”
“We’ll make sure they get banked on the way,” Eddie said as he helped Belinda up and walked her to the rear exit, placing her in the back of his car.
“And I will lock up,” Cathy said as Eddie then took Penelope through to the car, while Cathy locked the front door and indicated I should come through the back. As I did so, she pulled on her long grey coat and grabbed her mothers’ handbags, as well as a leather money bag, and handed all of them to Eddie.
Punching some numbers onto a keypad, I heard the beep of an alarm as we went out of the back door, and closed the door, Cathy locking it as Mary and Eddie watched.
“I really hope they see the funny side of this,” Cathy said as she got into the front passenger seat.
“I’m sure they will – Mary and I are going out to Wissenden, so we’ll see you at the manor house by four.”
“And just how are we going to get out there,” Mary said as we waved Eddie off.
Smiling, I took out my mobile phone and dialled a number. “Mister Hampton? It’s Mary – Colin said you may be able to give me a lift?”
“Oh you sneaky little lady,” Mary said with a smile, “I thought the boys weren’t allowed to help out with this?”
“They’re not – Lady Holderness said nothing about the fathers,” I said as I covered the microphone. “We’re at Harmer Florists – ten minutes?”
It was close to two by the time we got to Wissenden Hall, Colin coming out to greet us as we arrived.
“All going to plan so far,” he said as he looked at me.
“Yup – we just need the last two from here.”
“Three.”
“Beg your pardon?”
“Might be easiest if you come in,” Colin said as I followed him, his dad behind me. We went into the front room, and as I went in I saw what he meant.
Mrs Holderness and Mrs Boyle were sitting on the long couch, their arms tightly bound to their sides with ropes and their hands behind their back. Mrs Boyle was wearing her usual work outfit of a short sleeved white blouse and a knee length grey skirt with flat shoes. By contrast, Mrs Holderness was wearing a crimson red jumper, blue jeans and red ankle boots. Their ankles and legs were tightly secured as well, while a band of white tape covered their mouths, a second over their eyes.
Bobby and Suzie looked over and waved at me, Bobby kneeling on the floor in front of their grandmother while Suzie was beside her. Mrs Jacobs was wearing a grey jumper and cardigan with a knee length tweed skirt, and flat brown shoes, but her grandchildren were in the process of finishing the ropes around her arms and legs. She too had been gagged and blindfolded with the white tape, and turned her head as she heard us coming in.
“We’re running a little late,” Mister Holderness whispered behind me, almost making me jump out of my skin. “But we’ll be ready to move in a minute – ah.”
“All right,” Bobby said as he stood up, “the evil robbers have gone to look for your valuables – can you get away before they come to hide you in the cellar.”
The three older women started to wriggle round, as Mister Boyle and Mister Holderness walked in and picked Mrs Boyle off the chair. She stopped moving as she was carried out, just moving her head from side to side as she tried to figure out what was going on.
“Whssthhhrr,” Mrs Holderness said as she was carried out next, Mrs Jacobs saying “whsthppng” through her gag.
“Relax, Gran,” Suzie said as she planted a little kiss on her cheek, “you’re going for a surprise trip.”
“Mhhtthfknn,” Mrs Jacobs said, allowing herself to be carried out to the waiting minibus.
“You two are coming with me,” Mister Holderness said, “Bobby and Suzie will go in the minibus.”
“Thanks for the lift,” I said to Mister Hampton as they stood to one side, “I’ll see you tomorrow Colin.”
“Looking forward to it,” he said a she gave me a little kiss, and we got into the Daimler of Mister Holderness.
“Right,” he said as he followed the minibus down the driveway, “next stop Holderness Manor.”
As we drove up to the front of the manor house, we saw Mister Boyle and Mister Bowden helping to take the last three invited guests into the house.
“Well done, Jenny,” Lord Holderness said as we came in, “Not as dramatic as the boys, but very nicely done none the less.”
“Thank you, your lordship,” I said with a smile. “May I ask where Lady Holderness is?”
“Right here.”
I turned to see Sarah standing there, in a light pink smock top and leggings. Lady Holderness was indeed with her, her eyes smiling over the length of white tape that covered her mouth. Her arms were tightly bound to her sides, the front of her cardigan opened by the bands.
“We felt the best way to start the party was to thoroughly bamboozle them,” Sarah said with a smile, “Let’s go into the library.”
I followed her through to where all the women were sat, their heads turning from side to side as they heard the door opening and closing. Sarah helped Lady Holderness to sit down in an armchair, and as she nodded she looked to me.
“Hey everyone,” I said as all their heads turned towards me. “I’m going to take your blindfolds off in a minute, but I need you all to close your eyes while I do so. Don’t open them until I tell you.”
“Whtsggnnnnjneee,” Aunt Jo said as she tried to free her hands.
“You’ll soon find out,” I said as I picked up a pair of scissors and went round the room, removing folded scarves, peeling away tape gently, and in some cases cutting it at the back of their necks. All of them kept their eyes closed until I stood next to Sarah and said “All right – you can open them now.”
As they opened their eyes and looked round, Lady Holderness said “Wlcmmm.”
Mum looked at me and then at the others, before saying “Whhffudnjneee?”
“She did what she was asked to do.”
Granny looked over and said “Srre? Whnddurf?”
“Hello Miranda – everyone. You’ll need to forgive both Lady Holderness and Connie Brown – they knew I was here, but were asked to keep it secret until now.”
Aunt Connie had the grace to nod and say “sree” as the others looked at her.
“Anyway,” she said as I laid the scissors on the coffee table, “I need to take Jenny here away for a few minutes. Why don’t you try and get free – and when you do, come through to the dining room.”
We both left the room and went to the dining room, where everyone else was waiting.
“You did it girl,” Alicia said as she high fived me, “now you can look forward to what they say when they get free.”
“Well, we all did it,” I said as I looked at the others, “as did our dads – where have they gone anyway?”
“Out for the evening, Miss Jennifer,” Mrs Bridges said as she came in with a tray of drinks. “Now, take some refreshment before you have to prepare for the evening.”