The Widow's Shadow - Final Part added

Postby KP Presents » Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:56 pm

Holderness Manor, Saturday - seven days to go

“Alicia - Alicia, where are you?”

The dark haired girl turned and shouted through the hatchway “I’m in the attic - Grandma asked if I would come up and find some of the old family albums.”

The attic was stacked high with old tea chests, boxes and cases, containing the history of generations of the Holderness family. Alicia moved one of the chests, wiping her brow with the sleeve of her grey sweatshirt, and then stopped to lift the lid of the trunk she had uncovered.

Inside, she could see the blue albums that her grandmother, the current Lady Holderness, had sent her to find. Alicia’s mother was the daughter of the current Lord Holderness, and she was the middle of the three children - her baby brother Andy had arrived three months earlier. As it was a training day at her school, she was spending the day with her grandmother, to give her mum and dad a chance to catch up on the housework.

Picking up the album, Alicia turned to go, but stopped when she saw a small green jewellery case. She picked it up, turning it over in her hand, before she heard her older sister Angela shout up “Come on slowcoach - I want to see the photos of Great Aunt Claire.”

“Coming,” Alicia said as she closed the trunk lid, and carried the album and box down the stairs, passing Mrs Bridges the housekeeper as she went along the corridor, down the stairs and into the drawing room.

“There you are,” Lady Holderness said as Alicia same in. She was sitting with Angela, and as the young teenager looked at both of them she was amazed at how alike they looked, sitting there side by side. Angela had on a t-shirt and jeans, while Lady Holderness was wearing a cream twin set and matching trousers, but facially they were almost identical.

“Thank you,” Her Ladyship said as she took the album from Alicia, but as she laid it on the coffee table she saw the small green box that was in her hand. “Was that in the chest as well,” she said as she looked at her young granddaughter.

“Yes, it was,” Alicia said as she handed the box to her grandmother, “Was I wrong to bring this down as well?”

Angela looked at the box, and said quietly “Is that what I think it is?”

“It is,” Lady Holderness said with a small, sad smile on her face. “IT is time for you to hear the story now Angela - you are of age anyway - and I don’t suppose I could ask you to leave the room?”

Alicia shook her head. “What’s the secret anyway?”

Lady Holderness opened the box, and took out a small, round silver locket. “You may hold it,” she said as she handed it to Alicia and Angela, “but do not open it. This is not the time for that.”

The two girls looked at the locket. “This is really old,” Angela said as she held it in her hand.

“At least two hundred years old,” Lady Holderness said, “and it is a symbol of a side to the story of the Holderness Shadow that you have not heard before. It is passed down the female side of the family, and is our own little secret. Normally, it is told on the 21st birthday, or when a woman marries into the family, but I think you are ready to hear it now.”

The two girls sat and listened as Lady Holderness began.

“You are both familiar with the origins of the legend of the Shadow - how Bartholomew Holderness, the first Baron, was saved by his brother Horatio from been killed by a poacher. You also know that eventually, the poacher himself was caught, tried and executed according to the letter of the law.

“What you do not know is that the man had a wife, a young and blameless woman who was pregnant when her husband was killed. She was cast out into the streets by her landlord after the hanging, and with no other means of support was reduced to begging for scraps.”

She could see the shocked looks on the faces of both Alicia and Angela. “That was, sadly the way of the world at the time, and yes it sounds cruel to us. One other person thought so as well - Bartholomew Holderness.

“One day, he was walking in the street when he saw her there, begging and clutching her stomach. He was moved to compassion, and ordered his men to take her to the Manor, and there to feed and clothe her, and tend to her. I believe his time fighting in Europe had taught him the meaning of great compassion, as well as great courage.

“At the manor, she apparently rallied a little, but it was obvious to her, and to Bartholomew, that she was not going to recover. What strength she had left was conserved for the sake of her unborn child, and both Bartholomew and his wife cared for her for those last few weeks.

“Eventually, the time came for her to deliver her baby, and a physician was summoned. It was a wild night, however, and the doctor was delayed, so Bartholomew and his wife cared for her.

“In a moment between the pains, she said ‘I thank you, sir, for the kindness shown to me by you and your family. I know I do not deserve it.’

“’You are an innocent,’ his wife said as she mopped her brow.

“’Nevertheless’, she gasped, ‘I know I am going to my maker, and I ask you to care for my child. I have little to give, save what is in the bag there.’ She looked to a small canvas bag on the side. ‘Take these, I pray, and tell her I gave all for her.’

“Bartholomew and his wife looked at each other, before he said ‘You have my word, your child shall live with us and be part of our family.’ She smiled, and then gasped as the pain of giving birth struck her suddenly.

“Putting her hand in her mouth, she bit down hard, and then said ‘I swear by my lifeblood that if there is any way of repaying the debt that I owe you, then one day, I will do it!’

“A few moments later, she gave birth to a baby girl, who was blessed with long dark hair. Bartholomew’s wife wrapped her in a blanket, and placed her next to the woman, saying ‘Here is your daughter.’ The dying woman looked at her, smiled and said ‘Be safe’, before she closed her eyes and slept.”

Lady Holderness took back the locket, and removed one other item from the case. “These were in the sack - a silver locket, containing an image of the woman, and this brooch.” She held up a gold brooch, which had a sole pale pink amethyst set in it. She handed the brooch to Alicia, who looked at it.

“There is a flaw,” she said as she looked at it, “it looks like an old hourglass, and this metal is an unusual shape. It looks like...”

“...like a spider,” Lady Holderness said as she took the brooch and locket back.

“The girl lived with the Holderness family as if she was a daughter, growing up alongside the son and daughters of the first baron. She grew to be the spitting image of her mother, but when she was eighteen she was passing the library when she heard Bartholomew and his wife talking to the family.

“It was the first time she had heard the truth of her parentage - and it shocked her. She loved the family very much, but she did not want to bring shame on them, and she had noticed the way some people looked at her when she walked down the main street. That night, she wrote a letter to the family, placed it on the bureau with the locket and the brooch, and left Holderness Manor, carrying only her clothes with her.

“The note said that she could not thank them enough for their kindness, but now that she knew the truth she was going as far away as possible, to start a new life. Bartholomew sent after her, but she was last seen on the deck of a boat departing from Southampton for America, and she was lost in history. All we have left is these items of jewellery, and a promise to pass the story down the female line of the family.”

Alicia looked again at the locket. “Can I open it?”

“No Alicia,” Lady Holderness said sadly, “Only the Lady Holderness can open it - no other can. The child is lost to history - as is her name.”

“What was her name?”

“Sara,” Lady Holderness said, “Sara Smite.”




“NNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!”

Sara sat up with a bolt in the cold, cool night air. It was the fifth night in the row she had had the dream, a dream so real so vivid that it was beginning to stay with her throughout her waking hours.

She looked to her side to see him lying there, fast asleep, not even showing he had heard her. Slowly, she climbed out of the bed, looking at the green glow of the watch she was wearing before she picked up a blue silk dressing gown and wrapped it round her naked body.

Sara walked to the kitchen, opening the fridge door and taking out a bottle of juice, before sitting in front of the television. As the screen flickered into life, she tried to remember more of the details.

There were four women, cowering in the corner of a room as someone was threatening them. The fear was almost edible, but Sara was forced to stand by, unable to help them even though she desperately wanted to.

Then there was a man - a strange man, who seemed to walk in mist, but he looked at her, and said quite clearly “It is time, Sara - you must come before it is too late.” Sara had turned, and saw the four women again - their eyes open and lifeless. All she could see was the family resemblance, before the screaming started, and she woke up.

The news channel was coming on, and as she drank from the bottle one other detail was sticking in her mind - a place name, but not one she had ever heard of. She was considering trying to sleep again when a report of a royal visit came onto the screen, and she saw the caption.

Princess Royal visits children in Holderness

She stopped, the bottle to her lips, and stared at the screen. Eventually, she put the bottle down, picked up her cell phone and dialled a number.

“Anne? It’s Sara - listen, this may sound crazy, but have you ever heard of a place in England called Holderness?”
Last edited by KP Presents on Tue May 14, 2013 2:28 am, edited 11 times in total.
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 1

Postby Zandor » Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:03 pm

Moar
You are q immortal

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 1

Postby Tom Ford » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:01 am

That was great. So only the Lady Holderness could open it. That meant that the current Mrs Holderness and whoever Bobby marries will be the next ones to see it!! :big: Will the story of Bobby's future wife opening the locket be told someday?

So the Princess Royal visited the Holderness Manor? Hope nothing bad happens.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 1

Postby KP Presents » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:05 am

Tom Ford wrote:That was great. So only the Lady Holderness could open it. That meant that the current Mrs Holderness and whoever Bobby marries will be the next ones to see it!! :big: Will the story of Bobby's future wife opening the locket be told someday?


Without giving away the plot Skybird and I have worked up - and right now I thank him for allowing me to use his characters - that question will be answered.
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 1

Postby Tom Ford » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:10 am

KP Presents wrote:
Tom Ford wrote:That was great. So only the Lady Holderness could open it. That meant that the current Mrs Holderness and whoever Bobby marries will be the next ones to see it!! :big: Will the story of Bobby's future wife opening the locket be told someday?


Without giving away the plot Skybird and I have worked up - and right now I thank him for allowing me to use his characters - that question will be answered.


Hm, seeing as this story is part of the universe of An Education, will this story be part of a future An Education ebook, if it comes to that?

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 1

Postby KP Presents » Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:16 am

Tom Ford wrote:
KP Presents wrote:
Tom Ford wrote:That was great. So only the Lady Holderness could open it. That meant that the current Mrs Holderness and whoever Bobby marries will be the next ones to see it!! :big: Will the story of Bobby's future wife opening the locket be told someday?


Without giving away the plot Skybird and I have worked up - and right now I thank him for allowing me to use his characters - that question will be answered.


Hm, seeing as this story is part of the universe of An Education, will this story be part of a future An Education ebook, if it comes to that?


Wait and see... :?:
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 2 added

Postby KP Presents » Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:48 pm

Somewhere in Maine - five days to go

Anne Duncombe was concentrating on the road ahead, not sure of how much she should tell her passenger of the purpose of the meeting. She was dressed professionally, in a dark trouser suit with a white blouse, and smart leather ankle boots. To all appearances, she was a model business woman - a look that belied her real position in the intelligence community, a fact known only to a select few.

One of those people was her passenger, a dark haired young girl who was dressed in a baggy red sweater over a pair of dark leggings. Her feet were safely enclosed in a pair of black Doc Marten boots, her striped socks visible from above the top of the boots and over her knees. A matching woollen scarf was wrapped around her neck, and she stared out of the window through a pair of thick rimmed glasses.

“Thanks for coming with me today, Chloe,” Anne said as she glanced at the signs by the side of the freeway, “I know Sara will appreciate seeing you.”

“It is my pleasure, Anne,” Chloe replied in a clear French accent, “I have not seen her for some time, and it is always a pleasure to see her again. How is she - and Brian?”

“As far as I know, they are fine - but Sara is very tired. I think that is part of the reason she wants to see me - but when she mentioned Holderness, I thought you may have something to add as well.”

Anne turned off the main road onto a side track, and drove for two more miles, eventually stopping outside a log cabin in a large clearing. “Nice place,” Chloe said as they both climbed out of the car.

Approaching the door, the two women saw it open a tall, well built man walk out, wiping his hands on a towel. He was wearing a pair of shorts and some floppy sandals - and not a lot else.

“Anne, Chloe,” he said as he looked at them, “Sara said you might be coming out, but she was not expecting you quite so early. I’m afraid she is a little...”

“...tied up at the moment, oui?” Chloe smiled as she said this, and the man slowly nodded. “I was about to prepare lunch anyway - why don’t you come in and wait, even if you cannot see her directly at the moment?”

“Thanks, Brian,” Anne said as the two women followed him into the cabin, taking seats in the living area as Brian poured them both a drink.

“As you can see,” he said as he turned on the television, “Sara is just recovering.” The picture showed a blonde woman lying on a bed, staring at the camera with eyes filled with lust and hunger.

She was wearing a dusty pink vest top and shorts, but her wrist and ankles were bound to the four corners of the bed with thick ropes, while a wide strip of white tape covered her mouth as she twisted and thrashed about. She seemed determined to get free and do something, as the watch on her wrist glowed a deep red.

“How long,” Chloe said as she watched Brian preparing a salad bowl, and then placing a steak on the griddle, watching it carefully as he turned and basted it.

“Give me a chance to feed her,” Brian said with a smile as her looked at them, “and then she should be ready. “Is this about her dreams?”

“Yeah,” Anne said as he sliced the cooked steak and laid it on the bowl, “that and a few other things. Chloe here may be able to help us as well - the name she mentioned is one that is known to her.”

“Well,” Brian said as he placed the bowl on a tray, alongside a glass of water and some cutlery, “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Forgive my manners if I ask you to fix yourselves some coffee, but...”

“Go,” Anne said as she stood up and came to the kitchen area, “You know you need to do this quickly.”

Brian nodded as he left, Chloe watching as he appeared on the screen, sitting next to Sara as he removed the gag and slowly fed her the steak. As he did so, the glow on her watch slowly ebbed from red to green, and a smile appeared on her face as he stroked her cheek.

“I am glad she has him here,” Chloe said as Anne handed her a coffee, “but I still do not quite understand why you have asked me to join you here.”

“I got a call from Sara at about three in the morning, the day before yesterday,” Anne said as she sat down, “and she asked if I had ever heard of a place called Holderness.”

Chloe stopped, the cup at her lips, and said “Is that not the name of the older relative of Alicia - Lady Holderness?”

“The same thought I had - Sara has never met her, has she?”

“I have not even mentioned her name - I was under the impression I was not to share such details of your work with her unless you said so, Anne.”

“That’s right - and thank you for not doing so, Chloe. I want to hear what she has to say first, and then we can discuss what else we need to share.”

“Anne, what is happening?”

“Chloe,” Anne said as she raised her mug to her mouth, “I have absolutely no idea.”



The Craig Household - five days to go.

Miranda Craig was sitting watching the afternoon news with her oldest daughter Cassie when the report came on.

“Police are baffled as to why the three women were murdered - details are sketchy, but it appears that their bodies were found by the husband when he returned from a business trip in the early hours of this morning.

“This is the third such attack in the last six months, and in each case the police have released few details...”

“Turn it off, Mum,” Cassie said as she reached for a packet of cigarettes, “I don’t need a reminder of just how evil the world can be.” She stood up and walked towards the rear door, Miranda standing up and following her out.

“You know,” she said as she watched Cassie light up, “Those things are going to be the death of you.”

“Mum,” Cassie said as she sat down, “Do you honestly think I am worried about these?”

Miranda shook her head and sat with her. “You know, you’re far too much like your father in that respect, God rest his soul - in the end, it was those that did for him as well.”

“Do you miss him?”

Cassie watched as he mother rubbed her eyes. “It’s been five years now, and I miss him every single day. I still think the bravest thing he did was those last few days.”

Cassie nodded slowly. “Is everything ready for the weekend?”

“It is,” Miranda said quietly. “Lucinda is bringing Anne, Susan and Angela. We’ll take Connie and Jennifer with us - the boys are watching the kids for the weekend. It’ll be good for them to get away, after...”

The sound of a baby crying came over a baby monitor. “Feeding time,” Miranda said as she stood up, “Finish that before you come back in.”


Maine

“Anne, Chloe,” Sara said as she came in, wearing a grey jogging suit with pink trim, “Thanks for coming out. I was afraid you might think me slightly mad when you hear what I have to say.”

“Sara,” Anne said as she hugged her, “You live a crazy life anyway - why should toady be any different. Sit down, and tell me what is on your mind.”

“Well, it is going to sound very vague, but...”


Fifteen minutes later, Chloe and Anne looked at each other, thinking over what Sara had told them.

“You asked if I know of a place called Holderness,” Anne eventually said, “and I do not, but I do know a person called Holderness - Lady Holderness. She is the grandmother of a friend of an - acquaintance of myself and Chloe. She also has very, very good connections within the intelligence community.”

“Chloe had been deep in thought, before she said, “Sara, a question. This man in your dreams, what is he dressed as - is he wearing what Brian would wear?”

“No,” Sara said as she shook her head. “IT looks grey and blurred, but it is not modern clothing - it looks more like something out of a Charles Dickens or that television program - Pride and Prejudice.”

“Mon Dieu,” Chloe said as she sat back, “I wonder if it could be the Shadow?”

“The Shadow?” Anne looked at the young Frenchwoman. “Have you been reading pulp magazines again?”

“No, no - The Holderness Shadow. It is a story that Lady Holderness told last Halloween - did you not hear it?”

Anne shook her head, so Chloe told what she could remember of the legend of the guardian angel. As she finished, Sara said “that does sound like him - but why is he saying it is time to return?

“Anne, I have this horrible premonition that something awful is going to happen, in or to this person called Holderness, or even in the place.” She absent mindedly rubbed at the scar on her hand as she sat there. “I cannot say why, but I have to go there, I just know I have to be there. I know it is a lot to ask, but...”

Anne shook her head. “I learned a long time ago to trust your instincts, Sara - but if you go, I go, and we talk to the authorities over there as well. Do you have a passport?”

Sara shook her head.

“Leave that with me - you as well, Brian,” she said as he entered the room. “Sara is going to need you as much as I do.”

“What for?”

“Because,” Sara said as she looked at her lover, “It is time for the Pink Widow to get to work. Chloe, will you come too?”

“If I am allowed - after all, I have visa and other issues...”

“I will deal with them,” Anne said as she took her phone out. “One thing - not a word of this to Heidi and the others. If there is danger, the less people who know we are out there the better.”
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 2 added

Postby Tom Ford » Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:44 am

Nice update.

This story would happen about Saturday two weeks after Andy’s birth, right? So that would mean that it would start two weeks after the story of An Education: Mother’s Day. The reason for asking this question was that they’re taking Jennifer and Connie, and since it was still two months till Jennifer gives birth, would that mean that they would go on this trip, and go through this adventure, while pregnant? Hope whatever adventure would happen, it won’t be too much of a stress and won’t affect their babies.

And is it related to the robbery that would happen in An Education: Cassie The Heroine?

Looks like Miranda and Aunt Cassie are taking care of baby Andy in that update!

Anyway, I wonder, will the kids or the men be involved? The reason I asked is that, according to the premonition, something bad would happen to the place Holderness, meaning Holderness Manor. The ladies are away for the weekend to get away from it all, I wonder where? Or does the weekend away would happen in Holderness Manor itself, and if so, is there any role that Mr and Mrs Bridges and Lord Holderness would play?

Anyway, this is a fascinating story. Thanks for updating it.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 2 added

Postby KP Presents » Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:48 am

Exactly when it takes place will become clearer, but the kids are only going to play a peripheral role in this tale, for reasons that will become clear as the story progresses. But no, this takes place some time after Cassie the Heroine.
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 2 added

Postby William F Somebody » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:47 am

Sorry for taking only now to leave comments. I hadn’t realized it was part of the An Education universe.

So this takes us again on Holderness History. Yet as I fear, it would probably ensnare the Craigs too, particularly on their weekend getaway.
Anyway, my question is this.

KP Presents wrote:“Nah - we’ve got the family over for the afternoon. Listen, three weeks should be fine - I’ve always wondered what was inside that building, so it should be fun.


This would indicate that the swim party would happen three weeks after Mother’s Day (which is March 10, Sunday), that is March 31, Sunday, but since it is Saturday, March 30.

But in this story,

KP Presents wrote:Inside, she could see the blue albums that her grandmother, the current Lady Holderness, had sent her to find. Alicia’s mother was the daughter of the current Lord Holderness, and she was the middle of the three children - her baby brother Andy had arrived two weeks earlier.


Since baby Andy was two weeks old, then this part happened between Mother’s Day and Cassie the Heroine since he was born in the story Mother’s Day and the swim party happened three weeks after.

But you said,

KP Presents wrote:But no, this takes place some time after Cassie the Heroine.


So what apparently happened was that after Mother’s Day, the swim party for some reason was moved forward to one week after Mother’s Day, and part one, where Seven Days to Go was two weeks after Mother’s Day.

Anyway, I hope you clear this up.

I wonder what will happen? Are the murders of three women in six months related to Sara’s premonition? And how will the pregnancies and recent births of the three women affect this tale?

And will the Holderness Shadow Appear? And maybe it’s true nature will be explored in this story.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 2 added

Postby Zandor » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:58 pm

its good so far, although I don't know The characters.
You are q immortal

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 2 added

Postby KP Presents » Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:49 pm

Actually, there is a very simple answer to william's point about timing - I goofed.

I meant to type two months, not two weeks since Andrew's birth - does that make it clearer?
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 3 added

Postby KP Presents » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:15 am

JFK Airport - one day to go

“Miss Duncombe? If you and your party will follow me, we can board you before the rest of the passengers, to ensure your privacy.”

Anne looked up into the face of the steward, before saying “Thank you - if you will allow us a moment?” The man nodded and stood back as she turned to look at the group around the table. Sara was dressed in a soft pink angora sweater, with a knee length skirt in the same colour, flesh coloured tights and low shoes. Brian was sat next to her, clutching a black holdall on his knees.

“Are you sure we’re not going to have problems at the other end, Anne,” he said as he stood up, “after all, our equipment is not actually standard.”

“Don’t worry, Brian - we’re travelling under the actual Diplomatic Black Bag. We’ll be met at Heathrow by embassy staff, who will take us to rest before we travel to our final destination.”

“Probably just as well,” Sara said as she stood up, “Given we’re travelling because I have bad dreams.”

“Sara,” Chloe said as she joined them, dressed as Anne was in a black trouser suit with a white blouse, “You must not be so hard on yourself. Your visions, your talent, are special - and I have also to say, I am intrigued as to how this connects with the story I heard last October.”

“Come on,” Anne said as he grabbed her bag, “I know we’re going into the unknown, but let’s face it together.” The four nodded as they followed the steward from the lounge, and onto the waiting plane.

Later, as the cabin lights went off, Sara flattened her seat out and rested her head on the cushion, pulling the blanket around her as she did so, with the intention of getting some sleep. The steady hum of the jet engines helped her to relax, as she started to dream again...


The view across the lake was mist covered, but Sara could plainly see the white marble mausoleum on the island in the middle of the lake. As she looked round, the clearing was covered in a dim light, but somehow she felt as if she was at home.

She turned and started to walk towards a path that opened up between the trees, leading up a gentle slope as it wound through the forest. It was after dark, but Sara felt as if she knew every step of the way - even as it passed a simple white cross set into the ground, the ground clear around it.

She stopped to look at it, feeling as if she somehow knew who was there, but then she heard the call - the all too horrible, all too familiar call for help that had settled into her dreams. She turned and hurried up the path, but as she did so she felt and heard skirts rustling, and she realised with a start she was wearing something from a Jane Austen novel - a simple white dress with a brown over layer and a white apron. Reaching up, she felt the linen cap on her head, but somehow it all felt right.

The path ended as the forest formed a lien along a well kept lawn, and as she ran across the grass Sara could see the building - grand, foreboding yet welcoming, as it rose in the mist. Sara walked towards it, unable to shake the feeling that she was somehow - coming home.

She could hear the calling, louder now, as she approached the windows at one side, and as she looked in her heart froze. She could see the group again - the older woman, and the three younger ones - and the masked captors, their guns pointing at the group. They were unable to move, unable to speak, but they were family - she could tell that much.

She ran around the building, to find a door open, waiting, and as she went in she heard two groups of screams.

“Sara.”

The voice was soft, as if coming from a distance, and as Sara looked to the side she saw him, clearer than ever before, looking at her as if he knew her.

“Sara,” he said, “Welcome home - we have work to do, and we must be about it quickly. I know you, I trust you - do what you must.”

She nodded as they walked together, and she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. “It is time,” the voice said, and she watched as the man moved silently up a grand staircase, while she put her hands to the door and opened them towards her, smiling and at peace as...



“Sara?”

She opened her eyes to see Anne looking at her through the divide between their seats.

“Are you all right? You were tossing and turning in your sleep - was it the dream again.”

“Yes,” she said as she sat herself up, looking at Chloe and Brian as they slept, “but it was different - almost as if I was expected, and welcomed. Anne, am I going mad?”

“If you are, then I am in a huge pile of very deep guano,” Anne said with a smile. “Come on - I never sleep on these things anyway. Let’s go and see what they have in the galley...”



The Craig Household - Today

“Now, are you sure you two are going to be able to look after all three of them?”

John Craig had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at his wife as she stood there, checking her hair in the hallway mirror. “Jennifer, darling, it’s Dave you have to worry about rather than me - it’s not as if I haven’t had kids before. You and Connie just go and enjoy yourselves.”

Jennifer Craig smiled as she turned and kissed her husband. It had been a month or so since she had given birth to David and June, their two new babies, and it was only now that the whirlwind of activities had seemed to start to abate.

“What about Cassie and Jenny?”

“They’re at Jessica’s house, spending the weekend with Patty. I’m sure nothing unexpected is going to happen to them, so stop worrying - you two need some time off.”

As he said this, his sister Connie came down the stairs, followed by her husband Dave. “Danny’s asleep upstairs,” Dave whispered as he helped Connie to put on her camel greatcoat, which she was wearing over a brown and blue smock top and a pair of black leggings, with knee length black fabric boots. Jennifer was wearing a blue short sleeved dress which came to just below her knees, and flat black shoes.

As she put on her coat, Jennifer said “Well, Miranda will be here soon with Cassie - now, you are sure you are going to be all right?”

“Jennifer, for the last time we’ll be fine - you girls have a good time!” As John said this, the front door opened and his mother put her head in, saying “Come on girls or we’re going to be late!”

“Coming,” Connie said as she kissed Dave, and the two women followed Miranda Craig to the waiting car, John and Dave waving after them.

Holderness Manor, today

Lucinda, Lady Holderness, walked slowly down the grand staircase of Holderness Manor. She was dressed for the day, in a mustard coloured twin set with a string of pearls around her neck, a tweed knee length skirt, dark hose and brown brogues, as she made her way into the kitchen.

“Good morning Mrs Bridges.”

The housekeeper turned from the sink as she heard the voice, and smiled as she replied “Good Morning Your Ladyship - have you decided on what you will be eating when you return later tonight?”

“I think so, yes - we will have the Gravalax, and then the lamb cassoulet. Both are particular favourites of Miranda, and I want her to be the guest of honour today.”

“Very good, your Ladyship - Mr Bridges has gone to fetch the overnight bags for the other family members, but I presume Mrs Craig will bring their bags in her car later?”

“Indeed,” Lucinda said as she nodded as well. “It is unfortunate that the others girls could not attend, but I understand Alicia is helping her father, while Bobby and Suzie are going with their father to see their other grandparents.”

“Perhaps it is just as well, your ladyship,” Mrs Bridges said with a smile, “the chances of unexpected time in a restricted form are lessened in that case.”

“Perhaps,” Lucinda said with a smile. “At any rate, I also need to tell you that Lord Holderness will be away for the night - urgent business has called him to London.”

“Very good, your ladyship,” Mrs Bridges said, “Would you care for some coffee before you go?”


A hotel near Heathrow, today

“Sara, mon amie - I said would you care for some coffee?”

Sara turned suddenly at the sound of her friend speaking. They were sitting in the lobby of their hotel, having landed at six in the morning and being driven the short distance from the terminal to the hotel, where they were able to get a few hours sleep.

“Sorry, Chloe - I would love some,” she said as she held the coffee cup up, allowing the young French girl to pour for her. Chloe had changed into her more usual form of dress, although she had foregone the scarf around her neck in favour of a white top under her blue blouse, and instead of her Dr Marten boots she was wearing knee length brown ones to match her skirt.

Sara was wearing a pale pink v-necked sweater over a white top, white trousers and black shoes, by way of contrast as she sipped her coffee. She had not slept since the dream on the plane, something inside her telling her she needed to keep awake. Brian had managed to get a few hours sleep, and was still in the room getting ready.

“Sara - your watch. Is everything all right?”

Chloe was frowning, and as Sara looked down on her watch she could see why - the dial was turning a dull red around the edges. “Perhaps I should put on some perfume,” she said as a couple walked past, “Can you give me the atomiser please?”

Sara took the small bottle from Chloe and sprayed some on her neck and wrists, rubbing it in with her fingers and watching as the dial started to glow green again. “That was close,” Chloe said as she took the bottle back, “this trip does seem to have upset your balance somewhat.”

“I know,” Sara said as she saw Anne approaching, “I feel as if something big is going to happen, and I am not sure what. Please, Chloe, keep an eye on me, and if you feel anything happening...”

Chloe nodded as Anne sat down. “We’ll have lunch soon - Brian is on his way down. What would you like?”

“Steak Tartare,” Sara said without hesitation, and then saw both Anne and Chloe looking at her. “I know - so let’s eat and be about our way. Where are we going?”

“To Holderness - I have an appointment with the head of the local Criminal Investigation Department, a Detective Chief Inspector Hammond...”
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 3 added

Postby Tom Ford » Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:40 pm

So this is why you waited this long to post this--to not give away spoilers on the birth of the twins!

DCI Hammond. My first reaction on hearing that is of is DCI Hampton. Are the two colleagues who know each other, and would Colin's father have something to do with this?

I'm glad that the older women would have an adventure all to themselves without the kids. Still, assuming that Sara's vision somehow signifies events in the future, I'm afraid something bad might happen to all of them. I hope it's not something too traumatic. Would the Holderness Shadow have to make an appearance to save members of the Holderness Family and their friends? Knowing that this is probably connected to previous murders, I definitely think the Shadow would have to intervene.

Hm, will the adults play a tie up game on their own without any prompting from the little ones? Maybe we can finally find out.

Anyway, I'll wait for the next exciting update!!

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 3 added

Postby William F Somebody » Tue Apr 16, 2013 3:15 am

Excellent update! I wonder what evil or group would tie up the group of adult Craig and Holderness women? It's a good thing that they have each other, so they could give each other comfort and fortitude.

I wonder what the reaction of Lady Holderness would be to Sara and her visions?

Anyway, I'll be waiting and see how this connects to the main An Education stories.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 3 added

Postby KP Presents » Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:21 am

Tom Ford wrote:So this is why you waited this long to post this--to not give away spoilers on the birth of the twins!

DCI Hammond. My first reaction on hearing that is of is DCI Hampton. Are the two colleagues who know each other, and would Colin's father have something to do with this?


Correct - and all will be explained.
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 3 added

Postby KP Presents » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:43 am

William F Somebody wrote:Excellent update! I wonder what evil or group would tie up the group of adult Craig and Holderness women? It's a good thing that they have each other, so they could give each other comfort and fortitude.

I wonder what the reaction of Lady Holderness would be to Sara and her visions?

Anyway, I'll be waiting and see how this connects to the main An Education stories.


There is a connection, but all will be revealed...
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 3 added

Postby Tom Ford » Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:06 pm

KP Presents wrote:
“To Holderness - I have an appointment with the head of the local Criminal Investigation Department, a Detective Chief Inspector Hammond...”


"To Holderness!"

Does that mean that the community of Cassie and Jenny is named Holderness? Which would mean that the town was named after the family? Or was it vice versa? Meaning that it was named Holderness long ago, and the leading family just adopted it?

Like I can imagine an ancestor in the Middle Ages having a name like this: William of Holderness, or in French, Guillame de Holderness, and his son, John of Holderness, or Jean de Holderness, and in time, the family might have dropped 'de' and it became simply Holderness. I can imagine by the 1400s, they are simply Holderness.

Which would make the Holderness even more famous, and definitely the leading family of "Holderness" village or town, and would make the Craigs locally famous as friends of the Holdernesses!!

Does any of the above make sense?

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 4 added

Postby KP Presents » Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:58 pm

The Palladium theatre.

“There you are, Susan. How was the journey?”

“Hectic,” Susan Holderness said as she walked up the street towards the theatre entrance. She was wearing a beige linen coat, with the hem of her blue and green peasant skirt visible underneath, and a pair of modestly heeled black leather shoes. Her red tightly curled hair was falling around her neck as she greeted her mother in law with a kiss.

“Well, you are here now - and here come Anne and Angela.”

Anne Bowden was coming from the Underground station, wearing a sleeveless jerkin over a grey v-necked jumper, matching slacks and short ankle boots. The bump was barely visible under the jumper, showing how well she had recovered from the recent birth.

Angela, her oldest daughter, was walking beside her, and Lucinda once again realised how much she looked like a younger version of herself. When she was Angela’s age, it was the mid 60’s, and the area they were standing in had been the centre of the fashion world. Angela reflected that in her short green dress, lighter green leggings and knee length green suede boots.

“Well, we’re all here,” Anne said as she hugged Susan, “Where is the guest of honour and the others?”

“Right here,” Miranda said as she walked up to them, followed by Jennifer, Connie and Cassie. She was wearing a white blouse under a black silk waistcoat, a knee length black skirt and felt boots, while her other daughter was attired in a baggy white jumper, long flowing skirt and brown suede boots.

“Well, we’re all here now,” Lucinda said as she fished a black wallet from her handbag. “Shall we?” They walked up to the entrance of the theatre, and as she handed the tickets over the steward bowed slightly.

“This way to your boxes, your ladyship,” he said as the party went in.



Holderness Police Station

The desk sergeant looked up as the door opened and the party of four came in. He looked at each of them in turn - the tall, thin blonde dressed in a black trouser suit and white blouse; the young woman, casually yet smartly dressed; the tall, broad shouldered man; and finally the other blonde, dressed in dusky pink.

He smiled as they approached his desk - something about the lady in pink was calling to him, but he wasn’t quite sure what. As they stopped in front of him, however, she looked at him and he saw her shiver - why he was not quite sure.

“Good morning,” the tall woman said, “my name is Anne Duncombe - my friends and I have an appointment with a DCI Hammond.”

“DCI Hammond?” The officer looked at her, then at a book on his desk. “Oh, you mean DCI Hampton - I will call and ask him to come and meet you. If you could wait over there?” He indicated a set of chairs against a far wall, which they walked over to.

“This is so different from the station houses in our town,” Chloe said as she looked round, “It seems so old and quaint.”

“Yeah, well,” Brian said as he looked round, “That’s the old country for you. I mean, this must be at least - Sara, are you all right?”

Anne turned to look at Sara, who was staring into space, focusing on something.

“The smell,” she whispered, “there is a smell here that is bringing back memories of the Scorpions...”

“Agent Duncombe?”

The group turned to see a tall, well built man standing there in a grey suit. His dark hair was greying at the temples, but his smile was genuine.

“I’m Barry Hampton - I understand you wish to see me?”

“Yes - yes we do,” Anne said as she showed the officer her badge. “These are my colleagues - Chloe Badelaine, Sara Smite and Barry Carter. Is there somewhere we can talk privately - it is a rather delicate matter.”

“So I am led to believe,” he said as he indicated a door, “Why don’t we go through here?” The four followed him in, Barry supporting Sara as she looked again at the desk sergeant.

“We can talk in here,” Barry said as he held the door to an interview room open. As they four came in, he closed the door and said “Now, what is so important that a US Federal agent flies all the way to our quiet little area with three friends, and asks to meet with me?”

“It’s a rather delicate matter...” Anne started to say, before Sara suddenly said “We think someone called Holderness is in grave peril - even deadly.”

Barry Hampton leaned back against the wall and folded his arms. “Miss Smite, you speak as if you know something that you should tell us. Do you have firm evidence that something is going to happen?”

“It is a little difficult to explain,” Anne said, “Let me start by saying that I know Lady Holderness - I met her last October when she visited my home town to visit some friends.”

“Oh - so you know Amy Strong and her family? I had the pleasure of meeting them last Christmas when they visited and attended a party at Holderness Manor - a delightful woman. Also, if you know Lucinda Holderness, then you will be aware that if there is a threat against her or her family, she is a more than formidable opponent.”

“From what I saw of her, I can well believe that,” Anne said with a smile. “I would agree,” Chloe said, “she is tres formidable. But my friend Sara has had...”

“Yes?”

Barry Hampton looked at the woman, who was starting to shiver and sweat, and said “Are you all right, Miss Smite?”

“No,” Sara said, “I am most definitely not - Brian, Chloe, help me, quickly. Anne, get him out of here.”

“What the hell,” Barry said as Brian and Chloe pulled lengths of strong rope from bags, and started to bind Sara, Chloe crossing and securing her wrists behind her back while Brian started to work on her legs.

“Can we talk outside,” Anne said as she took Barry by the arm. ”It will be safer, I promise you.” Barry looked at Sara, and then started to walk towards her, before Anne grabbed him by the arm and literally pulled him out of the room.

“Wha... What the hell is happening,” Barry said as Anne closed the door, and then sprayed a chemical on both of them, “For a moment I was getting an irresistible urge to...”

“I know,” Anne said as she helped the officer to sit down. “Tell me, Inspector, do you have anyone in custody in the station that is under suspicion, but will not confess, of a major crime?”

Barry shook his head and said “One person - we think he conducted a series of attacks on young women in the area, but we have no proof, so without a confession from him we may have to let him go.”

Anne nodded as Chloe came out. “We have her secured, Anne, but even Brian is finding it difficult to...”

“DCI Hampton,” Anne said, “I know this is unorthodox, but will you allow an experiment? Bring the man here.”

“Why?”

“We need to show you something.”


Twenty minutes later, the sergeant brought up a thick set, unshaven man in his late forties. He was six foot tall, and dressed in a torn shirt and jeans. “What’s this about, Hampton,” he said as he looked at the group watching him.

“What do you want me to do with him?”

“Just open the door, let Brian out and let him in - and then do nothing,” Anne said.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt,” Barry said. He opened the door and as Brian came out he pushed the prisoner in, saying “get in there Rhodes.”

As the door closed, the man saw Sara sat in the chair. Her arms were bound to her chest with bands of rope, emphasising her chest as her jumper was pulled tightly over her breasts, the top buttons of her top open.

Sara looked at the new arrival, and an animal growl escaped from under the thick band of white cloth that had been pulled between her teeth. Rhodes stood for a moment, looking at Sara and licking his lips, before saying “You look so beautiful miss - and you’re so helpless...”

Barry Hampton looked in the window, and then turned to Anne. “Your friends have left her in the room with a suspected sex attacker, bound and gagged? Why the hell would they do that?”

“Because it is what Sara wants,” Chloe said as she sat down. “She has a - a gift.”

“A gift? What sort of gift?”

“A very dangerous one,” Anne said, “as you are about to see.”

In the room, Sara let her head roll back and another groan escape from her lips as Rhodes sat across her lap, his lips roughly caressing her neck as his hands pressed firmly into her chest. She allowed herself to let her emotions take full control of her body as she strained against the ropes holding her so tightly, but they only groaned under the strain.

She could feel the heat brining between her loins as Rhodes lifted her off the chair and laid her on the floor. “These need to be untied,” he said as he removed the ropes around her legs, but left her ankles tied as he unfastened and pulled her pants down, his hand roughly stroking over her panties as he felt the dampness. “And you need to have me inside you.”

“YSSSSS” Sara screamed as she felt him pull down her panties next, his lips kissing her belly and then her crotch, and as his tongue passed over the lips of her clit she felt the fire burning more brightly inside her. She looked at him, his face in a fixed and menacing grin as he started to pull his own pants down.

“That’s right,” she thought as he used his finger to test how moist and ready she was, “Come to me, my little pet...”


“What the hell - you’re allowing him to rape your friend?”

Barry Hampton stared incredulously at the trio as animal sounds came from the room.

“She is allowing him to do this,” Anne said as a loud muffled scream came from the room, “But when he has finished - well....”

The group looked to the door, as a silence fell over the room. A few minutes later, they could all hear Rhodes as he started to say “No... Oh dear god no.... For the love of all that is holy, get me out of here!!!!”

The door flung open and Rhodes fell out, scooting back on his bottom with his hands, his white face quivering as he said “Get that monster away from me - I’ll tell you everything, all the details, I’ll sign the confession, just get that man-eater away from me.”

“Take him back to the cells,” Hampton shouted, but as he went to enter the room Brian stopped him. “I need to be the one who goes in,” he said as he pricked his finger, and let the blood drip on a slice of cooked beef he had in a bag, “Just leave her with me for a few minutes.”

Brian went into the room, closing the door behind him as Rhodes was dragged screaming to the cells. “Agent Drummond,” DCI Hampton eventually said “What just happened?”

“Have you heard of the Pink Widow?”

He looked at Anne, then Chloe, then to the door to the room. “No - should I have?”

“No,” Anne said with a smile, “But that is who Sara is. We can explain in your office - Brian will be safe, and they will join us later. We need to talk about the Holderness family - and I need to ask you a question.”

“What question is that?”

“Have there been a series of serious crimes in the area recently?”

He looked at the two women, and then said “We’d better start at the beginning - come with me.”
Last edited by KP Presents on Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:21 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 4 added

Postby Tom Ford » Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:25 am

Now I know why this one is in the PG-17 section.

This update was, for lack of a better term, quite disturbing. Rhodes, that suspect, in his reaction to Sara Sidle was really revealing, and quite horrific. The Pink Widow, that’s who Sara is. She reminds me of a Black Widow, the spider, the one who kills male spiders after she has mated with them—that she did something that scarred Rhodes, either physically or mentally and made him dread Sara. Serves him right, I suppose, but Sara is seriously scary—as in really truly terrifying, even if she’s part of the good guys.

Let’s just say I’m waiting forward for the explanation to all of this. I’m not familiar with skybird’s stories, so I hope you’d tell everything so we won’t be lost.

Brian Carter? Is he related to Jennifer Carter Craig, or is this just a coincidence? Probably a coincidence since he is an American, but you never know.

I wonder who is the Holderness that would be in grave peril? Assuming it would be female, that narrows it down to Lady Holderness, Susan Holderness, and Suzanne Holderness. Of the three, Miss Holderness is the only one to be born a Holderness, but for obvious reasons, one that she is just eleven and not part of the story, is not the one. Lady Holderness and Mrs Holderness, Holdernesses by marriage, are the most probably target, and I dare say that it was probably Lady Holderness who would be in most danger (but reading about how young Cassie says about ‘Dowager Lady Holderness’ in certain stories set in the future would tell me she would survive whatever harrowing experience in store for her) given her history. I certainly hope it won’t be Susan—that would be tragic. I also think it might be Anne, but she’s not called Holderness anymore, and certainly not Angela, she might be part of the family, Lady Holderness’ granddaughter, part of the Holderness clan, but she is certainly not a Holderness, but a Bowden.

By the way, it’s cool that Angela by her age (16-17, I think) can play both with the younger girls (as seen in New Teacher, While You Were Away, Mother’s Day and in Whitsuntied) and can be an adult and be part of adult activities (Mother’s Day and Widow’s Shadow).

But regardless, I am afraid that the mere fact that all of them are with Lady Holderness in London attending a theatre play meant that even if it was only Lady Holderness who would be targeted, the other women would be in serious peril. Especially if they would be willing to hurt the others to get to Lady Holderness.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 4 added

Postby KP Presents » Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:33 am

Tom Ford wrote:Now I know why this one is in the PG-17 section.


If this goes into a collection with the other stories, it will be rewritten and toned down a little.

Tom Ford wrote:Let’s just say I’m waiting forward for the explanation to all of this. I’m not familiar with skybird’s stories, so I hope you’d tell everything so we won’t be lost.

Brian Carter? Is he related to Jennifer Carter Craig, or is this just a coincidence? Probably a coincidence since he is an American, but you never know.


teh next part will provide an explanation of what is going on, and what Sara did. And no it's a conicidence - even though Brian Carter is Australian...

Tom Ford wrote:By the way, it’s cool that Angela by her age (16-17, I think) can play both with the younger girls (as seen in New Teacher, While You Were Away, Mother’s Day and in Whitsuntied) and can be an adult and be part of adult activities (Mother’s Day and Widow’s Shadow).

But regardless, I am afraid that the mere fact that all of them are with Lady Holderness in London attending a theatre play meant that even if it was only Lady Holderness who would be targeted, the other women would be in serious peril. Especially if they would be willing to hurt the others to get to Lady Holderness.


You will see what is going to happen in due course...
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 4 added

Postby William F Somebody » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:46 am

Oh my, that was a bit creepy. I sure as hope that whatever keeps Lady Holderness, Miranda, and co. hostage later on isn’t of the same cloth as Rhodes.

I know that Sara Sidle is part of the good guys, but I can’t help but be terrified of her! What is with her? Did Rhodes really rape her, or was he only stopped after he did the deed? Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl. She is the Pink Widow indeed.

So the gang, well the adult gang at least, are in London? When will they be captured? When they are going back to Holderness (btw, nice touch on naming the town after the local lord), or just when they arrived? I suspect that they would be in for a harrowing ordeal, I just hope it won’t make too much damage psychologically. Several of them are mothers, and three of them just gave birth, and I hope they could raise them without issues bothering them. And I am concerned for Angela. Rhodes is the kind of guy who targeted young women. If someone like him saw Angela, who is barely an adult, still a teen-ager, and still a young enough to play with kids, well, I don’t want to think about it. I’m just glad that the kids are not involved, and I hope that whatever will target Lady Holderness (I think she’s the one who will gonna bear the brunt of it) isn’t the type to take it out on their relatives.

Still, Aunt Cassie is with them, an experienced former agent of the government, and Lady Holderness and Miranda aren’t slouch themselves. But with vulnerable company like Angela, Susan and Connie, I think their actions might be a bit circumscribed. I just hope that Duncombe and Brian and DCI Hampton could reach them soon enough.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 5

Postby KP Presents » Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:27 am

London

“Now that was a show,” Miranda Craig said as the party left the theatre. “How on earth did you manage to secure the boxes anyway?”

“Desmond has some connections with the trustees,” Lady Holderness said as they walked the short distance to the road, where Mr Bridges was waiting with the SUV. “Now, back to the manor house for dinner, and after that we can have some entertainment of our own.”

The party of eight climbed in as Mr Bridges held the car door open, and then climbed behind the wheel, heading down into Soho as the crowds mingled round.


Holderness Police Station, DCI Hammond’s Office

Barry Hampton opened a cupboard door, and poured himself a large scotch.

“Can I get you something,” he said as he looked at Anne and Chloe, who politely declined. He sat at his desk, his face still a little white as he took a sip.

“What we have to tell you,” Anne said eventually, “is in the strictest confidence. I have to ask that you keep the full details of what happened to your suspect to yourself.”

“That won’t be difficult,” Barry said with a wry smile, “I’m not sure I believe what happened either - and I have to keep my fair share of secrets, but this... You do know if he said what happened in a court of law, the case would be thrown out.”

“He will not, Monsieur Hammond,” Chloe said, “What he experienced will haunt him the rest of his life.”

“All right, Agent Duncombe...”

“Please, call me Anne.”

“All right, Anne - what is going on?”

Anne Duncombe took a deep breath, and said “I cannot give the full details of what really happened, but some time ago Sara was exposed to an experimental drug. The drug contained genetic material from a black widow spider, and for some unknown reason it bonded with her own DNA and - well, changed her.”

Barry sat forward. “A black widow spider? Isn’t that one of those breeds where the female kills and eats the male after mating?”

Anne nodded. “Soon after she was exposed, there were some - incidents, where Sara was attacked physically and - well, sexually. Each time, the person who carried out the attack suddenly developed what was thought to be an irrational fear that Sara was going to kill them and eat them.”

“Mademoiselle Duncombe speaks the truth,” Chloe continued, “I witnessed the effect myself. Whenever someone has - relationships with Sara, she gives off a chemical signal that makes her partner believe they are going to die. She also gives off another chemical signal which makes her irresistibly attractive to men and women.”

“Hang on a minute,” Barry Hampton said. “Are you telling me that woman is a walking, literal - and I apologise for saying this - sex bomb?”

“A rather crude term, but yes,” Anne said. “Normally she uses a chemical to control the signals, but recently she has been having strange dreams, and her control has slipped a little. That is why we had to get you out of the room - Brian is the only person who can control her naturally when that happens.”

“Why - was he bitten by a spider as well?” Barry looked at Chloe and Anne, and shook his head. “Never mind - so when Rhodes went into the room and saw her...”

“He could not help himself,” Anne said, finishing his sentence. “Officially, Sara is dead - killed in a fire in the laboratory she was exposed to the drug in. Unofficially, she helps our agency from time to time in hostage and other situations - by her own choice.”

“And this name - the Pink Widow? Has she watched too many comic book films?”

“I regret to say I am responsible for that, monsieur,” Chloe said with a smile, “Sara likes to wear pink - nothing more than that.”

“Two things,” Barry said. “First, I need another drink. Second - do these dreams have anything to do with why you are here?”

“Very much so,” Anne said, “she insists someone called Holderness is in desperate danger, and I know only one person of that name.

“My turn - I asked earlier if you had any major unsolved crimes in this area or around here. You did not answer.”



Holderness Manor

“Lucinda, that was a truly wonderful meal.”

Miranda pushed back her dinner plate and smiled at her old friend, as the rest of the party nodded in agreement.

“I’m glad you liked it, Miranda,” Lady Holderness said as she looked round the room, “I asked Mrs Bridges to do something particular for you, and as always she has come up trumps. We will take coffee in the main room, I think.”

The eight women rose and made their way into the large front room of the manor house, as Mrs Bridges rolled in a trolley with the coffee cups and mints. As she poured and handed the cups round, Angela said “This makes a nice change - although it seems quiet without any of the younger ones around.”

“Quiet, but nice,” Jennifer said as she took a sip from her cup. “I don’t know about Connie or Anne, but I for one appreciate every moment I can get.”

Anne Bowden smiled as she put her cup down. “You would think I would find it easier, with the girls older now, but I had forgotten just how tiring waking up at two in the morning can be.”

“You never forget,” Miranda said, and the whole room started laughing. “So, how are we going to pass the time between now and bed?”

“Well,” Lucinda said as she looked round the room, “I wonder if we can take this opportunity, with none of the younger generation - Angela excepted - around to have a little fun time ourselves. How would you feel about a little escape challenge?”

“Mum,” Connie said “I’m not exactly up for...”

“Don’t worry, Connie - I have a plan. Two teams of three - new mothers versus the others. First team to free each other picks the next game.”

“How are you going to do this,” Susan said with a glint in her eye.

“I would like the new mothers,” Lucinda said as she stood up and opened a box, “to sit on the long couch, hands in front of them, and I will prepare them. The other three, stand in front of Miranda and put your hands behind your back.”



Holderness Police Station

The door to the office opened as Brian escorted Sara in. She looked at the others, and said “I am so sorry - I do not know why I’m having such trouble keeping...”

“It’s all right, Sara,” DCI Hampton said as he offered her a chair, “Your friends explained everything. What I need to know about is these dreams you have been having - when was the last one?”

“On the flight over,” Sara said as Brian put his hand on her shoulder. “It was so real, so vivid - I was standing in a clearing, looking over a lake at a white building, and then I walked up a path through a wood. I came out on a lawn, and walked up to a big old house, but when I looked in the window I saw women in danger.

“Anyway, I went in, and I met this - well, this man who told me he knew why I was here, and it was time. I knew I was there to rescue these women, and I knew something terrible would happen if I did not.”

Barry Hampton sat up in his chair as Sara finished. “Sara,” he said quietly, “When you were walking through the forest, did you see anything?”

“Yes,” Sara said as she looked up, “There was a white cross in a patch of bare ground.”

“And this lawn - it went up a hill to an old house made of red brick?”

“Yes,” Sara said again, “Do you know the house?”



Holderness Manor

“All right, I can cope with this,” Jennifer said as she sat next to Anne and Connie. The three women had their wrist bound together in front of them, and then tied down to the ropes that held their legs together above their knees. Ropes also encircled their upper bodies and arms, holding them tightly to their sides, and were wrapped around their ankles. To make things more difficult, each of them had their fore and middle fingers, and their third and fourth fingers, taped together and a thin length of cord around their thumbs.

The other three were no better off on their teams. Angela, Susan and Cassie were sat on the floor, their wrists tightly bound behind their backs and their fingers secured in the same way, and their arms tightly bound to their sides. Their ankles and legs were tightly secured, and their thighs had a length of rope running under them and around their backs.

“As we said,” Miranda told them as she folded six large headsquares into bands and tied knots in the middle, “Once we have gagged you, you will have an hour to try and free each other. Now, open wide.”

One by one the six captives opened their mouths, allowing Lucinda to push a folded handkerchief in before the knotted bands were pulled between their lips and the scarves tied around their heads. Lucinda then went round with a roll of white micropore tape, wrapping it around their heads to further muffle their talking.

“Now then ladies,” Lucinda said as she turned an hourglass over, “Begin.”


Holderness Police Station

DCI Hampton opened a large file.

“Over the last six months, there have been a total of five very violent home invasions across England,” he said to the other four. “Nobody has seen the gang, and often the crimes are not discovered for a few days. They always strike when the menfolk are away, secure any women they find there and strip the place bare of valuables.”

“Sounds ruthless enough,” Anne said, “Now what are the public not told.”

“The gang tightly bind the women, and then - well, they tape their noses as well as their mouths shut. The media has been told bodies have been discovered, but...”

“It sounds like the Scorpion gang,” Sara said with a shiver. “Do we know any details about them?”

“The only clue seems to be a black transit van that has been seen in the area - we have the licence plate, and an alert has gone out for it, but so far...”

A knock on the door interrupted the talk, and a uniformed officer handed Barry a note. As he looked at it, his face paled and he said “Shit.”

“DCI Hampton?”

“The black van - it has been seen locally. My big worry is this - Sara, for someone who has never been here, you just described the grounds around Holderness Manor perfectly.”

Holderness Manor

Mrs Bridges was loading the dishwasher when she heard the door opening behind her.

“Is that everything that needs to go out taken care of, George,” she said without turning her back, thinking it was her husband. Her mistake was evident when a leather gloved hand was clamped over her mouth, and she heard a voice literally hiss in her ear “Shut up” as the blade of a large knife was pressed against her throat.
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 5 added

Postby Tom Ford » Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:43 am

I knew it! The women, the older women likes to play among themselves when the children are away—I think that’s hinted or implied in Mother’s Day, it’s just that since the stories in An Education, it’s told in the perspective of the kids and we don’t really see them play.

Maybe one day, you could have an An Education story with Angela as narrator so we can explore the fun of the adult women without the kids, with the added bonus that the kids also be part of the story if needed be as Angela also plays with them like a kid. She straddles both generations, I think, the youngest of the adults, the oldest of the kids, she’s I think, only four or three years older than Alicia? She’s becoming a special character in her own right without even being at the center of the stories!

Anyway, I’d like to ask, since it wasn’t mentioned, I know this really isn’t important, but were Angela, Cassie and Susan’s arms tied together at the stomach and at the shoulders and also rope around the waist when it was stated that their arms were secured to their sides? Or was it much simpler? Sorry for asking, I’m just a sucker for these kinds of details. For example, I was going to ask if their hands were crossed or palm to palm, but the description on their thumbs tied together meant it was palm to palm.

I know that nothing permanent would happen and they more or less would emerge unscathed, but I’m still afraid and worried for the women. Especially at the mention of their noses covered. That made my skin crawl. Threatening them with a gun is one thing, actually trying to suffocate them is another, yet I think that is what they’ll do. They’ll tape their noses as well as tightly gagging them, how will they breath? Will they make holes on the nose tape, even if it’s as little as a hole made by a needle? Surely, they simply want to rob them, not to kill them, but their methods had left bodies in their wake. I hope Duncombe, Sara, and DCI Hampton get there as fast as possible and catch the thieves.

One thing in their favour was that Holderness Manor is big, big, big. There are very many paintings, probably scultptures, suits of armor, and all those valuable things. It would take a while to really strip the place bare if that is what they are planning to. Plus, after the visit of the Gentleman Robbers, did Lord and Lady Holderness install alarms or something that would alert of the police even if they are bound and gagged in the manor, or perhaps a way to raise the alarm inconspicuously without the robbers knowing? Surely they’d increased security.

I really hope that the thieves are caught, and DCI Hampton given credit. Normally, I don’t care about whether or not the police would publicly acknowledged, but since he is Colin’s father, I would prefer that mention would be given on how he solved the case that was long unsolved, and how he saved future lives and houses from being robbed. Perhaps not in this story, but perhaps mentioned in an off hand way in the An Education stories?

Sara has the genes of a black widow spider in her genes? And people think she’s dead? That’s really messed up. Hard to have a personal life with those liabilities, luckily, Brian is there to help.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 5 added

Postby KP Presents » Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:53 am

Tom Ford wrote:I knew it! The women, the older women likes to play among themselves when the children are away—I think that’s hinted or implied in Mother’s Day, it’s just that since the stories in An Education, it’s told in the perspective of the kids and we don’t really see them play.

Maybe one day, you could have an An Education story with Angela as narrator so we can explore the fun of the adult women without the kids, with the added bonus that the kids also be part of the story if needed be as Angela also plays with them like a kid. She straddles both generations, I think, the youngest of the adults, the oldest of the kids, she’s I think, only four or three years older than Alicia? She’s becoming a special character in her own right without even being at the center of the stories!


Hmm - a story from Angela's perspective? Interesting... :quirk:

Tom Ford wrote:Anyway, I’d like to ask, since it wasn’t mentioned, I know this really isn’t important, but were Angela, Cassie and Susan’s arms tied together at the stomach and at the shoulders and also rope around the waist when it was stated that their arms were secured to their sides? Or was it much simpler? Sorry for asking, I’m just a sucker for these kinds of details. For example, I was going to ask if their hands were crossed or palm to palm, but the description on their thumbs tied together meant it was palm to palm.


Ropes around their upper arms and shoulders, and their stomachs. Nothing tighter - yet.

Tom Ford wrote:I know that nothing permanent would happen and they more or less would emerge unscathed, but I’m still afraid and worried for the women. Especially at the mention of their noses covered. That made my skin crawl. Threatening them with a gun is one thing, actually trying to suffocate them is another, yet I think that is what they’ll do. They’ll tape their noses as well as tightly gagging them, how will they breath? Will they make holes on the nose tape, even if it’s as little as a hole made by a needle? Surely, they simply want to rob them, not to kill them, but their methods had left bodies in their wake.


I need to plead the fifth on this - for now...

Tom Ford wrote:I really hope that the thieves are caught, and DCI Hampton given credit. Normally, I don’t care about whether or not the police would publicly acknowledged, but since he is Colin’s father, I would prefer that mention would be given on how he solved the case that was long unsolved, and how he saved future lives and houses from being robbed. Perhaps not in this story, but perhaps mentioned in an off hand way in the An Education stories?


You know me, Tom - how this ends will get mentioned elsewhere...

Tom Ford wrote:Sara has the genes of a black widow spider in her genes? And people think she’s dead? That’s really messed up. Hard to have a personal life with those liabilities, luckily, Brian is there to help.


I refer you to skybird's story Dominated by DNA...
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 5 added

Postby William F Somebody » Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:22 am

I wonder where Mr Bridges was? Mrs Bridges knew, nay expecting him to be there, having thought that the intruder was her husband. I wonder what the gang would do if they encountered menfolk around too? I know that they usually avoided them, but I am afraid they might do something drastic if they accidentally encountered one. They might even kill him. I really hope not. Perhaps he was cleaning the car, or received a call and was on an errand on town or was shopping at a late night grocery shop, or visiting relatives on a whim and decided not to tell his wife?

Reading what the gang did to the women they encountered, even knowing that they’ll eventually be safe and as you stated, unscathed, made me jittery. Why? Three recently pregnant women who might not have fully recovered, and who might relapse if subjected to something very stressful (pardon me, I’m not familiar with the biology of pregnancy recovery, but it was only a few weeks since the births). They were not even subjected to the same ropes as the others while playing, how much more in an actual robbery? The good thing is, they might, at first, not be totally shocked or surprised, as all of them (except Susan, that is her first time, I believe to be held hostage) was tied up as part of a robbery or a hostage taking, I believe. They won’t panic, or act in such a way to provoke their captors to hurt them (I’m sure they’ll reassure Susan if this was her first time) and they knew the drill, the won’t cry, say that they know that they’re here to rob them and just tie them up and be done with it. (I’m pretty sure Lady Holderness has insurance for robbery after what happened in Play Date) and they’ve been tied up very tight before.

It’s only the tape on the nose. That is disturbing, and might actually harm them. I just hope it does not harm them.

So that’s the explanation on Sara and that black widow DNA. Fascinating and intriguing! Anyway, I’ll have to depend on you, KP, to give me more explanations on her, as I have not read her original story, and stories that are a too strong, as you put it, are not really my taste. So please pardon me if I sometimes ask questions that have been answered in the original one. Perhaps those questions could be put in the mouths of DCI Hampton and the Holderness women and answered in that way?

Back to the story, Sara, I think, is descended from the widow of the poacher who killed the brother of the original Baron Holderness. And would the Holderness Shadow save them once more? And does the shadow have a connection to Sara Sidle? The title Widow’s Shadow seems to imply a connection, but we’ll just have to see.

I have to agree with Tom, it’s nice to see that the older women (and Angela) play by themselves when the kids are away. Although I have to say that their fun ain’t much different from what the kids would play, and what they occasionally play with them too. But that's just the beginning, so we'll have to see.
Last edited by William F Somebody on Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:46 am, edited 2 times in total.

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 5 added

Postby Tom Ford » Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:27 am

KP Presents wrote:
Hmm - a story from Angela's perspective? Interesting... :quirk:




And mention of Angela telling a story on her own has given me a story idea.

Perhaps it would go like this. The kids would have an outing for an entire day, for example, they would camp out during the night on Holderness grounds, or during the day, they’ll attend some kind of kid related festival that would keep them out of adult’s hair. Maybe Mr Bridges would drive them around. Meanwhile, the adult males with Bobby would also have their own activity.

So while the kids away, the women, with Angela of course, would play their own game. But they decided to keep it a secret, for whatever reason, away from the children.

But there is a catch. Suppose in the middle, the kids, Cassie, Jenny, Alicia, and Suzie, perhaps even Patty, Hazel, Claire, go home early because whatever it was they were attending was cancelled or something. Then when they go home, all the adults except Angela (who would be the one who would remain untied) was tightly tied up and gagged. But Angela decided to keep that fact from the kids so the secret would remain, so she decided to usher them into another room, and tie them up, all of them, to keep them from discovering the adults.

Angela decides to keep the fact from the adults that the kids just returned so the adult women could have their fun without worrying about being discovered, so she tries to manage the entire situation by making sure none of the adults encounter the kids, and vice versa. Plus, it would be a challenge for her, to test her mettle, especially when kids insist they be allowed to hop all over the place or wriggle while hogtied.

Of course, it would have to happen on Holderness Manor, so that it could happen in a big enough house where they could play in a single building but could remain separate.

What do you think?

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 5 added

Postby William F Somebody » Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:48 am

William F Somebody wrote:I just hope it harms them.


Oops, I meant "I just hope it does not harm them."

Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 6

Postby KP Presents » Thu May 02, 2013 5:29 am

“huru,” Mrs Bridges mumbled as she stayed perfectly still, “ndwhrsmhsbnd?”

“The old man? Never you mind about him,” the voice hissed as she was dragged backwards away from the sink. She could now see three other men, as well as the one holding her, in the kitchen, all dressed in black overalls with stockings over their heads and gloves on their hands. One of them took a rucksack off his back and thumped it down on the table, opening it to reveal a mass of coils of rope and rolls of tape.

“Sit down,” the voice hissed once more as one of the men moved a wooden chair from the table, “and don’t move a muscle.”



Holderness Police Station.

“I see - well, keep trying.”

Barry Hampton put the phone down and looked at the other four. “We can’t get through to the Manor house - the line is dead. We’re trying to raise Lord Holderness on one of his London numbers, but so far no joy. Agent Duncombe...”

“Please, call me Anne,” Anne said as she smiled across the desk at him.

“Agent Duncombe, you know and have met Lady Holderness. Do you know something of her past?”

“Enough,” Anne said, “to know we cannot discuss it even here. Why do you ask?”

“If something is wrong, then she will know what to do, but...” His speech was interrupted by a ringing from the phone on the desk. “Excuse me,” he said as he picked up the receiver.

“Yes?

“Ah - good evening Your Lordship. My apologies for disturbing you, but I was wondering if you could tell me where Lady Holderness is this evening.

“I see - and is she alone in this?”

Sara and Chloe watched as the colour drained slightly from the senior officer’s face. “I see - Your Lordship, I must ask you to return to Holderness by the earliest possible convenience.

“No, not to the Manor House - come to the station. I pray my suspicions are wrong, but if you arrive and I am not here then please wait for my return.

“Thank you,” he said finally before replacing the receiver, and looking at his guests.

“DCI Hampton - Barry,” Anne said as she sat forward, “What’s wrong?”

“Lady Holderness is entertaining at the Manor House tonight - a birthday dinner for one of her oldest friends, Miranda Craig.”

“Madame Craig?” Chloe said quietly. “Who else is there, Monsieur?”



Holderness Manor

“It would appear, my dear Miranda, that we have a case of stalemate here.”

Miranda Craig laughed as she and Lucinda Holderness sat in two comfy armchairs, watching the two teams of women try to free themselves. Jennifer, Anne and Connie had decided after a while not to try and exert themselves too much, instead sitting and adding muted encouragement to the other three in their endeavours.

Not that they were making much progress either - Angela had turned herself with her back to her Aunt Susan, and the two of them were trying to find some way of untying the ropes around their wrists, while Cassie was trying to move her arms in a futile attempt to loosen the ropes holding them firmly in place.

“Well,” Lucinda finally said, “I think the hour has passed, so...” Her words were interrupted by the doors to the room flying open, and four masked and armed men running in, one of them saying “Nobody move a muscle!”

“Hey,” another one said as he looked at the six bound and gagged women, “Looks like we interrupted something.”

“Makes our job easier,” the first man said, before looking at Miranda and Lucinda and saying “Which one of you two old ones is the lady of the manor?”

“That would be me,” Lucinda said as she turned and looked at the quartet. “I am Lady Lucinda Holderness - who are you, and why have you made such an obviously threatening entrance.”

Susan in particular was staring at the four armed and masked men, and Cassie could see she was starting to shake. She turned and moved herself next to Susan, nudging her and saying “Tslrt, stclm - wrhr” as she did so.

“I said nobody moves,” the man called again as he pointed his gun at Susan and Cassie, making her yelp again.”

“Young man,” Miranda said, “my daughter is looking to comfort one of Lucinda’s family. Some of us have been robbed and threatened before - she has not. I presume that is your intention - to rob the home of my old friend?”

“That’s for us to know and you to find out,” he said as he looked round the room. “Unite their legs, but keep their arms and wrists bound and the gags in place - it makes our job so much easier.”

“All right,” Miranda said as she turned round, “We’re going to do what you say, and we will not cause you any trouble.” As she started to unite Cassie’s legs, she caught a look in her daughter’s eye and shook her head slightly. As Captain Cassandra Craig, former special forces officer, Miranda knew her daughter could possibly take all four down, but not without raising the possibility of harming the others.

“And what have you done with Mister and Mrs Bridges,” Lucinda said as she looked coldly over the armed and masked quartet. “If you have harmed them...”

“You are not in a position to issue threats,” the masked man, who to Lucinda was the leader of the group, said as one by one Miranda released the legs of the other six and helped them to sit on the seats. “They are safe and secure, for now.”

“Listen,” Miranda said as she helped Angela to sit down, “Three of these women are new mothers - be as strict as you want to me and Lucinda, but show them some mercy.”

“Which three,” the man said as he watched Anne, Connie and Jennifer raise their bound hands. He looked at them, a smile on his face under the nylon covering, before he said “We’ve got two families here, haven’t we - which are related to you, Your Ladyship?”

“Anne, Angela, Susan - stand up please,” Lucinda said as she turned and looked at them. The three young women looked at each other, Anne standing next to the quietly sobbing Susan, as the leader of the gang turned to two of the masked men. “Take these two upstairs, find a big room, and tie them up fully in there. Make sure they cannot escape or raise the alarm - understood?”

“I wish to accompany them,” Lucinda said as she stepped forward, but the leader merely pointed his gun at her.

“No - I need you to show me round after we are finished here. You can start,” he said as he dropped the bag he had on the floor and opened it, taking out a coil of rough brown rope, “by tying your dear old friend here up, just the way I tell you to. You can start,” he then said to Miranda, “by taking off your skirt and boots.”

Miranda looked at the man, then her daughters, before she sat down and slowly started to unzip her boots. As she did so, she saw Anne stumble a little at the foot of the stairs, and use the banister at the bottom of the staircase to stop herself falling. She briefly looked at Lucinda, as the man said “Hurry up - we haven’t got all night.”


Holderness Police Station

Brian put his hand on Sara’s shoulder as Barry Hampton finished explaining what Lord Holderness had said to him.

“Mon Dieu,” Chloe whispered, “Three generations - and if this indeed the gang you speak of... Monsieur Hampton, what can we do?”

“Pray that it is not them,” was his reply as a buzzing sound filled the air. Anne instinctively looked to her mobile phone, then back at Barry.

“Brian,” Sara whispered as DCI Hampton opened a drawer in his desk, “Did you bring it in your bag?”

“I did,” Brian whispered back, “Why do you ask?”

“I think it is time - give me the bag,” she said, and as Brian handed her the holdall she stood up and said “I need to visit the ladies restroom - it is...”

“Turn left, second door on the left,” Barry said as he opened a second drawer, and brought out a small square of plastic which was vibrating, a red light flashing. As Sara stepped out, Anne looked at it and said “Let me guess - trouble?”

Barry slowly nodded as he said “This... This is a private security alarm - an arrangement between myself and the Holderness family. It means, I fear, that the gang was indeed at the Manor house, and...” He stood up and said “I need to get a response team together and send officers there right now.”

“And if you arrive all guns blazing,” Anne said as she too stood up, “What will this gang, if they are as ruthless as you say they are, going to do? You mentioned people have died at their hands - do you think anyone would survive that?”

Barry stopped and looked at her, before saying “What do you suggest?”

“By all means, have your men ready at the entrance to the Manor house, but we need to move in quietly and carefully - and it needs to be someone who can work that way. I have no official jurisdiction here, but I know the Holderness and Craig family - well some of them anyway. I have the training and the expertise.”

Barry looked at Anne as if for the first time, and then said “It’s one of you against who knows how many of them - I can’t let you go in alone.”

“She won’t be going in alone.”

Chloe and Brian turned to see Sara standing at the doorway, in a completely different outfit. Her blonde hair had been pulled back in a ponytail, but that as not the most striking thing about her.

It was her outfit - a tight fitting leather jacket, zipped up the front with a hint of cleavage visible at the top, a leather miniskirt, tights and over the knee leather boots with a two inch heel. She was pulling a pair of leather gloves over her hands, as Barry looked at her.

“So this is why you mentioned the Pink Widow,” he said quietly as he took in the dusky pink hue of her entire outfit. “But I cannot allow it - you are a civilian, and I will not take that risk.”

“You have no choice - and neither do I,” Sara said quietly. “It’s almost as if I have been led to this place, at this time - and it appears for this moment. Now, what's the plan?”
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Re: The Widow's Shadow - Part 6 added

Postby Tom Ford » Thu May 02, 2013 8:14 am

So the Pink Shadow is going to the rescue with DCI Barry Hampton and Agent Anne Duncombe! Will they get there in time before some unspeakable horror happens to the Women of the Craigs and the Holdernesses? Will the thieves get away with it? What will they do to them? Na na na na na na Pink Shadow!!Tune in next time…

Sorry for that cheap special effects I got from the 60s Batman starring Adam West. Even if we know that nothing too bad will happen to the women, I’m just caught up in the moment!

Wow! These robbers sure sound nastier than all the other hostage takers before. Was it because they tried to act nice if the kids are there? Or are they simply plain more reprehensible than the others? Methinks it’s more of the latter.

Still, despite all that the women had experienced in the tying department, I wonder what the robbers would do to them that they have not already experienced (aside from the tape of the nose)? I was thinking about adult tie up toys but I don’t think they’d waste such things on victims of their robberies, most probably they’d use something they can buy at any store. And them saying to Miranda to remove her skirt makes me think they’re some kind of sexual predators or something who have more than a practical reason why they wanted the menfolk away and only women in the house when they rob. I just hope they won’t even make the attempt.

Hope we could know how they would tie each one of them down to the smallest detail. Hm, news of this would definitely reach their husbands and children sooner or later, probably be made part of the Craig Compact—hm, I could already imagine young Cassie asking exactly how they were tied up so she could give it a go, but of course, that couldn’t be part of this story.

Still, no matter what happens, the robbers are as good as caught. They’ll probably be surrounded, even if they don’t know it, by the police. Hope this doesn’t turn into a hostage situation.

Still, there’s the Pink Widow! Would she try the same ploy she did with Rhodes? And what happen to Mr and Mrs Bridges?

And where is the Holderness Shadow? He’s supposed to protect the Holderness Family in times of peril. I guess when they really are in danger, he’ll come rushing in to save them.