“And that,” Yvonne Williamson said as she put her bag on the kitchen table, “is the end of term for the Whitsun holidays!”
“And there was much rejoicing,” Mark said as he came through from his office. “A whole week off?”
“Oh yes – and I need that time off,” Yvonne said as she slipped her jacket off, and put it on the back of the chair. “With Charlie away on that school trip, and Lisa staying over at Wissenden for the week, we get a week just to ourselves.”
“Well now,” Mark said with a smile as he put his arms round his wife’s neck, and how do you propose we spend the week?”
“Oh I’m sure you can think of a way, you naughty…”
The sound of the telephone ringing made Mark shake his head, as he said “hold that thought” and kissed Yvonne gently on the lips. Walking into the hallway, he watched Yvonne pick the kettle up as he answered the phone.
“Mark Williamson speaking.”
He looked at the kitchen as he said “yeah, we have some time free from the kids. Why?
“Okay – I understand. We’ll see you tomorrow – the kids are away by then. Safe flight.”
“What’s up,” Yvonne said as she stood in the kitchen door.
“Brian – he’s flying over tonight,” Mark said as he looked at her. “I have this horrible feeling we are not going to have a quiet weekend after all.”
“Hey – sorry to drop in like this.”
Yvonne looked at the tall, broad shouldered Australians sitting at her kitchen table, and said “We’re getting used to it by now – but why this week?”
“Let’s just say I’m glad the kids are away,” Brian Holderness-Carter said with a smile. “First things first – do you think you can get a couple of willing volunteers together for a three day trip away?”
“Where to,” Mark said as he sat at the other side of the table.
“The Lake District,” Brian said quietly as he put his coffee mug down, “and we’d need to be ready to move out tomorrow.”
“Who will we be visiting,” Yvonne asked quietly. They watched as Brian typed on his tablet, and then let them see a photo with four people in it.
“This is Derek Fowlds,” Brian said as they looked at the middle aged man, with short brown hair and wearing a smart suit. “He’s the regional director for one of the major banks – although he works in Carlisle, he lives with his family at a farmhouse near Lake Windermere.”
“So who do we have in the photograph?”
Brian pointed to the younger of the two women, and said “this is his wife Xandra. In her early thirties.” Yvonne looked at the brown haired woman, who was wearing a black silk gown, stilettos and dark hose. “The young girl standing in front of her is the youngest of her three daughters, Chloe. She’s seven years old.”
“Okay,” Yvonne said as she looked at the young girl, wearing a black dress, her light brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. “The older woman?”
“Derek’s mother, Fiona – she lives with them, helps to look after the family while he’s at work during the week.” Mark looked at the woman, her short blonde hair tinged with grey, in her black gown, and nodded. “You said Chloe is the younger daughter?”
“Indeed – her older twin sisters did not attend this function, but here they are – Jane and Elaine, both eleven.”
Mark and Yvonne looked at the picture, and then said “okay – why there?”
“There are dual objectives from my perspective – first, we want to slip something into their systems while you make a withdrawal.”
“And second?”
“That bit’s classified – but suffice to say, we need control of their home in two days’ time. So, the question is, can Jay and Mrs McPhee help out?”
“What can you tell me about him and his business,” Mark said as he smiled.
It may have been the last week in May, but for Xandra Fowlds it was a typical Lake District day – grey with the cloud starting to break.
“All right you two – are you ready yet,” she called up the stairs, and then stood back as Jane and Elaine ran down. The two girls had bows tied in their hair, and both were wearing peach coloured Jersey dresses. Jane’s had long sleeves, and a V-necked opening at the neck, while she was also wearing dark tights and knee length chocolate brown leather boots with a strap at the top.
Elaine’s dress had short sleeves and a round neckline, and she was wearing white tights under her matching boots, as the two girls grabbed their bags and ran out to the car.
Fiona Fowlds watched from the doorway of the office at the front of the house as Xandra put on her leather jacket. She was wearing a black jersey dress, and stack heeled black sandals.
“I should be back from the photographer with Chloe by twelve,” she said as her younger daughter ran down the stairs, wearing a black short sleeved dress with white polka dots, grey ankle socks and black Mary Jane shoes. Xandra helped her to put on a long black duffle coat, as Fiona said “don’t worry – I’ll get some lunch ready for you when you get back, and then we get the things ready for later.”
“Thanks,” Xandra said as she and Chloe went out to the car, Fiona waving them off before she made her way to the kitchen. The older woman was wearing a grey and brown print top with a grey undershirt, a knee length dark grey skirt and mid-calf black leather boots.
She put on the coffee machine and smiled as she looked out over the hills and mountains behind the farmhouse. Her son was due home later that night for a short break, and she knew the girls were looking forward to seeing him.
The sound of the coffee machine meant she did not hear the grey transit van pull up outside the farmhouse, or the people getting out. It was only when she heard the knock on the door that she looked round, and then walked to the front door, wondering what was been delivered.
“How can I help you,” she said as she opened the door, only to back up as the four men and one woman walked in. All five were wearing blue boiler suits, black trainers, black leather gloves, and black balaclavas covering their heads so that only their eyes and mouths were visible.
“Good morning, Mrs Fowlds,” one of them said in a Geordie accent, “My name is Jay Edwards, and these are my associates. Please, remain calm – we’re going to be spending some time here today…”