31st October
7 pm
The groups of kids making their way around the estate were laughing and joking, smiling as they looked into each other’s bags and compared what they had collected. A number of the houses were decorated for Hallowe’en, with candles inside hollowed pumpkins, spider webs on windows and trees, and a few houses clearly indicating they did not wish to take part on this night.
Outside the Boyle home, there were two rows of pumpkin lanterns either side of the door, and the windows were covered in white decorations, the curtains closed behind them and highlighting the effect. Two boys and two girls walked up to the front door and knocked, their mothers watching as the door opened and they called out “Trick or Treat!”
Emma Boyle smiled as she saw them, and said “If it isn’t the Power Rangers! You all look wonderful, so you all deserve a treat.”
“How are the kids, Emma,” one of the mothers said as they looked at the older woman. She was dressed as Morticia Addams, complete with long black hair and a low cut dress that reached the floor.
“Oh they went out earlier with Annie,” Emma said as she indicated the other woman. She was wearing a black boiler suit, leather gloves and a black balaclava, but she smiled as she held the bowl and allowed the kids to take handfuls of sweets.
“Love the costume, Annie. What are you meant to be, a bank robber?”
Annie smiled and nodded as the kids put their sweets into their bags, and said “thank you Mrs Boyle.”
“On you go now,” Emma said, smiling and waving before she closed the door. Her smile disappeared as she looked at Annie, who said in a Scots accent “Ye’re doing well Mrs Boyle. Let’s go an sit doon again.”
As they walked into the front room, Emma looked at the red haired woman in the Catwoman costume, and said “How much longer?”
“Until your husband completes the job we gave him to do, Emma,” one of the four masked men said in a Geordie accent. “Until then, you, your sister and your family will be safe in our hands.”
Emma nodded as she looked at her children. Twelve year old Steve was dressed as Spiderman, while the ten year old twins Carol and Noelle were dressed as Elsa and Anna from Frozen. Carol was wearing the long light blue dress with white gloves, and Noelle the blue dress with a black top. All three, however, had their wrists secured together in front of them with ropes, and their ankles tied as well. Strips of white tape covered their mouths as they watched the television.
Catwoman twisted round – her wrists were further secured to her legs with ropes – as she said “mmmewhtsgnnhpppn?”
“I don’t know, Annie,” Emma said as there was another knock on the door, “I just don’t know…”
29th October
“Of course you can go to the party at Cassie’s and stay overnight,” Yvonne Williamson said, “Charlie is going to spend the night with the Cottrell’s anyway – they’re hosting a big night for the local kids.”
Mark smiled as his daughter went out of the room, and Yvonne sat next to him. “So, it appears we have Monday night to ourselves,” she said with a smile. “What do you think we can get up to?”
“Well, I have an idea,” Mark said with a smile, “but I’m not sure how you would feel about it.”
“Oh? And what would that idea be?”
“Why don’t we go Guising, as you would be saying if you were in character?”
Yvonne smiled and said in her broad Scots accent “Nd where de ye fink we’d go guising, Jay?”
Mark stood up and went to the sideboard, returning with a folder. Opening it, he handed Yvonne a picture of a grey haired man, standing with a blonde haired woman, a young boy and twin girls.
“Eddie Boyle? Well, we’ve talked about it before, but Monday’s Hallowe’en. Might be a bit difficult to be quiet and inconspicuous.”
“On the contrary,” Mark said with a smile, “it’s the perfect night. Let me explain why…”
October 31st
5 pm
“You look adorable,” Emma said as her daughters came down the stairs, wearing their Disney Princesses outfits.
“Thanks Mum,” Carol said. “Is Steve ready?”
“I’m ready, but I don’t see why I have to go with them,” the twelve year old said as he came out of the main room, the Spiderman Mask covering his head to his nose, his eyes visible.
“Because this way I can keep an eye on all three of you?”
The three kids looked at their Aunt Annie, who was wearing a black spandex catsuit, knee length black leather boots and an eye mask. A pair of cat ears were attached to the band holding back her black hair.
“Right,” Emma said as she opened the door, “go, have fun, and I’ll see you back here in a little while. I’ll be ready then as well, and when your father gets back Aunt Annie will look after you while we go out.”
“Come on, let’s go and have fun,” Annie said as the three children picked up their bags, and headed out, Emma waving them away before she closed the door, and headed up the stairs. She missed the grey van as it drove past, and then around the corner.
5.30 pm
Emma looked at herself in the fill length mirror, the long black skirt hugging her body, and smiled.
“Perfect for today,” she said as she turned and picked up a red lipstick, pouting as she applied it – and then staring at the ski masked man who appeared in the reflection behind her.
“Hello Emma – may I call you Emma,” he said in a Geordie accent, “I’m Jay Edwards – and I need you to remain quiet…”