Family Business

Closing In

Thursday May 30th Sternwood Hospitality and Financial Services 4pm

Rosamund sat in her office with her parents, Lieutenant O'Kelly and Special Agent Shipley. "How could she do that" whines her mother "How could she do that to Prudence!".

Her husbands left arm wrapped around her shoulders "You give someone an opportunity and they throw it back at you!".

"Why is she marching around in this office Lieutenant and not arrested" snarls Rosamund, crunching up her face and tensing her hands into tight fists.

The Lieutenant steeples his hands together "please rest assured we will arrest her!" he stops momentarily "We need you to be just a little more patient, I know it's hard but we're closing in. we discussed with the FBI and we feel if she is updating the gang and she is absent, they will smell a rat and may jeopardise our trap for later".

Thursday May 30th Lake Mohawk, Sparta, New Jersey 4.15pm
The gang sit around the kitchen table, the air a mix of strong coffee and cigarette smoke "We should move on tonight" states Richie "Get to the place near the aeroplane pick up" They all nod in agreement "Lets start prepping, once I return; we'll go".

"I'll tell Prudence to pack up some stuff" states Florence about to stand up but a strong hand from Gretchen sits her down, an evil grin stretches across her face "Oh let me tell Roly-Poly!".

"Fine" states Florence "but don't hurt her!"

Prudence drifted in and out of sleep as she sat on the hard wooden chair, her back ached and neck creaked from her uncomfortable sleeping position. She jumped at the sound of the door unlocking, her heart raced, terrified it was Gretchen, she gasps resting her right palm on her chest, terrified at the wild grin on Gretchens face. Her heart raced as Gretchen strode slowly and confidentially towards her. Her windpipe closed in her breathing now deep wheezes. Gretchen lowers herself down staring contemptuously at her "You want a radio you entitled bitch, well guess what your not getting one, if I had my way you'd not even get the scraps from our plates". She presses her forehead against Prudence's. Prudence's trembled, Gretchen's aggressive demeanour terrified her 'if she starts beating me she won't stop'. With her right hand shaking Prudence holds the right stem of her glasses, afraid Gretchen will take them again.

"Ou!" wheezed Prudence as Gretchen stamps on her left foot, tears stream down her eyes, she felt defenceless. Prudence closed her eyes as Gretchen ran her fingers through her hair, preparing herself for what was coming next, an electric shock struck her crown as Gretchen wrapped her hair around her fists, "ah, ah, ahhhhhhhhhh" cried Prudence which is met by a laugh from Gretchen "Pack up Roly-Poly, we're going to be moving out!".

Reluctantly Gretchen releases her grip, Prudence, tightens the grip on the right stem of her glasses, terrified of what will come next. Gretchen lowers herself again pushes back the hair covering Prudence's left ear and whispers "Very soon I'm going to snatch those those thick jam jars off your face and shove them up that big fat ass of yours, then I am going to grab your knickers by the seam and give you the biggest wedgy ever!".

Prudence felt like she is a schoolgirl again being terrorised by the school bully. Her heart raced, she sat there numb and said a silent prayer that the psychopath would leave her alone. Gretchen stands upright smiling down at Prudence and then like electrocution a bolt of lightening strikes Prudence's left cheek numbing it with pain. The power from Gretchen's slap like nothing she felt before. Dumbstruck she tried massaging it with her left hand. Gretchen marches out laughing. Prudence sat in silence trembling, in shock, then the floodgates open.

She felt hopeless and week. She cursed her lack of fitness and inability to protect herself as the tears streamed down her cheeks, the thought runs through her mind 'She's going to kill me, she won't be happy until she does' she hears footsteps running up the stairs and the door unlocking, her shallow breathing intensified and her body tenses, terrified it's Gretchen coming back for more, however it's Florence, a small sense of relief comes over her. Florence is carrying a bag of ice "oh poor Prudence". Prudence feels the bag of ice rest against her left cheek "Poor Prudence" repeats Florence "Poor Prudence, I shouldn't have let her come up, I won't let her do this to you again".