Vanessa Sturman glanced at herself in the shop mirror and wondered if she was a too young to be a grandmother.
"Maybe 50 would have been more ideal," thought the 45 year old, while waiting for her pregnant daughter to emerge from the changing room.
"Hurry up Charlotte," Vanessa called.
"I'm doing my best, I am 7 months pregnant you know Mummy," came the reply.
"Typical," thought Vanessa. "Everyone has to wait for Charlotte."
It had always been that way with her only child. Charlotte had not wanted for anything. Vanessa had seen to that. She was very protective and would do anything for her daughter. As a result Charlotte had grown up just a little entitled. Vanessa wouldn't have it any other way.
Now Charlotte emerged looking radiant in her dotage.
"You look great in that," Vanessa said, enthusiastically.
"I look fat in this," Charlotte sulked.
"Well you're not the one buying it, so it shouldn't concern you so much."
"Thanks Mummy," the daughter said gratefully, kissing her mother on the forehead.
Vanessa could afford to buy luxuries for her daughter. She and her husband Roy Sturman were well off. Roy had built up his finance brokerage firm into a business with offices in four cities. The company was doing well. Charlotte had been raised in a wealthy suburb and attended the best schools in the city.
"If worrying about being a Grandmother, five years too early, is my biggest problem then I'm not doing too badly," thought Vanessa, as her daughter returned to the changing room.
"I don't have to work; I have nice clothes, a lovely house, time to exercise and a dependable husband."
Vanessa returned her gaze to the mirror. She liked what she saw. An attractive middle aged woman, chestnut hair, styled short with a parting. She was slim, but not painfully so and had a nice bust, shown conservatively to effect by her designer dress.
She smiled inwardly knowing that this look kept Roy happy. He often travelled, but she was confident he never had reason to stray. There sex life was straight forward and restricted to once a week on average, but when they made love she was confident her husband was satisfied. She knew that she was, having little problem getting aroused. She invariably climaxed.
There was a nagging thought that life could be a little more exciting, but she pushed it aside as she always did.
"Everyone always wants just a little more," thought Vanessa.
Charlotte emerged and stated she would purchase the maternity dress.
---
Vanessa wasn't the only one admiring her figure at the Mall that day. Marlon Jones sat in the café across from the dress shop and sipped his expresso.
"She is one attractive woman, for sure," thought Marlon, while he watched the mother and daughter make their purchase.
Marlon had been watching Vanessa for a week. He always planned his operations well and enjoyed this initial phase of relaxed surveillance.
As was his modus operandi, Marlon had first sighted Vanessa at a Mall. In this case St Peters Mall, a high class shopping centre in the better part of the city. He had dressed smartly to go there and had watched and waited. Vanessa hadn't been with her daughter the day she'd caught Marlon's attention.
He'd noted the light summer dress she as wearing, pulled tight by a belt around her slim waist. Slender, almost sensual, with a long neck and a well-cared for face. All the ingredients for a prospect.
However a well presented, attractive woman was only one part of the equation. He had followed her to her car in order to confirm she might be an appropriate target. A late model, blue Mercedes sport meant he became more certain.
Marlon had phoned a description of the car to his cousin, Curtis. It had proved no problem for Curtis to follow the car directly to the Sturman household.
"Good boy," Marlon had praised Curtis, despite being his cousin being five years older than him and four inches taller.
Curtis was not bright and Marlon had always been the leader when they went to work. They didn't always do jobs together, with Marlon often travelling to other cities and operating alone. Today, Marlon was happy he had Curtis with him. There were two women and he would require assistance.
Marlon targeted wealthy, attractive women. He ascertained where they lived and would enter their home when they were absent. Once inside he'd note items of value. However, what he most wanted to see was a safe. That would indicate something worth locking away. Most likely something of considerable value. Marlon would then return to pay the woman a visit when she was home alone.
While many of his victims did not go to the Police, some did and he was certain he must be on the Police data base. Therefore, he had determined this would be his final job and he would then return to his native country, in Latin America.
---
Charlotte remained uncertain about the dress her mother had purchased for her. She continued to bemoan it as her mother drove.
"Gerrard's not going to look at me in that," she said speaking of her husband of two years. "He's already referring to me as a heifer."
Vanessa bristled at this. She didn't think Gerrard was good enough for her daughter, nor did she like how he spoke to her at times. Vanessa was very protective of her daughter.
"You're not a heifer dear. You are a beautiful young woman, glowing in the late stages of pregnancy."
"What have we got for lunch Mummy?" Charlotte asked, now tiring of pregnancy talk.
"Nothing special, but I'll rustle something up for us."
Vanessa always took Charlotte home for lunch after they shopped. Mainly to ensure she was eating correctly, but also to fill in her daughter's day. Charlotte's friends all worked or kept busy and she had no one during the day.
---
Marlon and Curtis had left the Mall well in advance of the two women and driven directly to Vanessa's neighbourhood. They parked and walked to the home, entering through a window they had previously loosened.
The two Sturman women were predictable in their movements and Marlon watched as they pulled into the driveway.
"They're here Curtis," he hissed loudly at his cousin, who was helping himself to food from the fridge.
Curtis took up his place. Neither wore masks. Sometimes they did, but Marlon didn't like the mask. He saw himself as very good looking and liked his victims to see that. In addition, he was leaving the country and was unconcerned about identification. If Curtis got caught that would be his bad luck. The family mistrusted authorities, he would not say anything. Marlon was confident of that.
Vanessa unlocked the door and entered the house with Charlotte immediately behind her. Vanessa smelt something, but couldn't identify what. A strange musky smell, not displeasing, but not familiar either. She sniffed as she made for the kitchen.
"What on earth is that?" she thought to herself.
"Good afternoon ladies," Marlon said in his broad accent.
Both Vanessa and Charlotte jumped with fright, as they rapidly turned to see the lean, tanned man standing there, smiling. Momentarily they froze, trying to comprehend this strange presence in their house.
Charlotte snapped out of it first and let out a piercing scream, which Curtis cut short, when he stepped out from the pantry and clamped his hand over her mouth.
Vanessa did not scream, but quickly tried to sum up the situation. Two very large Latino men were in her house, uninvited. Briefly, she thought of bolting for the back door and screaming for help. However, that would leave her pregnant daughter alone with the men. She quickly chose to stay and did her best to quell the panic rising inside her.
"What; what are you doing in my house," she asked, assertively.
"It's not your house, it's Mr Sturman's house and we have come for Mr Sturman's money and valuables," said Marlon continuing to smile. He enjoyed the game.
Marlon had been inside the house twice prior to this and had located the safe. He was confident there would be cash and jewellery contained therein. All he had to do was convince Vanessa Sturman to open it. Then he would convince her to partake in other activities. In both instances Charlotte was his leverage.
"There's nothing here and if you leave right now we will not tell the Police about this," Vanessa lied boldly.
She looked from man to man gathering a mental picture so she could describe them accurately to Police. The man holding her daughter would be instantly recognisable at 6 foot 4 inches tall with a mop of shaggy, unkempt hair. He was unshaven and she noted he was running to fat. The shorter man, doing the talking was quite a contrast. About 6 feet tall, he was lean and close shaven. His face was thin, but his dark eyes nicely spaced. He kept his hair short.
"He's well groomed," Vanessa thought. "Why couldn't a man with these looks find a more appropriate way to make money?" Marlon jerked her back to reality.
"But there is something here. It's inside the safe in the study and you will open it for me, thanks Mrs Sturman."
Vanessa's heart briefly sank. She had some of her favourite jewellery located in that safe. Then just as quickly her spirits rose.
"Perhaps they will take that and leave quickly," she thought.
"Can that man please let go of my daughter," Vanessa asked, indicating to Charlotte.
"If she screams we will force a gag into her mouth," Marlon said blandly, nodding at Curtis to release the young woman.
Charlotte immediately ran to her mother and hugged her tightly, wide eyed with fear.
"Ok; here's what we're going to do," said Marlon, now anxious to get the show underway. "Mrs Sturman comes with me, unlocks the safe and shows me where anything else of value is in the house. This may take some time." He then indicated to Charlotte. "You will stay here with this big fellow."
Vanessa was horrified at this proposal. She looked at Curtis and imagined him to be nothing more than a mindless thug, who would attack her pregnant daughter the first chance he got. She steeled herself.
"No; we stay together," she said forthrightly, as her daughter continued to cling to her.
Marlon smiled and stepped forward. He placed a hand on each of the women's shoulders.
"Mrs Sturman your daughter is very pregnant. My friend here has no interest in harming a pregnant woman. She will be safe with him. However, I would have no such problem bringing harm to a pregnant woman."
Marlon moved his hand down and rubbed in lightly on Charlotte's stomach, while continuing to stare directly at Vanessa.
"If you don't cooperate with me in every way, I intend to harm your daughter and her baby. If I do, you will be responsible for that. Do you understand?"
The manner in which Marlon spoke and looked at her made Vanessa believe this man was fully capable of doing harm to her daughter. Now the tears began to well up inside of her, but she managed to hold them back. She must stay strong for Charlotte and do as she was ordered.
