Thanks to Sam for your help.
...................................
I don't know what time it was when the door opened. I was just glad to see it was the thin guy and not the fat guy coming in with a bag of food. The black man came in behind him, and they stood looking at me for a moment. My sobbing began to start again
"Mrs Summers I told you to just relax."
"Just keep that animal away from me," I sobbed.
The two men looked at each other, and the black man stormed out. I heard shouting from down the stairs, and then something smashed. I heard the fat man yelp in pain, and then it went quiet.
The thin man sat on the bed, "What did he do?"
I shook my head not wanting to think about it, let alone talk about it. I jumped as the black man quickly entered the room. I saw his clenched fist with a graze on his knuckle. He calmed himself and sat on the bed.
"Sylvia, don't worry, he won't touch you again," the black guy said softly, "we've been to see your husband. He understands what he has to do."
My tears started falling again and I couldn't stop sobbing. Last night I had cried for Neil, he would be worried sick.
The black man continued, "Sylvia, it'll be over in a few days, just keep it together and things will be a lot easier for everyone...now our 4th member is with your husband. Someone will be with him all the time. Now eat your breakfast, oh we've brought you a change of clothes, towels, that sort of thing. You didn't have much in the way of, well, everyday clothing."
I sniffed back a tear, "There's not much there in the flat, we only use it as a base for work. I only have clothing and things which I wear for work."
"Yes, your husband explained that."
"How is he?" I sobbed again.
The black man sighed like he was starting to lose patience with me, but he took a breath to calm himself, "He's okay, he's worried about you and he sends his love. But like I said, he knows what he has to do. Now we've decided to change things, because we have to keep you here for a few more days."
I was crying again at that thought.
"Sylvia," the thin man spoke this time, "Sylvia, you are allowed downstairs, and we won't tie you up again, well not if you behave, do you understand?"
I nodded, but still couldn't stop sobbing. What was the point of not keeping me tied up, I didn't want to be here at all, okay so I could walk around the house, but I was still being held against my will. Something else worried me, something that had caused me to stop and think as soon as the door swung open. I was frightened to ask but for some reason I couldn't hold back.
"Why, aren't you wearing your ski masks?"
The black man spoke again, "When this is over we'll be long gone, you'll never see us again, we'll be out of the country when we let your husband know where you are. You have to trust us on this."
"Sylvia, we are trying to make this easy for you," the thin man added.
"Then keep that bloody pig away from me!"
"He won't touch you again...I'll be staying here tonight, you can call me Driver, it's not my real name."
"Why do you think I would want to call you anything?!" I spat.
"Fuck, just lock her in...I told you it was a stupid idea," the black man hissed.
Both men started to leave, and quickly I realised if I was going to get out of here, I needed to gain their trust, and I needed to be on the other side of the door, out of this room, "Okay wait...please wait, I'll be good."
The black man looked at the young guy. Driver, as he wanted to be known, couldn't have been more than 20.
"Okay, but she is your responsibility, any fuck ups and you're the one who gets the thumping, Driver," the black man said, adding the name like he couldn't believe he was playing along with what the young guy had obviously suggested.
I ate breakfast even though it had gone cold. All the time I was thinking of how to escape. The door was left open and I was now untied. All three men were now downstairs, and my mind was being drawn to my phone. The one thing that I didn't know was where I was being held, which was a major flaw in my plans to get help. Also my phone hadn't been on charge for a few days, so I would have to think carefully before using it. I decided to switch it off, just as footsteps came up the stairs. I stood there watching the black man coming up, knowing my phone was now tucked away in my bag behind the zip.
"Come on downstairs," he mumbled.
I found it difficult to look in the men's faces, but the burst lip on the fat guy's face gave me a little satisfaction, but only until he winked at me.
"Come on," the Blackman said to the fat guy, then he turned to Driver as if as an after thought, and he said, "don't take the cuffs off her. If she tries anything, lock her up again."
The two men left and Driver locked the door behind them. The downstairs wasn't as bad as the room I had been locked up in, but it was still furnished in an old style. I looked at the sleeping bag on the discoloured flowery patterned couch. Driver saw me looking at it and jumped up to move it, like in doing so it would please me.
"How long has that been there?" I asked distantly.
"Rough slept in it last night...the fat man, that's the name I gave him not his...."
"I know, not his real name."
"We brought a kettle and fresh milk, some tea and coffee, and crisps and snacks. We never expected to be here long...we, well I packed some clothes for you, and your husband said you'd need fags...so I bought you some."
There was something strange about Driver, it was almost like he wanted to please me, well he could do that by letting me go, but I don't think he would go that far.
"What name did you give the black man?"
"Rider," he said as he put the kettle on.
"Those are strange names, are they to do with cars, or motor bikes?"
He chuckled, "No, I thought you'd get it straight away."
I smiled as I picked up a pack of cigarettes, "You mean Ryder, with a Y, very clever."
