Bankers, they are all the same. Same big houses, same expensive furniture, same security systems and, most importantly, same hiding spots. Slender, gloved hands placed the painting back over the safe imbedded into the bedroom wall. “Makes it all the easier to steal their spare cash right from under their noses.” Self-proclaimed gentleman thief Hermes Wallace chuckled to himself as he closed the bag he had stuffed full of bills. “You stay nicely in your home office, miss Samantha, I’ll let myself out…” But the crimson-suited criminal was forced to abruptly stop in his tracks on the way down the stairs as he realised there may have been a few more houseguests than he realised. “Miss Persis?” A woman in dark clothing and a prominent golden badge on her belt rounded a corner into the hallway. A nametag on her shirt revealed her name to be Karen Murphy, and clearly she had urgent business with her employer. “Miss Persis, we need to talk!” Hermes realised his mark had hired extra security, and that he couldn’t risk her blowing his cover and decided to make his move. He took the long silk scarf draped around his suit jacket, balled it up and quietly walked behind the guard.
“Mi-ssmmpph! Mgrrpmh!” Before Karen realised what was happening, Hermes had jumped her from behind, grabbing her arms with one hand and cramming the scarf into her mouth with the other. The rodent girl desperately clawed at her gag in the brief moment that her attacker went to retrieve the necessary binding material from his coat pocket, but the burglar was quick to grab hold of her arms again, taping them tightly behind her back. Karen didn’t get the chance to spit out the massive wad of stuffing before her attacker had already taped her mouth shut too. “Please, dear, don’t make such a fuss.” The lion hushed, forcing his captive to the floor to bind her further into a tight tape hogtie. Trashing and struggling to no avail, Karen shot her captor the most venomous glare she could. “Fmmhg ymmphr!” But this only got her gagged further with Hermes’ cravat, a spare handkerchief and more tape.
“There, that should keep you from disturbing the lady of the house.” Hermes rose to his feet, pulling his jacket straight and admiring the squirming, grumbling bundle on the floor. “Speaking of, I wonder what our dear friend Samantha is doing in her office, those are some very interesting noises I’m hearing…”
