James

Despite the cold, my heated face streams sweat which soaks down my neck and into my clothes.

Slow down, Man…

You can’t sprint for a mile…

I drop to a trot and my heartbeat decelerates to something more sustainable. The banging behind my ears subsides.

Don’t panic…

The kidnappers may say Don’t be late, but their priority is the money.

Irony slaps me around the cheeks. Here I am, in an area I wouldn’t normally consider walking at night, certainly not alone. And I’m running through it, toting a bag containing a cool million in cash.

The steady rhythm of my jogging sets a metronome ticking in my head, clearing my thoughts.

How fast is a jog?

Six miles an hour?

So, I should cover my mile in the ten minutes I have.

Calm down…

Nonetheless, I find myself counting paces; eating up distance with each one…

They must be watching me…

Where are they watching from?

A parked car?

they can lurk in the

Could be anywhere.

attractive place for pleasure boats and day-trippers; now derelict, the jetties and piers rotted and

edge of the more reputable parts of town. As the name suggests, it consists of four blocks of houses and shops

fountain, also floodlit, dances and sparkles by the central Christmas

can think of one or two exceptions to

moment I drop, hands resting on knees as I regain my breath, then, straightening up,

For what?

scanning

I in

“James?”

arrived, Ross, but I don’t

did the message

aloud. “Corner of Birch

western side of the square. Perhaps it’s the

Stupid… Stupid…

I’ll

Keep

He’s right, but I don’t

red-bricks built on three stories ending in a small parade

Still nothing.

again as I look for whatever

Doorways…

Store windows…

A mailbox…

Nothing…

they make it hard

watch tells me I’m two

be watching

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