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?

I pass, where they can lurk in the

Could be anywhere.

alongside the river. Once an attractive place for pleasure boats and day-trippers; now derelict, the jetties and

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

seeing the silhouettes of trees, up-lit by floodlights set in grassy lawns. The fountain, also floodlit, dances and sparkles by the central Christmas tree which stands

of one or two exceptions

the Square, for a moment I drop, hands resting on knees as I regain my breath, then, straightening up, look

For what?

pace, scanning my

I in the

“James?”

arrived, Ross, but I don’t see

the message say,

“Corner of Birch

extend right along behind the western side

Stupid… Stupid…

right. I’ll go

Keep

reply. He’s right, but I don’t need reminding of

follow the line of houses; handsome red-bricks built on three stories ending in

Still nothing.

as I look for whatever

Doorways…

Store windows…

A mailbox…

Nothing…

would they make

begins to bubble inside me. My watch

must be watching

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255