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

Could be anywhere.

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

more reputable parts of

The fountain, also floodlit, dances and sparkles by the central Christmas tree which stands tall, proclaiming Goodwill To All

one or two exceptions

Square, for a moment I drop, hands resting on knees

For what?

scanning

in

“James?”

arrived, Ross, but I don’t see

the message say,

check the note, reading aloud. “Corner of

along behind the western side of

Stupid… Stupid…

I’ll go

down, James. Keep your

right, but I

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

Still nothing.

tightens again as I

Doorways…

Store windows…

A mailbox…

Nothing…

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