*****
Richard
My mobile rings. I snatch it up. “Yes, Ross?”
“I've lost contact with James. They've made him leave the phone behind when they sent him on the next leg…”
Fuck…
How do we help him now?
“… And the earpiece. And…” Ross’ voice is shaky… “Richard... They… the kidnappers I mean… they spoke to me via the connection. I recorded it all. I'm playing it back to you.”
Klempner. You know who this is.
Just like you to let this tired old bastard run the gauntlet. But that's just you all over isn't it. Letting someone else take the heat.
We'll have the money very shortly. And believe me, it had better be all the money in that bag. But the deal’s not sealed until we have you too. Until then, that darling daughter of yours is going nowhere.
The voice snaps off. There’s a moment’s hiss then Ross speaks again. “Richard, what do you want me to do? Should I call the police?”
“No… don’t do that. If they think the police are involved, they’ll almost certainly murder Charlotte… and her baby… before Michael and Klempner can get to her.”
“What then?”
What indeed?
Should I go?
Leave Mitch to look after Elizabeth?
*****
How do I tell her this?
Wearily, I climb the stairs to find my sleeping wife.
But she’s not sleeping. “Elizabeth… There’s been a development. Ross has…” I stop, mid-sentence. “Elizabeth?”
From the pillow, she stares up at me, wide-eyed. “I’m sorry, Master…”
“Sorry? Elizabeth, what’s wrong?”
about fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want to disturb you until I was sure, but… I
Oh, God…
are you
“I think so, Master. It’s too early I know, but I
early? It’s way
know, Master. But, I’m pretty
calm. I’m just going to talk to
Calm…
Stay calm…
*****
in the kitchen, screwing the top onto a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve packed sandwiches for you and…” Her voice trails off as she sees
is
hand to her mouth. “She’s not due for another… what, ten
Mitch, there’s no way I can leave
them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front, get
*****
Michael
and Baxter exit, and after a cautious moment, Klempner and
with cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps once white but now yellowed and draped with
take the chair recently occupied by Finchby, trying hard not to actually touch anything. “You'd think he
Klempner. But he
the women as prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's the point in being wealthy if you live
but says nothing, simply pulling up the other seat by me, watching the screen
flicks between shots of what looks like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various corridors... Each quarter displays
is unresponsive, moving at
his lower lip. “Nothing from the
triples and more; rooms where girls ‘entertain’ their
if the clients know they're
at the screen. “Some of the City High and Mighty there. Good blackmail material if he ever has
by a series of barred and padlocked doors. Each door has a small viewing
say ‘cells’ to me,” I
grunts agreement. “Yes… Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked up until he’s sure he has them under
used to supply
simply staring at him, leaning in, intent
moment Klempner realises I’m watching him. He doesn’t turn from the screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going to spend every waking moment apologising for it. Now… shall we get on with the task
of course, he’s
image shifts once more…
there, in a corner of the screen, it’s
rises. “Oh,
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