*****
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?”
minutes apart. I didn’t want
Oh, God…
are you
“I think so, Master. It’s too
It’s
But, I’m
just going to talk to
Calm…
Stay calm…
*****
a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve packed sandwiches for you and…” Her
Elizabeth is going
mouth. “She’s not
weeks. Mitch, there’s no way I
on your way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front, get the engine turning over, then it’s warm when you
*****
Michael
and Baxter exit, and after a cautious moment, Klempner
walls and ceiling perhaps once white but
occupied by Finchby, trying hard not to actually touch anything. “You'd think he could afford a
he regards the
but he must
other seat by me, watching the screen with
screen flicks between shots of what looks like an entrance lobby, then a
try tapping the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at
on his lower lip.
views shift to one room after another of couples, triples and more; rooms where girls ‘entertain’ their
clients know they're on
City High and Mighty there. Good blackmail material if he ever has
barred and padlocked doors. Each door has a small viewing
say ‘cells’ to me,” I
Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked up until he’s sure
to
lost for words, finding myself simply staring at him, leaning in, intent on the
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
of course,
shifts
there, in a corner of the screen,
gorge rises. “Oh,
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