*****

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?”

“They’re still about fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want to disturb you until I was sure,

Oh, God…

you going

It’s too early I

early? It’s way too

But, I’m

just going to talk

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

the top onto a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve packed

Elizabeth is going

her mouth. “She’s not due for

there’s no

Tell them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front, get the engine turning over, then

*****

Michael

Baxter exit, and after a cautious

air is stale, musty with cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps

not to actually touch anything. “You'd think he could

he regards the hovel of

closer. “Okay, so he runs the women as prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's the point

nothing, simply pulling up the other seat by me, watching the screen with half

lobby, then a dance

but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its

nods slowly, chewing on his lower lip. “Nothing from the basement

room after another of couples, triples

the clients know they're on camera?” I

High and Mighty there.

a corridor lined by a series of barred and padlocked

‘cells’ to me,”

tends to keep them either working or locked up until he’s

to supply

for words, finding myself simply staring at

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

of course,

image shifts once more…

a corner of the screen, it’s

rises. “Oh,

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