*****

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?”

still about fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want to disturb you until I was sure, but… I

Oh, God…

are you

It’s too early I know, but I

It’s way

Master. But, I’m

I’m just going to

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

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 my

think Elizabeth is

a hand to her mouth. “She’s not due for another…

Mitch, there’s no way I

Tell them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front,

*****

Michael

and after a cautious moment, Klempner and I enter

with cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling

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

Klempner. But he

runs the women as prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's the point in being

me, watching the screen with

what looks like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various corridors... Each quarter

try tapping the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at

his lower lip. “Nothing from the basement

one room after another of couples, triples and more; rooms where girls ‘entertain’ their clients.

clients know

fingernail at the screen. “Some of the City High and Mighty there. Good

view flickers again: a corridor lined by a series of barred and padlocked

‘cells’

to keep them either working

used to supply

lost for words, finding myself simply staring at him,

screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going

course, he’s

shifts once

a corner of the screen,

rises. “Oh,

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