*****

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 am sure

Oh, God…

are you going

too early

It’s

know, Master. But, I’m pretty

stay calm. I’m just going to

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve packed sandwiches

think Elizabeth is going into

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

weeks. Mitch, there’s no way I can leave

way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front, get

*****

Michael

a cautious moment, Klempner

with cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps once

occupied by Finchby, trying hard not

Klempner. But he

runs the women as prostitutes, but he must

nods but says nothing, simply pulling up the other seat by me, watching the screen with half an eye, the door

entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various

the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace.

on his lower lip. “Nothing from the basement

room after another of couples, triples and

if the clients know they're on camera?”

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

a corridor lined by a series of barred and padlocked doors. Each door has a small viewing

doors say ‘cells’ to

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

used to supply

finding myself simply staring

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

course,

image shifts

there, in a corner of the

rises. “Oh,

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