*****

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?”

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

Oh, God…

are you going

Master. It’s too early I know, but I

early? It’s way

know, Master. But,

stay calm. I’m just going to talk

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

onto a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And

Elizabeth is

to her mouth. “She’s not due for

Mitch, there’s no way I

them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car

*****

Michael

exit, and after a cautious moment, Klempner and I enter the

cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps once white

trying hard not to

are employed differently,” mutters Klempner. But he regards the hovel

prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's

pulling up the other seat by me, watching the screen with half an eye, the door

between shots of what looks like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various corridors... Each

return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace. “He’s got plenty of cameras around the

his lower lip. “Nothing

of couples, triples and

clients know they're on

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

series of barred

‘cells’ to me,”

agreement. “Yes… Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked up until he’s sure he

to

lost for words, finding myself simply staring at him, leaning in, intent

turn from the screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going to spend every

of course,

image shifts

in a corner of the screen, it’s

rises.

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