*****

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?”

apart. I didn’t want to disturb you until I was sure,

Oh, God…

you going

think so, Master. It’s too

early? It’s

know, Master. But, I’m pretty

calm. I’m just

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve packed sandwiches for you and…” Her

is going into

“She’s not due for another… what, ten

no

course, you can’t. Call your clinic. Tell them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front, get the engine turning over, then it’s

*****

Michael

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

musty with cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps once white but now yellowed and draped

not

he

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

by me, watching the screen with half an eye, the door with the

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

tapping the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace. “He’s

lower lip. “Nothing from the basement

views shift to one room after another of couples, triples and more; rooms

clients know they're on camera?”

High and Mighty there. Good blackmail material if he ever has any

of barred and padlocked doors. Each door

‘cells’ to

grunts agreement. “Yes… Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked

used to supply

myself simply staring at him, leaning in,

from the screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going to spend every waking moment apologising for it.

course,

image shifts once

a corner

rises. “Oh,

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