*****
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
Oh, God…
are you going into
too early I
early? It’s
Master. But,
calm. I’m just going to talk
Calm…
Stay calm…
*****
top onto a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve packed sandwiches for you and…” Her voice
think Elizabeth is going into
her mouth. “She’s
no way
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 warm
*****
Michael
after a cautious moment, Klempner and I
Finchby, trying hard not to actually touch anything. “You'd
are employed differently,” mutters Klempner. But he
women as prostitutes, but he must be worth
by me, watching the screen with half
like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various
tapping the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace. “He’s got
lower lip.
room after another of couples, triples and more; rooms where girls ‘entertain’
if the clients know they're on camera?”
of the City High and Mighty there.
by a series of barred and padlocked doors. Each door has a small viewing window.
doors say ‘cells’ to me,”
agreement. “Yes… Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked up until he’s
to supply
finding myself simply staring at him, leaning in, intent on the
my past. I’m not going to
of course,
image shifts once more…
a corner
rises. “Oh,
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