*****

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?”

breathing shaky… Then, “They’re still about fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want to

Oh, God…

you

think so, Master. It’s too early I know, but I

early? It’s way too

know, Master. But, I’m pretty

stay calm. I’m just

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

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

is

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

there’s no way I can leave

your way with her. I’ll bring your

*****

Michael

a cautious moment, Klempner

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

Finchby, trying hard not to actually

he regards

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

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

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

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

chewing on his lower lip. “Nothing

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

clients know they're on

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

barred and padlocked doors. Each door has

‘cells’

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

to supply

simply staring at him, leaning in, intent

I’m not going to spend every waking

of course, he’s

image shifts once more…

a corner of the screen,

gorge rises. “Oh,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255