*****

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?”

didn’t want to

Oh, God…

you going into

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

early? It’s way too

Master. But, I’m pretty

stay calm. I’m just going to talk to

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

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

Elizabeth is

mouth. “She’s not due

there’s no

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 when you

*****

Michael

cautious moment, Klempner

and ceiling perhaps once white but

occupied by Finchby, trying hard not to actually touch anything. “You'd think he could afford

staff are employed differently,” mutters Klempner. But he regards the hovel of a room, lip

he runs the women as prostitutes, but he must be worth

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

an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various corridors... Each quarter displays a

the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its

his lower lip. “Nothing from the basement

shift to one room after another of couples, triples and more; rooms where girls ‘entertain’ their clients.

know they're on

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

corridor lined by a series of barred and

‘cells’ to me,”

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

to

for words, finding myself simply staring at

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

of course, he’s

image shifts once more…

in a corner of

gorge rises.

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