*****

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?”

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

Oh, God…

you going

Master. It’s too

early? It’s way

know, Master. But,

just going

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

the top onto a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve

Elizabeth is

“She’s not due for another…

there’s no way I can

way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front,

*****

Michael

cautious moment, Klempner and I

ceiling perhaps once white but now yellowed and draped with

not to

he regards the

he runs the women as prostitutes, but he must

other seat by me, watching the screen with

flicks between shots of what looks like an entrance lobby, then a

the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace.

on his lower lip. “Nothing from the basement

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

the clients know they're on

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

corridor lined by a series of barred and padlocked

‘cells’ to me,”

“Yes… Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked up until

used to supply

staring at him,

him. He doesn’t turn from the screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going to

course,

image shifts

there, in a corner of the

gorge rises. “Oh,

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