*****

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?”

fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want to disturb you until I was sure, but…

Oh, God…

are you

Master. It’s too early I know,

early? It’s way

But,

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 trails off as she sees my face.

Elizabeth is

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

no way I

bring your car to the front, get the engine turning over, then it’s warm when you set

*****

Michael

after a cautious

air is stale, musty with cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling

the chair recently occupied by Finchby, trying hard not to actually touch anything. “You'd

are employed differently,” mutters Klempner. But he regards

but he must be worth plenty. What's the point in being wealthy if you live like

up the other seat by me, watching the screen with half an

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

feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace. “He’s got plenty of

chewing on his lower lip. “Nothing

views shift to one room after another of couples, triples

know they're on camera?”

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

series of barred

‘cells’ to me,”

either working or

used to supply

staring at him, leaning

I’m not going to spend every waking moment apologising for it. Now… shall we get on

course,

shifts once

a corner

gorge rises. “Oh,

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