*****

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?”

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

Oh, God…

you going into

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

early? It’s

But,

calm. I’m just going to talk to

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

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

is

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

there’s no way I can leave

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

*****

Michael

exit, and after a cautious moment, Klempner and

cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps

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

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

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

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

shots of what looks like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various corridors... Each quarter displays a small insert: L2

try tapping the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace. “He’s got plenty of cameras around the

lower lip. “Nothing from the basement

after another of couples, triples and more; rooms where

know

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

corridor lined by a series of barred and padlocked doors. Each door has a small viewing

say ‘cells’ to

keep them either working

to

simply staring at him, leaning in, intent on the

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

of course,

image shifts once

corner of the

gorge rises.

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