*****

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?”

still about fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want to disturb you until I

Oh, God…

you going into

It’s too early

It’s way

But, I’m pretty

just going to

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

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

think Elizabeth is going

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

Mitch, there’s no way I

Tell them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front, get

*****

Michael

Baxter exit, and after a cautious moment, Klempner and

stale, musty with cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps

trying hard not to actually touch anything. “You'd

differently,” mutters Klempner. But he regards the hovel of

closer. “Okay, so he runs the women as prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's the point in being wealthy if you

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

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

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

nods slowly, chewing on his lower lip. “Nothing

room after another of couples, triples and

know they're on

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

of barred and padlocked doors. Each

doors say ‘cells’ to me,” I

working or locked up until

to supply

simply staring at

He doesn’t turn from the screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going to spend every waking moment apologising for it. Now… shall we get on with the task

of course,

shifts

there, in a corner of the

rises.

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