*****
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?”
shaky… Then, “They’re still about fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want to disturb you until I was sure, but… I
Oh, God…
are you going
Master. It’s too early I know, but I
early? It’s way
know, Master. But,
stay calm. I’m just going to talk
Calm…
Stay calm…
*****
onto a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And
Elizabeth is
to her mouth. “She’s not due for
Mitch, there’s no way I
them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car
*****
Michael
exit, and after a cautious moment, Klempner and I enter the
cigarette smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps once white
trying hard not to
are employed differently,” mutters Klempner. But he regards the hovel
prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's
pulling up the other seat by me, watching the screen with half an eye, the door
between shots of what looks like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various corridors... Each
return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace. “He’s got plenty of cameras around the
his lower lip. “Nothing
of couples, triples and
clients know they're on
fingernail at the screen. “Some of the City High and Mighty
series of barred
‘cells’ to me,”
agreement. “Yes… Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked up until he’s sure he
to
lost for words, finding myself simply staring at him, leaning in, intent
turn from the screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going to spend every
of course,
image shifts
in a corner of the screen, it’s
rises.
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