*****

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?”

Then, “They’re still about fifteen minutes apart. I didn’t want

Oh, God…

are you

so, Master. It’s too early I know,

It’s

Master. But, I’m pretty

calm. I’m just going

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

Mitch in the kitchen, screwing the top onto a flask. “Hot coffee,” she says. “And I’ve packed sandwiches for you and…” Her voice trails off as she

Elizabeth is going into

“She’s not due for another…

Mitch, there’s no way I

Call your clinic. Tell them you’re on your way with her. I’ll bring your car to the front, get the engine turning over, then it’s warm when you

*****

Michael

and Baxter exit, and after a cautious moment,

and ceiling perhaps once white but

Finchby, trying hard not to actually touch

But he regards

he runs the women as prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's the point in being wealthy if you live like

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

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

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

nods slowly, chewing on his lower lip.

couples, triples and more; rooms

the clients know they're on camera?” I

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

corridor lined by a series of barred and padlocked doors.

doors say ‘cells’ to me,” I

keep them either working or locked

to

for words, finding myself simply staring at him, leaning in, intent on the

Klempner realises I’m watching him. 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

of course,

image shifts once

a corner of the screen,

gorge rises. “Oh,

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