*****

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?”

I didn’t want to disturb you until

Oh, God…

are you going

think so, Master. It’s too early

early? It’s way too

But, I’m

just going to

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

Elizabeth is going

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

no way

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

cautious moment,

smoke, the walls and ceiling perhaps once white but now yellowed

Finchby, trying hard not to actually

differently,” mutters Klempner. But he regards the

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

nothing, simply pulling up the other seat by me, watching the screen with

like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor, various corridors... Each quarter displays a small insert: L2 lobby, L3

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

slowly, chewing on his lower lip. “Nothing from the

triples and

clients know

the City High and Mighty there. Good

view flickers again: a corridor lined by a series of barred and padlocked doors. Each door has a

say ‘cells’ to me,” I

working or

to

for words, finding myself simply staring at him, leaning

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 in

course,

shifts

there, in a corner of the screen, it’s

rises.

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