*****

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 I was sure, but… I am sure

Oh, God…

are you

Master. It’s too early I know,

It’s way too

But, I’m

calm. I’m just going to talk to

Calm…

Stay calm…

*****

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

think Elizabeth is

raises a hand to her mouth. “She’s not

no way I

I’ll bring your car to the front, get the engine turning over, then it’s warm

*****

Michael

and after a cautious moment, Klempner and I

the walls and ceiling perhaps once white but now yellowed and

hard not to actually touch anything. “You'd think he could afford a

But he regards the hovel of

pull the laptop closer. “Okay, so he runs the women as prostitutes, but he must be worth plenty. What's the

the other seat by me, watching

shots of what looks like an entrance lobby, then a dance floor,

try tapping the return, but the feed is unresponsive, moving at its own pace.

slowly, chewing on his lower lip. “Nothing

triples and more; rooms where

clients know

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

flickers again: a corridor lined by a series of barred

say ‘cells’ to

grunts agreement. “Yes… Finchby tends to keep them either working or locked up until he’s sure he has them

to

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

screen. “Michael, you know my past. I’m not going to

course, he’s

image shifts once

corner of the

gorge rises. “Oh,

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