Klempner

A voice echoes from outside the room. “Larry, what d’you think you’re doing in there? You really think you have a chance?”

“I might ask you the same question, Baxter.”

“Do you seriously think you can get out of there? You’re covered from all angles in a dead-end corridor. You’ve nowhere to go. Put the gun down and come out with your hands raised.

“Fuck you!”

There is a pause and the sound of movement and muttering, then, “If you don’t drop the weapon then we might have to take alternative action. We have a friend of yours with us. And to be fair, we have the money too.”

James…

A bluff?

Probably not…

“You going to take a look? He’s been missing you…”

And in the background, cursing; another voice I recognise.

Darting forward, then back, I risk a check around the door and down the corridor.

And yes, it’s James, battered and bruised but definitely not out of the game.

He looks fucking furious…

One eye is swollen almost shut, bruised to a shade of blue-crimson, the orb, a ball of blood. His head is raised against the muzzle pushing up at his chin to one side, the knife at his throat to the other. And I think his hands are cuffed behind him.

Standing to one side, Finchby, carrying something…

The money?

No… some kind of box…

More like a fisherman’s tackle box…

His grin is beyond irritating.

the other side of James, Baxter cradles a handgun, the muzzle

James. I wondered if

growls, “I’ve had better

him? They have him? Is he hurt?” Then she

meet mine then drop to

kill him. You can’t.” She whimpers,

legs, a head is emerging. Bloodied, with a scrape of dark hair plastered over the scalp. She leans forward, trying

looks beaten up,

Michael, her face contorted. “Don’t let them hurt him. Oh, God. Don’t let them

or not, and I imagine your little girl in there would prefer this one

“Fuck you. You’re not using me to…” There’s a crunch and a grunt. As I risk a look outside, James is on the

again, on a note of rising panic. “What are they doing? What are

out the weapon. Kick it into the corridor. Or we finish him. It’ll be slow

another kick. To James’ credit, the only sound he makes is a huff of expelled

them. Oh, God, Father, please stop them.

She’s streaming tears. “Jenny, this

“We can’t get out right now anyway. And do you think we can fight our way past gunfire with Jenny and a new-born baby? At least

For now…

has a point

have

again. “Throw out the weapon, Klempner. And remember we

Not quite true…

I’m below the camera…

air, run a quick mental inventory, then

outside, Larry. Hands

me

No… Finchby’s a gloater…

groans through

at her. Pointing a finger, “You handle your end

They stay safely at the far end of the

ever I saw a man with murder in his

towards me. “Search him.

I recognise. Baxter’s sidekick from when he sprang me from the

to see you again, Hickman. Just

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