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.

of James, Baxter cradles a handgun,

down. “Nice to see you, James. I wondered if you’d be

“I’ve

me, Jenny’s voice. “Is that him? They have

stills. His eyes meet mine

kill him. You can’t.” She

her legs, a head is emerging. Bloodied, with a scrape of dark hair plastered over the scalp. She leans forward, trying to see over her distended belly then looks up to me.

beaten up, but mad

back against Michael, her face contorted. “Don’t let them hurt him.

not, and I

a crunch and a grunt. As I risk a look outside, James is on the ground, Finchby planting a

“What are they

Or we finish him. It’ll be

end of the sentence with another kick. To James’

they doing? Don’t let them hurt him. Stop them. Oh, God, Father, please stop them. I’ve never asked you for

streaming tears. “Jenny, this isn’t

to me, “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 this way, James is here with Charlotte and they’ll not do him any more

For now…

a point

I don’t have

weapon, Klempner. And remember

Not quite true…

I’m below the camera…

suck air, run a quick mental inventory, then toss the

outside, Larry.

they shoot me on

No… Finchby’s a gloater…

screwed up as she groans through another

“You handle your end of it.” She nods, panting, and I

me. They stay safely at the far end of the corridor,

a man with

heavies towards me. “Search him. He’ll have other

recognise. Baxter’s sidekick from when

see you again, Hickman. Just like

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