Michael

“James, we have to tell her. Given her condition, Mitch has to know. ”

He exhales slowly, avoiding my eye. “Yes, she does. I’ve… been avoiding it…”

“Hoping it would go away? That Klempner would contact us out of the blue and we could warn him? That just like that, everything would be alright?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“If Mitch doesn’t have all the facts, she can’t make proper decisions. She’s going to need support. And part of that support is to give her the truth. It’s not doing her any favours to be kept in the dark.”

“You’re right of course.” James squeezes his eyes closed, presses at a temple. “Let’s get it over with. Can you get everyone together. We’ll need the family with her for this.”

*****

Richard and Beth drop what they are doing, joining us in the lounge. Georgie appears shortly afterwards, strolling in from the hotel with a speculative look in her eye.

Elbow resting on the chair arm, I talk behind my hand to James in the next seat. “You think it’s a good idea to have Georgie here?”

“She’s family too,” he snaps. “And she was also targeted by that maniac woman. So, yes, she should be here.”

Turning away from me, he flips open his mobile, giving the screen a couple of taps. “Hickman? Yes, it’s James. Could you join us in the house, please… Yes, right away.”

I bite down on my doubts. Georgie sits off to one side, silently waiting, regarding me from under lidded eyes as she sees me watching her.

But it’s James’ call…

His daughter…

His problem…

Or at least, the problem he created…

Charlotte perhaps has similar reservations. She meets my gaze for a long moment, her attention broken as James speaks. “Charlotte, could you fetch your mother, please. Tell her I need a word.” He stares at his feet for a moment, then, “Don’t say more than that. This has to come from me. Try to keep her calm.”

Sucking at her lips, Charlotte nods and heads out.

James paces the room, looking as though he’s just been asked what he would like for his last meal.

Richard pushes a glass into his hands. “Calm down. We all know it wasn’t intentional.”

James knocks back half an inch of golden liquid, then thrusts the glass back at Richard. Legs akimbo, his back to the fire, he stares moodily into space, cracking his knuckles.

the back of the

Mitch, one arm hooked through her mother’s. Mitch pauses in the doorway, brow furrowing as she sees the gathering.

why don’t you sit down, Mitch. There’s something I have to

is it? Is it about Larry? You’ve

“Please, Mitch, sit down.”

her hand. “Sit by me on the

you know something

my palm, steering her to the seat. “Mitch, please sit down. James needs to talk and it’s not going to be

glares at me sidelong, but sits, sandwiched between me and

his words slow,

As indeed, he

Klempner was fooled into uploading James’ Trojan to his

Set a locator

the cloud, so that

how James himself was hacked, and

can only assume that it is Juliana behind

from behind his hands, “Mitch, I’m sorry. I never intended any of this, but we’ve heard nothing from him. Hickman can’t make contact…” He glances to Klempner’s henchman, who simply nods

is pale… paler than usual, her complexion sallow. “Are you telling me that woman can trace exactly where Larry is? And he has no

But yes,

you to tell any of us what

James doesn’t reply.

speaks carefully, precisely, hands clasped over a still flat stomach. “What exactly is she able

He swallows…

octave. “Tell me, James. What have you

as I can tell, Juliana… and we are assuming it is Juliana… has complete control of Klempner’s mobile. If the phone is capable of doing it, then she has control. She’ll certainly know where he is. She’ll have his log-ins, passwords and his entry codes. She’ll be able to use the camera and the microphone. If he carries it in his pocket as he usually does, she won’t be able to

presses fingertips to his forehead. “Larry uses a top-line model. It’s capable of a lot. But he doesn’t have control of it.

him, trembling, stroking

breaks in. “This doesn’t get us anywhere. Hickman, how long is it now since you last had contact with

man gives James a look that would etch glass then, speaking in a monotone, “Five

often did he

He looks towards Mitch… “… it was to ask after Miss

the last thing you discussed with

to ask me to obtain the information regarding the organised crime syndicates

says James. “I’d have been happy

his gaze to James. “Your

trouble because of me. I’ll

but if Mr Klempner has encountered the

say. “I can handle

you can, Mr Summerford.” Hickman sucks at his lips, rubs his nose. “Do

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