James
It’s unbearable.
We hear nothing. Charlotte has simply vanished.
We return to the site where we last saw her, where my Jade-Eyes fled into the dark. The area is saturated with police; cars, officers, dogs. But other than a small deserted building a couple of miles distant, showing signs of hasty abandonment, they have found nothing. And despite searching and calling, neither do we.
Do they have her?
We have no way of knowing.
I can’t stomach food. I survive on stress and strong black coffee. Michael is as bad….
…. or worse….
When I try to sleep, I toss and turn, but sleep refuses to come. Eventually, I give up trying, instead throwing on a robe to head for the lounge to find a drink. I find Michael already there, looking as terrible as I feel.
Richard has Beth back, and after she has bathed and slept and recovered herself, she seems essentially unhurt, but there is a haunted look around both her eyes and Richard’s.
How would I feel in his position? At the price paid for Beth’s freedom?
Three days pass.
*****
Passive with stress, red-eyed with exhaustion, Michael and I sit in silence in my office. We don’t use the apartment. Without Charlotte there, there is too much of the feel of abandonment.
I pace. He sits. Neither of us speaks. We have nothing to say.
My mobile rings.
I don’t recognise the number. “Hello?”
“Hello, is this Mr Alexanders?” The voice is also unfamiliar. It has the grate of a minor functionary, and the sleaze of the trying-too-hard-salesman.
“Yes, I’m James Alexanders.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, sir. This is Domestic Electrics in Barnbridge. I have a young woman here insisting that I call you….”
Something inside me leaps. It must show in my face because Michael’s eyes widen. He stands, head tilting.
“…. She wants to buy some rather expensive equipment and services,, but doesn’t have any money to pay for them. Do you know her? She would be a rather striking young woman if she weren’t dressed so disreputably. And with a bad attitude….”
I want to laugh out loud….
That’s my Jade….
…. Are you giving him a hard time, Green-Eyes?
I wave Michael across to listen in, but he’s already up and with me, leaning in close to hear.
“A redhead?” I ask.
“Yes, sir, that’s right. Do you know her?” His tone is snotty and self-important, but I couldn’t care less. His words are balm to my withered soul. “…. She insists that you do, but frankly….”
“Yes, give her whatever she wants….”
“You’re sure of that, sir? She’s asking for our top-line model mobile phone and….”
I interrupt the little turd. “Is she there? Can I speak to her?”
“Yes sir, I’ll just…. Oh, she’s vanished….”
“What? Fuck!”
“…. Think we should set off for Barnbridge?”
He chews on a knuckle, thinking. “Let’s give it a few minutes. Why does she want a data package? She’s still up to something.”
Of course she is….
And so once more…. we wait….
…. but only for a quarter of an hour….
My mobile bings. Simultaneously, so does Michael’s.
I’m coming. Don’t tell ANYONE but Richard. DO NOT tell Will Stanton or police. They have an informer. Beth back safe?
Our eyes meet.
“What the fuck do you think that means?” mutters Michael.
He taps onto his screen as I watch over his shoulder.
Yes, Beth here safe. r u ok? Where r u? We’ll come 4 u
NO. Ur being watched. I’m coming to u at Hswl bldg. Yes am ok. Will msg when I can. Might take couple days. Gotta stay under cover. Love u both. Sorry disobeyed you
He snorts at the last unlikely sentence, then taps in again. Watched? Who by?
But nothing comes back.
“Did that sound to you as though she’s being followed right now? Or just careful?” I ask.
Michael tugs at an earlobe. “Hard to say, isn’t it. And the police have an informer? What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?”
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