Chapter 32: Chapter 32

“I need air.” Klempner jerks his head to the door. “And you and I need to talk.”

I follow him out. Kirch, standing outside, reaches with one hand into his jacket, then stands back, gun loose in his hand.

Is this it?

Could I run?

With my leg?

Might as well show a bit of dignity…

I stand straight, raise my chin.

Klempner paces a little. “James, we need to forget our differences. You want Jenny and Mitch safe. I want them safe. Something has happened. If you believe that Michael’s brother is behind their disappearance, then we’re on the same side. We have to trust each other.”

What the fuck?

I start to speak then run out of saliva. I suck my cheeks then try again. “I'm supposed to trust you when you have abducted me? When you keep me covered by a gunman? It’s not exactly a mark of goodwill is it?”

Klempner blinks, hesitates. Then he turns, snapping fingers at Kirch and pointing to his weapon.

Kirch gives him a startled glance. “Sir?”

“Your Glock. Give it to me. Come on, you’re not going to miss it. I’m sure you have another tucked away somewhere.”

Slowly, reluctantly, Kirch passes his weapon across. Klempner gives it a cursory inspection…

Here it comes…

I hold my breath…

… then offers it, grip first, to me.

It’s surreal. I take the weapon, curling fingers around the handle. And the world moves into slow-

motion.

It’s unfamiliar in my hand. But now, here I stand, holding a loaded gun, pointing it directly at the man I thought my enemy.

And for the first time I begin to think I might make it out of this situation alive…

Klempner stands, head tilted, his stance casual. “Is that enough goodwill for you?”

“I think I’d have to say… yes.”

“Good. Then I’d appreciate it if you pointed that somewhere else.” He reaches toward me, a forefinger extended, easing the barrel to one side. “I imagine you’re not familiar with the model?”

“I’ve never held a gun in my life. I’m an engineer, not a sharpshooter.”

“It’s not complicated. For a beginner, Point and Shoot covers most of it. Not shooting yourself in the foot covers most of the rest.” He inhales. “Now, are we on the same side?”

“Yes.” The word feels unnatural. “Yes, I think we are.”

"Good. Let’s go collect Eye-Candy first. Find out what he can tell us about his brother and what he might do. You call him. Get him to meet us."

*****

Michael doesn’t react well. “James are you kidding me? You want Klempner to have both of us prisoner?”

“I’m not a prisoner. And he’s as interested in finding the women as we are. Where are you?”

He yells over the line. “Fuck you, Klempner. If you think I’m playing along with this charade, you’re crazy. You’ve got a gun at his head or something for him to be talking like this.”

And the line cuts.

I slam my mobile down. “Fuck!”

Klempner’s voice remains bland, his eyes fixed on the road as he drives. “Any suggestions?”

But before I can reply, my phone goes into overdrive, flashing and vibrating, crawling over the dash.

Klempner looks askance. “That supposed to be the latest ring-tone?”

“No.” I snatch up the phone, peering in at the display. “That’s Kirstie raising the alarm. And if I’m getting this, then so’s everyone else.”

Klempner looks alarmed. “Who’s ‘everyone else’?”

Do I tell him?

The truth but not the whole truth…

“Haswell, Michael, Ryan…”

“Who’s Ryan?”

“Kirstie’s ex.”

“The police?”

“Not directly, no.” He relaxes a little. I continue. “Kirstie is the concierge for the Haswell offices. Part of her remit is to look for trouble. Beth is an obvious ransom target. I installed a panic-button app on her phone.”

“Does this app trace where she is?”

“Yes. I’m on it.” I’m mumbling, tapping in, zooming, following the signal…

Klempner, his eyes half on the road, watches. “Where is she? Are we travelling in the right direction?”

“Give me a minute. I’ve got the GPS but the signal’s slow to load the map…”

And before it does, I’m interrupted by my phone ringing again: Ryan.

He screams down the phone, incandescent with fury. “What the fuck is going on, James? You promised me you weren’t putting Kirstie in any danger. Richard called me. Now I learn that lunatic is out of prison and he’s taken your woman and Kirstie too…”

I cut him short. “Ryan… Klempner’s here. He’s listening.”

For the space of three heartbeats, there is silence. “There? James, are you being held hostage?”

“No, I’m not. And Ryan. I think it may be Ben who has the women.”

“Ben? That idiot ex-boyfriend? Michael’s brother?”

“That’s the one. Where are you, Ryan?”

“I’m chasing that signal. As luck would have it, I’m not far away. James, I need to drive. I’ll ring you back.”

As he clicks off, the signal comes through and the map blossoms onto my screen. Klempner glances down. “Got it?”

“Yes. Keep driving. We’re headed the right way.”

“What about Eye-Candy?”

“I’m calling him now…”

Michael replies instantly. “James… Kirstie…”

“I know. We’re headed there now. Meet you there?”

“I’m already driving.”

*****