Chapter 30: Ransom, Part 10

Charlotte

They could have given me a blanket...

Not even a bucket...

Sheer indifference?

No...

This isn't straightforward callousness...

It's planned...

Calculated...

Why?

To humiliate me?

Perhaps...

The camera...

Is it only a spy?

Or more?

?

?

I'm supposed to be frightened...

They want a show...

Scared woman...

Helpless... Panicking...

Fuck them...

...

I'm not scared...

I'm not scared...

...

...

Then I gasp as, from the inside, Cara kicks and my stomach rebels.

*****

James

Three more days.

No word.

No progress.

No ransom demand.

Why?

I'm exhausted. Michael, Richard and Beth too. As for Mitch, she's run out of tears, I think. But strain has etched lines which frame her mouth and eyes.

Beth serves food, pressing a mug of soup into Mitch's hand. Then sitting by Michael, resting her head on his shoulder, she strokes the back of his hand.