Chapter 184: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 4, Race Against Time

JAMES

My phone rings. Richard's avatar flashes up. Klempner glances at it then passes it to me. "Answer it. Put it on loudspeaker."

I talk quickly. "Richard, before you say anything, Klempner's here."

There's a silence, then. "James, are you being held hostage? Has he...?"

"I'm not hurt if that's what you're asking, but no, I'm not exactly on top of the situation. He's listening to what we say." I cast a glance to Klempner, but he simply raises brows, folding his arms and sitting back.

"Have you spoken to Charlotte?" I ask.

Richard pauses. "No, I've not spoken to her. I got hold of Michael, some while ago, but I couldn't get through to her. She wasn't answering her phone."

So, who...?

"Someone's warned her. Or so it seems. She's vanished, along with her mother and Kirstie. Is Beth okay?"

Another short silence. "Yes, Elizabeth is safely out of the way."

Klempner snorts, then speaking loudly, "I'm not interested in your cringing wife, Haswell."