Chapter 195: Alphas, Part 21

James

I glance down at Charlotte, but she simply returns a shrug.

Francis checks some code from a note on a corkboard then, tapping at her laptop, “Her phone is showing up as being in Berkeley Street.”

Richard whirls on Charlotte. “Is that where you and she were shopping?”

Sounding worried, “Just around the corner, yes.”

Wondering if she’s done something wrong?

Richard’s usual unflappable calm is gone. His words terse, “Francis, give the exact location to Ross.” She taps something in and hits a ‘Send’ key. Richard is already back on his mobile. “Ross, did you catch all that? Yes, go and find her.”

He taps off his phone and stands, pinching the bridge of his nose with thumb and forefinger. He is pallid and sweating.

“Richard, what’s wrong?” I ask.

He replies slowly, reluctantly, forcing the words out. “Elizabeth was kidnapped once….”

Kidnapped? Beth?

…. The Billionaire’s wife….

…. An obvious target….