James
My phone rings, Michael’s avatar flashing up. “Hi, Michael, what can I…?”
His voice is urgent, fast. “James. Charlotte and Beth are gone! Are they with you?”
Christ!
“No. They’re f*****g not!” I flag Richard, whose eyes widen as I jam my mobile onto loudspeaker. “I thought you were supposed to be keeping an eye on them?”
Richard is already moving, slamming at the panic-button he had installed to get Security moving.
Michael sounds as near to panic-stricken as I’ve ever heard him. “I was in the shower. When I came out, about a minute ago, they were gone, and there’s signs of a struggle. Where’s Richard?”
“He’s here…. raising the alarm as we speak.”
There’s a rustling at the other end of the phone. “Oh s**t!”
“Michael? Michael, what is it?”
And now there’s terror in his voice
