shuhaige
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
James
It’s unbearable.
We hear nothing. Charlotte has simply vanished.
We return to the site where we last saw her, where my Jade-Eyes fled into the dark. The area is
saturated with police; cars, officers, dogs. But other than a small deserted building a couple of miles
distant, showing signs of hasty abandonment, they have found nothing. And despite searching and
calling, neither do we.
Do they have her?
We have no way of knowing.
I can’t stomach food. I survive on stress and strong black coffee. Michael is as bad….
…. or worse….
When I try to sleep, I toss and turn, but sleep refuses to come. Eventually, I give up trying, instead
throwing on a robe to head for the lounge to find a drink. I find Michael already there, looking as terrible
as I feel.
Richard has Beth back, and after she has bathed and slept and recovered herself, she seems
essentially unhurt, but there is a haunted look around both her eyes and Richard’s.
How would I feel in his position? At the price paid for Beth’s freedom?
Three days pass.
*****
Passive with stress, red-eyed with exhaustion, Michael and I sit in silence in my office. We don’t use
the apartment. Without Charlotte there, there is too much of the feel of abandonment.
I pace. He sits. Neither of us speaks. We have nothing to say.
My mobile rings.
I don’t recognise the number. “Hello?”
“Hello, is this Mr Alexanders?” The voice is also unfamiliar. It has the grate of a minor functionary, and
the sleaze of the trying-too-hard-salesman.
“Yes, I’m James Alexanders.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, sir. This is Domestic Electrics in Barnbridge. I have a young woman here
insisting that I call you….”
Something inside me leaps. It must show in my face because Michael’s eyes widen. He stands, head Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
tilting.
“…. She wants to buy some rather expensive equipment and services,, but doesn’t have any money to
pay for them. Do you know her? She would be a rather striking young woman if she weren’t dressed so
disreputably. And with a bad attitude….”
I want to laugh out loud….
That’s my Jade….
…. Are you giving him a hard time, Green-Eyes?
I wave Michael across to listen in, but he’s already up and with me, leaning in close to hear.
“A redhead?” I ask.
“Yes, sir, that’s right. Do you know her?” His tone is snotty and self-important, but I couldn’t care less.
His words are balm to my withered soul. “…. She insists that you do, but frankly….”
“Yes, give her whatever she wants….”
“You’re sure of that, sir? She’s asking for our top-line model mobile phone and….”
I interrupt the little turd. “Is she there? Can I speak to her?”
“Yes sir, I’ll just…. Oh, she’s vanished….”
“What? Fuck!”
The obsequious voice hesitates at my language, then drones on. “…. Isn’t that just young people these
days…. She can’t have wanted it that much after all. Sorry to have wasted your time, sir….”
“No! Don’t hang up. I’ll get you the card details…. Hold on….” I wave across to my jacket, trying to keep
the busy-bodying moron on the line. “Michael. My wallet….”
He darts across, opening the pocketbook to display the cards inside, then as I tap on the one I want,
extracting it from the slot.
I read card details to the nerd on the end of the line.
“Mr Alexanders, the girl has vanished. This is probably some elaborate joke….”
“No, it’s not a joke. She’ll come back. Whatever she was asking for, get it and make it ready for use. I
want you to put a SIM card in the phone, on an unlimited usage contract. You can charge it to this card.
And get the battery fully charged. I want the phone to be ready for her when she comes back. And she
will come back. ….”
“We don’t stock batteries ready-charged, sir….”
My patience is fraying. “I don’t care. Use the battery from your own phone if necessary. Charge me for
it. But have that mobile ready for her to use, as soon as she has it. Did she ask for anything else? Apart
from the phone?”
As I tap off, Michael, breathing heavily, stands arms folded, waiting.
Fighting the drumming in my chest, I gather my words. “That was Domestic Electrics in Barnbridge,” I
say. “Charlotte’s in there trying to buy a smartphone, and an expensive data package with it. Also, LED
flashlights and batteries. The assistant said she kept looking over her shoulder, and then disappeared.”
Michael doesn’t seem reassured. If anything, his breathing increases and he’s sweating heavily.
He’s not coping with this….
…. Am I?
Pull yourself together, man….
I slap him on the shoulder, trying to lighten the mood while my own insides turn over. “Calm down.
She’s good. And she’s operating.”
He finally produces half a smile. “Barnbridge? That’s, what? Ten miles from where we lost her?” He
scratches at the back of his head. “But it must be fifty miles away from here. We can only hope she
does go back to that store.”
“If she doesn’t return there, she’ll try somewhere else. Keep your phone handy….”
What’s the next best move?
“…. Think we should set off for Barnbridge?”
He chews on a knuckle, thinking. “Let’s give it a few minutes. Why does she want a data package?
She’s still up to something.”
Of course she is….
And so once more…. we wait….
…. but only for a quarter of an hour….
My mobile bings. Simultaneously, so does Michael’s.
I’m coming. Don’t tell ANYONE but Richard. DO NOT tell Will Stanton or police. They have an informer.
Beth back safe?
Our eyes meet.
“What the fuck do you think that means?” mutters Michael.
He taps onto his screen as I watch over his shoulder.
Yes, Beth here safe. r u ok? Where r u? We’ll come 4 u
NO. Ur being watched. I’m coming to u at Hswl bldg. Yes am ok. Will msg when I can. Might take
couple days. Gotta stay under cover. Love u both. Sorry disobeyed you
He snorts at the last unlikely sentence, then taps in again. Watched? Who by?
But nothing comes back.
“Did that sound to you as though she’s being followed right now? Or just careful?” I ask.
Michael tugs at an earlobe. “Hard to say, isn’t it. And the police have an informer? What the fuck’s that
supposed to mean?”