Buying The Virgin Part 1-3

CHARLOTTE

Richard’s whole manner screams of tension.

Francis taps keys. “I’m already on it, Richard.” peering at her laptop screen. “Her phone is showing up as being in Berkeley Street.”

Richard? She always calls him ‘Mr Haswell’.

“Is that where you and she were shopping?” he asks me.

“Just around the corner, yes.”

“Francis, give the exact location to Ross.” and back to his phone. “Ross, did you catch all that? Yes, go and find her.” Brow furrowed, he is pale.

“Richard, what’s wrong?” asks my Master.

“Elizabeth was kidnapped once. Ever since then, I’ve always kept an eye on more or less where she is…. Part of Ross’ job description is to be, essentially, her bodyguard. Charlotte, did anything odd happen while you were out with her?”

“Um, not odd exactly. There were men looking at her, but they were looking at all the women. I thought they were just…. well, looking at women.”

“Did you say anything to Elizabeth about it?”

“Er, no.” I gulp, hanging my head. “I should have, shouldn’t I?”

Richard looks at me over his glasses. “You weren’t to know, but for future reference Charlotte, be suspicious. It comes naturally to you anyway, and it’s a skill you should hone, not damp down.”

“Why was Beth abducted before?” asks my Master. “For ransom?”

“On that occasion, no. It was someone with a grudge against me, but ransom is always a possibility of course.”

“How did you get her back?”

“Tracked her phone.…”

Richard paces up and down. In less than five minutes, his mobile rings again. “Yes? No…. Oh, God! Yes, have a look around for anything else, then come back here to the office Ross, if you would.”

He switches off his phone, looking sick. “Elizabeth’s phone was in a refuse bin on Berkeley Street, along with her bag.”

For a moment he almost sags, looking reduced. Then, swiping hands through his hair, he stands up straight again. “Francis, call Will Stanton would you. Report Elizabeth as missing.”

My Master is shaking his head, unbelieving. “Richard, is there anything we can do?”

men you saw, ‘looking at women’. Do you think you could

really looking at them, but I can

“You weren’t looking?”

very awkward now, “When some guy you’re not interested in, tries to eye you up, you

office phone rings, Francis answering. “Richard, it’s Will for

yes that’s right. Within the last two hours. Yes, she was with friends, Charlotte actually, out shopping. Charlotte’s come back, but Elizabeth didn’t get to her rendezvous with Ross…… Yes, that’s right. Charlotte’s here. She thinks she saw men looking while they were out, and that she might recognise the faces. Yes…. I’m sure she would look through the photos if you can bring them here….” He glances over at me, and I nod vigorously. “Yes,

to Francis and sits back on the desk edge, head back, breathing deeply with his eyes closed. My Master and I stand helplessly by. Then Richard

me to

abduction and similar. If you could take

“Yes, of course.”

for

please, Francis. It could

what’s happening.” says my Master. “Don’t

I am sitting in the conference room, once more, scanning faces. This is becoming a

still there, my Master sitting across from me,

face. The

is older, more lined, the

but not from

“Then where?”

at Blessingmoors. He was one of the staff there

laptop. “He’s an identified trafficker. And he’s also known to be in this area now. We’ve been keeping an eye on him, but could never pin a conviction on him….” He taps

he has a number of known associates…” He

The officer swings his laptop to me. “Could you look through those,

through half a dozen faces, then….” That’s one of them. One of the men I

Master straightens

sorry. It looks as though they took Elizabeth by mistake. They

the City. Take her back to your

don’t want to hide away. I should

here, and I’ll work

to be packed off to bed. And I looked

not arguing. You’re

me by the wrist, pulling me towards him. “Are you going to come without arguing? Or do I have to sling you over my shoulder and carry you out? Believe me, in this

way I can physically resist Michael. What choice do

leave with him. But I don’t have to like it. As we drive up the steep mountain

all day?” he asks. “There’s no point sulking

you

situation. He rubs my thigh with his non-driving hand. “Come on. I know you’re not happy about it, but James really will cope better without you there. So