Masters And Lovers 1-4
Chapter 32
“I need air.” Klempner jerks his head to the door. “And you and I need to talk.”
I follow him out. Kirch, standing outside, reaches with one hand into his jacket, then stands back, gun loose in his hand.
Is this it?
Could I run?
With my leg?
Might as well show a bit of dignity…
I stand straight, raise my chin.
Klempner paces a little. “James, we need to forget our differences. You want Jenny and Mitch safe. I want them safe. Something has happened. If you believe that Michael’s brother is behind their disappearance, then we’re on the same side. We have to trust each other.”
What the fuck?
I start to speak then run out of saliva. I suck my cheeks then try again. “I'm supposed to trust you when you have abducted me? When you keep me covered by a gunman? It’s not exactly a mark of goodwill is it?”
Klempner blinks, hesitates. Then he turns, snapping fingers at Kirch and pointing to his weapon.
Kirch gives him a startled glance. “Sir?”
“Your Glock. Give it to me. Come on, you’re not going to miss it. I’m sure you have another tucked away somewhere.”
Slowly, reluctantly, Kirch passes his weapon across. Klempner gives it a cursory inspection…
Here it comes…
I hold my breath…
… then offers it, grip first, to me.
curling fingers around the
hand. But now, here I stand, holding a loaded gun, pointing it directly at
for the first time I begin to think I might make it out of this situation
tilted, his stance casual. “Is that
think I’d have to
it if you pointed that somewhere else.” He reaches toward me, a forefinger extended, easing the barrel to one side.
my life.
complicated. For a beginner, Point and Shoot covers most of it. Not shooting yourself in the foot covers
feels unnatural.
Find out what he can tell us about his brother and what he might do.
*****
are you kidding me? You
he’s as interested in
along with this charade, you’re crazy. You’ve got a gun at his head or something for him to
And the line cuts.
slam my
eyes fixed on the
my phone goes into overdrive,
“That supposed to be
in at the display. “That’s Kirstie raising the alarm. And
looks alarmed.
Do I tell him?
but not the whole
“Haswell, Michael, Ryan…”
“Who’s Ryan?”
“Kirstie’s ex.”
“The police?”
offices. Part of her remit is to look for trouble. Beth is an obvious ransom target.
app trace where