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?”

“Charlotte, these men you saw, ‘looking at women’. Do you think you could identify them?”

“Um, I wasn’t really looking at them, but I can try.”

“You weren’t looking?”

Feeling very awkward now, “When some guy you’re not interested in, tries to eye you up, you look the other way.…”

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

He takes the phone. “Hello, Will. Yes, 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.copy right hot novel pub