James threw his suit jacket over the back of his chair and sighed. Although he had accomplished a substantial amount of work, he was still behind. James rubbed his eyes, pulled the chair out, and sat at his desk. As he looked at the light flashing on his phone, a familiar-looking piece of ivory paper caught his attention from the floor in his doorway. His body tensed and his eyes widened. A pain shot across his chest as he continued to stare at the page.
How did he deliver it and go unnoticed? The letter wasn’t there a moment ago.
James continued to stare at the lone piece of paper. He didn’t want to walk across the room and pick up the sheet. Not that he had to—he knew what it contained. All roads had led to this point. It was inevitable. What was unclear was how much research Maximilian had done on him.
As James leaned on his desk and stood, it occurred to him.
Does Maximilian have a contact at the paper?
He grabbed a tissue off his desk, sauntered towards the ivory page, and squatted down. His hands trembled as he flipped the piece of paper over.
It was just as he’d expected. Cut-out letters arranged across the page revealed a message. A predictable message. But this time, it had one extra feature.
I’ve got you.
James smiled as he walked to his phone, tapped the screen several times, and waited for the dial tone. ‘He’s delivered the ransom note,’ James said the second the call connected.
‘Why are you so happy?’ Chan had a hint of suspicion in his voice.
‘It contains a bonus.’
‘What bonus?’
‘He’s fucked up. There’s a smudged partial print at the top left-hand corner of the page.’ James stared at the blood.
I hope this doesn’t belong to Valentine.
James continued to stare at the note.
‘What does it say? How much does he want?’
‘Don’t worry about it. I can pay the ransom.’
James fixed his eyes on the scrapbook-style letters.
‘How much?’ Chan raised his voice.
‘One hundred and fifty thousand pounds in twenty-pound notes in nonsequential order. I’m to show up and drop off the money at a warehouse along Alexander Avenue, and then he will drop Valentine off at my house a few hours later,’ James said.
‘You’re insane if you go along with this. You know how this will end.’ Chan’s sigh rang through the tiny speaker.
‘He needs the money. He’ll follow through with the deal.’
‘How are you going to get that much money?’ Chan asked.
‘I’ve got it under control.’ James hung up.
So, he’s done a background check.
He was so desperate to get Valentine back he hadn’t considered the obvious outcome, the terrible way a lot of kidnappings ended. Was Chan right? Was he a fool for thinking he could get her back?