‘Allie,’ Isabelle said, ‘this is how Nathaniel works. He loves a performance.’ She turned to Dom. ‘Show her.’
Dom typed something. Suddenly, Carter reappeared on the monitor, chained to the wall. Something was taped across his mouth. He looked pale. Seconds later, Nathaniel walked into view.
As always, he wore a perfectly tailored suit, his tie was neatly knotted. Cufflinks glinted at each wrist. It was perverse that someone so horrible should be attractive.
Moving without any apparent urgency, he approached the camera, his face looming as he leaned towards it. He did something they couldn’t see. Suddenly, the sound came on. Allie could hear Nathaniel’s footsteps. Hear Carter’s chains jangle when he shifted uneasily.
Whistling to himself, Nathaniel walked away. The tune echoed eerily as he crossed to stand behind Carter’s chair. When he was ready, he lowered his hands onto Carter’s broad shoulders and smiled at the camera.
Carter flinched at his touch. A muscle worked in his cheek. Allie could see hatred flickering in his eyes.
‘Isabelle. Allie.’ Nathaniel’s lips curved into a perfect, smooth hateful smile. ‘I’ve given you the chance to see where we stand. You’ve received my message. As you can see, time is running out. Let’s end this now.’ His voice was rich, almost pleasant. As if he was talking to old friends. ‘We all know the game is over. It ended that night in London. Admit your defeat. Leave the school and never come back. Tell Lucinda’s few remaining supporters that you’re done. And you can have Carter West back.’
Carter shook his head and tried to talk, but the tape across his mouth made his words unintelligible.
Nathaniel continued. ‘If you don’t then you can watch Carter die. Live on camera.’ He patted his shoulder in a sickening mock of sympathy. Watching it made Allie’s skin crawl. ‘You can see the clock. You know how much time you have. My phone lines, as they say, are always open. But I’m turning this off for now. I think you’ve seen enough.’
He gestured at someone off screen. Instantly the image disappeared, replaced by a series of white numbers.
‘Nathaniel’s phone number,’ Isabelle explained, contempt dripping from her voice.
Then the message that Allie had seen when she walked in the room flashed up on the screen.
Isabelle turned to face her. ‘And that’s how it’s been since.’
A tidal wave of panic seemed to hit Allie all at once. ‘I can’t stand any more of this. We have to do something.’ Her voice rose. ‘There must be something.’
The room fell silent. Everyone was watching them now.
‘We are doing something, Allie.’ Isabelle’s reply was measured. ‘This is a tactic. Surely you can see that? You have to think with your head, not your heart. Look at this rationally. Nathaniel gave us the chance to see Carter, because he knew it would make us panic. Now he’s taking that away for the same reason. He wants us to panic. That’s why he’s doing it. Don’t give him what he wants.’
Allie didn’t know how she was going to do that. It felt like her heart was being torn in two.
Raj joined them, his expression grave. ‘Allie, I genuinely believe Carter is fine. Nathaniel is a businessman – he wants something we have. There’s no logical reason for him to harm Carter.’
‘Maybe he is fine right now.’ Flinging out a hand, Allie pointed at the red clock on the screen, ticking inexorably down. ‘But what happens in two days, Raj?’ He opened his mouth to answer but she didn’t let him speak. ‘I want him back.’ Tears burned the backs of her eyes. ‘This can’t happen. Nathaniel has to pay for this. We have to get it right this one time…’
Her voice quivered with emotion, and she bit her lip hard.
Raj answered her.
‘It’s nearly dawn. I’m heading out to St John’s Fields with a group of my best guards. Dom has secured satellite time. As soon as the sun comes up we’ll be all over this place. I believe Carter is in there. And if he is, we’ll get him.’ He leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. ‘I swear to you. We’re going to get him back.’
As promised, Raj’s team headed out just before dawn, staking out positions all around the sprawling acreage of St John’s Fields.
When daylight finally broke, Dom’s satellite company contact came through. Just after 6 a.m., Nathaniel’s message disappeared, replaced with a hazy green image of rural England.
For a second, everyone stopped what they were doing to look. The view was of a ribbon of winding narrow road. Peeping through a thick canopy of trees, Allie could see a large brick house with a chimney. Set further back from the road were several hulking barns.
Cars were parked haphazardly on the grass in front – whatever this place was, it was crowded.
Allie stared at the house fixedly, as if it might give some hint as to what it held. But nothing moved.
It all looked empty.