With what he has planned for the girls, he wants to make sure he doesn’t get caught.
Kidnapping is one thing. Murder is another.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Even on a Sunday, Albert Mitten is an early riser. He’s usually out of bed by 5.30. This morning he can’t sleep anyway. The forty-eight-hour deadline passed yesterday and since then the family has heard nothing. From what the family has assumed, both girls are dead. His two beautiful granddaughters.
He’s been sitting in his conservatory looking out of the window for over an hour when the home phone rings.
He picks it up on the second ring.
“Hello.”
“Mr Mitten. Listen carefully. Take heed of my every word. If you want to see your granddaughters alive, walk down your driveway and find the envelope we’ve attached to your front gates.”
“Who the hell…? Hello? Hello.”
Albert does as instructed and returns with the envelope. Inside he finds a mobile phone and an SD card.
As a reasonably keen photographer, Albert knows what the card is and how to load it onto his computer.
He clicks on the file and a video with two young girls starts to play.
One of the girls is holding a copy of The Sun newspaper with yesterday’s date.
Albert almost jumps for joy.
He watches Erica talk to the camera.
“Don’t worry. We are being well looked after. What they said before was just a bluff. They only want the money. They know Mum and Dad brought in the police. Please don’t make the same mistake. You can see the date this video was made from the newspaper. The time we are recording this is ten o’clock in the evening. Follow the instructions they give you and we will be home soon.”
“Thank God. They’re alive, they are still alive. Oh thank you, God.”
Albert plays the video a second time. Just to be sure.
He is about to rush upstairs to tell his wife when the mobile phone from the brown envelope rings.
“You’ve watched the video?”
“Yes. Yes, I have. They’re still alive?”
“Of course they are. All that rubbish about killing one. That was to mislead the police. We know your son called them in. Do you think we’re stupid?”
“Of course not. It’s just what we were advised to do.”
“Take heed and listen carefully. Do not tell anyone. I mean anyone. Otherwise the girls won’t be coming home. If you try to cross us, we will kill them. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I understand. We won’t involve the police.”
“We want one million. That’s the price for you getting back these two lovely girls. One million pounds in used notes in return for the girls. You put the money into four suitcases. You place two hundred and fifty thousand in each suitcase. Is that clear?”
“Yes. I can do that. I’ve got 300,000 in savings I can access. I have an idea how to get the rest. I need to make a phone call then I will know I can get it.”
“Good. I will call again tonight. You have seen we are not amateurs so don’t underestimate us. Otherwise I promise you they will both die. Do you understand?”
“Yes, believe me all we want are the girls back home safe. No police, you have my word.”
“Your word is worthless, from what I know. Cross us and they will die. That’s my promise, and believe me; I keep them far better than you do.”
“Okay I’ll… Hello? Hello?”
Silence.
Borrowing the rest in such a short space of time from a bank or a lender would be impossible.
But Albert knows someone who might be able to help.
He gets out his address book and looks for the number.
He finds it. Harry Richardson.
One five-minute phone call is all it takes.
Harry does not ask what Albert needs the money for. His only questions are how much and when does he need it.
“I need £700,000, in cash, by tomorrow morning.” Albert holds his breath.
“Not a problem, Albert. Untraceable used £10 and £20 notes?”
“You mean it? You can do that?”
“If you want you can have it in a couple of hours.”
“Tomorrow morning is perfect. You really are sure you can do this?”
“Albert. How long have we known each other? Now stop worrying. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at nine.”
What they have agreed is not a loan. Over the past few years, Harry has made numerous offers to purchase the property on Tennis Court Road. Until now his offers have always been rejected.
In his previous offers, Harry said if Albert was interested, they could do a deal where half of the money went through the books and the other half could be paid in cash. The site is worth two million.
So Albert is fairly sure coming up with the cash won’t be a problem for Harry.
It is worth far more than the £700,000 but Albert isn’t in a position to haggle. They agree he will sell the site to Harry.
At 7pm, Albert’s house phone line rings.
“Hello. Albert Mitten.”
“Have you arranged the money?”
“Yes. I will have it all by noon tomorrow. The whole lot, one million in used untraceable notes as agreed.”
“Good for you. I will call tomorrow. Make sure you have it and no police and no tricks. If you try something funny and any of us are caught or we even suspect the police are involved, money or not, the girls will die. Do I make myself clear?
“Yes. Yes, perfectly. I promise no police or tricks. The girls are the most important thing to us. We won’t try anything.”
Everything is going exactly to plan. Mr Gee never intended to get the money from the parents. He was sure they would call in the police. It’s what most people would do.
He knows grandparents will do anything for their grandkids. And Chris loves the idea of the money coming from Albert rather than Francis. It seems more apt. He loves Mr Gee’s masterplan.
If it were up to Chris, getting the cash would be the end of it but his partner has other ideas. Mr Gee has already worked out
