By the time he gets back to the old telephone exchange, it’s 8.20.
He grabs his binoculars and checks on the girls. They are sleeping. One of them, he’s not sure which one, is sleeping without a blanket. She’s wearing just her bra and panties. Daniel feels embarrassed and quickly turns away.
He checks on the two men. They are sitting on the sofa watching TV.
At 9am, Daniel hears one of the men saying he is going out to the café to get some breakfast. While he is out, the man left guarding the girls watches TV.
At 10am, the man comes back, with a bag from a supermarket.
The second man says he’s going out for breakfast. The man left guarding unlocks the office door and goes in with the carrier bag and puts it on the floor and then leaves. He locks the door and puts it in his pocket.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Harry Richardson arrives at Albert’s house at ten minutes to nine. He makes just one journey from his car, with two suitcases stuffed full of cash.
He is paying less than three-quarters of a million for a property worth close to two.
Albert doesn’t know that Harry owns the adjoining unit and being able to build on both sites will enhance the value even more. Plus, Harry has another reason for wanting to buy the property.
Albert hasn’t asked him how he could get hold of so much cash in such a short space of time and Harry hasn’t asked why Albert needs the money so quickly.
The paperwork and ownership will take some time to sort out and involve lawyers on both sides and a written agreement of land purchase but they have known each other for over twenty years and Harry is certain Albert won’t go back on the deal. Not if he knows what is good for him.
Besides, Harry had done a quick search and it seems the business and Albert don’t have any financial problems so he is pretty sure it is a good move.
Albert is fully aware of Harry’s reputation. But right now, all he cares about is getting Erica and Leona back safe and sound.
To count £700,000 in cash takes over forty minutes. Once Albert is satisfied it is all there, he signs the loan note guaranteed against the sale of the Tennis Court Road property. Albert’s wife Beatrice acts as the signature witness.
The two men shake hands and Harry walks out to his car. It may have an empty boot but he has a huge smile on his face.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Albert Mitten has just returned home with £300,000 in cash he collected from the bank. He glances at his watch. 11.50. He had received some odd looks from the bank manager and his assistant but eventually, the money was ready. A member of staff was allocated to walk him out to his car, for security reasons.
Albert goes upstairs and returns with four empty suitcases and proceeds to separate the cash between them just as the kidnappers instructed. He won’t use the two that Harry left. He just has a feeling.
Francis Mitten told the kidnappers he couldn’t decide which daughter to save and begged for more time. The response was the phone line went dead.
It has been two agonising days since the forty-eight-hour deadline passed. Nothing has been heard from the kidnappers and everyone fears the worst.
After consulting with his superiors, DI Eden Gold has made the decision to go public and release details of the kidnapping.
A press conference is planned for later today to give out full details, showing footage of the abduction and asking for help to locate the Mercedes car and minibus used and give out the vehicle registration numbers.
The Mitten family plan to offer a reward of £100,000 for any information leading to the safe return of their two daughters. Mr and Mrs Mitten will also make an appeal to the kidnappers to return their daughters unharmed and will say they are still prepared to negotiate a deal for their release and to please get back in touch and let them know the girls are safe.
Eden and Tracy are in the kitchen of the Mitten house. They have come to go over the last-minute details before they collect Mr and Mrs Mitten to take them to the police station for the press conference appeal, timed to tie in with all of the one o’clock TV news programmes.
Francis phone is buzzing with a message from his father telling him to call right away. He is really not in the mood to speak with anyone right now, but the message says it’s urgent.
Francis walks out of the French doors and into the conservatory and presses recall.
“Hello Dad. We’re just getting ready to–”
“Are you alone? Can we talk privately?”
“Hang on, Dad. I’ll go into the back garden.”
“Listen, son. Great news. I’ve been contacted by these people. They know you’ve got the police there so they contacted me. They say the threat was simply to scare you. The girls are alive.”
“Really? How can you be sure this is real?”
“They sent me a video of the girls with a newspaper dated from yesterday. They want a million then they’ll release both the girls unharmed.”
“Dad, I haven’t got a million.”
“Listen, son. I’ve got the money sitting right here in cash.”
“How the bloody hell did you get that sort of money together?”
“I’ve got £300,000 from our savings. The rest was from Harry Richardson. I’ve agreed to sell him the old property at Tennis Court Road for £700,000 cash.”
“But that place is worth far more.”
“I don’t care. All I care about is getting Leona and Erica back. I’ve been to the bank this morning and taken out the money, after Harry had delivered the £700,000. I didn’t want to tell you anything until I knew I had the money. The kidnappers are calling me back at one.”
“How the hell does Harry manage to get his hands on £700,000 in cash by noon?”
“Look,
