The Removal Man by R. J. Parker

Author:R. J. Parker [Parker, R. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008447977
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter Forty

Bloom took in her open dressing gown. ‘I think you need to collect yourself first.’ He mimed wiping at his mouth as if she should do the same.

She pulled the gown around her, but couldn’t secure it because her belt was still attached to the case. ‘Now. You promised.’ She felt like she was about to pitch forward. ‘Noah!’ It seemed to take all her energy to call his name.

No response from above.

His eyes darted for a few seconds. ‘You’re right. I promised.’ He ambled to the bottom of the staircase. ‘I’ll open the door, just for a minute.’

Rose didn’t move.

‘You’re going to have to give me the key though.’ He extended his hand.

She’d been waiting to see if he’d forgotten and used his own key to open the door. Perhaps this was still a deceit. She walked over to him, concentrating on each faltering step.

He took it from her. ‘You’re wilting. You need watering.’ He turned and stomped up the stairs.

Rose craned her neck after him, but he kept his back to her as he unlocked the door. She could see the blade of the bread knife jutting out of his back jeans pocket. Was he deliberately showing her that? She couldn’t work out if he’d used the key she’d just given him or another. The door opened and he leaned through it. She could hear a dull thump from the other side.

Bloom swivelled his head to her. ‘He’s fine.’

‘Let me up there.’ She put her hand on the banister to support herself.

Bloom nodded and turned away briefly.

Rose heard the key being taken out of the lock.

‘OK.’ He returned his attention to her and beckoned her up.

Rose ascended and Bloom stepped through the doorway to give her some room.

When she reached the top, she froze and her stomach heaved again as she caught sight of Noah.

He was lying face down on top of the packing case they’d been using as a table. He was gagged with a dirty white rag and had been hogtied with blue plastic-coated rope. He fixed her with a look of sheer terror, eyes bulging as the bonds securing his hands to his ankles strained tight. The pizza box they’d been eating from earlier had been swept to the floor and half-eaten slices lay around the tiles.

Bloom walked around behind Noah. ‘Some children can’t follow simple instructions but Noah’s a credit to you. I told him not to try and move from here…’

Raw anger detonated now. ‘Untie him! He can’t breathe like that!’

‘He’s been fine all this time. Let’s get you some water.’

‘Noah, look at me, honey.’

He attempted to turn his head to where Bloom was but shot his terrified eyes back to her.

‘Just look at me. Not him.’ She tried to keep the tremor from her voice. ‘Breathe slow like we did earlier. I’m not going to let him hurt you. Understand?’

He didn’t blink, whimpered and strained against the ropes.

‘Tell me you understand.’

He nodded quickly.

‘You don’t have to tie him like that.’

‘I don’t. Just a stickler for doing a job properly, I suppose.

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