the spare bedroom behind us. ‘Are we going to go in there and get the two girls?’
‘It’s either that,’ Ivonne said, ‘or we tell Maria some story and get her out of here.’
‘Getting out might be the hard part.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘Because I don’t know if the camera on four is working. It’s showing what’s happening on the floor above us.’
‘Disconnected?’ Ivonne asked.
‘Don’t know.’ I shrugged. ‘It might have been rerouted.’
‘Oh,’ Ivonne said, and closed her eyes.
‘Yeah, exactly. Maria’s flight into this apartment might be on tape, somewhere.’
‘Somewhere?’
‘Anywhere,’ I exhaled. ‘Worst case; Erjon can see it, live.’
‘Then we’re sitting ducks.’
‘Not quite. Just a moment, I’ll be right back.’ I sped into the sitting room, smiled at Maria and grabbed the tracking device for Erjon’s phone.
Back in the bedroom, I showed it with some relief to Ivonne. ‘Erjon is still in Bedford Street.’
‘What if we zip in quickly, grab the girls, get them in here and then create a diversion?’
‘What are you thinking of?’
‘We call the police and the ambulance. Make it look as if the girls have escaped, and whilst the police and the medics are milling about we slide out with the girls.’
‘Someone,’ I said, ‘is going to have to watch the lifts, whilst someone else fetches the girls.’
Ivonne nodded.
I dropped on to the bed. We stared at each other.
Ivonne spoke first; ‘any which way, we have to know the score with the camera on our floor.’
‘Yes,’ I said glumly.
‘We could smash it, disconnect it. Then get the girls.’
I shook my head. ‘It might be too late for that.’
‘Erjon is going to suspect us anyway.’
‘If, he doesn’t already know.’
‘I’ll move to a new apartment.’
‘Do you think that will stop him,’ I said. ‘He won’t leave you alone. He’ll want revenge.’
Ivonne swore. ‘Different town?’
‘If we’re going to do it, we’ll have to do it now.’
Ivonne stood; her lower lip trapped between her teeth. Abruptly, she put her hands on her hips, and grinned at me. ‘A couple of do-gooder prossies?’
‘That’s us, although it might put us out of business.’ I smiled. ‘Good idea, I’ve exams coming up.’
‘But the money,’ Ivonne said, looking wistful.
‘Come on,’ I said, getting up from the bed, ‘let’s do it.’
‘I just hope that minder is still out for the count,’ I said, opening the door of my apartment.
I stuck my head out and looked up and down the passageway; all clear.
‘Just a mo,’ I said, and ducked back in. ‘I’ve just had a thought. Ivonne have you got any uniforms in your place?’
‘Uniforms?’
‘Yeah, you know; role play, dressing up that kind of thing.’
Ivonne’s eyes twinkled with amusement. ‘I’ve got a penguin outfit. This one guy really gets his rocks off fucking me dressed up as a nun.’
‘Go get it.’
Within minutes Ivonne was back wearing the habit. She looked remarkably different with the veil and the coif covering her hair and it gave her face a stern appearance. Not only that, but at almost six feet she made an imposing and formidable looking nun.
‘Wow,’ she sai d, looking at me. ‘A real sassy-looking cop.’
The only problem with my police uniform was the trousers; normally I wore the uniform with an ultra-short mini skirt, stockings, suspenders and high heels – a real drop dead combination. The trousers I had on weren ’t the same blue as the uniform and they had a skinny- jeans cut, but they’d have to do. It would soon be evening time and in the failing light, I hoped no one would notice.
‘The uniforms,’ I said, tipping the peak of the hat further down over my forehead, ‘might throw any observer off. We’ll need every edge we can get.
‘Oh another thing; latex gloves. I don’t want my fingerprints all over Martha’s apartment.’ I hurried into the bedroom and grabbed a pair of
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