Page 50 of King’s Ransom

Hooper said, ‘Mr McCade . . .?’

‘Yes, thank you!’ McCade said forcefully into his phone before holding it to his chest. ‘The board has approved the payout for Ms Tan! $80 million is being transferred right now.’

Longmuir raised his own phone. ‘You hear that? Your ransom’s on the way.’

The voice said, ‘Thank you. I see it just landed in my account. You may retrieve Ms Tan.’

In the helicopter, I saw Winnie Tan’s four-point seatbelt abruptly open by itself, unbuckled via a remote.

Hooper and Audrey hustled to the helicopter tilted over the edge of the rooftop, climbed onto its landing strut and opened the rear door.

I lingered close behind them.

Hooper reached in and pulled the now unrestrained Winnie Tan out. Winnie walked groggily, dazedly.

‘What about her?’ she yelled above the wind, nodding back at Yasmina.

‘We can only take you at this time!’ Hooper shouted as he guided her to the safety of the helipad.

Audrey stayed on the landing strut and leaned into the rear cabin of the chopper, calling to Yasmina King. ‘Hang tight, ma’am! We’re on the phone to the extortionist now!’

‘Please . . . hurry . . .’ Yasmina yelled.

Hooper, Audrey, Ms Tan and I rejoined Director Longmuir on the helipad as we heard Longmuir say into his phone: ‘All right, you bastard. How much for the other wife?’

The voice replied pleasantly, ‘How about we add another twenty million? $100 million for the current Mrs King seems like a good price. Two minutes.’

‘Mr McCade . . .’ Longmuir yelled above the gusting wind.

McCade once again turned his body against the wind so he could consult with his board on his cell phone.

I watched him as he listened.

Then he blanched.

‘Are you serious?’ McCade said. ‘Say again?’

As he listened, his face went white.

He turned to Longmuir. ‘We got a problem.’

‘What?’

‘Mr King’s K&R policy maxes out at $90 million per individual. The board is not authorising payment of a hundred million dollars.’

‘It’s not what—?’ Special Agent Hooper spat.

‘What kind of people are you?’ Longmuir said.

‘I’m sorry, I truly am, but this decision is out of my hands,’ McCade said.

The voice was still on Longmuir’s phone.

‘Problems, Director?’

Longmuir said, ‘No, no. Just—’

‘Perhaps you need to know how serious I am.’