The Escape Artist - RIVER CARTWRIGHT

Chapter 7

He'd left her behind. 

Aside from the fear of not knowing where Clover was, she felt completely betrayed. 

She paced around the office like a caged dog, snarling at every comment Shirley and Louisa made until Lamb’s pounding on the ceiling above summoned her.

“Stop taking it out on Thelma and Louise down there, they’re trying to help.” He demanded harshly. She looked at her feet and mumbled an apology. “I don’t want your sorrys, they do. Now fuck off and wait for Cartwright to call.” She apologised, and then took up residence hovering over Ho’s shoulder as he tracked River’s phone.

“You know where they’re going?”

“I do.”

“Can you tell me?”

“Nope,” he popped his ‘p’ loudly, half a packet of Hubba Bubba visible in his open mouth. 

“Ho, please?”

“Cole, no. Strict instructions from Cartknob.”

“Since when do you do anything he asks?”

“Since he’s tryin’ to save your kid.” She sighed and dropped into the chair next to his. She watched the screen with her chin in her hands. “Stop huffin’ and puffin’ will ya?”

“Sorry.” On the map, the red dot of River’s car came to a stop. “Are there any cam-” Ho looked at her with a withering stare. “I’ll let you just… do your thing, shall I?”

“Please do. Go and get Guy and Dander.”

“But -”

“Cole, fuck off a minute will you?” Though his tone was irate, there was a softness in his eyes. 

He wanted to check the camera alone before letting her take a look. Her shoulders slumped in defeat but she did as she was told, taking her time up the stairs. She gave him five minutes and then followed Louisa down the stairs. “It’s alright,” he told them without looking up. “She can look.”

Ella went back to her previous spot on his shoulder and watched the camera. 

She saw River’s car and an open warehouse door and very little else. 

Ho wound the footage back and she watched as the car spun into the yard at speed and came to an abrupt halt. Coe and Cartwright were out of the car quickly. The footage was grainy but she could see the tension in their faces and the way they held their bodies. 

Silent hand gestures and head nods passed for conversation until they were out of sight and inside the building.

“Where is it?”

“Can’t tell you til he tells me I can.”

“What if he can’t tell you?”

“Coe then. Either one of ‘em.”
“And if we hear nothing?” At that, Ho clearly hesitated. 

“If we hear nothing, then Shirley goes to check it out.” Lamb told them from the bottom of the stairs.