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Chapter Twenty

The Contessa struggled uselessly against the bindings that shackled her to the chair.

‘Hello, Maria.’

Her blood froze as she recognised the voice that crackled over the speaker mounted above the mirror on the wall.

‘I suppose it is pointless to beg for mercy,’ the Contessa said.

‘Oh yes, quite pointless,’ Number One replied.

‘Then release me,’ she said, the familiar sinister whispers of command twining through her voice.

‘Oh, come now, Maria, surely you know better by now than to try your voodoo on me,’ Number One replied calmly.

‘Let’s just get this over with, shall we?’ the Contessa spat defiantly. ‘Kill me and be done with it.’

‘Oh, Maria,’ Number One replied. ‘I’m not going to kill you. You’re going to be much too useful for that.’