A businessman's long journey home is interrupted by a phone call that leads him into a frightening kidnap. This is based on a true story though the names and some details have been changed. .

Head hunt

"Hey you! Stop flashing. I'm going as fast as I can. Can't you see all this traffic? Motorways are bad enough without maniacs like you throwing your weight around."

Phil was in rush-hour mode, fighting for survival. It was a long journey and it was becoming competitive. He tightened his grip on the wheel, and glared at the motorist in the mirror. Then the radio crackled, warning of an impending phone call. At the first ring he flicked the radio to mute and swung the car into the middle lane. At the second ring, he pulled into the slow lane and answered. It was his wife.

"There's a man trying to get hold of you to talk about a job. They're looking for someone with your plastics experience to do some big job on the Continent and he wants you to meet him on your way home. Call me when you get to the services and I'll give you his number."

Phil was in business mode now - upright, composed and clear thinking.
"I'll be at Corley on the M6 in half an hour. Will that be soon enough?"

"That's fine, Phil; I told him you'd call this evening. Speak to you later. Drive carefully!"

Philip Martin relaxed back into the leather seat. He felt good - enjoying the flattery of a head-hunter's call. He turned the radio off properly to free his mind for contemplation. He enjoyed interviews, but he was driving the long journey home after a week away and his brain was already in weekend mode. Head-hunting calls usually came when he was in the office.

"Good morning, Mr Martin, this is Tracey from Very Discreet Head-hunters, is it OK to talk to you now, or should I call you later?" - They're always a bit cloak-and-dagger about it, which adds spice to the experience.

But he wasn't in the office, and they were talking about the plastics industry. That was the trade he used to work in, so this must be his past coming back to haunt him. How intriguing. How gratifying that his reputation in Europe still counted for something.

He was warming to the opportunity and settled into a comfortable cruising speed, with his thoughts running back over past successes. He felt important and looked forward to this unexpected opportunity to sell himself. He ran through a mental rehearsal for his performance. Mind you, he wasn't going to be carried away by it all. After all, he'd landed a good job at EDL and was getting on well, even though it was a new industry to him. The staff were OK, the pay was good and he fitted in well with the rest of the management team. Still, you can't ignore a chance to better yourself.