I scrutinize that crack in my footprint.

Need to get new boots soon…

Or I’ll have wet feet…

“I'm scared,” I admit.

His voice is soft. “Of what? Committing? To him?”

“No, not exactly. What if it all went wrong?”

I know that I sound like some spoiled child, complaining about homework or the wrong cookies with my milk, but the words keep coming… “What if I lost my job? Or Ryan was doing badly? If we couldn’t pay, we could lose everything.”

Klempner shrugs. “So, what’s the difference with that to paying rent for the rest of your life? That’s always going to be money down the drain. If you’re on a mortgage, you’re building it up.” He sniffs, scratches his nose. “It seems to me, that you need to sort out your priorities; to decide what it is you really want…”

He’s making a lot of sense…

But he keeps talking. “… Too many people go through life making do. If you fuck up what you really want, you could spend the next twenty years of your life regretting it, before you get another chance.”

“Like you did?”

His gaze goes distant, staring off down at the lake. “Like I did.”

Why are you talking to me like this?

Lawrence Klempner in the role of agony aunt…

However, my good sense rules and I keep that thought firmly inside my head where it belongs.

But I do keep speaking. “It’s just… it’s such a huge amount of money. I’m really worried we can’t afford it.”

Klempner sucks at his cheeks. “You work for Haswell? Do I have that right? And he’s arranging the purchase for this Mill you want to buy?”

“Yes, that's right.”

“And your Ryan, what does he do?”

“He owns his own company. They make heating and ventilation systems. He's doing a lot of contract work right now for James and Richard.”

“He’s the company director?”

“He is, yes.”

“So… his files are a matter of public record. Haswell probably has a very good idea of what he's worth too. And he knows what size of orders Ryan’s company is likely to pull in over the next few years?”

“I suppose so.”

Klempner huffs. “There’s no suppose about it. You don't get into Haswell’s position without having a knack for putting a value on people.” He levels a finger at me. “If he thinks you can afford it, you can afford it. And he’s the one offering you the sale and setting the price.”

Still I hesitate.

He lets out air. “Kirstie, you do realise that Haswell's selling it to you under value?”

He is?

on at the

the terms of payment, the agreed interest rate and the time period… he's… well, if he's not losing money, he could have made a lot more by

didn’t have any

on the place? He heads a multi-company international corporation, not a charity for retired friends

not a secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind

them all in there…” He thumbs back into the house… “Jenny, James, Haswell and his wife… But they’re clearly all looking out for each other… Haswell seems a

his words over in

Lawrence Klempner…

does he

rest

as though

went looking for skeletons on Haswell and I couldn’t find any. So far as I can see, he's as honourable as big business ever allows.” He aims a finger at me. “You helped to protect Jenny, so he's

you’ve been pulled under the collective family wing. Haswell’s making his best effort to do you a favour. A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're not too many women in your position who would be made an offer like that by a man like him;

didn’t do

forget that. If you ever need my help, Kirstie, you can remember

staring into space. He really is looking into

just taking the air,

me. “Baxter’s still out

about

to hurt my family, in the worst possible way, as a way of coming back at me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe he’s given up on that.” He chews his lower lip,

drying, “You think he'll come

not. He knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back

His words hang, half-said…

else though,” I say, “Isn’t

in, lets it out. He paces, circles,

insisted that I betrayed him, and I still don't understand why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the police. We've known each other a long time. He knows

of you

long-term colleagues. We

someone

head inclining.

A partner? A brother? A lover? Someone close enough to get inside his head… Is Baxter married? Is there a

I’m aware of. But I’ll think about what you

silence and I begin to feel awkward. “You

shakes his head,

else; James, Richard, Beth, Charlotte.

a laugh. “I understand why

Michael? Everyone likes

was opting for when she married him. It’s not as though he’s the brains

not being fair

brow. “You think

the one with all the academic qualifications, the letters after his name, but whatever he feels inside, James isn’t good at expressing it well. And he doesn’t

Klempner seems genuinely

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

Really? That's

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

realise that. It doesn't mean it's not

“It's something Mitch is strong

make you better at the job…” Then

offended. More amused. “Perhaps. Still… she didn't read me

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