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?

he was selling it on at the

But I heard what he’s offering you. With the terms of payment, the agreed interest rate and the time period…

he didn’t have

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

secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind

truly worked out what’s going on with 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

turn his words over in

Lawrence Klempner…

much does he know

rest

talk as

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,

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

do

kidnapper.” He muses then smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget that. If you ever need my help, Kirstie, you

that he’s not simply staring into space. He really is looking into the distance, scanning over field and lake and wood and

taking the air, are

sidelong at me. “Baxter’s

about him?

back at me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe he’s given up on that.” He chews his lower lip, staring out and down over the

“You think

knows I'll be looking. But...” He

His words hang, half-said…

something else though,” I say,

then breathes in, lets it out.

that I betrayed him, and I still don't understand why. He said I’d

of you were

friends exactly, but long-term colleagues. We knew

someone

head inclining. “Like

lover? Someone close enough to get inside his head… Is Baxter married? Is

teeth. “Not that I’m aware of. But I’ll think about

to feel awkward. “You didn’t mention Michael,” I

shakes his head,

talked about everyone else; James, Richard, Beth, Charlotte. You

but his eyes are cracking a laugh. “I understand why my daughter is

like Michael? Everyone

a meeting of minds Jenny was opting for when she married him. It’s not as though he’s the brains of the operation

being fair on

a brow.

be 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 always read people properly. But

what?” Klempner seems genuinely

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

brow rises further. “Emotional intelligence? Really?

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

It doesn't mean it's not

muses. “It's something

suppose if you can read people it's got to make you better at the job…” Then I choke on

he doesn’t seem offended. More amused.

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