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 same

rate and the time period… he's… well, if he's not losing money, he could have made

he didn’t have

arches brows, tilts his head. “Really? So why do you imagine he had an option on the place? He heads a multi-company international corporation, not a charity for retired friends and

mind races. “But why

into the house… “Jenny, James, Haswell and his wife… But they’re clearly all looking out for each

turn his words over

Lawrence Klempner…

he know about

the rest of

talk as though

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

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; a billionaire, one

do

and Mitch. And you identified Baxter as Jenny’s kidnapper.” He muses then smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget that. If you ever need my help, Kirstie, you can remember that I pay my debts

really is looking into the distance, scanning over field and

the air, are you? You’re watching

slants sidelong at me. “Baxter’s still out

worried about him? I

His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe he’s given up on that.” He chews his lower

drying, “You think he'll

knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back

His words hang, half-said…

something else though,”

in, lets it

understand why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the

two of you were

colleagues. We knew each

it's someone

blinks, his head

better than you, perhaps? A partner? A brother? A lover? Someone close enough to

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

to feel awkward. “You

shakes his head, jolting

about everyone else; James, Richard, Beth, Charlotte. You didn't

“I understand why my daughter is married to Eye-Candy

Michael? Everyone

him. I simply don’t think it’s 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

a brow. “You

letters after his name, but whatever he feels inside, James isn’t good at

what?” Klempner seems genuinely

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

Really? That's an idea I

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

doesn't mean it's

“It's something Mitch is strong

I suppose if you can read people it's got to make you better at the job…” Then I choke on my own words. “Oh, God… I’m

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

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