“Charlotte, could you set an extra place at the table, please.”
“Sure.” She pauses, her hand full of cutlery. “Who are we expecting?”
“Georgie’s joining us for lunch…”
Her mouth opens in a silent Ahhh…
“… Is that alright with you?”
She moves table-mat, knife and fork to one side, clearing enough space for another setting. “Of course it is, Master. I know how much it means to you to have Georgie speaking to you again. I’ll do my best to make friends with her.”
“Thank you.” I kiss her forehead, tilt her chin up. “For what it’s worth, she said something similar.”
*****
The doorbell rings.
Charlotte stands. “I’ll go.”
She returns a minute later with Georgie, who offers her a bottle of wine. “I wasn’t sure what everyone likes, red or white, so I brought a rosé.”
“Good choice.” I gesture towards the fridge. “It’ll go well with the salmon we’re having. Just pop it in the fridge for now to chill, then take a seat.”
She hovers by the table. “Any particular place I should sit?”
“I set your place there...” Charlotte points. “… next to your Dad.”
Georgie takes a seat, having the look of one floundering. Then, spotting Cara on her playmat on the floor, patting at a dangling pink and blue ladybird. “Are you enjoying being a Mom?”
Charlotte beams. “Oh, yes. But I'll be glad when I’m back to my proper shape again.”
“I suppose you can use the gym in the hotel. Get plenty of exercise.”
“There's that. And I can ride too. That's good exercise.”
“Ride? You have a horse?”
“That’s right. She was a Christmas present. Can you ride?”
Georgie blows air. “I’ve never been on a horse.”
Credit where it’s due, Charlotte’s hesitation is infinitesimal. “Would you like to try? You could… You could borrow Charlie. I'm sure my Ma.. your dad would teach you.”
Georgie swings around to me. “Would you?”
“If Charlotte is happy for you to ride Charlie, I’d like that very much.”
“When can we try?”
“No time like the present. After lunch?”
*****
Klempner
Abandoning the abattoir above me, I make the quick climb down again, hanging from the rail of the lowest balcony to let myself drop to the ground. Landing on my toes, the rifle swings against my shoulder then jogs against me.
“Ah, there you are, Larry. I was beginning to worry you might have taken a wrong turn.”
The voice comes from behind me and despite myself, I startle, spinning to face the grinning Juliana and, by her side, a stranger with a gun in his hand. In the poor light, I can’t make out the model, but since the dangerous end is waving at me, that’s by the by…
I look more closely, but not at the weapon: his face.
A bit of a pretty boy: his hair is slicked back to a fetching ponytail and he has that slightly oily look that says Pimp.
No… not a stranger…
Now I look again, it’s Cash-Counting-Man from the night Wonder Boy led me here the first time.
While Juliana was making cow’s eyes at another gang member…
Cash-Man hovers close to Juliana with a slight proprietorial air…
Thinks he’s got her?
Another one?
Must have worked her way through half the fucking city…
Be walking bow-legged if she’s not careful…
And now I think on it, I have Cash-Man’s photo in my phone…
Wonder if Hickman made any progress on that?
Juliana’s wearing that manic grin that is so much a part her sexual allure and Femme Fatale appeal. “So sorry, Larry. Weren’t you expecting me?” She fishes into a shoulder bag, producing a mobile, then tapping the screen to life.
WTF?
Calling for backup?
She’s opted for redhead this evening…
Deliberate?
Probably…
… with green eye make-up which I’m guessing is supposed to give her a delicate mermaid air, but in reality reminds me of one of the characters I saw in the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie.
Oddly, Cash-Man seems attracted to her. I cannot see why. But she’s repeated this pattern now again and again.
does she
Flattery?
Appeal to the machismo?
Good in the bedroom?
she has, she has the knack to sucker a certain kind of
Sola. He’s dangerous.” Cash-Man
speaking in
a bit
Put up
if he knows
matters when they’re all already
at him. “… how dangerous can he be when I have you to protect
it?” I raise a finger, pointing skyward. “D’you know all
Right… You killed them all of them, did
is the one responsible. Did you let her dole out whatever they were taking
is slurring just a little. He glares, moving
dense can he
Seriously?
her to slip a little something extra
a bit of something different for
has a use
Give him
Superman complex?
as he speaks. “I
You? A pusher who’s a
buy time,
Deja vu…
the spot, and under just these conditions,
How did she know?
Waiting for me…
stories of balconies, windows and
All overlooking this alley…
Watching for the police
Or me…
halfway down? Throw me off the
Or try to…
security camera somewhere… One I
Ah… the phone…
to a
she’s tapping
thought of
No-one’s infallible…
then her face twists. “Don’t
He
Not like that. I told you. I want him
any good for up close?” He grins,
teeth. It’s not a bad match for the glint on the edge of my blade. “No. This is what I use for up
snarls, raising the gun. “She said alive,
“No!” It’s Juliana again…
he jerks a startled glance her way, and it’s all I need. Darting forward, slapping the pistol to one side, I lean the other way. Sure enough, it fires, the round blowing a
blow may have broken his wrist. Certainly, it jarred it. And I’m not about to give him time
his mistake, but as I swing a foot around his ankles, he’s
I’ve nothing against the style. Each to his own. For myself, I prefer my hair long enough to provide a bit of padding against blows, but short enough
fashion statement follows him down. Snatching at it with my free hand, I yank upwards, halting his fall… kind
by the hair, he’s almost horizontal from the knees up. He can’t get up, can’t get down and now, shoving the
his head up, hard enough to make his neck creak. Hard enough to pull him upright now that I have control. The muzzle of my gun pressed to
him, but at least his body is
Is she armed?
anything except the mobile in her
is weird. She stands there, all nonchalance, smirking. “That’s it, is it, Larry? You think you have the upper
don’t you ask Speeding Gonzales
can avoid it. He’s hardly the first to be suckered into doing what she wants. But, something about Juliana’s manner is
card is she holds
Someone else here?
dart glances left and right… back, front…. up. There’s no-one
giggle. That fucking infuriating Juliana giggle. “Larry, look at your
tighter into his hair, keeping Jose immobile, the left is occupied holding
lifts her chin, eyes slanting to my jacket pocket. “Yes, your phone. You've got incoming, Larry. Take a look.”
knows something I
is vibing. With both hands occupied, I push the muzzle of my gun into the back of
obeys: suspiciously calm. Juliana’s gaze follows him down, and now
base of his skull, I
… and turn cold…
of the usual accept/deny button, there's an image on
an image. It’s moving: a live
tables. Their backs
tighten and my mouth dry, crosshairs hover. Gliding across the screen, they move between the two men:
feed from rifle
be, Larry? Your bitch whore or your bitch daughter? I can take the men too, but they’ll be
Where the hell's Hickman?
his fucking
gut him for
picked off one at a time. Or my sniper can simply mow them all down in
Christ…
in an overplayed dramatic silence…. “…. Or are you going to be a good boy and
Don’t panic…
…
Think…
still to Jose’s head, I watch as Juliana mutters into her
give
surrender, then murder
Mitch…
Jenny…
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!