Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago

The bar is still dressed for Christmas, but at the far side of the room a girl is taking down green and red foil decorations from a tree while a man in blue overalls reaches from the top of a ladder with a screwdriver, fiddling in an electric box, looking back as coloured lights flicker on then off again.

Behind the bar, Angelo is doing his ‘forever work’ of polishing glasses…

“What’ll it be, Larry?” He reaches towards the bottles…

“Just a coffee. It’s a bit early.”

“Coming up.”

To the hiss of steam from the kitchenette, Frank arrives, briefcase in hand.

“Hi, Larry. Happy New Year.” He glances at his wrist. “Not late am I?”

“Not at all. I just arrived myself.”

As we seat ourselves, Angelo arrives with my coffee. “What are you having, Frank?”

“I’ll have a beer. Thanks, Angelo.” He lays the briefcase on the coffee-table starting to click it open…

“Not just now.” I nod towards the door.

He follows my gaze, frowning as he puts the case to one side and Mitch sashays in.

As beautiful as ever, she’s wearing a dress in that shade of green that suits her so well. Classically cut, it suggests her perfect figure without displaying too much of it…

And she’s wearing that fucking necklace that Conners gave her.

“Hi, Mitch. Good holiday?” Angelo holds up a box of tea bags. “Your usual?”

She flashes teeth. “Yes, great holiday.” Then, “And yes. Mint please.”

Mitch undulates over, settling on the couch between me and Frank. “Hi, guys.”

“Hey, Mitch. Great to see you.” Frank breaks into a broad smile, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. “Happy New Year. I was beginning to think you were never coming back.” He jerks a thumb at me. “Did he give you a good time?”

“Hi, Frank. Yes, we had a wonderful time. It was the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

He looks a bit blue at that. Angelo arrives with a tray, setting down beer and tea, then vanishes behind the bar, to return a moment or so later. He dumps a large flimsy cardboard box on the table, the kind a baker might use.

“Old Mr Vacarrelli called by,” he says to Mitch. “I did explain to him that you weren’t working again yet, but he’d brought them with him and he said Happy New Year and we should share them between us. But that if you changed your mind, you should give him a call.”

“Er, right. Thanks.” There’s a touch of pink at her cheekbones. “No, I’m not working yet, and I don’t think I have my phone book with me anyway.”

He thumbs across the room. “You left it in the back there before you left.”

“Fine. Thanks.”

“What’s in the box, Mitch?” I sip my coffee. “Dare I ask?”

She sips at her tea, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Let’s just say that not all of my clients want the same thing.”

My cup hovering half-way to the counter-top. “Really?” I eye the box.

She’s actually blushing…

a professional

the hell is

his head, weighs in. “C’mon Mitch. I know

shoots him a foxy look. “You think? Okay…” she sets her teacup down on its saucer. “He’s an old guy. He had a good marriage but he was widowed some years ago. He’s not forgotten what it’s all about, but he’s pretty elderly and, well… He can’t…” She rocks her hands…. “You know…

Cream cakes?

and I both stare into the box.

me to throw them at him,” she explains, her

Wtf?

end of his

for a bit, he undresses and stands in the bath, and then I have to throw the cream cakes at him. And for

up. So

this been

“About four years now.”

how much of a bonus does he pay

ten for

bet,” says Frank, “that in that time you’ve become a

times out of six. It’s earned me

all he wants?” I

exhausted the ammunition, he showers down, pays me and leaves. And I don’t see him again until the

eyes.

“Me too.”

the box towards the bar.

is bland. “Maybe

flinging an arm around her shoulders. “Ah, it’s great to

going to

from view, I say, “You got those

brisk. “All here. And I’ve taken some shots for you.” He fishes out a Polaroid camera and a dozen shots. “Just take a

flip through; inside shots,

“Yes, they’re fine…”

eyes me speculatively… “I had to grease a few palms to get it moving as fast

me. I'll

the sheets, returns to

the total, then reach for my cheque-book. To Frank’s raised

with you, Larry. A

I pass it across. “You deliver what I ask for. I pay you.

my life would be a lot easier if everyone paid on the dot like you do. Still…” He turns thoughtful. “… I should have the keys for you at the end of the week.

to make my own, instead of camping in hotels all

want me to get the

nothing elaborate. Cream and neutral

thing? Put your own mark

Replace the carpets where it’s needed. I’ll have the furniture sent over when you tell me

gaze travels over my shoulder to where Mitch went. “Um… you two

Are we?

what that means,”

brightens. “No?

rubbing her fingers through each other.

Frank snatches up the camera. “Let’s have a

Intrepid Trio?