Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 15

Richard

I click off the video connection and almost immediately, there’s a tap at my door.

James?

Waiting for me to finish?

“May I come in?”

Yes… James…

He looks terrible…

“I wanted to apologise.”

I gather the sheaf of papers I was working with, injecting a business-like tone into my voice. “There’s nothing to apologise for my friend.”

Sounding unconvinced, “No?”

“No. We all have low points in our lives and I’d say you had one of those yesterday.” I regard the man standing in my doorway…

Face sallow…

Pupils like pin-holes…

Eyes like piss-holes in snow…

“How’s the hangover?”

“About what I deserve… Thank you for looking after Charlotte last night.”

“I wouldn’t have had it any other way, James.”

He stands, head lowered, seeming lost for words. This isn’t the James I know.

You’re not right yet, are you… Not by a long way…

I stand, walk across to him and am about to slap him on the shoulder….

Hangover…

Splitting headache…

Nausea…

… and settle for laying my hand on his shoulder. “James, I mean it. We all have times in our lives when our friends and family are what keep us going. If the positions were reversed, I’d like to think you and Michael would have done the same for Elizabeth. And she’s a lot more vulnerable than Charlotte ever will be.”

“Of course we would.”

we join the

*****

 

- Twenty-Six

with his slicked-back hair and that garish medallion he seems convinced looks good. “Larry, great to see you.” He flashes his usual fake smile, the single

you bring

shouts through the

little thing. Some variety of half-cast by the look of her; honey-skinned with hair that drapes her shoulders in glossy black ringlets, and amber-gold eyes that dart one way, then another between Finchby, myself and Bech. The cuffs around her ankles drag at her feet, but otherwise, she looks healthy

comments Finchby. “Quite

the last shipment from

“Does she speak English?”

her shin with the toe of a

together, holding them out to him, then to me, babbling something or other. The words are nonsense, but the pleading in

a boy, maybe ten years old, standing to one side.

She whimpers, clutching at the front of her shirt. It’s sweat-stained, stinking and in shreds, but she grips the cloth

tell

“Yes, Boss.”

dressed? Tell her again, and if you don’t want to go the same way she’s going, do your

His skin is

European?

Dutch maybe…?

because he has a knack for languages. However, he’s not going to keep those privileges long if

don’t earn your keep here, you can easily be moved along. Now, tell this little slut to

lights up. “My pleasure. Always glad to be

sweating, his voice a whimper as he speaks to the girl. She protests something-or-other, but he gestures to Bech and Finchby. Her eyes well, then fall

over what passes for her underwear, but Bech says, “Tell her that

the last, then stands head lowered, trembling,

“Might have a try on that one myself before

off her, Bech.

not seen it before. Bech enjoys his little games and, for the most part, I’m happy enough

does it

about this

Is it her?

Or is it…?

Plenty that come this way

at his watch. “I thought he’d be here by now.” He’s interrupted

“Sir, Mr Yakovlevski here has spotted a niche and is

quickly and

In short…” Bech looks to Finchby… “… she

said to

my job. Which is to get the best price possible. Mr Klempner

I don’t know he gives you a cut for selling

him on the shoulder. “C’mon, give us a smile. I know how it works. A man’s gotta earn a living. Those swimming pools in the Bahamas don’t pay for themselves, do they?. And we’ve all got

says Yakovlevski.

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