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

that garish medallion he seems convinced looks good. “Larry, great to

bring them

shouts through the door.

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

Finchby. “Quite

on the last shipment from Ghana,”

“Does she speak English?”

at her shin with the toe of a boot. “Do

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

old, standing to one side. “You. Translate. Tell her to get her clothes off. Mr Finchby wants to

coming in quick, short gulps as he gabbles the words. She whimpers, clutching at the front of her shirt. It’s sweat-stained, stinking and in shreds, but she grips the cloth in her hands as

tell her?” asks

“Yes, Boss.”

and if you don’t want to go the

Boss. Sorry, Boss.” His skin is glossy, fair

European?

Dutch maybe…?

knack for languages. However, he’s not going to keep

would enjoy some time with you. So, if you don’t earn your keep here, you can easily be moved along. Now, tell this little slut to get

wall, then lights up. “My pleasure. Always

boy is 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 as she unbuttons

turns to gasps, then to sobs as she strips. She hesitates over what passes for her

removes the last, then stands

have a try on

paws off her,

though I’ve not seen it before. Bech enjoys his little games and, for the most

does

about this

Is it her?

Or is it…?

that come

one.” He glances at his watch. “I thought he’d be here by now.” He’s interrupted by the door swinging open. “Ah, here he

me, “Sir, Mr Yakovlevski here has

talking quickly and quietly. She looks up, her eyes

to Finchby… “… she goes to

pinches out his cigarette. “What’s this, Bech? Nothing was said to me

get the best

I don’t know he gives you

a living. Those swimming pools in the Bahamas don’t pay for themselves, do they?. And we’ve all got to

her to kneel,” says Yakovlevski. “And to open her

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