After Finchby and Yakovlevski leave, Bech still wears that ‘just sucked a lemon’ expression.
“Something to say, Bech?”
He scowls and looks down. “No, sir.”
“Good. Remember who's in charge here. And who's already made you a rich man.”
“Yes, sir.”
I turn to the girl where she cowers at my feet. “Tell her she can write a letter. Make sure her family know it’s her.” Luuk translates.
“Thank you, sir.” She launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my ankles, weeping incessantly. “Thank you.”
Bech lashes out with a foot. “Get back, you little bitch!”
Disentangling myself from her grasp, I stoop, looking her in the face. “Remember, they have to pay for you. And they have to outbid the others. I’m a businessman, not a charity.”
“They will, sir. They will,” says Luuk.
*****
James
Sleep escapes me. My green-eyed Love lying next to me, my friend beyond her, I toss and turn in the dark, my mind churning.
Georgie…
Family matters…
Michael was right to pull me away that day. He enjoys a drink as much as anyone but doesn’t normally overdo it.
When did I last see him drunk?
?
When he believed he was losing Charlotte…
… to me…
He’s right, partially at least. It helps blot out the worst for a few hours. And he went there with me. Stayed with me.
only sticking-plaster over
there’s a chasm
creep through the panes, I give up on sleep and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and
this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and
me. The long slide of
Soul food…
I am unquiet. I cannot
the sun has not risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already fading against
on the mug, I wait and I watch as the rim of the world begins to
Pull yourself together man…
blood-red across the low mist writhing
not seen her for
never
the clouds, a gash
You have everything…
Everything else…
“Master?”
turn, twisting my
slippers and a robe. “Are you
So I’m just
“Would you like company?”
join me. But
*****
catches my eye. And of course, I know
Anyone else around?
the lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of what passes
“Yes, Kirstie?”
“James, about….”
with a file. “Am I interrupting you,
all. I was just chatting with Kirstie
There’s a couple
them in the
Then she
door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of a thing for
God save me…
please. Tell me that’s
mouth and eyes. “Not a joke. She’s awfully sweet don’t
to break this to you, but she’s
chuckles, then turns serious again. “James,
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