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.
it’s only sticking-plaster over the
there’s a chasm inside
as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then,
this life if, full of care, We have no time to
view, normally calms me. The long slide of
Soul food…
I am unquiet. I
has not risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn,
the mug, I wait and I
Pull yourself together man…
rises, casting blood-red across the low mist writhing
not seen her
you’d never
clouds, a gash in
You have everything…
Everything else…
“Master?”
my lips
wearing slippers and a robe. “Are you
sleep. So I’m
“Would you like company?”
would. Come and join me. But put some proper clothes on. It’s
*****
my eye. And of course, I know
Anyone else around?
quiet. We have a few moments of what
“Yes, Kirstie?”
“James, about….”
appears from the back office with a file. “Am I interrupting
all. I was just chatting with
the visitor list for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but that’s
I’ll put them in
Alexanders.” Then she waddles
door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit
God save me…
Kirstie, please. Tell
her mouth and eyes. “Not a joke. She’s awfully
hate to break this
then turns serious again.
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