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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