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.

sticking-plaster over the

a chasm inside

quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then, coffee in

this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand

view, normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes down the mountain, the lake

Soul food…

I am unquiet.

grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already

the mug, I wait and I

Pull yourself together man…

rises, casting blood-red across the low mist writhing

seen her for

never see

blood seeps into the clouds, a gash

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

twisting my lips to

a robe. “Are

I’m

“Would you like company?”

Come and join me. But put

*****

catches my eye. And of course,

Anyone else around?

the lobby is quiet. We have a few moments

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

the back office with a file.

at all. I was

up at me. “Here’s the visitor list for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but that’s most

them in the daybook

Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back

door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of a

God save me…

thing? Kirstie, please. Tell me

“Not a

down, lowering my voice. “I hate to break this

turns serious again. “James, did

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