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

a

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

care, We have no time to stand

calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes down the

Soul food…

am unquiet.

bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already fading against the rising glare on

and I watch as

Pull yourself together man…

blood-red across the low mist writhing over

not seen her

never see

clouds, a gash in the

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

I turn, twisting my lips to

slippers and a robe.

sleep. So I’m just watching the

“Would you like company?”

and join me. But put

*****

And of course, I know what

Anyone else around?

moments of what

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

appears from the back office with a file. “Am I

was just chatting with Kirstie

“Here’s the visitor list for today, Kirstie. There’s

I’ll put them in the

nods to me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back to her

behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of a thing for

God save me…

Tell me

smile twitches around her mouth and eyes. “Not a joke. She’s awfully sweet don’t you

“I hate to break this to you, but she’s not

turns serious again.

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