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

a chasm

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

life if, full of care, We

normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes

Soul food…

inside, I am unquiet.

that the sun has not risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and

and I watch as the rim of the world begins

Pull yourself together man…

across the low mist writhing over the

seen

never

blood seeps into the clouds, a gash in the

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

turn, twisting my lips

wearing slippers and a robe. “Are you

So I’m

“Would you like company?”

would. Come and join me. But put some proper clothes on. It’s

*****

course, I know what she wants

Anyone else around?

quiet. We have a few moments of

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

the back office with a file. “Am I interrupting you,

was

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

you. I’ll put them in the daybook right

me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back

watches her ‘til the door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of a thing

God save me…

thing? Kirstie, please. Tell me that’s a

twitches around her mouth and eyes. “Not a joke.

hate to break this to you, but

serious again. “James,

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