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

a

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

full of care, We have

spot, this view, normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes down

Soul food…

am unquiet. I

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

I wait and I watch as the rim of the world begins

Pull yourself together man…

rises, casting blood-red across the low

seen her

you’d never see

clouds, a gash in the

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

twisting my lips

a robe. “Are

sleep. So I’m just watching

“Would you like company?”

Come and join me.

*****

course, I know what she wants to

Anyone else around?

moments of what passes for privacy

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

with a file. “Am I

was just chatting with Kirstie

up at me. “Here’s the visitor list for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more

I’ll put them in the daybook right

Alexanders.” Then she

then, “She’s

God save me…

thing? Kirstie, please. Tell

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

hate to break this

serious again. “James, did

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