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

quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for

of care, We have no time to stand and

The long slide of grassy slopes down the mountain, the lake

Soul food…

I am

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

I wait and I watch as the rim of

Pull yourself together man…

rises, casting blood-red across the low mist writhing over the

seen her for

never

into the clouds, a gash

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

I turn, twisting my lips to a

wearing slippers and a robe.

sleep. So I’m just watching

“Would you like company?”

me. But put

*****

of course, I know what she

Anyone else around?

the lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of what passes for privacy in a spot like

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

the back office with a file.

all. I was just chatting with

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

them in

nods to me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she

then, “She’s um… she’s got a

God save me…

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

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

to break this to

then turns serious again. “James, did

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