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

a

I give up on sleep and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head

care, We have no time

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

Soul food…

am unquiet.

the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already fading against the rising glare

and I watch

Pull yourself together man…

blood-red across the low mist writhing over the

seen

never see

clouds, a gash in

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

turn, twisting my

slippers and a robe. “Are

So I’m just watching

“Would you like company?”

me. But put some

*****

eye. And of course, I

Anyone else around?

no, the lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

with a file. “Am I interrupting

all. I was just chatting with

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

I’ll put them in the

me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles

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

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

hate to

then turns serious again. “James, did

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