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 the

a chasm

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

this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and

The long slide of grassy slopes down

Soul food…

I am

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

steam, warming my fingers on the mug, I wait and I watch as the rim of

Pull yourself together man…

across the low

not seen her

never

the clouds, a gash in

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

my

and a robe.

So I’m just watching

“Would you like company?”

Come and join me. But put some

*****

catches my eye. And of course, I know

Anyone else around?

a few moments of what passes for privacy in a spot like

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

back office with

I was just chatting with Kirstie

There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but that’s most of

them in the

“Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back to

the door closes behind her then, “She’s um…

God save me…

please. Tell

“Not a joke. She’s

hate to break this

serious

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