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.
sticking-plaster over the
a chasm
as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then, coffee
care, We
spot, this view, normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes
Soul food…
inside, I am unquiet. I cannot
of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and
on the mug, I wait and I watch as the rim of the
Pull yourself together man…
blood-red across the low mist writhing
seen
never
the clouds, a gash in
You have everything…
Everything else…
“Master?”
I turn, twisting my lips
a robe. “Are
sleep. So I’m just
“Would you like company?”
me. But put some proper clothes on. It’s
*****
And of course, I know what she
Anyone else around?
have a few moments of what passes for privacy in a spot
“Yes, Kirstie?”
“James, about….”
the back office with
all. I was just
Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come
I’ll put them in the
to me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back to
her ‘til the door closes behind her then, “She’s um…
God save me…
Kirstie, please. Tell me that’s a
mouth and eyes. “Not a joke. She’s awfully
“I hate to break this to
turns serious again. “James, did
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