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

and there’s a chasm

I can, pull on some clothes and head

care,

long slide of grassy slopes down the

Soul food…

am unquiet.

in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already fading

warming my fingers on the mug, I wait and

Pull yourself together man…

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

seen her

never

seeps into the clouds, a gash in

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

I turn, twisting my lips to a

wearing slippers and a

So I’m just

“Would you like company?”

and join me. But

*****

eye. And of course, I know

Anyone else around?

We have a few moments of what passes for privacy in a spot

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

from the back office with a file.

I was

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

I’ll put them in the daybook

Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back to her

‘til the door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit

God save me…

Tell

“Not a joke. She’s awfully sweet don’t

to break this to

then turns serious again. “James, did

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