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 the
there’s a chasm
and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then, coffee in hand, I go outside
care, We have no
normally calms me. The long slide of grassy
Soul food…
inside, I am
not risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already
the mug, I wait and I watch as the rim of the
Pull yourself together man…
rises, casting blood-red across the low mist
seen her
never see
clouds, a gash
You have everything…
Everything else…
“Master?”
twisting my lips to
wearing slippers and a robe.
So I’m just watching the
“Would you like company?”
join me. But
*****
And of course, I know what
Anyone else around?
quiet. We have a few moments
“Yes, Kirstie?”
“James, about….”
the back office with a file. “Am I
was just chatting with Kirstie
the visitor list for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but
them in the
Then
‘til the door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of
God save me…
Kirstie, please. Tell me that’s
her mouth and eyes. “Not
to break this to you, but she’s not
turns serious again. “James, did
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