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

pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then, coffee in hand, I go outside to sit and

life if, full of care, We have

The long slide of grassy slopes down

Soul food…

I am unquiet. I

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

on the mug, I wait and I watch

Pull yourself together man…

across the low mist writhing

not seen

you’d never

clouds, a gash in

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

I turn, twisting my lips to

wearing slippers and a robe. “Are you

So I’m just watching

“Would you like company?”

me. But put some

*****

catches my eye. And of course,

Anyone else around?

lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of what passes for privacy in a

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

appears from the back office with a file.

at all. I was just

Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations

you. I’ll put them in the

nods to me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back to

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

God save me…

thing? Kirstie, please. Tell me that’s

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

lowering my voice. “I hate to break this to you, but she’s

chuckles, then turns serious

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