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
there’s a
moving as quietly as I can, pull on
full of care, We have no time to stand and
long slide of
Soul food…
inside, I am unquiet.
risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already fading
my fingers on the mug, I wait and I watch as the rim of the world begins to
Pull yourself together man…
rises, casting blood-red across the low mist writhing over the
seen her
never
clouds,
You have everything…
Everything else…
“Master?”
turn, twisting my lips to
wearing slippers and a robe.
sleep. So I’m just watching
“Would you like company?”
join me. But
*****
of course, I know what she wants
Anyone else around?
a few moments of what passes for privacy in a spot
“Yes, Kirstie?”
“James, about….”
with a file. “Am I interrupting
I was
for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but that’s most
you. I’ll put them in the daybook right
Then she waddles off back
door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got
God save me…
Kirstie, please. Tell
around her mouth and eyes. “Not
down, lowering my voice. “I hate to break this
chuckles, then turns serious again. “James, did
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