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
I can, pull on some clothes
this life if, full of care,
normally calms me. The long slide of grassy
Soul food…
am unquiet. I
that the sun has not risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but
I wait and I watch as the rim of the world begins
Pull yourself together man…
blood-red across the low mist writhing over the
seen her for
never see
blood seeps into the clouds, a gash in the
You have everything…
Everything else…
“Master?”
twisting my lips to a
and a robe. “Are you
I’m just
“Would you like company?”
Come and join me. But put some proper clothes
*****
catches my eye. And of course, I know what
Anyone else around?
no, the lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of what passes
“Yes, Kirstie?”
“James, about….”
with a
I was just chatting with Kirstie
Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations
you. I’ll put them in the daybook right
Gillis nods to me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then
door closes behind her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of
God save me…
Kirstie, please. Tell me that’s
eyes. “Not a joke. She’s
down, lowering my voice. “I hate to break this to you, but
serious again.
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