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

a chasm inside

pale fingers creep through the panes, I give up on sleep and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then, coffee

life if, full of care,

view, normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes

Soul food…

inside, I am

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

mug, I wait and I watch as

Pull yourself together man…

rises, casting blood-red across the low mist writhing

seen her

never see

into the clouds,

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

turn, twisting my lips to

and a robe. “Are you

I’m just watching the

“Would you like company?”

course I would. Come and join me. But put some

*****

course, I

Anyone else around?

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

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

from the back office with a file. “Am I interrupting you,

was just chatting

Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but that’s most of

I’ll put them in the daybook

Alexanders.” Then she waddles off

“She’s um… she’s got a bit

God save me…

Kirstie, please. Tell me that’s a

around her mouth and eyes. “Not a joke. She’s

lowering my voice. “I hate to break this to you, but she’s not

chuckles, then turns serious again. “James, did

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