Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 23

Michael

“Think he’ll be talkative?”

James shrugs. “Who can guess with that bastard?” He casts down. “Charlotte?”

She’s tight, controlled, hands shoved in the pockets of her jeans. “It’s okay. I’m alright.”

Mmmm…

The guard at the counter goes through the usual rigmarole…

Got to have their procedures I suppose…

… sliding the daybook across the counter. He taps a cracked fingernail on the bottom row. “Name and signature there, sir. And some ID, please.”

I hand over my driving license. “I’ll just be a moment.” The guard scans the license, stapling the copy to the rest of his paperwork, passes it back then turns to James. “Now you, sir.”

He repeats the performance with James and Charlotte, then “And your car keys, please.” I hand them over and he hangs them on a keyboard at the back of the reception area. “Thank you, sir. You can go through now.”

The interview room is as dismal as ever…

Can’t they ever give these places some fresh paint?

And a couple of extra light-bulbs…

Footsteps have trailed a path over worn linoleum and the reek of cigarette smoke competes with stale cabbage.

Klempner’s waiting, sitting behind the barrier. His gaze flicks between me and James then settles on Charlotte as she takes her seat facing him. “Thank you for coming.” His expression is schooled flat but polite, his tone just as much so.

She flushes. “You’re welcome.”

The prison-issue clothes are shabby, but well pressed, immaculate, his hair well cut, fingernails trimmed and clean.

He sits with his hands on the counter, fingers interwoven, thumbs circling each other as though this were no more than a job interview or perhaps a niece visiting a favourite uncle.

Ignoring me and James, “And what would you like to talk about today?”

I push the paper up to the barrier. “Does that mean anything to you?”

His gaze flicks to mine then to the paper. He leans in, looking more closely. “An address? Should it?” He radiates boredom.

Faked?

“I found it in the police files. Supposedly it was the last known address for Charlotte’s mother.”

Klempner’s cheek twitches...

… Yes, faked…

“I’m guessing you visited?” he says. “What did you find?”

“We tried to visit, but the address no longer exists and hasn’t for a long time. There’s a supermarket and a car park on the site now.”

Klempner sucks his teeth. “It may have been a dead end to begin with. Bech was fairly creative about muddying the records. It was a good part of what he did; keeping the dogs sniffing in the wrong direction...”

A shudder runs through Charlotte, seated next to me. Klempner’s gaze flickers to her, his face a blank. Under the counter, I lay a hand on her thigh and she settles.

“So the address was bogus in the first place?”

“I don’t know.” Klempner inhales. “It probably was. I lost track of her. And Bech…” He pauses.

“What?”

“Nothing, just thinking.”

“About what?”

His head tilts back. He regards Charlotte under lowered lids. “Bech wasn’t happy about Mitch,” he says eventually. “It’s possible he tried to misdirect me too.”

“I thought he was your reliable henchman?”

“And who told you that?”

Assumptions…?

Charlotte breaks in. “Bech… Corby as I knew him… He knew my mother? He didn’t like her?”

“No, he didn’t. But then, Bech didn’t really like anyone but Bech. He had his own agenda.”

“Which was?”

“Making himself very wealthy.”

“So why did you work with him?”

“He was efficient… most of the time anyway. He generally had good ideas and could put them into practice. It was his suggestion that I send you to that farm up north.”

She inhales sharply.

She okay?

I try to take her hand in mine, but she tugs it away.

“But why? I thought I was going to be punished for murder, but I woke up there.”

“Murder?” Klempner frowns. “Why would you think that?”

“Supervisor Jenkins…” she suddenly swallows her words.

“Jenkins was hit by a truck. Why…?”

Better stop this…

I interrupt. “So why did you send her to that farm?”

He ignores me, addressing Charlotte. “Jenkins was dead. I had to get you out of the way. Left to his own devices, Bech would almost certainly have killed you. Or arranged that you died. I wanted you alive.”

“So you sent me to the farm and set a spy on me? Why there?”

He taps a forefinger, the nail click-clicking on tired formica.

“I wanted you to grow up like your mother.”

Christ!

her face. “You wanted me as a substitute for her? Is that

it that

revenge on me? Because she left

leans forward on folded arms, his face almost touching the grill. “You got it right the first time.

he

Admitting this?

too, her face almost meeting his save for the barrier. “You imagine I would have wanted you?” she hisses. “Fallen in love with you? Is that what you mean?

behind Klempner, poking a baton between

something in the guard's

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

you’ll not be getting any

for an excuse to

glittering

The monster…

features to a more normal

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

a hand on Charlotte’s. “Calm down,” he murmurs. “It’s past.” It’s the

want to think about what I just saw, but my thoughts are

other. After long seconds he says, “So what would you

you tell me something about my

some far distance. “She had a thing

thing? What

on the back of her shoulder, just there.” He reaches back, tapping behind

artistic? A painter? A

sucks at his teeth. “Almost eerily so

words. Klempner regards her, then continues,

in her

He sucks in his cheeks, looking amused. “What’s so

mumbles a bit. “Didn't have it down as

a tone like

lift to his. “Would you

next time you come

sets. “Why

you to

“Oh… What else?”

wore a necklace with one too, a butterfly that is. A little silver thing. Just a trinket, but

sits back, her mouth opening and closing. Then she dives for her bag, scrabbling inside. Klempner watches the performance with a raised brow. He glances

to the

blinks, glances, then stiffens, looking more closely. “Well, what are the chances? Where the hell did you get hold of

records… The missing persons file on my father.” Her hand is shaking. “Is that it?

his eyes narrowing, then he turns his attention back to the

at the photo. Charlotte passes it to him.

grill and Klempner takes

Something precious?

then sits

that the necklace you were talking

as he looks

him in

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

still

But the monosyllable lacks

notice. “When was it? Where

end, before... before...”

flushes then swallows. “It's

a hand over hers. Her flesh is icy. “It's a

swings to James.

yes, if you want it,

gazing at the image. “I still have that necklace you know. If you like, you

trembles. “Why do you have

mother. Since she's not here, I suppose

voice wavering, “I thought they didn't let

I can have it sent to you. Perhaps at those

sits bolt upright, dragging her hand from mine. “Why would you take that kind

lip. “I used to

I had

stalls then holds up the photo. “Quid pro quo. You give me something. I

really

sneer flirting over his mouth, staring

James stares back.

try to out-stare

did I hear

did it fail? Between you and

a long pause before speaking. “It ended like that, yes. But... there

“Couldn’t what?”

“Mitch was damaged

that supposed

had no capacity to

a blade. “While you do? You mean she didn't love

back, folding his arms. “No,

my

head tilts. “I’m not convinced

“But she married him?”

actually necessary to

you want to marry

I wanted her. I wanted her to be with

want you.”

of that either. There was something else. Something

you deduce that she had

she have

sucks air through his

resting on the counter. “She knew I had you. She knew where you would be. But she never came for you. I

take her hand again, curling warm fingers around

ask me what happened. Do you want the truth

want the truth to be

“And whatever led you to think life

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