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!

over her face. “You wanted me as a substitute for

could put it that way,

your revenge on me? Because she

forward on folded arms, his face almost touching the grill. “You got it right the first time. I wanted you as a

he

Admitting this?

his save for the barrier. “You imagine I would have wanted you?” she hisses. “Fallen in love with you? Is that what you mean? After the way you treated me when I was little? It’s

guard moves to stand behind Klempner, poking a baton between his shoulders. “Behave

guard's stance; something

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

upsetting your visitors, you’ll

for an excuse to cut his

flash sidelong, fury glittering there. Just for

The monster…

before he schools his features to a more normal expression; apparent passivity… “Yes, Mr

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

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

what I just saw, but my

in her chair. She and Klempner eye-ball each other. After

tell me something about my mother?”

inclines, eyes unfocusing, seemingly looking into some far distance. “She had a thing for

thing? What do

the back of her shoulder, just there.” He reaches back, tapping behind himself. “And she’d

artistic? A painter?

sucks at his teeth. “Almost eerily so actually. She could have made a living as an artist

out of words. Klempner regards her, then continues, “She always seemed to be wearing butterflies on

back in her

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

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

tone like a desert,

eyes lift to his. “Would you tell me about

muses. “Perhaps the next time you

face sets.

will encourage you to visit me

“Oh… What else?”

with one too, a butterfly that is. A little silver thing. Just a trinket, but she was fond

mouth opening and closing. Then she dives for her bag, scrabbling inside. Klempner watches the performance with

holding it up to the grill. “Is

are the chances? Where the hell did you

on my father.” Her hand is shaking. “Is

glances at her, his eyes narrowing, then he turns his attention back to the photo. “I'd like a closer

looks to the guard who snaps fingers at the photo. Charlotte passes it to him. He gives it a cursory

grill and Klempner

Something precious?

then sits staring

necklace you were talking

voice is quiet as he looks up.

him in the

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

still friends

the

notice. “When

before...” He holds up the photo.

“It's the only

hers. Her flesh is icy. “It's a copy of the original. James can make

mine. She swings to James. “You're sure?” He

want it,

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

have it?” Charlotte's voice trembles. “Why do you have

long story. But your father gave it to your mother. Since she's

voice wavering, “I thought they didn't let you keep

I have it here. But I can have it sent to you. Perhaps at those Haswell offices where you spend so much

hand from mine. “Why would you take that

sits back, chews at a lip. “I used to hate you. That's

something I had

photo. “Quid pro quo. You give me something. I give you

that really it?” asks

sneer flirting over his mouth,

James stares back.

try to out-stare a

I

“Why did it fail? Between you and my mother? Because she was afraid

like that, yes. But... there was something about her well

“Couldn’t what?”

shrugs. “Mitch was

that supposed

no capacity to

look like a blade. “While you do? You mean she

back, folding his arms. “No, she

loved my father

head tilts. “I’m not convinced of

“But she married him?”

not actually necessary to love someone to marry

want to marry

wanted her. I wanted her to be with

didn’t want you.”

of that either. There was something else.

deduce that she had

have

sucks air through his

counter. “She knew I had you. She knew

white-faced, could be carved in stone. I take her hand again, curling warm

what happened. Do you want the truth or do you want a fairy

whispers. “I want the truth to

“And whatever

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255