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 her? Is

it that way,

take your revenge on me? Because

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

he saying

Admitting this?

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 been over twenty years. You’re obsessed.

Klempner, poking a

in the guard's stance; something in

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

you go upsetting your visitors, you’ll not

an excuse to cut his

sidelong, fury glittering there.

The monster…

to a more normal expression; apparent passivity… “Yes,

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 first

what I just

She and Klempner eye-ball each other. After

something about my mother?” There’s pleading in her voice. “Something

seemingly looking into some far distance.

A thing? What do you

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

artistic? A

was very good. Very realistic.” He sucks at his teeth. “Almost eerily so actually.

then continues, “She always seemed to be wearing butterflies

back in her chair.

cheeks, looking amused. “What’s so surprising

a bit. “Didn't have it down

a tone like

eyes lift to his. “Would you tell me

the next time you come

face sets.

you to visit me

“Oh… What else?”

butterfly that

watches the performance with a raised brow. He glances at me with a questioning

up to the grill. “Is that it?

are the

in some old records… The missing persons file on my father.” Her hand is shaking. “Is that

her, his eyes narrowing, then he turns his

fingers at the photo. Charlotte passes it to him. He gives it a cursory inspection,

under the grill and

Something precious?

sits

that the necklace you were talking

voice is quiet as he looks up.

in

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

still friends

the monosyllable

seem to notice. “When was it? Where was

before...” He holds up the photo. “Can I keep

flushes then swallows. “It's the

over hers. Her flesh is icy. “It's a copy of the original.

to James. “You're sure?” He nods without

want it, you

still have that necklace you know. If you like, you can have

voice trembles. “Why do

story. But your father gave it to your mother. Since she's not here, I

“I thought they didn't let you keep things

didn’t say I have it here. But I can have it sent to you. Perhaps at those Haswell offices where you spend so much

“Why would you take that kind of

lip. “I used to

I had nothing to do

the photo. “Quid pro quo. You give me something.

that really it?” asks

folds his arms, a sneer flirting over his mouth, staring

James stares back.

to out-stare

I

did it fail? Between you and

like that, yes. But...

“Couldn’t what?”

“Mitch was damaged

supposed to mean.

had no capacity

gives him a look like a blade. “While

sits back, folding his arms.

my

“I’m not convinced of

“But she married him?”

actually necessary to love

want to

didn’t get that far. But yes, I wanted

you.” Her voice

was something else. Something stopping her

that she had no capacity to

she have left you at

air

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 her cold

“I thought you came to talk; to ask me what happened. Do you

whispers. “I want the truth to be a fairy

him. “And whatever led you to think life is like

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