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!

Shock ricochets over her face. “You wanted me as a substitute

it that

To take your revenge on me? Because

the grill. “You got

is he saying

Admitting this?

with you? Is that what you mean? After the way

stand behind Klempner, poking a baton between his shoulders. “Behave yourself,

guard's stance;

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

you’ll

for an excuse to

glittering

The monster…

schools his features to a more normal

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

he murmurs. “It’s past.” It’s

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

She and Klempner eye-ball each other. After long seconds he says, “So

from her. “Will you tell me something about my mother?” There’s pleading

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

thing? What do

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

was artistic? A painter? A good

Very realistic.” He sucks at his teeth. “Almost eerily so actually. She could have made a living as an artist had she chosen

then continues, “She always seemed to be wearing butterflies

in her

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

a bit. “Didn't have it down as a

a tone like

his. “Would you tell me about

muses. “Perhaps the next time you come to see

face sets. “Why

will encourage you to visit me

“Oh… What else?”

butterfly that is. A

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

the photograph, holding it up to the grill. “Is that

looking more closely. “Well, what are the

my

then he turns his attention back to the

the guard who snaps fingers at the photo. Charlotte passes it to him.

the grill and

Something precious?

then sits staring

the necklace

voice is quiet as he looks up. “Your father gave it to

in the

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

still friends

the monosyllable lacks

doesn’t seem to notice. “When

slow. “Towards the end, before... before...” He holds up

“It's the only one I

icy. “It's a copy of the original. James can make

to

want it, you

still have

voice trembles. “Why do

it to your mother. Since she's not here, I suppose that makes

let

say I have it here. But I can have it sent to

mine. “Why would you

sits back, chews at a lip. “I

something I had nothing to do

stalls then holds up the photo. “Quid pro

that really

folds his arms, a sneer flirting over his mouth,

James stares back.

to

I hear

“Why did it fail? Between

holds her eyes for a long pause before speaking. “It ended like that,

“Couldn’t what?”

“Mitch was damaged

that supposed to

had no capacity to

gives him a look like a blade. “While you do? You mean she didn't love

sits back, folding his arms. “No, she

loved my father

tilts. “I’m

“But she married him?”

necessary to love someone

want to

get that far. But yes, I wanted her. I wanted her to be

want you.”

that either. There was something else. Something stopping her from… from giving

you deduce that she had no capacity to

have

sucks air

I had you. She knew where you would be. But

take her hand again, curling warm fingers around her cold ones. “You

me what happened. Do you

truth to

from him. “And whatever led

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

Comments ()

0/255