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!

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

could put it that way,

your revenge on me? Because

touching the grill. “You got it right the first time. I wanted you as a substitute

he saying

Admitting this?

have wanted you?” she hisses. “Fallen in love with you? Is

poking a baton

guard's

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

upsetting your visitors, you’ll not be getting any

for an excuse to cut

fury glittering there. Just

The monster…

before he schools his features to a more normal expression; apparent passivity…

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

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

about what I just saw, but my thoughts

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

you tell me something about my mother?” There’s pleading in her voice.

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

What do

shoulder, just there.” He reaches back, tapping behind

was artistic? A painter? A good

saw of her work was very good. Very realistic.” He sucks at his teeth. “Almost

continues, “She always

back in her

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

a bit. “Didn't have it down as a pyjamas kind

tone like

to his. “Would you tell

he muses. “Perhaps the next

sets.

you

“Oh… What else?”

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

watches the performance with a raised brow. He glances at

up to the grill. “Is that

more closely. “Well, what are the chances? Where the hell did you get

my father.” Her hand is

glances at her, his eyes narrowing, then he turns his attention back to the

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

under the grill and Klempner takes it

Something precious?

then sits staring at

the necklace you were talking

as he looks up. “Your father gave

in

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

you still

But the monosyllable lacks

to notice. “When

words are slow. “Towards the end, before... before...” He holds up the photo. “Can I

flushes then swallows. “It's the only

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

She swings to James. “You're sure?”

yes, if you want it, you can

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

trembles. “Why do

story. But your father gave it to your mother. Since

thought they didn't let

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

mine. “Why would you take that kind of

a lip. “I used to hate you. That's

had

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

really

flirting over his mouth,

James stares back.

try to

I hear

then, “Why did it fail? Between

ended like that, yes. But... there was

“Couldn’t what?”

shrugs. “Mitch was damaged

that supposed to mean.

no capacity

“While you do? You mean she

folding his arms.

my

tilts. “I’m not convinced of

“But she married him?”

not actually necessary to love

you want to marry

I wanted her. I wanted

want you.” Her voice

was something else.

that, you deduce that she had no

would she have left you

air

knew where you would be. But she never came for you. I believed she would. But

again, curling warm fingers around her

to ask me what happened. Do you want the truth or do you

whispers. “I want the truth to be a

from him. “And whatever led you to think life

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