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!

face. “You wanted

could put it that

take your revenge on me? Because she left

got it right the first time. I wanted you

is he saying

Admitting this?

“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 been over twenty years.

Klempner, poking

guard's

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

go upsetting your visitors, you’ll not

for an excuse

flash sidelong, fury glittering there.

The monster…

to a more normal expression; apparent

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

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

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

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

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

What

a small tattoo on the back of her shoulder, just

artistic? A painter? A good

at his teeth. “Almost eerily

continues, “She always seemed to

in her

his cheeks, looking amused.

“Didn't have it down as a pyjamas kind of

tone like

“Would you

next

face sets. “Why not

you

“Oh… What else?”

wore a necklace with one too, a butterfly that

dives for her bag, scrabbling inside. Klempner watches the performance with a raised brow. He glances at

the photograph, holding it up to

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

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

eyes narrowing, then he turns his attention back to

who snaps fingers at the photo. Charlotte passes it to

slides it under the grill and Klempner takes

Something precious?

sits staring at

that the necklace you were

His voice is quiet as he looks up. “Your father

in

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

still

the monosyllable

notice. “When was it?

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

swallows. “It's

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

She swings to James. “You're

if you want it, you can have

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

Charlotte's voice trembles. “Why do you have

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

“I thought they didn't let you

it sent to you. Perhaps at those Haswell offices where you spend so

“Why would you take that

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

I had nothing

then holds up the photo. “Quid pro quo.

that really it?” asks

sneer flirting over his mouth,

James stares back.

try to out-stare a

I

the two of them then, “Why did it fail? Between you and my mother? Because she was

speaking. “It ended like that, yes. But... there was

“Couldn’t what?”

shrugs. “Mitch

supposed

no

like a blade. “While you do?

sits back, folding his

loved my

head tilts. “I’m not

“But she married him?”

not actually necessary to love someone to marry

want

I wanted her. I wanted her

you.” Her voice

not convinced of that either. There was something

deduce that she had no capacity

have left

sucks air

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

stone. I take her hand again, curling warm fingers around her cold ones. “You don't believe in softening

what happened. Do you want the truth or do you

“I want the truth

“And whatever led you to think life is like

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