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

could put it that way,

your revenge on me? Because she left

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

he saying

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 been over twenty years. You’re obsessed. You’re fucking

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

is something in the guard's

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

you’ll not

for an excuse

eyes flash sidelong, fury glittering there. Just

The monster…

his features to a more

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

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

about what I just saw,

shuffles in her chair. She and Klempner eye-ball each other. After long seconds he says, “So what would

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

unfocusing, seemingly looking into some

What do you

on the back of her shoulder, just there.” He reaches back, tapping

artistic? A painter? A good

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

of words. Klempner regards her, then continues, “She always seemed

in her chair.

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

a bit. “Didn't have it

like a desert,

lift to his. “Would you

next time you come to

face sets. “Why

you to

“Oh… What else?”

butterfly that is. A little silver thing. Just a trinket, but

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

to the grill. “Is

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

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

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 under the grill

Something precious?

then sits

that the necklace you were talking

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

in

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

you still friends

But the monosyllable

seem to notice. “When was it?

slow. “Towards the end, before... before...”

swallows. “It's

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

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

if you want it, you can

“I still have that necklace you

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

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

thought they didn't let you keep things like that in

here. But I can have it sent to you. Perhaps at those Haswell offices

“Why would

back, chews at a lip.

had nothing

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

that really it?”

arms, a sneer flirting over

James stares back.

try to out-stare

I

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

pause before speaking. “It ended like that, yes. But... there was something about her well before

“Couldn’t what?”

shrugs. “Mitch was damaged

that supposed

no capacity to

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

folding his arms. “No,

loved my father

“I’m not

“But she married him?”

not actually necessary to love someone to marry

want to marry

But yes, I wanted

you.” Her voice drips

convinced of that either. There was something else. Something stopping her

that, you deduce that she

would she have left

sucks air

had you. She knew where

in stone. I take her hand again, curling warm

what happened. Do you want the

want the truth

from him. “And whatever led you

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

Comments ()

0/255