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

could put it that

your revenge on

face almost touching the grill. “You got it right the first

is he saying all

Admitting this?

forward too, her face almost meeting 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

behind Klempner, poking a baton

is something in the guard's stance; something in

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

go upsetting your visitors, you’ll not be getting

for an excuse to

fury glittering

The monster…

before he schools his features to a more normal

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

lays a hand on Charlotte’s. “Calm down,” he murmurs.

what I just saw, but my thoughts are cut

other. After long seconds he says, “So what

tell me something about

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

A thing? What do

back of her shoulder, just

artistic? A painter? A good

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

continues, “She always seemed to

in

his cheeks, looking amused. “What’s

“Didn't have it down

a tone like a desert,

his. “Would you

the next time you

face sets. “Why

will encourage you to visit

“Oh… What else?”

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

dives for her bag, scrabbling inside. Klempner watches the performance

she pulls something; the photograph, holding it up to the

are

old records… The missing persons file on my

narrowing, then he turns his attention back to the photo. “I'd like a closer

the photo. Charlotte passes it to him.

under the grill and Klempner takes

Something precious?

sits staring at

that the necklace you were talking

voice is quiet as he looks up.

him in the

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

you still friends

the

doesn’t seem to notice. “When was it?

end, before... before...” He

“It's the only one

“It's a

tighten into mine. She swings to James. “You're sure?” He nods without

want it, you can

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

it?” Charlotte's voice trembles.

your mother. Since she's not

didn't let you

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

bolt upright, dragging her hand from mine. “Why would

chews at a lip. “I used

I had nothing to do

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

really it?” asks

his arms, a sneer flirting over

James stares back.

try to out-stare

did I

looks between the two of them then, “Why did it fail? Between

eyes for a long pause before speaking. “It ended like that, yes. But... there was

“Couldn’t what?”

shrugs. “Mitch was damaged

that supposed to

no

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

sits back, folding his arms. “No,

loved my

tilts. “I’m not convinced of

“But she married him?”

actually necessary to love someone

you want

far. But yes, I wanted her. I wanted her to

want you.” Her voice drips

There was something else.

from that, you deduce that she had

she have

air through

counter. “She knew I had you. She knew where you would be. But she

her hand again, curling warm fingers around her cold ones. “You don't believe in softening the blow

happened. Do you

the truth to be

drain from him. “And whatever led

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