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!

her face. “You wanted me as a substitute for her? Is

it

revenge on me? Because

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

he saying all

Admitting this?

you?” she hisses. “Fallen in love with you? Is that what you mean? After the way you treated me when I

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

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 any

an excuse to

glittering there.

The monster…

a more normal

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

down,” he murmurs. “It’s past.” It’s

to think about what I just saw, but my

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

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

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

What do

of her shoulder, just there.” He

artistic? A painter?

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

continues, “She always

in her

sucks in his cheeks,

“Didn't have it down as a pyjamas

a tone like a

to his. “Would you

the next

sets. “Why not

encourage you to

“Oh… What else?”

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

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

the photograph, holding it up to the grill. “Is that it? The necklace. That she’s wearing

what are the chances? Where the hell did

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

turns his attention back to the

snaps fingers at the photo. Charlotte passes it to him. He gives it

grill and

Something precious?

sits staring at

the necklace you

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

in the

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

still

the monosyllable lacks

doesn’t seem to notice. “When was

the end, before... before...” He holds up the

swallows. “It's

over hers. Her flesh is icy. “It's a copy of the original. James can make

She swings to James. “You're sure?”

you want it, you can

“I still have that necklace you know. If you

voice trembles. “Why do

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

they didn't let

But I can have it sent to you. Perhaps at

from mine. “Why would you take that kind of trouble?

back, chews at a lip. “I used to

had nothing

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

really it?” asks

arms, a sneer flirting over his

James stares back.

try to

did I hear

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

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

“Couldn’t what?”

“Mitch was

that supposed

no capacity to

a blade. “While you do? You mean she

sits back, folding his arms. “No, she

my father

“I’m not convinced

“But she married him?”

necessary to love

want to marry

get that far. But yes, I wanted her.

she didn’t want you.” Her voice drips

There was something else. Something stopping

that she had no

she have

sucks air

had you. She knew where you would be. But she never

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

inhales. “I thought you came to talk; to ask me what happened. Do you want the truth

whispers. “I want the truth to

drain from him. “And whatever led you to think life is

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