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!

ricochets over her face. “You wanted me as

it that

take your revenge on me? Because she left

the grill. “You got it right the

is he

Admitting this?

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

moves to stand behind Klempner, poking a baton between his

guard's

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

visitors, you’ll not

for an excuse to cut

eyes flash sidelong, fury glittering there. Just

The monster…

his features to a more normal expression; apparent

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

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

about what I just saw, but my thoughts are

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

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

looking into some far distance. “She

What do you

she liked butterflies. She had a small tattoo on the back of her shoulder, just there.” He reaches back, tapping behind himself. “And she’d painted one on the wall

was artistic? A

work was very good. Very realistic.” He sucks at his teeth. “Almost eerily so actually. She could have made a living as an

continues, “She

back in her chair.

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

mumbles a bit. “Didn't have it

tone like a desert, “Long

“Would you tell

next time you come

sets. “Why not

encourage you to visit

“Oh… What else?”

gets that distant look again. “She wore a necklace with one too, a butterfly that is. A

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

up to the

what are the chances? Where the hell did you

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

glances at her, his eyes narrowing, then he turns his attention back to the photo. “I'd like

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

grill and Klempner takes it

Something precious?

sits staring

necklace you were

as he looks up. “Your father gave

him in the

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

you still

the monosyllable

doesn’t seem to notice. “When was it?

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

flushes then swallows. “It's the only

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

into mine. She swings to James.

if you want it, you

Klempner sits silently gazing at the image. “I still have that necklace you

Charlotte's voice trembles. “Why

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

didn't let you keep things like

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

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

lip. “I used to hate

had nothing

holds up the photo. “Quid

that really it?”

folds his arms, a sneer flirting over

James stares back.

to out-stare a

I

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

ended like that, yes. But... there was something about her well before then.

“Couldn’t what?”

shrugs. “Mitch was

supposed

no capacity

blade. “While you do? You mean

sits back, folding his arms. “No, she

loved my father

tilts. “I’m not convinced

“But she married him?”

necessary to

want to

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

you.”

not convinced of that either. There was something else. Something stopping her from…

you deduce that she had no

have left

sucks air through

the counter. “She knew I had you. She knew where

warm fingers around her cold ones. “You don't believe in

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

“I want the truth to be a fairy

“And whatever led

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