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 a substitute for her? Is

could put it that

take your revenge on me? Because she left

almost touching the grill. “You got it right the

is he

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

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

guard's stance; something in

He dislikes Klempner?

Really dislikes him?

Something personal?

And Klempner’s face…

visitors, you’ll not

an excuse to

eyes flash sidelong, fury glittering

The monster…

he schools his features to a more normal expression; apparent

Apparent meekness.

Apparent obedience.

All fake.

What’s going on?

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

I just

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

me something about my mother?” There’s pleading

looking into some far distance.

A thing? What do you

just there.” He reaches

A

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

continues, “She always seemed to be wearing butterflies on herself somewhere... slippers,

sits back in her

in his cheeks, looking amused. “What’s

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

tone like a desert, “Long

to his. “Would you tell

muses. “Perhaps the next time you come

face sets. “Why not

will encourage you to

“Oh… What else?”

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

scrabbling inside. Klempner watches the performance with a raised brow. He glances at me with a questioning eye. I shrug.

pulls something; the photograph, holding it up to the grill. “Is

“Well, what are the chances?

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

at her, his eyes narrowing, then he turns his attention back to the photo.

Charlotte passes it to him.

it under the grill and Klempner

Something precious?

sits staring at

the necklace you were

voice is quiet as

him in the

“Yes, that’s Conners.”

you still friends

But the

to notice. “When was

before...” He holds up the photo.

then swallows. “It's

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

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

want it, you can

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

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

mother. Since she's not here, I suppose that makes it rightfully

they didn't let you keep things like that

can have it sent to you. Perhaps

“Why would you take that kind of trouble? You hate

back, chews at a lip. “I used to

had nothing to do

“Quid pro quo. You give

really

a sneer flirting over his mouth, staring

James stares back.

to out-stare a

did I

them then, “Why did it fail? Between

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

“Couldn’t what?”

“Mitch was damaged

supposed to

had no

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

his

loved my father

head tilts. “I’m

“But she married him?”

to love someone

you want

yes, I wanted her. I wanted

want you.” Her voice drips

was something else. Something stopping her from… from giving

deduce that she had no capacity

she have

air

“She knew I had you. She knew where you would be.

carved in stone. I take her hand again, curling warm fingers

came to talk; to ask me what happened. Do you want the truth or do you want a fairy

“I want the truth to be

seems to drain from him. “And whatever

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