Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

In the office, Charlotte, looking helpless, sits with arms wrapped around the wildly sobbing Kirstie, patting her on the shoulders, making crooning noises and pushing a conveyor belt of tissues into her hand.

I feel terrible.

Fucked that one up, didn’t I…?

Perching a hip on the desktop by her, “Kirstie… I’m so sorry. I tried…”

She sniffles into the tissues. “It’s not your fault, James. He wouldn’t listen to me. He wouldn’t listen to you.” She rummages in a pocket, tugs something out; a crumpled ribbon of velvet.

She holds it in her hand. The single pearl it carries dangles forlornly. “It’s done,” she says.

“Do you want to go home?” I ask. “I’ll drive you.”

Her head swings. “No, thank you, James. I’d rather work. I’d rather be here.”

*****

Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago

True to his prediction, Bech produces an address for Conners in under an hour. “I put Malory on there,” he says, “to check out if she’s there. It’s on the fourth floor, but he confirms he’s sighted a red-headed woman moving around inside.” He tugs at his chin, eyeing me speculatively. “What are your orders, sir?”

I want nothing more than to walk away from this. To lie down. To sleep away the banging inside my head.

“Sir?”

This is about survival…

“Sir, we cannot let this woman run free. She knows too much. She’s a loose cannon.”

He’s right…

But I can’t bring myself to give the order.

Bech inhales. “Sir, I understand that you find this difficult. If you wish, I will handle it.”

“No!”

Bech jolts at my tone.

More calmly, “No. As you say, Bech. It has to be handled. Tell Malory to stay where he is. Keep a track of where they are. We’ll meet him there.”

*****

By the elevator, Malory is waiting for us as we arrive. In blue overalls and with a toolbox on hand, he’s making a show of working on a radiator under the window. Conners’ apartment is down the corridor one way. In the other direction; the landing branches to the stairwell, then more apartments.

“They both inside?” I ask.

“She’s inside.” Malory thumbs out of the window, down and across the street. “He’s in the take-out. Saw him go in there ten minutes ago.”

Bech grunts. “Should be due out any minute now then.”

As we watch, a familiar figure, carrying a large flat box, exits the pizza parlour and crosses the road. He enters the building and a few seconds later the indicator for the elevator flashes downwards for the ground floor.

“You two stay in the background,” mutters Bech. “I’ll meet and greet our Mr Conners.”

glass panel. Bech stands away from the elevator

corridor. Bech follows behind. “Mr Conners? Frank Conners? Could I have a word please.” He flashes a badge, and for just a moment, Conners only sees the badge and the

eyes widen in

off his words with a punch in the gut that drops him to his knees, gasping and coughing. Then he and Malory haul him

“Keys,” I snap.

Then frisks him. “Not

his temple. “Here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to that door. You’re going to call her and tell her to open the door. All very normal. Nothing to upset her. If anything does upset her before the door

His voice chokes. “I

be why you tried to steal Mitch,

do as you’re told?” He pushes him away and along

one side. Conners looks to me again, sweating. I raise

starts to speak. “Mitch…” He swallows. “Mitch. It’s

a peep-hole, the rattle of a door chain, the rasp

door opens. Bech jams in a foot, pushing hard and from beyond, there’s a shriek of

Mitch…

Scared…

My guts drops.

barrel in, pushing Conners ahead of them. As I follow in behind, Bech is on her,

“Get your

there, the whites showing all around his eyes. Then he subsides, pushing her away with the flat of his palm

handle Conners,” I say. “Get him out

The two frog-march

a-fly… Her breath comes

skitters back. “Don’t

the wall, she darts eyes this way

Looking for a weapon?

An escape?

hurt you. I would never hurt

saw? Chained up. What happens to them?” Her lip curls. Disgust drips through her voice. “You sell

clench. I

me as though she’d found a maggot in her food. “Is that what you would have done with me once you'd got

different with you. You’re different.

Believe me…

Please… Believe me…

Larry. You really had me going. When you left, I was coming to see you. To say yes. To say, I’d give it a try.

Disappointment claws at me…

So close…

that. But it’s different now. I'm changing. You've changed me. I'll change it all, everything; Blessingmoors, everything. You can help. I want

your women? Your goods? What will you do? Let them go? Send them

I’ll set them free. Send them home. If that’s what you want. If you’ll

working up saliva. “And your man there, that took Frank away... Bech was it? There’s a murdering bastard if I ever saw one. Will he agree to all this? Just like that? All that

as he's

are softening. “Come with me, Mitch. Please. You know it’s good between us. Be

head raises.

You ran to him…

him

Some two-bit salesman...

me and

face. “That's how it works with you, isn't it? Coercion. Force. You have no concept of freedom

shoulders. I drop my forehead to