Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Mitch

She descends the stairs as if the devil is behind her…

He is…

She risks a look up; the briefest of glances. She can’t see him, but the clang of pursuit echoes above her.

And she runs…

Down two stories, three. Almost to ground level… and there… As she hits tarmac… a door close by… An emergency exit swings open, a body erupting out of it…

Frank.

He canons into her, grabbing her by the waist, swinging her around.

“Mitch…”

“Don’t stop.” She jerks a head up to where Klempner rattles down the steps after her. “Where’s your car?”

“Basement, but the keys…”

“Got them. Move.”

The pair swerve, u-turning back into the stairwell, barrelling downwards. From above, the sound of a slamming door; echoing boots on concrete

They burst into the parking lot.

“Where?” She peers into the low dark space.

“There.” He points, still running, snatching at her wrist, towing her along. From behind another crash from a swinging door. From off-side, Bech appears with Malory, both with guns in their hands.

The pair dash from one grey concrete pillar to another; stooping, running at a crouch, dodging between corridors of vehicles; vans, station wagons, saloons… Then, a sports car; shiny, bright red and low…

A crack behind her. A whistle…

Mitch shrieks and drops as the bullet skids over the door of the two-seater, taking paintwork with it…

Klempner’s voice, reverberating through the low space. “Put the fucking gun down. Hurt her and I’ll gut you.”

… but she keeps moving…

Frank is ahead of her. For a moment he skids, foot sliding over a patch of oil. Slipping, he falls but catches himself on the handle of the nearest door, then, “There… Keys!”

She tosses them across and twisting, he catches them one-handedly, pointing ahead to his own 4x4. Lights flash orange, beeping and the crunch of disengaging locks resound through the low-ceilinged space.

She tumbles into the passenger seat.

“Stay down.” Frank engages and with the screech of tortured rubber, the car careens down the ranks of vehicles.

and Malory race behind, but Klempner cuts across, sprinting for the exit. Silhouetted against the daylight he

stripes on the pitted concrete. Slamming his fist onto the horn, it shrieks defiance as the car rockets to the exit. At the

after them, squinting into the sunshine but already the traffic has closed

Bech catches up with him, Malory wheezing behind. “We can’t let them go.

lashes out with a foot, planting his boot in Bech’s

on himself, Bech hisses through his teeth, winded; no words, but

than my boot in

*****

Charlotte

intercom buzzes. “Francis, it’s Kirstie. I’m trying

but I interrupt her. “Yes,

for you. A Mr Maurio Vincenzo. He says

cocks a questioning

who handled my

on earth could they

say what

that he needs to speak with you. Should

“Yes, of course.”

Master, frowning, “You don’t have anything outstanding from

there was anything, I’m sure Chad would have

cheeks. “Would you like me

I want to sit

like

doors Ssshhhh… open and a man wearing a dark grey suit and a professional manner steps out. He glances around, then

“That’s right.”

dealt with my father when he handled

I’m a bit baffled though. Surely everything to do with my divorce

another matter entirely. Although it was your estranged husband who informed us where we

The conference room is free all morning.”

Master follows us in, to the sidelong glance

“It’s fine,” I say.

known as ‘Charlotte Summerford’, but my father dealt with one ‘Jennifer

“That’s right.”

can prove

to. But why should I need

give

again, smiling, holding up the paper. “Your original petition for divorce,” he comments. “And that’s fine, Mrs Summerford. Now…” He takes out another document. “As to why I am here. As I mentioned, my firm was contacted recently by your ex-husband, Charles Bennett, to inform us that he had

“Right… So?”

punctuating his words with it. “So, I hold

clutches and my

the rim of his spectacles at me…” Your old school-teacher I understand…” He hesitates. “As you probably

tightens. “Yes,