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.

for the exit. Silhouetted against the daylight he stands, legs akimbo, arms outspread… “Mitch,

the gas, the car screams down the aisle, up the ramp, adding to the black-burned stripes on the pitted concrete. Slamming his fist onto the horn, it shrieks defiance as the car rockets to the exit. At the last moment, Klempner hurls himself to one side as they smash through the barrier

them, squinting into the

with him, Malory wheezing behind. “We can’t let

in Bech’s ribs. “Use a gun near her again and it will be the last thing you do. Understand me? Hurt her and

hisses through his teeth, winded; no words,

boot in your guts.

*****

Charlotte

trying to find Charlotte. Is she up

to reply, but I interrupt her. “Yes,

someone down here for you. A Mr Maurio Vincenzo. He says he’s

cocks

who handled

on earth

say what it’s about,

to speak with

“Yes, of course.”

don’t have anything outstanding from your

could. And if there was anything, I’m sure Chad would have mentioned

“Would you like me to

to sit in with

you would like to, yes,

dark grey suit and a professional manner steps out. He glances around, then

“That’s right.”

“Maurio Vincenzo. You dealt with my

hand, shake it. “Pleased to meet you. I’m a bit baffled though. Surely

divorce, but another matter entirely. Although it was your estranged husband who informed us where we could find you. Is there somewhere we

pipes up. “Richard has no appointments just now, Charlotte. The conference room is free all

follows us in, to

“It’s fine,” I say.

met before and I must establish your identity. I understand you are currently known as ‘Charlotte Summerford’, but my father dealt with one ‘Jennifer Conners’. I have only Mr Bennett’s word

“That’s right.”

can

I need to. But why should I need

you please give me your signature as

and long-abandoned name. The lawyer compares it with some paper from his case, then looks up 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.

“Right… So?”

holds up the document, punctuating his words with it. “So, I hold here the

clutches and my

spectacles at me…” Your old school-teacher I understand…” He hesitates. “As you probably know, he died

tightens. “Yes,