I drive. James stretches out his bad leg in the passenger seat. “Well, that was weird,” I comment.

James grunts.

In the rear mirror, Charlotte stares out of the window. “You okay?”

She keeps staring. Tonelessly, “The same thing happened to him as to me. He was scared. He stabbed someone. He ran.”

James swivels in his seat, stabbing a finger towards her. “It is not the same, Charlotte. All aside from the detail that he was responsible for you being in that position, however bad a start to life you both had, you both had choices afterwards. You made choices that turned you into a strong admirable woman. He made choices that took him down the path of slaver and multiple murderer. He could have turned from it at any point and he chose not to do so.”

*****

Michael

I tap on her office door. “Hi, it’s only me.”

Charlotte looks up from her desk. “Is it that time already?”

“Yup. Ready for home?”

“Sure. Let me just…”

My mobile buzzes. It’s Beth.

Not like her to call me out of the blue…

“Hi, Beth. What can I do for you?”

“Hi Michael. Um, could you spare me some time?”

Oh, God…

Not more bloody papers…

Beth. When did you have in mind? I'm free tomorrow afternoon if

I’m upstairs with James.” She

I slip a glance, but Charlotte’s occupied with something on her laptop,

to her.

way.” I tap off my phone then, “Um, Beth’s got something she wants me to look at. I think it might be more of those damn papers from her

I can. Give me a buzz when you’re done, and I’ll

I kiss her forehead, squeeze her

*****

Richard are both there, wearing identical expressions. Arms folded, eyes narrowed,

by Beth, is David, the

Charlotte’s uncle…

they wouldn’t acknowledge

even registered

Because of her mother…

punched

“Mr Summerford… Michael… May I

depends on

again. “First,” he says, “please don't tell anyone else in the family I'm here. Especially

that had nothing to do with her. So, still standing, “As you wish. Why are

couldn’t speak with Stephen there that time

any time since then. I

don’t understand… Stephen… He’s inflexible. Always has been. And he’s gotten more so with age… He wants to control everything. The first thing he did was pocket

Kimberley, what have you

“Shelley called me.”

Richard sit in rigid silence. James’ eyes, all but black, bore

wanted to come back home. She said she was frightened by something. Stephen wouldn’t even consider her returning. But she still rang from time to time. Stephen always hung up on her and she called less as

“And the last time?”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255