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…

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

now, Michael. Right now. Can you come? I’m upstairs with James.” She pauses and her

tone penetrates. I slip a glance, but Charlotte’s occupied with something on her laptop, not listening.

say anything to her. Just come

I'm on my 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 uncle. Can you keep yourself busy for a

teeth at me, eyes dancing. “What, more of them? Course I can. Give

kiss her forehead, squeeze her arm,

*****

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

Beth, is David, the younger

Charlotte’s uncle…

wouldn’t

registered her

Because of her mother…

I could have cheerfully punched the pair of them, and

Summerford… Michael… May I call you

on

seats himself again. “First,” he says, “please don't tell anyone else in the

had nothing to do with her. So, still

meet my eye. “Yes, I couldn’t speak with Stephen there

phoned me any time since then. I left my contact

And he’s gotten more so with age… He wants

Kimberley, what have you come

“Shelley called me.”

Beth and Richard sit in rigid silence.

returning. But she still rang from time to

“And the last time?”

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