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…

have in

upstairs with James.” She pauses and

but Charlotte’s occupied with something on her laptop,

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

I can.

her

*****

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

is David, the

Charlotte’s uncle…

they wouldn’t

even registered her

Because of her mother…

I left their house that time, I could have cheerfully punched the

Summerford… Michael… May I call

depends on why you’re

he says, “please don't tell anyone else in the

I see no reason to welcome this man who rejected my wife for events that had nothing to do with her. So, still standing, “As you wish. Why are you here?

“Yes, I couldn’t speak with Stephen there

any time since then.

He’s inflexible. Always has been. And he’s gotten more so with age… He wants

Kimberley, what have you come

“Shelley called me.”

sit in rigid silence. James’

was frightened by something. Stephen wouldn’t even consider her returning. But she still rang from

“And the last time?”

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