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…

course, Beth. When did you have in mind? I'm free

Can you come? I’m upstairs with James.” She

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

say anything to her. Just come up

my phone then, “Um, Beth’s got something she wants me to look at. I

them? Course I can. Give

her forehead, squeeze her arm, then head for the

*****

Richard are both there, wearing identical expressions.

David,

Charlotte’s uncle…

wouldn’t

registered

Because of her mother…

cheerfully punched the pair of them, and it must

stands awkwardly. “Mr Summerford… Michael… May I call

on why

equally awkwardly, and seats himself again. “First,” he says, “please don't tell anyone else in the family I'm here. Especially Stephen. My life wouldn't be worth

wife for events that had nothing to do with her. So, still standing, “As you wish. Why are you here? Is there something you would

“Yes, I couldn’t speak with Stephen there that time

any time since then. I left my

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 your card.

Kimberley, what have you come to

“Shelley called me.”

sit in

frightened by something. Stephen wouldn’t even consider her returning. But she

“And the last time?”

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

Comments ()

0/255