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 mind? I'm free tomorrow afternoon

Can you come? I’m upstairs with James.” She pauses and her voice lowers.

tone penetrates. I slip a glance, but Charlotte’s

say anything to her. Just come

phone then, “Um, Beth’s got something she wants me to look at. I think it might be more of those damn papers

me, eyes dancing. “What, more of them? Course I can. Give me a buzz when you’re done,

forehead, squeeze her

*****

there, wearing identical

Beth, is David, the younger of

Charlotte’s uncle…

wouldn’t acknowledge

registered her

Because of her mother…

their house that time, I could have cheerfully punched the pair of them, and it must show on my

Summerford… Michael… May I call you

depends on why you’re

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

sit. 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? Is there something you would like

I couldn’t

time since then. I left

he’s gotten more so with age… He wants to control everything. The first thing

Kimberley, what have you come

“Shelley called me.”

the room. Beth and Richard sit in rigid silence. James’ eyes,

first when she wanted to come back home. She said she was frightened by something. Stephen wouldn’t even consider her returning. But

“And the last time?”

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