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…

When did you have in mind?

come? I’m upstairs with James.” She pauses and

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

say anything to her.

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

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

forehead, squeeze her

*****

both there, wearing identical expressions. Arms folded, eyes

sitting by Beth, is David, the

Charlotte’s uncle…

wouldn’t acknowledge

even registered

Because of her mother…

have cheerfully punched

Summerford… Michael…

on

says, “please don't tell anyone else

to do with

couldn’t speak with Stephen there

me any time since then. I

has been. And he’s gotten more so with age… He wants to control everything. The first thing he did was

have you come to

“Shelley called me.”

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

Stephen wouldn’t even consider her returning. But she still rang from time to time. Stephen always hung up on her

“And the last time?”

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