James
She sits by me, pushing a coffee mug my way.
“Thanks.” Then I take a good look at her….
Something’s changed….
…. She’s happier….
Ah…. Yes….
I drink my coffee and wait for her to volunteer what I think…. what I am almost sure…. is coming.
“Um….”
“Ah-ha?”
“I thought I should tell you. I’m not pregnant.”
As I thought….
I take her hand, kiss the fingers. “Good. I’m glad. I know it was worrying you.”
She nods into her coffee. “I do feel better now.”
I rub my thumb over the fingers, noticing the roughness of the skin. Charlotte has ‘working hands’ and I’m conscious that it embarrasses her sometimes.
When this is all over, I’ll ask Beth to take her to a spa or beauty centre. Get her to pamper herself a bit.
I’m less sanguine about her nails. She doesn’t normally bite them, but right now, they’re chewed to the quick.
Nerves?
Upset about her fall-out with Michael….?
Change the subject….
…. Happy futures….
“Perhaps, one day?” I ask. “When this is all over?”
She looks at me blankly for a moment, then realises what I am asking her. She swallows her coffee. “Is that what you would like, Master?”
it is what you want, yes, I
has a far-away look, her breathing slow. “Yes…. one day.” She
“When you’re ready.”
Family….
considered what you would like?”
considers the inside of her mug. “Something for everyone I suppose.” She
And when you are ready….” I take her hand and kiss her fingers again… “I’ll do
the first time in some while, I
I was just….” Michael stops. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t realise you were
won’t meet each other’s
you later James.” And the
could happily punch
talking about starting a family
next she won’t
each other so much, not be able
want to tear my
do
*****
Klempner
conscious
to finding what you could about
knowing he is on safer ground. “It’s very interesting, sir. In fact, her path
raises brows.
a woman for sale, via convoluted channels, by a man called Mack Kane. I didn’t make the connection at first because she was, at that time, unmarried. However, after sifting through the files, both ours and
with thumb and forefinger. “Do I understand you correctly? We
“That is correct, sir.”
didn’t we get
various charges. All are serving long sentences. It was
“Quite the coincidence.”
of that sort, and given that you, um…. cleared your competition…. from the City, she was almost certain to be offered to us. Kane didn’t want her ending up anywhere local where she might start blabbing. He wanted her a continent or
reason to disagree. “Anything else yet? Where she came from in
name Elizabeth Kimberley is not so uncommon, and I am trying to find which is our
“However?”
for time right now…. For the research. Extensive
police response to the fucking mess
“Yes sir.”
*****
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