Masters And Lovers 1-4
Chapter 23
I find him outside, glass in hand.
“Ben?”
He turns, and all the camaraderie and any pretense of good humor has vanished. “What?”
Close up, the smell of whiskey on his breath is strong.
“Are you alright?”
He takes a mouthful of the whiskey, rolls it around his mouth. “Alright? No, as a matter of fact, I’m not alright. You think there’s a reason I should be?”
“What’s the matter?”
In the darkness, the whites of his eyes reflect. “The matter is… You just announced to everyone, to all our family, as though it’s good news, that your wife is about to have a baby.”
“The rest of them seem very pleased about it.”
“Mike, you don’t even know it’s yours. It could be his.”
The words tumble from my mouth. “It is his…”
Crap…
Shouldn’t have said that…
Or should I?
Ben’s hands are fisting, knuckles whitening…
Here we go again…
“How…” He splutters the words, stops, then starts again. “How can you say that and be so calm? It’s his? You know that? You mean your wife has been fucking with him and you’ve not…?” His voice vanishes to a strangled gurgle.
“No. For what business it is of yours, that’s not what it means. We arranged it between us. Charlotte and I.”
“Arranged? What do you mean, arranged?”
“We arranged that… Jeez, Ben, there’s more than one way of getting your rocks off. We just made sure that only James was able to…”
Ah, Christ….
“To what? Impregnate her?” White-faced, Ben looms close. “How the fuck did he convince you to do that?”
“He didn’t. It’s not James’ doing. He didn’t know about it. It was Charlotte who wanted to give him something to make up for losing his daughter.”
“What d’you mean? Lose his daughter?”
“It’s a long story, Ben. Listen, what happened to you agreeing you’d think before you damned anyone to hell for not seeing things your way? If you didn’t condemn everything you hear that doesn’t fit your idea of how to do things, then I’d tell you more. As it is you make it impossi….”
“And what about her?”
“Her? Charlotte?”
“No, her mother. The woman you’ve got living in with you.”
“Mitch? What about her?”
“I figured it out. You wouldn’t tell me, but I figured it. She’s a hooker, isn’t she? You said she left home at fifteen. How else would she have managed? She went on the streets, and that’s why her brother wouldn’t have her back.” He squares up.
Fuck…
I don’t want to speak, don’t want to lie to my brother.
But if I admit the truth…
He repeats. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
I inhale, then exhale. “Yes, you’re right. Mitch was very young; very sheltered and inexperienced. And yes, she had to feed herself, pay rent and all the other things that the rest of us have to do.”
Ben snorts. “So, Charlotte’s mother was a prostitute too.”
“What d’you mean… too? Are you trying to imply Charlotte is a prostitute?”
He shrugs. “What would you call it? The way she chooses to live… Runs in the family doesn't it. Be honest with yourself, Mike, she’s doesn't have the morals of an alley cat. This at least explains why.”
My face turning warm, “That's my wife you're talking about. Fucking well take that back.”
Bro. She does have the morals of an alley cat.” He slaps
Condescending bastard…
to be a sex worker. Her
I want to shout him down, but the
I want to punch him in
Ben’s hand away from my
blundering on, keeps talking… “…What happened? The mother got herself pregnant on the
She didn’t leave Charlotte there. Charlotte was… stolen… from her
casts over the dark courtyard. “Michael, are you okay
be with you in a minute,
on my brother. “Get the hell out of here, Ben. I don’t want you back in the party and I don’t want to talk to you again for a few days. And when we do talk, if you don’t fix your attitude, we’re
drops. “You’re throwing me
promised to behave but you just can’t control the urge to mouth off,
*****
Klempner - The Present
yard. A grey sky spits rain on the
revealing the inside, stark and gloomy, a slatted bench flush to either side.
go, Larry...” Hartwell pokes me in the ribs with his
funny,
idiot thinks you belong in a low-security prison but I’ll not be sorry you’re
van. My movement is awkward in my cuffs as I grab the handle to pull myself
snaps Hartwell. “Larry’s a big boy now. He can get himself
apology as
trousers up at the knee, he takes a seat opposite, then bangs the flat of his hand on the wall by
off now.” He tucks it away again
Taser?
holster, partially concealing the contents. I lean, shifting on my seat as though
No…
Glock?
HK45?
wrong, Larry?” Hartwell’s voice grates and
in.” I offer up my restrained wrist as far as it will
said, you’re a
with urine and vomit. Hartwell grimaces. “What is it about these things? Doesn’t matter how often they’re cleaned out,
“Something we agree on, eh? Like it nice and tidy do we?
rise to his. Hartwell’s chin rises. “Yes, I’ll be glad to
How long?
gaze. “Be careful what
out his cheeks and
*****
rumbling of the engine changes key. The van jolts and
out his handset.
of fucking sheep in the middle
“Drive round them.”
“Can’t. It’s fenced.”
for his sidearm with the other. “Move away from him,
looks to me. I
of Sutcliffe’s Glock. Sutcliffe gestures with the gun, down to Hartwell’s sidearm. Slowly, reluctantly, he takes it from the holster, passing
banging on
Sutcliffe speaks sidelong, eyes and weapon fixed
the man says. Open the door.
white-faced, lets
Et Tu Brute?
cuff with one hand, but I’m cheerful about it. Rubbing blood back into my
you, sir.” Baxter stands
Efficient as ever I
from behind me, hollow-sounding in the van. “You never
Mr Klempner to you.” To Baxter,
he passes it across. “As
make sure he sees it coming. Hartwell screams as the blade goes in. I plunge, twist and tear upwards. Shrieking, he drops, convulsing and clutching at his gut. Wiping the blade on his pants, I shove it into
One of
sir.” Baxter jerks his head to
on the ground, some sidekick of Baxter’s keeping him covered. Baxter advances, muzzle
weeps and pleads. “Please, you promised. My wife.
he
wife and kid. Just making sure he behaved himself. Did as
me, streaming tears. “They promised. Please.
to him. “And you love your
“Please,” he says. “I’m dead. I know I’m dead. But don’t hurt them. Let them go.