Masters And Lovers 1-4

Chapter 45

Elizabeth comes with me. The six of us, we gather around the large kitchen table at the Triad’s home.

Michael looks dreadful. Red-eyed, his face drawn, in a reversal of their usual roles, Charlotte sits by him, holding his hand.

He’s lost weight…

Elizabeth glances up, but she doesn’t need my permission for this. I nod her to him. She takes the seat on his other side, resting a hand on his thigh.

And in a kind of mirror of protective roles, James and I flank Mitch, seated to one side and the other of her as she holds the packet.

“It can only be from him,” she says. “And I think I know what it is.” She slits open the top and tips the contents onto the table, then checking inside, pulls out first what looks like a legal document, then a note; a single sheet of paper, folded double.

As the x-ray showed, keys; house-keys by the look.

And in a bubble wrap packet, a small moss-green velvet bag. She unlaces it, emptying the contents into her palm; the necklace…

James whistles inwards. Even Michael stirs. Thick and heavy, it’s almost a collar, emeralds set in white gold.

“That must have cost a fortune,” I murmur. I’m in a position to know, with some of the jewellery I have gifted to Elizabeth.

Mitch picks it up, plays it through her fingers. “He gave it to me. I threw it back at him the first time, for trying to buy me. He gave it to me again later but then, when I ran… At the time, I never thought about it.”

“And the keys?”

She nods, doesn’t speak, passes the document to me: a title deed for some address down by the harbour.

Then she unfolds the note.

They were always yours.

Please accept them.

LK

*****

 

James

It’s a nice area. A pretty area. And it’s a day for seeing it at its best.

Yachts and pleasure boats float in bobbing ranks on sparkling water. Tourists walk by with ice creams, tossing coins to cross-legged artists sitting by pavement chalkings. Shops sell souvenirs, art and holiday wear.

The apartment block is clean and well-maintained. The hallway as we approach the door smells of new carpet and fresh paint.

Mitch stands outside the door, seeming to gather herself together, then taking a breath, she inserts the key, turns it, opens the door and we step inside.

It’s… lovely…

Sunlight dances over walls painted in soft neutral colours. They complement the furnishings, made from some pale golden timber, perhaps beech.

“Can’t fault his taste,” comments Michael.

Paintings dot the walls, abstract mainly, except for a single striking piece taking the centre of one wall; an image of ice and broken water in astonishing rainbow hues.

“Amazing painting,” I say, looking more closely. “Looks like an original.”

Mitch moves to stand by my side. “It is. I gave it to him. He took me to Helsinki that Christmas. I tried to give him Helsinki back.”

“You did this?” I back away, taking in the whole image. “Klempner said something one time about you having a talent for painting. He understated the case.”

The plain beige carpet pile lies striped paler and darker. Fresh flowers sit on a coffee table and a windowsill. Charlotte eyes them speculatively.

looking. In the kitchen a tray is set out with cups and saucers, a teapot and a packet of

I stride out to see what’s amiss. I find her in one

look around. “Did

blocked up. I’d said what a lovely room it would

What’s Klempner playing at?

are you going to do with it, Mitch? Since it appears that you are a

She shakes her head. “I just don’t know.

it out for a while?” says Michael. “You’ll get a decent income from it, in a spot

“I might at that.”

some tea?”

and chewing over the fat, wandering over

pulls over dancing water. Gulls wheel, turn, then dive, to rise again, splashing and gulping. Along the

of fishing?

drifts over them, a good twenty men, all

I see it. At the farthest point of the wall,

Ahhh….

I say. “Going to get some

looks up. “Shall I come with you, Master? Keep you

keep an eye

*****

back against the concrete, feet crossed at the ankles, watching me approach. Wearing jeans, a casual shirt and trainers, he could be an

join him against the wall, he

welcome. Why am

It’s not some

that. Can I assume that someone has a

out and turns three-sixty, then resumes his position. “As you can see, I’m not

“And the leg holster?”

other, displaying no more than the

am

I can’t, I’ll talk

do you want to

“How's Eye Candy doing?”

“His name is Michael.”

know what his name is.

well. He's just lost a brother

“Does he blame

knows what he thinks about anything

you blame me

not finished Ben, I would have, or Charlotte. Michael might have

though his brother was

that Ben was

was, wasn’t he? Everything he did, was willing

exactly have

was right.” He stares out over the sea. “At first, when I was young, I didn’t care. Either I was just trying to

darting shapes below. “Later, when I’d come to know Mitch, but I lost her

“Yes?”

wanted

gut tightens. “But

“No, not now.”

what do

have… Maybe Mitch

think she's had enough of controlling men. Between you, Conners,

creases.

Control freak. Kept her on reins so tight when she was a kid that she ran. Left home at fifteen and…

straightens up, clasping hands behind his neck and sucking air between his teeth. “Wonder if she became a hooker to spite

“It’s possible, yes.”

“I

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