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Chapter 118: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 6, Klempner, Twenty-Six Years Ago
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 119: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 7, Chad
JAMESWe head for the house.Charles. Chad... says nothing, but as I gesture him through to the lounge, Michael and Charlotte following, he swirls around, gives an apologetic nod to Michael, then sweeps Charlotte into his arms, bear-hugging her."God, Jenny, you're here. You're safe." He swings her back and forth. "I tried so hard to find you before they did, but you just vanished and yet here you are...." He stands back, holding her hand, his gaze openly admiring. "And look at you... You look fantastic."Charlotte casts apologetic eyes at Michael then her gaze hovers over mine... She's tense, picking at her fingernails.Nervous?Of my reaction?Perhaps...... before she replies. "So do you, Chad. You've, um, filled out rather since I last saw you."Set her mind at rest...I step forward, offering my hand. "I know Michael introduced us before, but it became a bit confused, didn't it. I'm James. It's good to see Charlotte finding her old friends again."Charlotte
Charlotte's Search Chapter 120: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 8, Husbands
JAMESIn the gym, in joggers and vests, the pair circle each other.He's taller than her by several inches, muscular, broad-shouldered and with not an ounce of spare on him...How long since she last saw him?Six or seven years?He would have been almost a boy then...But for all Chad's size, he's light on his feet, graceful.Easy to see what she saw in him...And he strikes, his arm sweeping forward to snatch at her. But she blocks it, then swings with a foot to hook around his ankle. He spins, throwing her, but she rolls and in a single smooth movement is once more on her feet, feinting with her right hand then punching with her left..."She certainly has her own style," I comment, watching Michael side-long. He rumbles. I can't pick out the words, but a blue whale somewhere across the ocean probably heard him.... Chad has her down, his weight bearing on her, but she locks her arms up against his chest then, twisting, gets first one foot, then the other under him
Charlotte's Search Chapter 121: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 9, Chad's News
Wounds tended, Chad and Michael take seats on opposite sides of the kitchen table. I sip wine and help myself to a morsel of cheese. Charlotte, Sebastian and Beth have formed some kind of gossip group and appear to be exchanging notes...I don't want to know...Richard presses a cracker to the plate, mopping up crumbs. "Do you have any more of that excellent Brie, James?""No, that's the last of it, but there's a Camembert? Or I have a Stilton in the larder I was thinking of opening up.""Excellent idea. But don't you think that Tempranillo would be overwhelmed by Stilton?""Good point. I'll fetch a bottle of port."After a while, Michael says, "Do you feel as stupid as I do?""I'd say so. Probably, yes." Chad looks around at the audience. "You got it out of your system?"Michael clasps hands on the table. "Yeah...." Then he looks around too. A smile cracks over his face and he winces as his upper lip begins to bleed again. "Maybe if we talk to each other, they'll talk
Charlotte's Search Chapter 122: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 10, Mr Kalkowski
Michael gazes at the letter, then passes it to Chad. "What did he mean," he asks, "about his own experiences?""He'd left his old country, years before, to come here. Just him and his wife. He never really told me about it. But it was clear that he'd lived through bad times."Chad perches on the table beside her. "Jenny, are you still mad at me?" Sebastian looks over his shoulder, then turns away with an overly obvious show of disinterest.She lays her hand on his. "No, not anymore." She stares into space for a moment then, "I'll admit it wasn't always like that. There were times that if you'd been standing in front of me, I would have punched your face in, but that's long gone."He laughs, but the sound is rueful. "I'm pleased to hear it. I would have felt morally bound to let you land the punch."The doorbell rings.Perfect timing...Lighten the mood..."That will be Beth and Richard," I announce. "Michael, Charlotte, why don't you answer the door. Chad, Sebastian, wh
Charlotte's Search Chapter 123: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 11, Georgie
RICHARDSitting by me at the conference table, James runs a finger along the outline of a plan for D-Site. "So, if we complete the groundworks on sectors three and four here... by next week, we can move the heavy machinery on to sector five here and start laying the infrastructure for..."Outside the office, Francis' phone rings but neither of us takes much notice. James continues speaking... "... the electricity and the water supply..."Francis taps in perfunctory manner on the door then pokes her head round. "James..." She flicks a warning glance to me...Worried?James looks up. "Yes, Francis?""Kirstie is on the line. She says you have a visitor downstairs."Not his ex again..?It upset him enough the first time...James' straightens up in his chair, his chin tilting. "Who is it?""She says she's called Georgie and that you would know who she is."James rises from his seat as though he is on strings. "Tell her I'm on my way down."He looks as close to fluste
Charlotte's Search Chapter 124: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 12, Cold comfort
CHARLOTTETwo seconds to save my work, one second to slap down the lid of my laptop and I set off at a run. As I exit the elevator, Richard is waiting, perched on the edge of Francis' desk, head bowed. Francis' eyes are swimming."Georgie came to see him...?"Surely he'd be pleased, happy?"... What happened?"Richard raises his head. "Thank you for coming so quickly. We don't know what happened. She arrived and he looked delighted as he went down to meet her. As she left, she wouldn't even let him see her downstairs. He's in his office."I swallow, my breath pulling short. I tap softly on the closed door...The barrier...No reply.I tap again, more loudly. "Mas...."Francis..."... James?"No reply."James.... Master?"I turn the handle with reluctant fingers.Inside, my Master stands with his back to me, hands clasped behind his back, staring out of the window over the Cityscape."Master?""Leave me alone, Charlotte. ""But Master...""I said l
Charlotte's Search Chapter 125: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 13, Friends
RICHARDI click off the video connection and almost immediately, there's a tap at my door.James?Waiting for me to finish?"May I come in?"Yes... James...He looks terrible..."I wanted to apologise."I gather the sheaf of papers I was working with, injecting a business-like tone into my voice. "There's nothing to apologise for my friend."Sounding unconvinced, "No?""No. We all have low points in our lives and I'd say you had one of those yesterday." I regard the man standing in my doorway...Face sallow...Pupils like pin-holes...Eyes like piss-holes in snow..."How's the hangover?""About what I deserve... Thank you for looking after Charlotte last night.""I wouldn't have had it any other way, James."He stands, head lowered, seeming lost for words. This isn't the James I know.You're not right yet, are you... Not by a long way...I stand, walk across to him and am about to slap him on the shoulder....Hangover...Splitting headache...
Charlotte's Search Chapter 126: The Shadow Of Obsession, Part 14, Regrets
JAMESSleep escapes me. My green-eyed Love lying next to me, my friend beyond her, I toss and turn in the dark, my mind churning.Georgie...Family matters...Michael was right to pull me away that day. He enjoys a drink as much as anyone but doesn't normally overdo it.When did I last see him drunk??When he believed he was losing Charlotte...... to me...He's right, partially at least. It helps blot out the worst for a few hours. And he went there with me. Stayed with me.But it's only sticking-plaster over the wound...... and there's a chasm inside me.As pale fingers creep through the panes, I give up on sleep and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then, coffee in hand, I go outside to sit and stare.What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare...This spot, this view, normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes down the mountain, the lake below.Soul food...But inside, I am
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