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Chapter 140: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 6, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Bech
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 141: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 7, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Framed
Mitch sits on the cold slab. Eyes red-rimmed, hugging herself, she rocks on the seat.The door clangs open."You..." The officer says no more, simply thumbing out of the door.Out in the office the lawyer, Theo, stands waiting. Dark-suited, briefcase in hand, he regards Mitch without expression. "Miss Kimberley."The duty officer jabs a finger at a sheet. "Sign."Her eyes rise. "What's happening?"Theo says, "You've been bailed, but you and I need a talk. On behalf of Mr Devlin.""Please, I need to talk with Max himself."Curtly, "Mr Devlin does not want to talk to you, Miss Kimberley. He is a very busy man. He accepted your call and assigned me out to assist you. That is the extent of his involvement with you." He sniffs. "I'll not presume to guess why he did that much." He turns, picks up his briefcase."Mr Aldred, please, just call him. I have to speak to him. Please...""Is it to do with this case?""Yes... No... Yes... It's not what it looks like. I don't tak
Charlotte's Search Chapter 142: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 8, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Favours
The club is dark and sleazy, like most of its customers; perhaps denizens would be a better description. Occupied by the lost and those wishing to be so, the unwanted and the unwantable, it caters to those not wanting to be noticed by the passing world, or those the passing world will perhaps see, but then look away from.The bouncer looks askance at the blue uniform, moving from his spot in front of a luridly coloured poster of young women of unlikely proportions and appeal. He stands to block the entrance, then jolts back as he recognizes the face at the top. "Sorry, Corby. Didn't realise it was you for a minute there." "'S fine Pat. Just let me through.""You expected?""Yup.""Should I send ahead?""Nope."Inside, Corby grimaces at the mix of sweat, smoke and stale air. Sweeping a view through a blue haze over the hunched shoulders of solo drinkers, past the gawpers ogling the stripper under the spotlight, he settles on the shadowed nooks at the far end of the bar.
Charlotte's Search Chapter 143: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 9, Benny
CHARLOTTEWe park up. Some distance away, there is movement in an area I know only too well. A man in a hi-vis jacket and hard hat moves with purpose, setting up a theodolite; one of the modern 'total stations' with EDM and GPS. However the new park is laid out, the exact position of Blessingmoors will never be lost. Even if it were under a retail complex or a sports centre or a car park, it could be found again...... if needed..."What's happening?""They're about to move in with the earthmovers again and finish the demolition process." He scans the area, settling on the portable site office squatting on its trailer amid mud, stacks of black piping, spools of blue piping, pallets and paraphernalia. "I need a word with Sam. I'll not be long." He hands me a file, then waves out over the sea of rocky debris and once-were-roads. "Outline plans for the park. You can entertain yourself lining it up with the reality. I'll come find you."He moves off in search of the site foreman.
Charlotte's Search Chapter 144: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 10, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Safe?
Mitch sits by the window, staring out at the world. She tries to read but can't concentrate. She watches daytime TV; quiz and game shows, crap soaps and re-runs. Two minutes later, she can't remember any of what she just watched.She has only the clothes she arrived wearing, so she settles in bed, trying to sleep. After twelve hours she can sleep no more and yet, gritty-eyed, feels as though she never rested at all.No-one calls.How long has it been?Have they forgotten her?At least here, she's safe.Passively, beyond thinking, she waits.Two days later, the phone rings. She gazes dead-eyed at the ceiling for a moment before registering what the sound is.She reaches from the depths of the bed. "Hello?""Mitch, it's Theo. Max is sending a taxi to bring you to our offices. Be at the front door in twenty minutes."*****The receptionist is much friendlier than the first time she visited the offices. "Mr Devlin is expecting you, Miss Kimberley. Go straight in. Tea
Charlotte's Search Chapter 145: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 11, Girl Time
RICHARDMichael's bar of choice turns out to be more of a club, humming with activity. A singer croons from the stage; soft jazz which can barely be heard over the vibe of the crowd. A glitter ball spills multi-coloured light across a dance floor and here and there, a strobe splatters occasional black light. The two women take stools at the bar, whilst Michael, James and I find a table in a quieter corner.Girl time...Charlotte, so far as I usually see, normally drinks wine, but Michael has bought cocktails for both her and Elizabeth. The technicolour extravaganzas arrive draped with umbrellas, fruit, butterflies on sticks and a sparkler fizzing out of the top. The women watch them arrive and both burst into helpless laughter. Then, heads close, they start talking."How is she now?" I nod towards James' and Michael's communal wife."Getting over it, I think," says James. "Without a doubt, it shocked her, learning that Klempner is her father."Michael grunts agreement.
Charlotte's Search Chapter 146: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 12, Twenty-Six Years Ago
The phone rings and he picks it up... "Hello?" ... then jolts as he hears the voice."Davey? Is that you?""Shelley? Yes, it's me." He pauses, looks over his shoulder then around the doorway into the lounge. "Shelley, Stephen's not here right now, but I'll have to talk quietly. How are you? Why are you calling? After all this time, why are you calling now?""Davey..." Her voice trembles. "I was wondering if... Would it be possible for me to come home?""Home?" He holds the receiver as though accusing it of lying. "You want to come home? Shelley, has something happened? Are you alright?""Yes, something's happened, and... no, I'm not alright. Do you think I could come? Would that be... possible?""Permanently you mean? To leave the City?"Clumping sounds in the background; Stephen coming down the stairs. "Who is it?""Ah... no-one."Stephen looks at him askance. "No-one? What's that supposed to mean?"David takes a breath. "It's Shelley.""Shelley?" Stephen looks u
Charlotte's Search Chapter 147: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 13, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Mitch
"Give me my stuff, Angelo."He won't meet her eye as she scrabbles through bags, snatching whatever looks useful and stuffing into a holdall. "Mitch, I'm sorry. He threatened me..."She looks up; the briefest of eye contacts. "It doesn't matter. You were scared. I get it. I'm scared. I'm going.""Where to, Mitch? Where will you go?"But she doesn't answer...He's already betrayed her once..."Mitch, there you are!" She swivels to see Frank propped against the bar. He gives her that big, all-American smile of his. "I was beginning to think you and Larry had run off into the sunset together." Turning to the barman, "Beer and a whiskey chaser, please, Angelo." Then, "What can I get you, Mitch?"Her eyes dart to his and then, flushing, she looks away again, shoving stuff into her holdall."Mitch, what's wrong?"She mutters something incomprehensible.Angelo slaps the drinks down on the bar next to him, but Frank ignores them. "Mitch? What is it? Have I done something t
Charlotte's Search Chapter 148: The Loss Of Innocence, Part 14, Bad Weather
JAMESRain lashes sideways onto the windows.Roll on Spring.Is this blasted weather never going to end?But I'm warm and comfortable; naked next to my dozing Jade-Eyes, her body heat percolating to me. And beyond her...Where's Michael?Got up early...?The wind howls a complaint, rattling glass and the lashing of the rain turns to a spattering...Sleet?Why would he get up early for this?Much better here...... but over the blather of the weather, I hear the hiss of the shower in the en-suite.I consider the tumble of red hair lying next to me.How is she now?Over the shock?Or at least dealing with it?I try an experimental stroke over the curve of a shoulder. She sighs and stirs.She does look much better...Another stroke. This time I follow it through along a smooth, pale arm.The eyes flicker open, green orbs settling on me. The mouth curves up. "Good morning, Master.""Good morning. Slept well?""I did yes."I trace the line of her
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