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Chapter 176: Her Mother's Love, Part 18, Aunts
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 177: Her Mother's Love, Part 19, Announcement
MICHAELBen rejoins me. "She seems a lovely woman, that Mitch. A bit withdrawn, but I suppose that's understandable.""It's very soon for her. I think she'd lost a lost of confidence, with her husband being as he was."Condemnation creeps back into Ben's voice, "What was that all about? She left him?"I cut him short. "He was knocking her around, Ben. When we got her out of there, the bastard had her on the floor. He'd have beaten the shit out of her if I'd not kicked the door in to stop it."His eyes widen. "Really? You don't think of people really behaving like that, do you?"Oh, get real..."Whether you do or you don't, just bear it in mind when you're talking to her. She's had a lot to cope with over the years and it'll take her a while to readjust."Ben blinks rapidly, licks his lips. "You're right. I jump to conclusions, don't I?""Yes, you do. So make a few allowances, eh. Just try to be happy for people."Ben drops into silence, downs half his drink. "Did I
Charlotte's Search Chapter 178: Her Mother's Love, Part 20, Klempner
Hands and ankles cuffed, I wait in the yard. A grey sky spits rain on the grey tarmac, grey stonework and the dark grey uniforms of my guards.The van arrives, equally grey, pulling up close by. Paired metal doors swing open at the back, revealing the inside, stark and gloomy, a slatted bench flush to either side. Hoops and bars project from the framework for the restraint of high-risk transportees. "In you go, Larry..." Hartwell pokes me in the ribs with his baton, playfully...Think it's funny, do you..."... I don't know what idiot thinks you belong in a low-security prison but I'll not be sorry you're not my responsibility anymore."I say nothing, all obedience, stepping up to the van. My movement is awkward in my cuffs as I grab the handle to pull myself up. Sutcliffe raises a hand, supporting me at the elbow as I rise."Leave him alone, Sutcliffe," snaps Hartwell. "Larry's a big boy now. He can get himself inside.""Yes, sir." Sutcliffe follows me up, indicating a
Charlotte's Search Chapter 179: Her Mother's Love, Part 21, Emergency
JAMESI try not to be obvious about it; try to treat her completely normally, but Mitch has just had her world turned over yet again. I see her sometimes, watching me; watching me with Charlotte.What's going on in her head?She's happy she has her daughter...... but still walking on eggshells...Not convinced she's safe?How much crap can get thrown into a single life?Her brother... control freak...Klempner... psycho...Conners... wife-beater...And now she walks into this... her long-lost daughter shacked up with two men...And pregnant...Is she coping??She's stronger than she looks...Charlotte's mother...In my armchair by the fire, my bad leg stretched out to bathe the ache away with the heat, I sip a finger of brandy, losing myself in the dancing flames and the reflected amber glimmer in my glass.Mitch... Strong enough to survive but still vulnerable...Klempner... Ruthless... Vengeful... Intelligent?He headed a world-wide organisa
Charlotte's Search Chapter 180: Her Mother's Love, Part 22, Who To Trust?
I'm walking as I talk. Heading along the hall. First stop, the alarm system.I slam the panic button installed during the renovation. After Michael and Charlotte's last flight through the snow two Christmases ago, we built this house as a fortress.Everything on automatic, the house goes into lock-down. Motors whirr as metal shutters glide over windows. High-security bolts slam across doors, the sound echoing along the hall. I keep moving, heading for the basement.Mobile still pressed to my ear, "You think it's Charlotte he wants?" I say. "Or Mitch?""If Klempner had Charlotte, Mitch would follow. If she had the balls to go after Conners to rescue him, d'you think she'd hesitate with her own daughter? And yes, I think it's Mitch he's after. You think the timing's a coincidence? Charlotte has just found her mother and suddenly Klempner waltzes out of custody?""No, I don't..." My mind spins, whirling at speed... "... but it also suggests that he's stayed in jail because it su
Charlotte's Search Chapter 181: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 1, Ambush
JAMESI lift the latch of the door to the walkers' shelter, push and step inside...... something presses to my temple. "Don't move.""What?" I start to turn, but the something; cold, metallic, nudges at me. "I said, don't move.""Who the fuck are...?" But my words are cut short. Abruptly, the shelter is flooded with light. It shoots through my eyes, blinding me."Is that any way to speak to your father-in-law?" The voice is oh-too-familiar, and as my vision clears, I see the figure sitting on a bench; hands clasped behind his head, ankle crossed over knee. "Good to see you, James," says Klempner. "Do sit down." Then snapping his fingers to the figure beside me. "His phone."Gun-muzzle to my head, I freeze, my hands semi-raised as the gunman's hand works through my trouser pockets, first one, then the other, then slides down the zipper of my jacket to reach inside before tossing my mobile to Klempner.My heart, which had calmed to a sensible pace during my 'escape' thr
Charlotte's Search Chapter 182: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 2, Race Against Time
MICHAELI'm driving like an idiot, racing to reach Charlotte, Mitch and Kirstie.Why's Charlotte not answering her phone?And I'm hoping that the answer is the happy one; that she's simply distracted, talking; enjoying herself and not paying attention. Or that she has the ringer turned off. Or...My head swirls...James said Francesca's tea rooms...Already, it's nearly dark.What time do they stay open until?Friday. Late night. Probably until 9pm.My mobile screen flashes, the vibe making the dashboard rattle as the phone dances over the vinyl. It's Ben.On loudspeaker, "Ben? Where are you?""Almost there. Just letting you know, I'm pulling into the car park now, so we might lose the signal. I'll be in touch as soon as I know anything."And I return to champing and cursing at the traffic holding me trapped.James...I check my phone. No call. No message.I check my watch. He's had plenty of time to reach the shelter.Should I call him?Is he hurt?
Charlotte's Search Chapter 183: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 3, The Search
MICHAELThe blindingly bloody obvious finally hits me between the eyes.Fuck!I bang the dashboard with a fist.Stupid. Stupid.I'm trying to drive through the City one-way system in traffic. If I go on foot...Think with your brain. Not panic and adrenalin...Spinning the steering wheel, I squeal across two lanes and a junction, cut in front of a taxi driver, then park up, two wheels on the kerb.Ignoring the screeched curses from the cabbie behind me, giving only passing thought that the car is likely to be towed, I set off at a run, abandoning car, bug and all.*****Hot, lungs heaving, heart pumping and dripping with sweat, I burst through the doors of Francesca's department store.The tearooms are on the top floor. Middle-class ladies with crimped hair and primped clothes look at me askance as I head for the elevator. One prize example makes a show of wafting the air by her face as at the last moment, I take the escalator instead, so I can scan the shop floor
Charlotte's Search Chapter 184: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 4, Race Against Time
JAMESMy phone rings. Richard's avatar flashes up. Klempner glances at it then passes it to me. "Answer it. Put it on loudspeaker."I talk quickly. "Richard, before you say anything, Klempner's here."There's a silence, then. "James, are you being held hostage? Has he...?""I'm not hurt if that's what you're asking, but no, I'm not exactly on top of the situation. He's listening to what we say." I cast a glance to Klempner, but he simply raises brows, folding his arms and sitting back."Have you spoken to Charlotte?" I ask.Richard pauses. "No, I've not spoken to her. I got hold of Michael, some while ago, but I couldn't get through to her. She wasn't answering her phone."So, who...?"Someone's warned her. Or so it seems. She's vanished, along with her mother and Kirstie. Is Beth okay?"Another short silence. "Yes, Elizabeth is safely out of the way."Klempner snorts, then speaking loudly, "I'm not interested in your cringing wife, Haswell."Richard's voice is au
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