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Chapter 191: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 11, Father and Daughter
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 192: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 12, Ben
JAMESI'm supporting Charlotte. Mitch stays close by Michael, who doesn't look happy.Klempner moves around the room, standing by each door in turn, ear pressed close. He shakes his head a little. "Can't hear a thing."Laying hand on handle. "Ready everyone? Let's see if Laughing Boy is still out there."There's a tremor in Michael's voice. "Don't hurt him if you don't have to."Klempner's reply is cool. "Why don't you give it a rest? I'd say you've let your brother get away with far too much." Michael's jaw sets.Klempner stands by the exit to the passageway, easing the door open a crack, peering out. "Stand back." As the gap widens, a shot ricochets through the opening. Klempner jerks back. "He's by the stairs, blocking the exit."Michael pushes forward. "I'll talk to him. He only shot me by accident. He wouldn't do it deliberately."Klempner arches brows, standing back from the door, gesturing out. "It's your funeral."Michael opens the door wide, calling out. "Be
Charlotte's Search Chapter 193: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 13, The Finish
JAMESMichael falls to his knees, howling and weeping, gathering his fallen brother into his arms. Charlotte and Mitch stare, aghast, but not apparently, sorry.I'm shaking. There's blood everywhere. "What happened to him being an amateur and not having the balls for it?"Klempner shrugs. "He would have got there. He did get there. He was just screwing himself up to do it." He looks to Mitch and Charlotte. "They would never have been safe from him. They're safe now."He throws his gun to the ground. "Don't touch it. Forensics will show the bullet that killed him came from there." He picks up the weapon Charlotte, and briefly Michael, carried, wiping the handle before placing it in the holster under his jacket.He sees my expression. "One more shooting won't make a lot of difference to my record," he says drily. "And I'd hope you'll testify that I was defending my daughter."In the distance a sound rises: the wail of sirens. Klempner looks quickly outward, then he holds his
Charlotte's Search Chapter 194: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 14, Where's Michael?
JAMESCharlotte's enforced bed rest isn't well received. She doesn't cope well with inactivity. After another two days, I'm beginning to think I'll have to tie her to the bed. Not that I haven't done that often enough, but the circumstances were different.I aim a finger at her. "You chose to get pregnant. You have to live with the consequences. If the doctor's say you belong in bed, that's where you're staying. No argument."Head drooping, she submits, but then her eyes rise to mine. "Where's Michael?"And I don't know how to answer her.*****After a week, the doctor's pronounce Charlotte is well enough recovered to come home, albeit with much wagging of fingers and warnings to 'Don't overdo it'.As I drive up the mountain road, Charlotte sits beside me, very quiet. I lay a hand on her thigh. "You alright?"She silent for a moment. "Is Michael at home?""He is, yes."In a small voice, "Does he want to see me?""I'm sure he does. But I think he's worrying that yo
Charlotte's Search Chapter 195: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 15, The Legacy
JAMESMichael...He's depressed...What can I do?Change of scene maybe?*****"Charlotte, I was thinking, we're about due for your road-trip."She pauses, half a sausage impaled on a fork midway to her mouth. "Road-trip, Master? What road-trip?""Have you forgotten that you were bequeathed a house? And everything in it. Perhaps it is time to make good your claim?"The half-a-sausage drops back to her plate. "Go back to the farm you mean? The last time I was there, they... they weren't very welcoming."Michael is listening, chewing on toast and marmalade, suddenly looking more animated than he has for days.Thank God..."Things have changed since then, haven't they," he says. "You've spoken with your friend Tom. He knows the truth of what happened. And of course, there's Chad."Still she stares at the sausage and the fried egg congealing by it. "I'm not sure..."I pour myself more coffee. "Even if all you decide to do is sell the house, you'll need to visit
Charlotte's Search Chapter 196: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 16, Charlie
MICHAELThe lawns might have been mown, but the shrubs and borders are heading for the sky. A quick exploration of a small back shed produces saw and secateurs, so I set to, getting the garden back under control."Hello."I turn to see a woman, standing by the garden gate. Wearing jeans and a shirt, her hair tied tightly back in a ponytail, she has a prim, pleasant face. "Hello, I'm Eleanor Collier. I've been keeping an eye on the house. I saw something was happening...?" I stand, wiping muck and sap off my hands and onto my pants, then stride forward to offer my hand. "Michael Summerford." My brain connects the dots. "Collier, was it? Charlo... Jennifer's foster mother?"Her face lights up. "That's right. You know Jenny? She's here?""I'm her husband. And yes, she's here." I yell towards the upstairs window. "Charlotte! Friend of yours here." I gesture to the gate. "You'd better come in."From above, a movement at the window, then a clatter down the stairs and Charlotte
Charlotte's Search Chapter 197: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 17, Remembrance
MICHAELJames interrupts my gardening. "You seen Charlotte?""She said she was going for a walk." I nod along the road. "She went that-a-way." I straighten up, pressing hands into my lower spine. "Actually, now I think about it, her tone was a bit odd.""You look as if you've done enough for a while. Want to take a break and stretch your legs?""Good idea. I'll just tell Chad we're going out."I find him inside, paint bucket in hand, slapping emulsion on a bedroom wall. "James and I are just going for a walk. I don't think we'll be long."He cocks an eye at me, his expression assessing. "You might like to know that Mr Kalkowski is buried nearby, in the churchyard.""He is? I thought...""He had no traceable family, so he stayed here. Some of the holier-than-thou churchy types tried to kick up a fuss about it, but Mrs Collier kicked up a bigger fuss and they found a space for him.""Gotcha."He moves to the window and points a long finger along the road; the same dir
Charlotte's Search Chapter 198: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 18, The Package
RICHARDJames steps out of the elevator looking...What?Harassed?Worried?"James?"He looks to me then jerks his head towards his office. I follow him in. Silently, he offers me a small, padded envelope, still sealed. "This was waiting for me down in the lobby. Special delivery.""A packet?""Look at the addressee."I look, extract spectacles from my top pocket and look again.And the hair rises on the back of my neck.Michelle Kimberley, c/o James Alexanders."Klempner?""Who else could it be? Conners wouldn't know where to find her. Michelle's brothers would probably send it to her direct. So, who else?""James, before anyone opens that envelope, could it be a letter-bomb?"He blows out air, rubs his forehead. "I wouldn't have thought that was Klempner's style... If he wanted her, he come after her himself..." He paces the room. "And why would he send it through me?""You parted... amicably... from Klempner? After the shooting?"He huffs. "I'm not
Charlotte's Search Chapter 199: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 19, Redemption
JAMESIt'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, looki
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