Chapter 55: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 10, Tutoring Charlotte

JAMES

Carrying a tray with tea all round, I find Michael and Ben in the back 'garden'. A great swathe has been cut through the tangle of briars. Both are hot and sweaty.

Ben scowls as he sees me, but Michael brightens, taking a mug from the tray. "Ah great, thanks, James."

Ben nods, barely polite, but takes a mug anyway.

I glance up at the sun, beginning to beat through the last traces of the morning mist. "Perhaps I should have brought something cold."

"Nah...." Michael waves a beer can at me. "Just had one. Not a good idea to have another while we're still waving machetes and axes around."

"Have you seen Charlotte?"

Michael nods back to the house. "In her room, I expect. She said something about revision for her exams."

So, I go in search of my mermaid.

Not in her study....

She should be working. Exams next week....

Where is she?

She's nowhere in the house, so I wander back outside, bypassing Michael and his sour-faced brother.

I don't see her at first, but