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Chapter 60: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 15, Kirstie
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 61: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 16, Thirty-One Years Ago
A figure steps down from the bus: Central Station - Barnbridge. She's a pretty girl, but she wears a dowdy print dress. In a style that was fashionable twenty years ago, now it makes the wearer look as though she is destined for spinsterhood or a life as a librarian.The girl looks around, her brilliant green eyes alight with excitement, darting here and there, picking out busy people, fashionable skirts and blouses, jeans cut low at the waist and tight at the thigh, and trendy sneakers in bright colours.Smiling delightedly, she sets out, following the crowds. A roadside stand is serving something that smells of sizzle and onions and she orders a large one, paying for it from a handful of notes curled up in a pocket. The stand owner raises a brow as he sees the money this young girl is carrying.She doesn't care. She's rich. She's never had so much money to spend. Seeing brightly lit windows and neon lights, she walks along, eating her burger. Nothing has ever tasted so good as
Charlotte's Search Chapter 62: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 17, Kirstie and Ben
CHARLOTTEI'm scratching my head, writing a report for my next student assessment....Analysis of corrosion fatigue fractures in a cyclic degradation environment....The sample I'm supposed to analyse is the breechblock from the testbed in a proofing yard. It's not easy to examine because the damn thing weighs nearly twenty pounds and every time I try to move it, I end up nearly pulverising one finger or another........ when my office phone buzzes."Hello, is this Mrs Summerford? It's Kirstie down in Reception. Your brother-in-law's here for you.""Thanks. I'll be there in a couple of minutes."I can't say I'm sorry to leave the mysteries of corrosion fatigue behind. It's making my eyes water.In the lobby, Ben's waiting for me, his ass parked on the reception desk next to the new girl I'd noticed over the last few days."Hi, Champ," he says, giving me one of those smiles of his that, when he delivers them, lights up the room and makes him look a lot more like his br
Charlotte's Search Chapter 63: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 18, Why?
CHARLOTTEKirstie has half a sandwich left on her plate but seems to have lost her appetite for it. "He seems a nice guy, and he asked me out."But my mind is whirring....They know each other....Is she an old girlfriend?"Ben's not like us, Kirstie," says Michael. "He thinks that relationships consist of one man and one woman. He sees the world through a narrower lens than we do. If he's got any surprises coming, take it easy with him."Her head bobs, but her eyes rise to meet his. She looks blue. "I was already thinking the same thing. And that perhaps I'm not being fair to him."Michael sits back in his seat, heaving a sigh. "So, you're planning on breaking up with him?"She pokes the half-sandwich around the plate. "Erm.... I hadn't really gotten that far. But I think he expects things from me that...."Things like exclusivity..."That you're not willing to deliver?""Yes."The sandwich has stopped being food and is now just target practice for Kirstie's fo
Charlotte's Search Chapter 64: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 19, James and Ben
JAMES"Got your stuff?"Charlotte jams her hard hat and steel-toed boots into a bag, then patting at pockets, does a visible phone, purse, notebook, pen check. "Yes, got everything. You good to go?""Yes, let's get moving. I don't want to be late."We head down, Charlotte stepping out of the elevator ahead of me and heading smartly for the door.Ben's there, talking to Kirstie. He's smiling, but she looks uncomfortable, although Ben seems not to notice.His smile fades as he sees me."Oh hello, Ben. I didn't know you were around," says Charlotte. "Are you here to see me for something?"He replies to her politely enough, but his eyes are on me and are not friendly. "No, I just called by to say hello to Kirstie." This isn't the place for an argument....I switch to polite but cool mode myself. "Hello, Ben. Charlotte and I just going out on-site.""Really? What's happening on-site?"What's wrong with the man?"We're getting the groundworks set out for the new re
Charlotte's Search Chapter 65: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 20, Twenty-Nine Years Ago
He's not expecting much from the trip. One boring meeting after another. If he's lucky, they might sign the contract this time. More likely he'll have to come back a couple of times while they prevaricate and demand more details, extra costings, more projections.But he's a professional. And a professional keeps smiling as long as it's needed to get the job done.A drink....Then an early night with a good book, or maybe a movie.In the lounge, discreet music plays. A fire burns in the hearth. A pleasant environment."What can I get you, sir?" "Malt on the rocks, please."A bottle. The clink of ice cubes and the glass slides across to him. He sips, inhaling the vapours and feeling the chill burn hit the back of his throat.That's good....He tugs his tie open, undoes the top button of his shirt, then perching a hip onto a stool, turns to survey the room.At the other end of the bar is a woman. Pale silk and paler skin are crowned by auburn hair which highlights gol
Charlotte's Search Chapter 66: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 21, Visiting Stephen and David
MICHAEL"Can you keep Charlotte occupied, so she doesn't think too hard about me not being around."James chuckles. "Of course. What have you told her?""That I'm going to be at a trade fair for a couple of days. I made it sound as boring as possible.""Great. I'll call you when I know something.""See you in a couple of days."*****I pull up, check the address, then park up.I chose early evening to arrive. It seemed the best time to reliably catch whoever was at home. Sure enough, windows are lit in several parts of the house.I check I have everything on me I intended, then take a couple of deep breaths....Here goes....Strolling up the path, I knock on the door. After a few moments, a light flicks on behind the door and it opens.I'm looking into the face of a man about my height, although much more lightly built and perhaps in his mid-fifties.Which one are you?"Hello, Mr Kimberley?""I'm David Kimberley, yes. Is it me you want? Or my brother, Step
Charlotte's Search Chapter 67: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 1, Apologies
Dear Davey, Stevie and Dad,I'm not sure if any of my other letters to you have reached you because I've not heard anything back from you. I don't really know where to begin except to say that I'm sorry that I left the way I did, and I wish I'd done it some other way. I hope that you're not still too mad at me. If you have had my other letters and you are still angry with me, please forgive me.And especially, I wanted to apologise that I stole your wallets. I have enclosed a money order for the amount I took. I sent it with the other letters too, but it was never cashed. I hope that makes it right.I'm doing fine now and I'm earning well. I have my own apartment. It's only a small one that I'm renting, but I'm saving up to buy my own place. If you are in the City at all, you could visit me. Or if you like, I could visit you. I'd love to come and see you.How are you all? How is Dad these days? Better, I hope? I miss him. I miss all of you.I'll keep this short now, but i
Charlotte's Search Chapter 68: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 2, Twenty-Nine Years Ago, Klempner
"So, what do you think?" Conners puts three beers down, slopping froth over a corner of the rolled-out site plan, then sits and takes a long draft from his glass."I'm interested," I say. "Very much so." He nods as I speak, downing more of his beer. Bech watches in that pressed-mouth silent way of his, his drink untouched. "However, there are a number of considerations and I need time to think."Conners nods. "Of course."I tap the plan. "Can I keep this?""Absolutely. That's your copy. In fact..." He turns to pick up the cardboard tube he has leaning against the table, opens it and extracts another document.... "... I made a spare copy for you, so you have a master and one you can work with...."Efficient...Delivers what's needed. Not just what's asked for.Conners finishes his beer. "Suppose I leave you with it for a couple of days to think it through. You can call me if you have any queries and you'll find my fax number on my card...." He pushes a business card across
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