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Chapter 85: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 19, She's My Wife...
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 86: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 20, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Getting To Know Her
Outside, Mitch gestures down the street. "There's a little place down the road I sometimes stop for coffee."Without giving her a chance to refuse, I take the bag of books from her. "Let me carry that for you."The 'little place', a small cafe, is mainly occupied by student types. They sit in groups, wearing bohemian clothes and cheap gothic jewellery, arguing loudly. It's not quarrelling, but debate of the kind you get from the types that think they know the secrets of the universe, or they can put the world to rights by talking about it."Interesting place," I comment, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my tone.Her lips make that quirk again; a sort of half-smile that would make the Mona Lisa long to be more subtle with her body language.She chooses a table by the window, speaking in a low voice. Humour dances at the corners of her eyes. "It's always interesting. Some of them can be quite profound. Some of them wouldn't know their ass from their elbow. But there's always c
Charlotte's Search Chapter 87: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 21, Kirstie and Ryan
JAMESIt's around six. Time to go....In a much calmer mood than when I last took the elevator down, I watch the indicator counting the floors down to the lobby.Wonder how she's doing?And him.Hope they enjoyed their movie....The doors whisper open and Kirstie's there on the desk. She doesn't see me.They don't see me....He has her in his arms and he's talking, not loudly, but loudly enough. "You smell as though you want to be fucked."Someone's in for a good evening....I pause, not intending to eavesdrop, but....Her head drops to his chest as she murmurs something.He barks a reply, sounding startled. "What? Have I said something wrong?"Kirstie laughs; a low chuckle that suits her very well. "Not at all. It's just that you do it to me every time. I'm all calm and collected, and then you come along, and I just want to throw my clothes out of the window and spread-eagle myself on the bed."There's a smile in his voice. "Is that right? I'm not going
Charlotte's Search Chapter 88: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 22, Klempner's Spy
JAMESKlempner's spy...Who is it?One uncommonly nasty thought haunts me....Could it be Ben?What has Michael told him?Certainly, Ben dislikes me....And now Charlotte too....But surely, he wouldn't betray Michael???How would Ben know Klempner in the first place???What should I do?What would Michael do? How would he react?Perhaps I should talk to him?*****He doesn't react well."You're suggesting my own brother might betray Charlotte to Klempner? What the fuck are you thinking James? Just because we've had a spat....""A spat? You call that a spat?" Heat is rising over my face and I take a moment to get myself back under control. "What have you told Ben?"He holds up hands, shaking his head. "Nothing about Klempner or Blessingmoors." He moves in close. Michael isn't so tall as I am, but he is much more heavily built and I have no wish to go the way of the chicken-shed."That's private stuff isn't it," he says. "Charlotte doesn't
Charlotte's Search Chapter 89: The Father's Betrayal, Part 1, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Christmas
"Hi, Mitch." It's Frank, his solid frame leaning back against the bar. "How're you doing?""Hi, Frank," she smiles then pulls a face. "I can't hang around I'm afraid. I only popped in to pick up a couple of things." Angelo pops up from behind the bar, holding up a carrier bag; gold and green with an expensive designer logo. "This the one?""That's right. I'll take that one with me. Can you let me see the others too." Angelo passes Mitch's collection of bags across the bar and she squats on her haunches to sort through them."Going away for Christmas?" asks Frank. "Visiting family, I suppose?""Yes and No. Yes, I'm going away, but not to visit family." She smiles brightly up at him. "Larry's taking me away somewhere.""Oh!" Hands in pockets, Frank rocks on his heels. "Larry? He didn't mention anything to me.""It all happened quite suddenly last night. He's picking me up this afternoon.""Where are you going?""No idea. He says it's a surprise."Frank rubs at a temp
Charlotte's Search Chapter 90: The Father's Betrayal, Part 2, Twenty-Six Years Ago, The Ferry
KLEMPNER"Tired?"She yawns and stretches in her taxi seat. "Mmmm.... Yes. It's been a long day."I lay my hand on hers. "You can doze now. When we get aboard the ferry, we'll have a meal then you can sleep properly. It's an overnight trip.""What time do we sail?" Her relaxed air fades, replaced by suspicion."Around midnight. Now, sleep. Tomorrow you can enjoy the sea and we'll pull into Helsinki around sunset.""I'd not realised Stockholm and Helsinki were so far apart.""That's Scandinavia in mid-winter for you. The days are short. Sunset is only about three pm."*****"Oh my God," she breathes. "It's so beautiful." Mitch watches with that small-child-amazed look she has. "When you said it was a ferry, I expected something a lot more...."I swallow my satisfaction. "Basic? Grungy?"She blushes. "Mmmm, yes. But this is all glass and polished brass and...." She eyes me. "You've done this before.""Of course I have. You didn't think I would bring you somewhere
Charlotte's Search Chapter 91: The Father's Betrayal, Part 3, Twenty-Six Years Ago, It's Raw
KLEMPNER – TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGOOn the way to breakfast, it occurs to me to wonder if Mitch knows what the Scandinavians like to eat.She stares at the buffet table. "It's raw," she says, recoiling."That's the local menu for you. A hundred variations on the theme of pickled herring..." Her normally perfect complexion has a green tinge. "... but there's porridge, muesli, cheese, rye bread, ham, eggs. Pick something that doesn't offend your stomach."She eyes the selection; the ubiquitous herring, salmon and more, in their mix of salt and dill and spices. "Maybe I'll try a bit of it."Hmmm..."Your call."Her mouth is working as she looks again. "Er, no. On second thoughts, maybe I'll stick with the familiar." And she heads for the porridge."Good idea, I think."*****We spend the short daylight hours touring the ship, enjoying the entertainment and enjoying the excellent onboard catering. Outside, the sea roils, dark and grey-green, ice occasionally bobbing on the
Charlotte's Search Chapter 92: The Father's Betrayal, Part 4, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Helsinki
KLEMPNERMitch's cheeks are flushed apple-red, and her eyes are shining. "What an amazing place.""It's called Aleksanterinkatu, but this time of year they call it the Christmas Street....""I can see why." ".... The local stores have a kind of unofficial competition to outdo each other with the lights and shop displays."She sips at creamy broth, fragrant with fish and dill. "So, when you say you speak enough Finnish to get by, how much are we talking about?""Oh, don't be too impressed. Very little. The bare basics.""Do you speak many languages? You said you travel a lot....""I'm only really fluent in English, French and Portuguese. But that gets you by in most of the world. There's not too many places where you don't find someone who speaks English. Well.... American at least...."She laughs. "American?"I lean in, lowering my voice as though imparting wisdom. "Across much of the world, the locals learn English from the TV, so it's mainly from American cop pro
Charlotte's Search Chapter 93: The Father's Betrayal, Part 5, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Tourists
KLEMPNER"Ready to go?"Mitch smiles happily. "Absolutely."I offer her my arm, and after a moment's hesitation, she takes it, leaning into me as we walk together. "Where are we going?""Just for a stroll, I thought. See what's to be seen. That okay for you?"She tightens her grip on my arm. "Ah-ha."The day is crystalline with cold, the sun dazzling on the snow. The sky is clear, untouched by any trace of cloud, the only blemish being high above where aircraft draw white rafters across the blue.A two-minute walk brings us the shore, or what would be the shore were it not that the sea-edge has moved several miles outward with the winter ice.As I step out, she hangs back. "On the ice? Is it safe?""It's a foot thick and more this time of year. It's perfectly safe." I point out to the distance to where, half a mile out, a lone figure sits.She scrunches up her eyes, trying to make out the figure against the dazzle. "What's he doing?""Fishing.""Fishing? Out the
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