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Chapter 90: The Father's Betrayal, Part 2, Twenty-Six Years Ago, The Ferry
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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
Charlotte's Search Chapter 94: The Father's Betrayal, Part 6, Christmas Walking
CHARLOTTEThe weather is brisk. It will turn icy as night draws in: perfect to clear my fuddled head and muddled feelings. For a few minutes, we just walk together, me stepping out smartly to keep up with my Master's long-legged stride. Despite his slight limp, he can still set a tidy pace. But it keeps me warm. I'd not dressed for the weather, expecting to be in my office most of the day. In his long overcoat, I don't think my Master notices the cold, but I'm grateful to keep moving.The direction feels random, but we find ourselves walking down streets brightly lit in red and green. Tinny music drifts from some stores, Christmas carols from others."How are you feeling now?" His gaze slants to mine."Much better. Master?""Mmm?""What happened after I left?""Um, let's see. It came out that Ben is apparently seeing Kirstie's sister, Erin, now. Kirstie threatened to... what were her words? To 'have Ben for horse-meat' if he ever raised a hand to Erin."I halt in mid-st
Charlotte's Search Chapter 95: The Father's Betrayal, Part 7, The Meeting
RICHARDJames flags me down. "Richard, would you be free for lunch tomorrow, as we discussed?""I'll make sure I'm free for it. You've spoken with Kirstie, I assume?""Yes, we had quite a long talk. I didn't tell her everything of course, but she understands that she would be our eyes and ears and report directly to me.""Does she understand the nature of the people we're dealing with?""I think so, yes. I told her that an attempt on Charlotte was behind the attack on the old offices. But I didn't go into too much detail.""And she's still happy to do it?""Yes, I've spelt it out. It's not her job to get involved in any way. Simply to watch and raise the alarm at anything out of the ordinary.""So, your next move is... what?""To get the measure of the man that Kirstie may feel she answers to. If there is any question of divided loyalty, I want to know what I'm dealing with."*****When Elizabeth and I arrive for the lunch, James, Michael and Charlotte are already
Charlotte's Search Chapter 96: The Father's Betrayal, Part 8, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Pyjamas
KLEMPNERWe lie together, both wearing the ridiculous pyjamas. Never in my life have I wanted a woman the way I want this one. I'm lying on my back and have a screaming erection, but I rumple the blankets to conceal it.She's a professional....She knows....Mitch rolls onto her side to face me. "Larry...""Hmmm?""You said.... You said that you wanted me to want...."Hope flutters inside my chest. I roll onto my side too, our faces close. "Larry, I want you to touch me."My groin jolts.Propping myself up on an elbow to look slightly down on her, I cup her cheek with my palm. Inside, I'm shaking; short of breath. Something pulses inside my ears.How do I do this?She echoes my gesture, reaching up to caress the side of my face, her fingers digging in slightly, guiding me to her, my mouth to hers, my lips to hers. Our lips touch. Her flesh is warm on mine, her breath fresh; a little minty.Mitch's fingers slide from my cheek and into my hair, pulling me close
Charlotte's Search Chapter 97: The Father's Betrayal, Part 9, Marlene
RICHARD"I'm visiting the university next week, James, to follow up on these plans of theirs for a library. I would like you to accompany me if it's convenient."The phone buzzes and Francis replies. "Hello?" She listens for a moment then her gaze shifts to James. There's a wild look to her eye.Most unlike her...."James, I'm sorry to interrupt you," she says, "but I have Kirstie on. There is someone down in the lobby asking for you."His brows rise. "For me? By name?""Yes... Um, Kirstie says she calls herself Marlene Alexanders."James snarls. "What the fuck's she doing here?" he mutters.Francis falters at his tone, glancing at me before speaking. "Do you want me to send her up?"James looks away, scowling then, "Are any of the ground floor meeting rooms free?"She taps at her keyboard, looking at her screen then, "Yes, number two is vacant until half eleven.""Fine. Tell Kirstie to send her in there. And not to offer coffee. She'll not be staying.""Yes, Ja
Charlotte's Search Chapter 98: The Father's Betrayal, Part 10, Twenty-Six Years Ago, Memories
KLEMPNERShe lowers herself carefully into the water but at the last moment, loses her footing on the slippery base and sploshes down. From my place at the other side of the large bath, I pass her a flute of champagne.She's put up her hair to be clear of the water, twisting it high on her head and pinning it into elaborate bronze coils. Her neck is beautifully displayed; the curve from shoulder to her sculpted jawline and cheekbones. Even naked, she is elegant.She smiles and sips. "Bubbles outside and bubbles inside," she laughs, tilting her glass to me. She has a point. Foam streams over her neck and shoulders and breasts, white against the gleam of her wet skin."If you tell me that champagne bubbles get up your nose," I say, "I'll mark you down as unoriginal.""I'll not say that, then." She wrinkles her nose and sticks out her tongue then, with a flick of her fingers, swishes froth over me and into my own glass, giving me an unrepentant twinkle of the eye as I scoop soap
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