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Chapter 94: The Father's Betrayal, Part 6, Christmas Walking
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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
Charlotte's Search Chapter 99: The Father's Betrayal, Part 11, The Lookout
JAMESIt's a terrible image. Blown up on my laptop screen it's horribly pixilated and badly out of focus....Got to do something about that phone of hers....Kirstie stands beside me, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Snapping my fingers, I point to another chair with a 'bring it here' motion. She grimaces but pulls it over to sit by me while I work the image to produce something usable. It's still not great but I can make out at least some detail."Can you point him out to me, Kirstie."She points to a figure by the cafe window, barely recognisable as male and fairish. By the time I've enhanced it to something that clearly has a face, I'm at the limits of where image-enhancement will go, at least without a lot more time and more elaborate tools.Still, it's good enough to make out the face.... Sort-of...."Do you know him?" she asks."No. How long was he watching?""A good ten minutes that I noticed. I thought I was imagining things at first, but after
Charlotte's Search Chapter 100: The Father's Betrayal, Part 12, The Watcher
JAMESThe alert icon flashes up on my screen, then within seconds a photo-message appears on my mobile, then another.Good girl....I open up the slave-link to Kirstie's computer and watch the video she has running. This time I have a ring-side view of the cafe window.A fair-haired man is sitting there. It's still indistinct, but it could be the same individual as from the previous poor image. I double check against the stills she sent from her phone then tap a message through.thnx kirstie, james here. sit tight and do nthng. am taking over your screenAnd now I have something real to work with. I re-centre on the face. A little basic cleaning-up, some refocusing and the image is bright and sharp and perfectly clear.I message her again. that the man?yesI zoom in, catching detail; several good clear shots of his face: weather-tanned features are framed by hair with a sun-bleached look. His shirt is open at the top by a couple of buttons showing part of what cou
Charlotte's Search Chapter 101: The Father's Betrayal, Part 13, Tom
JAMESTom enters the lobby flanked by a police officer to either side, Kirstie directing them to the conference room where we are waiting.The central table is bare save for a tray with a water jug and glasses. Stanton sits at the end of the table nearest the door, an officer standing by his shoulder.As they enter, Tom is guided to a seat at the end of the table furthest from the door. The police officers stand behind him, one to either side. His face is pale, shiny.Michael enters, quickly looks around the room and then calls something back through the door. Charlotte follows him in, then silently, she sits. Michael takes a seat next to her.Tom's face flashes recognition and he stands awkwardly. "Hello, Jenny." His expression is odd; as though he's trying to smile, but he's nervous. "It is you, then."Her face is a frozen blank. "Hello, Tom. And yes, it's me."He looks around at the gathering. "Am I under arrest?"Stanton shifts in his seat. "Let us say for the momen
Charlotte's Search Chapter 102: The Father's Betrayal, Part 14, News
"Chad's in the City you know," says Tom."Is he?" Charlotte's pale still, but she's smiling."He is. I ran into him one day down by the arena.""How is he?""He seemed to be doing well. He looked good." Tom sucks at his teeth. "I can see why you were attracted to him." He glances at Michael. "He's married again now, you know."Charlotte blinks. "Married?"Tom's lips quirk. "Not to a girl this time.""Ahh...." Charlotte's eyes widen and she's finally beginning to smile properly. "Well, I hope he's very happy."Tom sighs. "It's all right, Jenny... Sorry, Charlotte. I know what the problem was. I suppose sooner or later he'll tell his parents and they'll stop blaming you for what happened."The door opens, and Stanton pushes his head around, gesturing me out. I leave Charlotte with Michael and her old friend....... I hope....About time she had some....Outside the room, Stanton lowers his voice. "His story stacks up with what we know. We took his fingerprints fr
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