CHARLOTTESuddenly everything wells up in me, and the tears come again, but now my Master sits beside me on the bed, wrapping his arms around me, kissing my hair. "Shhh... It´s alright. It doesn´t matter. They´re only rings, bits of metal. We´ll get you new ones...""But they´re not just bits of metal, Master... they´re special... and they took them..." He chuckles as he holds me. "Every time I think I´ve got the hang of women, I discover I´m still on Mars and they´re on Venus... Charlotte... The rings are symbols... That´s all. If you come out of what you did with no more damage than that, you should be thankful, not crying... Now... just calm down. We can talk about things properly when you´re ready."All I want is to stay there, in my Master´s arms, letting him rock me, but, "I´d like to do that Master, but there´s things I need to tell you... and Michael and Richard...""Yes, I know. There are things I want to ask you, but we can spare a few minutes." He holds me close,

MICHAELRichard talks for some time to Charlotte. And how can I blame him? By any measure, she saved Beth. And Beth is his. But Charlotte´s success is bitter-sweet for me. Now that we have her back, I find myself dwelling on the sheer abandon of her actions. She left James and I behind, apparently without a thought. I need to talk with her, and I wait for my moment, for some privacy with her. Richard leaves with Beth, James joining them to discuss what Charlotte has said, and what to do next."Charlotte, while it´s just you and me, there´s something I need to say to you."She looks at me, pale-faced, her green eyes vivid. She knows I´m not happy."I understand that you did what you did for good reason. Beth´s your friend, and you felt you had to help her, but she´s not the only person in your life. James and I both made it completely clear that we didn´t want you to do anything rash, and you simply ignored our wishes. What you did was horribly unfair to both me and James.

MICHAELJames and I descend the stairs at speed. At every floor, black smoke surges and curls on to other side of glass plating.Outside is a chaos of police cars, armed officers, fire engines, medical workers and ambulances, but oddly, very few other people. Will Stanton, the Police Commissioner, is there, shouting instructions. A familiar face in a squad car, Corby, who first bungled the interview with Charlotte, looks to be relaying messages from the car, and a large area is cordoned off, police widening the cordon as we watch. Above us, is the clip-clip of helicopter blades moving in on the upper floors of the office block.Where are all the people? The office workers... Trapped?Richard is here, by Will, phone to his ear. Seeing us, he gestures us over, then waves up at the ´copters. "There´s help on the way to the girls. Don´t worry.""Where is everyone?" I ask. "I thought they´d be teeming out..."Richard almost laughs. "There´s almost nobody in there, Michael. With

CHARLOTTEThe envelope contains two pieces of paper, both scanned copies of an original. Staring at them, for a few moments, I don´t understand what I am looking at.Then the haze clears...The first: ´This is to certify that on this day of 14th April 1992, Frank Conners did join in lawful wedlock with Michelle Kimberley... by mutual consent before witnesses..."The second: "This is to certify the following record of birth... Name: Jennifer Conners. Sex: Female. Name of Father: Frank Conners. Maiden Name of Mother: Michelle Kimberley..."I stare at them, my eyes filling. After a minute, I gasp, finding myself releasing breath I didn´t know I was holding, and I just sit there, not knowing how to react.Michael looks worried. "Hey, I didn´t mean to upset you. I thought you´d be pleased...""Oh, I am, I am," I stutter... "How... Where?"My Master´s voice is irritable. "Am I permitted to see what all this is about?"Silently I pass the documents across the table to him. A

MICHAELInstantly, James retires, wiping his face, but now, repositioning himself, plunges his cock, full length inside her. There´s no hesitation, no testing her. She´s as open as it is possible for a woman to be, and he hilts himself, hard, into her. Our position is slightly awkward, but he rests his hands for balance on the settee-back, leaning over the two of us, as he fucks her. He´s not gentle, ramming home as she squeals and wails under him. And he is close to climax himself. He watches as he penetrates her, studies his cock moving in and out, glistening with her honey, her thighs flushed and wet, and her red curls soaked. His own breathing is rapid, face and chest sweating and his dark eyes, all but black with hugely dilated pupils.Groaning, he presses home, grinding as he pumps into her. Head dropped to his chest, eyes squeezed shut, he grunts and then, with a gasp, withdraws, waving at me to take over as he seats himself back in his armchair."Charlotte, on the bed,