Share
Chapter 88: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 22, Klempner's Spy
Related chapters
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
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
Latest chapter
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 203: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 23, Richard's Gift
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 202: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 22, Kink
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 201: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 21, Michael
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 200: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 20, Sandwich
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 199: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 19, Redemption
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 198: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 18, The Package
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 197: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 17, Remembrance
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 196: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 16, Charlie
- Charlotte's Search Chapter 195: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 15, The Legacy
