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Chapter 140: Champions, Part 2
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Mastering Charlotte Chapter 141: Champions, Part 3
James"The bones of her story stand up, but there are some differences," comments Will Stanton, police commissioner, waving a yellowed report, one of many from the stack of fading files and folders he has with him."It was before my time in the job, but the records show that Charles Jenkins, supervisor at Blessingmoors, died while in pursuit of one Jennifer Conners, then a fourteen-year-old… um.... inmate, of Blessingmoors. Whilst giving chase he was hit by a truck, pulled under, then dragged some distance."He takes another fading paper, brown at the edges, from the top of the stack, pushing it across to Haswell. "The autopsy lists cause of death as multiple injuries resulting from that event. No mention is made of any stab wound."The girl was recaptured two days later and returned to Blessingmoors as per the normal practice at the time. This was not the first time she had been in police hands. She had made numerous attempts to run away and was described as a trouble-maker: d
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 142: Champions, Part 4
MichaelShe looks back over her shoulder, then turns for a better view. "It's a bit ramshackle. I don't remember it looking like that.""No, we're around the back side. I think they ran out of money for their renovations. They don't get so many tourists up here, the last few years, after the Crash."I have to say this…But how? Without upsetting her?.... Babe, I'm here....I always will be...."Charlotte, I can't begin to guess what's going through your head right now...."Her head held low, she looks up at me. Her hair is partially covering her face, swept there by the breeze, and I wonder if she is deliberately allowing it to stay there, hiding her expression.".... You must feel that all your worst dreams have returned to haunt you...."Her eyes are glossing again, but this needs to be said.She must know this........ know it in her bones....".... but understand this: if your worst fears were to come true, and I don't believe they will, but if they did…
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 143: Champions, Part 5
Michael"What's funny?" I ask."I've never seen you in PJs before.""I thought it was more appropriate right now; didn't want you to feel pressured.""I don't.... Michael, thank you.""For what?""For being here."I kiss her forehead. "Always." She's feeling better, but she looks awful. "Would you like me to run you a bath? You'll feel better if you're clean.""That would be nice."There's no shortage of expensive oils and salts in the bathroom and I tip plenty in, making the water foamy and as much of a treat as possible."Want me to keep you company?""Mmm… I'd rather just be quiet and have a soak. Is that alright?""If you're alright, yes, of course it is."Charlotte smiles through swollen eyes, patting my chest with her palm. I kiss her. "Try to relax."She does seem fairly calm, so I leave her with it, but stand the door ajar.Downstairs, I pace, stare out of the windows, then pace again. Normally the sea calms me, but today....I make coffee for t
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 144: Champions, Part 6
MichaelThe video flickers to blackness. Throat tight, I stare at the blank screen.Christ… .... What have we done?She was raised, treated like stock, threatened with gang-rape at the point of a knife. And then James and I....Oh… God........You came back, Babe........ Why?Why did you come back?Numbly I sit, sorting through my disordered thoughts. After a few minutes, Charlotte returns, sitting next to me, her face calm.Does she know what I'm thinking?I hope not…She's handling this better than I am........ She's had time to get used to it…… I suppose...."What was going through your head when you did that?" I ask. "When you stood, naked on that podium, and they bid for you?"She sucks at her lips. "Um, I was a bit spaced-out actually. Mainly, I was thinking that the numbers I was hearing were more money than I'd ever seen in my life, and half of it was mine. All I had to do was keep my nerve for a week...."Her voice chokes.... "It all se
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 145: Champions, Part 7
Richard"Perhaps he's nervous of you?""Me?""Yes, you. He knows perfectly well that you could dismiss him on the spot."I huff. "I don't need to dismiss him. He has no contract yet. It's not signed.""No?""No. I held off when I first began to sense something was wrong. If I ordered James out of the building right now, he'd have no comeback at all.""And you wonder why he might be nervous? He must have put a lot of work into what he's done for you.""Yes, he has. And that's what's at the forefront of my mind. James may be a loser at judging people, but as engineer-architect, he's phenomenal."She smiles. "So, are you going to tell him that? That you're keeping him?"I take a pace or two, then sniff. "Yes, but not yet. It'll do him good to sweat awhile.""There's no real harm done is there? You do think Charlotte is innocent?" "She is clearly innocent. Even on the slightest investigation, her story stood up. And with what I've learned from Will about Charles Je
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 146: Champions, Part 7
MichaelI find both Richard and James in the study, the air a little stale after the room being closed up all summer.Richard collates papers, looking cheerful. James grim-faced and melancholy, sits in an armchair by the window, gazing out distractedly."Morning, James. Morning, Richard."James glances at me, gives a curt nod and looks away again."Good morning, Michael. It's a beautiful morning, isn't it," says Richard."I'm hoping so. Can I take it you have good news?""You can, yes. Is Charlotte here?""She's upstairs, asleep. She's done little enough of that over the last couple of days. I wanted to leave her in bed as long as possible and certainly, until I've heard what's coming so I can prepare her.""She'll be fine, Michael, at least so far as any police investigation is concerned." He eye-points me at James.Trouble brewing…?.... As if she needed it....Ross enters, carrying a tray with coffee and juice. "In here, sir?"Just give it to me, Ross. I'll
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 147: Champions, Part 8
MichaelCharlotte gapes, stammering.... "But.... I stabbed him. They told me he was dead…""He died, yes, but not of a stab wound. He was chasing you, and it sounds as though you gave him a good run for his money. He followed you halfway across town, over the old river bridge, and died nearly two miles away...."She's bobbing her head as I speak, Michael eyeing her carefully.Replaying events?".... He chased you through the traffic and went under the wheels of a truck, a twenty-wheeler. It dragged him some distance before the driver managed to stop the vehicle."Richly deserved too....… Terrorising children....She gawks at the top item on the sheaf I've given her, but I'm not sure how much she's seeing. I spell it out for her. "By the time they'd pulled out what was left of him, a stab wound inflicted by a fourteen-year-old girl would have been the least of his injuries. Certainly, it didn't show up in the autopsy report. Witnesses at the time reported him, appare
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 148: Champions, Part 9
MichaelCharlotte, very subdued, all but silent, is making coffee. "Would you like some, Michael?"Not really...."I'd love some. Thanks."She nods, but the smile I hope for isn't there. As she places cup, saucer and coffee jug on a tray, even across the kitchen, I see her trembling fingers."Is that for James?"She nods, biting her lip, then takes the tray.Quietly, hanging back, I follow her to the lounge where James, unspeaking, has been brooding for the last two days."I brought you coffee, Master."His voice is joyless, flat. "Leave it on the table.""I'm going for a walk, on the beach. Would you like to come with me?""No," he replies, dismissing her with his voice.What the fuck's he playing at?.... This simply isn't necessaryHer footsteps cross the floor and hastily I back away from the door, retreating out of sight.Five minutes later, she passes me in the hall, her eyes swollen. "I'm going for a walk."Mustering as much cheer as I can, "Wa
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Mastering Charlotte Chapter 293: Family, Part 21
JamesMichael takes a moment before speaking, then, ".... All through your life, you've had everything thrust upon you. Even meeting James and me, you chose to enter the auction, but you did that out of necessity. I'd like to know what you want. Now that you are free to choose for yourself, what is it that you want?"And he falls silent, watching her, and waiting as she looks around at everything about us....And I wonder what she sees. With everything that life has thrown at her, the horrors of her childhood, the terrors of her adulthood, and now to be here, in this lovely place, with the home she always yearned for.And is that enough for her?She gestures around, hands trying to encompass it all. "What more could I want? We're all here, at last, together. I have you both. I have what I want."Yes!Result!Michael's eyes shift to mine....Definitely....She sees us, knows what is going on, and leans in to Michael as he kisses her. "I think I'm going to ask you to
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 292: Family, Part 20, Three Years Ago
Charlotte sits in the office facing Mr Chambers. He's middle-aged and pleasant enough, and clearly doing his best to make her feel at ease. Nonetheless, her embarrassment is excruciating and she can't look him in the face."Can I get you a cup of tea, Miss Conners? Or coffee perhaps?"Her throat tight. "No, thank you."If she tried to drink right now, she would bring it right back up again."Very well. I understand you would like to enter our auction for the sale of...." He picks up a sheet and reads.... 'The services of 'Charlotte' for the period of one week, those services to include anything required of her by her purchaser and also to include the sale of her virginity.' Is that correct?"She squeezes the word out. "Yes."He places the document on the table. "I should explain Miss Conners, that whilst you might find it easier to have a female representative to work with right now, here at the auction house we feel that a girl who cannot go through this interview with a m
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 291: Family, Part 19
RichardAt one of these interminable 'drinks dos' I am expected to attend, I do my best to put on a polite face. But I'm having trouble.I have the mayor on one side, "Since the plans were made public for the new City-Scape layout the share value has soared, Richard...."And my head of corporate law on the other. "There are still some legal obstacles to overcome...." argues Lazenby.I am unsympathetic. "That's what I pay you for."What I pay you a lot for........ So, stop whining and do your job.Listening to the mayor droning on, I nod politely, trying to appear interested but, in fact, my attention is half on the gathering at the other side of the room.As Charlotte and Elizabeth are chatting by the bar. Michael arrives, strolling across the lounge with that easy half-smile that is his habitual expression. Charlotte spots him and moves aside to make room for him."Hi, Michael." Elizabeth's eyes are bright as she looks up at him.He returns the smile. "Hi, Beth. L
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 290: Family, Part 18
Richard"But you've been running 'Life and Fitness' in the City for years.… and turning a healthy profit, surely?""Yes, but you know how it is since two thousand and seven. All the banks have tightened up the rules."Bloody bastards at the banks....Pretty perfect for me though....How to approach this…??James said he has a problem accepting help........ Carefully...."Ummm.…Take this the right way, but I'd be happy to help."Glass in hand, Michael freezes, knuckles. His voice is barely polite. "Thanks, Richard, but I'm not a charity."James' meets my eyes again with a 'Told you' look. He laughs softly. "Now, who's suffering from stiff-necked pride?" Michael gives him a look that should have dissolved him on the spot, but James simply gives him a mild look, sucking at his teeth as he tries to extract a bit of peanut.I follow Michael's lead, keeping my own tone cool. "It wasn't a charitable offer, Michael. I'm a businessman. It was a proposal."He flush
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 289: Family, Part 19
JamesAs we leave, Richard murmurs, "Keep your face straight.""You might have warned me....""What? That you were my ace-in-a-hole?" Despite his advice, Richard's mouth is twitching. "Not a chance. It worked out so much better that you were surprised when he finally realised who you are."I glance over my shoulder to see that we are safely out of range, then stop and turn to face him. "Richard, who am I? I'm an architect. A good architect granted, but...."He lays a hand on my shoulder. "You, my friend, are the architect who will have changed the face of the City. Not many can make that claim. Your immortality is going to be standing as evidence around us for generations to come."It's an interesting thought."I never expected to be famous."He rocks a hand back and forth. "Perhaps not with the Common Man, but I looked through those Get-Well cards at the hospital. Did you?""Er, no.""You should. I asked Michael to keep them for when you left the hospital; for when
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 288: Family, Part 18
JamesMy mobile rings: Richard."James, I was having a word with Charlotte earlier. She's a little upset that the university is kicking up a fuss over the way her course options are moving around. The training periods, academic time and so on. It was all supposed to be arranged, but apparently, they're giving her a hard time over it.""Yes, I thought something like this might crop up. Did you have something in mind?""Absolutely. I know where this is coming from. The Chancellor, Wilmore, is fine, but the Bursar is an interfering busybody with an inflated sense of self-worth, who pokes his nose into every aspect of university life, whether it belongs there or not. If he didn't have tenure he'd have been out years ago.""So…?""First, I like you to have a word with Charlotte...."*****The crook of my thumb and forefinger under her chin, I force her face to mine, "Charlotte, is it that you want to attend the university? Or that, in a couple of years' time, you simply want
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 287: Family, Part 17
James"So how did it go?"Michael prises the cap off a beer bottle on the edge of the table then gulps down from the neck before wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. "It was.... surreal."I'm up and about and able to walk now, at the level of using the bathroom without the intervention of a nurse. Nonetheless, Michael's return is an excuse for me to climb back into bed, take the weight from my aching leg and draw a surreptitious sigh, which he pretends not to notice.And I'm happy enough to be here. Back in the beach house, the environment is soothing and convinces me to sleep more than I could have done in the renovation/building site which is our mountain home, even were we able to return there.I prop myself up against the pillows and Michael reaches around, rearranging them for me. When I'm settled comfortably, "Go on. I'm listening.""Cutting a long story short, Klempner admitted to murdering Charlotte's father, seemed to have some kind of crisis over her looking
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 286: Family, Part 16, The Present
KlempnerJennifer's face....The loathing there when he says that....The idea that she might be anything to do with me........You're Conners' daughter........ Not mine…Blondie's still speaking… "And your final revenge on her was to steal the child, to force her to grow up into slavery herself.... To fit your idea of...."I claimed you........ Mine........ My due........ My redress....Blondie is still talking.... "And when you found she'd grown up to look like her mother, you became obsessed with it again, determined to have the daughter forced into a life that the mother had already told you repelled her...."And I remember the disgust in her eyes....My beautiful Mitch........ Looking at me like shit on a shoe...."Is she alive? Charlotte's mother?" Blondie asks.I can't stomach looking at him. "I've no idea. The police gave her a new identity, hid her from me. I couldn't find her, and I've not seen her for over twenty years. But if she's not s
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 285: Family, Part 15, The Present
KlempnerHer face twists...."You still don't want to believe me? She was very good at her job. Good enough that, at first, we didn't realise she was a professional. We thought she was just being.... friendly. And I'll admit, when I set eyes on her, I thought she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen...."..... Mitch's daughter....Blondie's knuckles on her shoulder whiten. ".... So did Frank. We took a room for the night and.... well, you know the script from there. You've had two guys together often enough I'm sure...."Her face sets. "So, what then?""She was fun to be with. Not just a good fuck, but actually good company. We both liked her. And she seemed to like us.... Really like us I mean, rather than just pretend to because that's part of the job description. In the morning, we took her number, and later, we called her back. It went from there. We'd meet up with her a couple of nights a week. It became regular. And then.…"Blondie breaks in, his voice low. "A
