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Chapter 239: Hunters, Part 22
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Mastering Charlotte Chapter 240: Hunters, Part 23, Seven Years Ago
.... and then her opponent comes bullying in, her face a mask of anger. She barrels into Jenny, punching hard as she goes, landing one, two, three blows on the taller girl before Jenny backs up to get her distance, then flings in one punch after another, up and over Monica's defence, then down and under.Monica charges in close, striking hard into already sore ribs. Jenny grunts as she dances back and around, striking out and scoring on the shoulder, then again, this time catching her opponent in the face.Roaring as she surges in again, Monica drips blood from her nose. It trickles down her face, then sprays as Jenny's glove connects. There's fury in her eyes and once more she aims for the bruised ribs. The referee is behind them, his line of sight broken for just a moment, and in that second, Monica punches low, catching Jenny in the gut.The crowd whistles and hoots as she staggers. Pain kicks through her and her breath gusts out. But Jenny knows what real pain feels like, rem
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 241: Hunters, Part 24, The Present
Klempner"Sir, she's back.""Jennifer?""Yes, sir. She's in the Haswell Building. She was sighted at one of the penthouse windows."Klempner's face is sour. "You did tell me, Bech, that we were keeping a close eye on those offices. How does she come to be in there and we didn't see her arrive?""I don't know yet. I'm trying to find out.... Sir, following your instructions, I have been trying to learn who Elizabeth Haswell is, or more accurately, who she was before she married....""And?""Sir, for the wife of such a prominent figure, there is astonishingly little information about her. It's as though she only came into existence a couple of years ago."Klempner's head tilts. "I'm listening.""There is almost nothing in the papers. I had assumed, wrongly as it turns out, that the wedding would have been a high-profile society event. In fact, it was very low key, and I only managed to track any information at all from Central Records, which of course provided the date a
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 242: Hunters, Part 25, Seven Years Ago
Jenny sits up in bed, Chad perched on the blankets beside her, holding her hand.There's a sharp tap at the door and the kind of short hesitation that suggests the maker of the rap might be allowing a moment's grace before entering.The door swings open and Mrs Collier steps in with a tray. "I've made you chicken soup Jenny. You'll be staying to eat with us of course, Chad?""Thank you, Mrs Collier. I'd like that."She places the tray down on Jenny's lap. Pale creamy soup, fragrant with thyme and sage and.... something else wonderful.... steams gently up. "If you want more, there's plenty more where that came from.""Thank you. It smells lovely."The woman flicks non-existent crumbs from her apron. "I'd like you to know Jenny that, while we will all respect your wishes not to bring the police into this, Jacob is in hospital and whatever happens, he won't be coming back here. We have also put the word out that he is unwelcome here to all the neighbours, but we have not told
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 243: Saviours, Part 1
JamesDespite my hopes, the situation between Michael and Charlotte has not improved. The only people who can really hurt you, are those you love the most....Michael sits on the couch, pretending to watch old movies. Charlotte is reading, but she's standing up to do it. I sit with my laptop, trying to muster up the will to do some work, but finding myself constantly distracted by the cool looks the other two award each other.There's a shudder and a rumble, as though of distant thunder or crashing traffic. We all look up and around."What the hell was that?" I mutter.Trouble?I meet eyes with Michael and as one we stand to look out and down. There's nothing unusual to be seen, but perhaps there shouldn't be. The noise sounded - felt - internal to the building.Charlotte has snapped open her laptop and is busily mousing and clicking....What's she doing?Her face heats as she sees me looking. "Um, the security cameras...." She tenses again.She shouldn't be look
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 244: Saviours, Part 2
JamesMichael, pallid and sweating, won't meet my eye. I could punch him and smile about it, and he knows it, but this isn't the time. With Charlotte on the penthouse floor of the building, flames taking hold somewhere below, and Michael's instruction to her to remain where she is, it is only a matter of time before she is trapped beyond rescue.Fucking idiot....And because in our headlong rush from the apartment we both left without our phones, we have no way to contact her.As my imagination cries havoc, I battle the terror for her that rises in me, unbidden, unwelcome....Flames…Heat....Burning........ Smoke, choking fumes....Trapped....Jade....Don't panic........ You're no good to her if you panic....We sprint up a flight of stairs, the sound of heated, rushing air growing louder around us, a hot wind rising....But as we climb only the second flight, firefighters, masked and uniformed are descending. Arms outstretched, blocking our path, "Ge
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 245: Saviours, Part 3
James"Get back. Get back...." Police push the moronic reporter back to a safe distance.Straining my vision to pick out the detail, way up, I see a doll-sized figure being winched away from the rooftop and into one of the choppers. A minute later, and another follows.Is that them?Is she safe?The clenching in my gut, visceral and nauseous, begs that it be so, but from so far away, I simply cannot be sure it was Beth and my Green-Eyes I have seen. My breathing is short and shallow. Deliberately, I take a couple of deep breaths, filling my lungs, trying to clear my head and the smog around my thinking.The choppers are sweeping away across the City. As I watch them, something else dawns on me. Something missing.Where are they all?It's an office building. There should be people leaning out of windows. Crying for help. Waving arms. Screaming. There is no-oneIn the background, I hear the reporter again.".... In the wake of what is rumoured to be a terrorist att
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 246: Saviours, Part 4, Six Years Ago
The church is only small, serving a farming community spread over many miles. It sits in a grassy acre, dotted with wildflowers and fragrant with spring blossoms. And today, with the gathered congregation, it is standing-room only.Flowers, picked from the meadows and tied with bright ribbons, decorate the end of each pew. Everyone is wearing 'Sunday Best' and just outside the door stands a young woman, tall, slender, copper-haired under the brilliant blue skies, and lovely as the May morning of her marriage.Mr Kalkowski, wearing formal suit and a stiff collar that must surely be cutting into his neck, stands close by. And inside she knows is her husband-to-be, Chad.Chad, who was her first friend here.Chad, tall, broad-shouldered and handsome, blue-eyed and golden-haired as the sunshine.Chad, who defended her, then taught her to defend herself.Chad, who asked her to marry him.Chad, who waits inside for her.Natalie, her bridesmaid, fiddles with her train and arran
Mastering Charlotte Chapter 247: Saviours, Part 5, Six Years Ago
The day has been marvellous. After sleeping off the reception meal, the farm courtyard has been cleared for partying. Dancer, Charlie and Maggie hang their heads over stable doors, apparently enjoying the music. Anyone who can handle an instrument has been pulled in to perform, all taking turns so that everyone has a chance to enjoy the celebration, the singing and the dancing.Tables and trestles are set up under the cover of barns in case of rain, but the May weather is perfect. A feast is laid out, everything grown or made on the farm, or brought in by wedding guests for all to share. The table groans under succulent roast joints, chicken, deviled eggs, three different kinds of salads, homemade bread from a dozen different well-wishers, cakes and puddings and trifles. On another table is wine, bought in and home-brewed, lemonade, and someone has provided a canteen-sized water-boiler for tea and coffee.No-one will go hungry or thirsty tonight.The big chestnut tree on the corn
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