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Chapter 139: Fatale, Part 19
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The Master's Child Chapter 140: Fatale, Part 20
MichaelJames looks sick at heart. "They sent an email to Charlotte which appeared to come from me. And so of course, she responded to it. And because there was nothing amiss with any of the content and the link was to a trustworthy website, there was nothing for her security to pick up on..."Whoever did this, they've hacked a completely legitimate company, a supplier of lingerie and other perfectly innocent goods. Charlotte could have worked her way all around that website and the only damage would have been the spend on her credit card, until she hit that single image. And they ensured she would hit it by making it look like a request from me."After that, Charlotte replied to my email and I clicked it open. The fucking thing infected my system and I didn't spot a thing because I wasn't paying attention.""I don't follow all this," I say. "So what's this infection done, James?"He sucks at his cheeks, as though trying to work up saliva. Then, speaking as though making a co
The Master's Child Chapter 141: Vitale, Part 1
Michael"I'm pregnant."Charlotte's mother chews at a lip as Beth holds her hand. "I... I thought I couldn't... I thought I was too old. I'm forty-eight for God's sake... When Larry was here, I didn't... I mean... we didn't..." She splutters to a halt and sits staring at her fingertips, picking at one thumbnail with the other. "You must think I'm stupid, letting something like this happen..." She slants eyes toward Charlotte... "... Again.""I see." I glance over towards James, still framed in the doorway, now gazing up at the ceiling, grimacing as he rubs the back of his neck."Interesting news, James," I say, twisting in my seat to face him. Out of Mitch's line-of-sight, I eye-point her, waving palms downwards...Cool it...Moving as though the earth might just cave in under me, I pull up a chair, sit by my 'mother-in-law'. "In the first place, Mitch, I don't think you're stupid. I can understand why..."Choose your words..."... why you might not have believed there
The Master's Child Chapter 142: Vitale, Part 2
KlempnerIn one hand, I hold a single copper strand. In the other, a thread of brown.My body freezes as my mind races through the possibilities.I left my hotel room several hours earlier, slicking a hair into place over the crack between door and frame as I left. On my return, a hair was still in place and I entered my room assuming all was normal.Now, however, in my left hand, I hold a hair just plucked from my own scalp: the mousy-brown shade of my current identity.In the right hand, I hold the hair which dropped from my hotel room door as I returned, and which on casual inspection, I had taken to be the one I slicked into place as I left the room earlier.But the right-hand hair is red.And now I look at it, I recognise that shade: a deep burnished copper-auburn that many women aspire to, but few have.But Mitch has it. Jenny too;Could it come from one of them?Probably, yes.Jenny...Juliana, or at least her cat's-paws Baxter and Finchby, had Jenny unco
The Master's Child Chapter 143: Vitale, Part 3
RichardI turn the wheel, swing through the gates. "I know that it's only an illusion, but it feels good to get back to something like normal life, doesn't it. Just doing a day's work. Driving home."Gravel crunches under the tires as we pull up. James clicks his tongue. "You're not wrong there." He rubs a forefinger over the top of his nose. "I'll admit, I was worried about the effect the business with Klempner was going to have on Charlotte. All the forward progress the three of us made since we first met. It was feeling as though everything was going to be blown out of the water... Ahhh... Michael must be there ahead of us. The lights are on.""He's left the door standing open too," says James. "It'll be letting the weather right through the house. Might as well not bother with the damn heating."We step inside. James closes the door behind us with a bang. As it slams, a voice drifts down the hall."James, is that you?"Together, we halt in mid-stride. "That wasn't Micha
The Master's Child Chapter 144: Vitale, Part 4
KlempnerA quick trawl of some of the greyer websites I use from time to time quickly produces what I want: contact details for an arms merchant who isn't too fussy about inspecting, or even asking for, documentation or licences relating to either his merchandise or his clientele. Online, it seems ideal, but when I arrive at the address, I'm unimpressed.I could be in the set of some clichéd hack movie. The side alley is dark and damp. The building is of the would-fall-down-but-is-held-up-by-the-dry-rot variety. It's even better as I enter.The proprietor has, apart from a serious case of halitosis, a gold tooth. Why I have no idea. It glints from among a sundry dental collection in black, brown and yellow. Apart of course from the three which are missing altogether from the front. Maybe he lost them in a fight. Or perhaps they ran for cover from their horrible housing.Having wandered into the area wearing my don't-mind-me-I'm-a-tourist uniform, I'm beginning to regret the cre
The Master's Child Chapter 145: Vitale, Part 5
Michael"James, we have to tell her. Given her condition, Mitch has to know. "He exhales slowly, avoiding my eye. "Yes, she does. I've... been avoiding it...""Hoping it would go away? That Klempner would contact us out of the blue and we could warn him? That just like that, everything would be alright?""Something like that, yes.""If Mitch doesn't have all the facts, she can't make proper decisions. She's going to need support. And part of that support is to give her the truth. It's not doing her any favours to be kept in the dark.""You're right of course." James squeezes his eyes closed, presses at a temple. "Let's get it over with. Can you get everyone together. We'll need the family with her for this."*****Richard and Beth drop what they are doing, joining us in the lounge. Georgie appears shortly afterwards, strolling in from the hotel with a speculative look in her eye.Elbow resting on the chair arm, I talk behind my hand to James in the next seat. "You th
The Master's Child Chapter 146: Vitale, Part 6
KlempnerA dozen of them...Or more.I know where to find at least one of Juliana's heavies. So I might as well reduce the numbers a bit...Improve the odds.And oddly, I find I have another motive.The things we learn about ourselves...I realise that the idea of coercing the old man's hard-earned cash away from him offends me.That's new.........Wonder how much they've had off him over the years...?Why do they call it 'Protection'?Call it what it is...Extorting money with menaces...I make a working assumption that Wonder Boy is liable to turn up at about the same time as on previous occasions. After all, he wants his clientele to know when to have the money available for pillage and theft.A lurking spot near Antonio's bar gives me what I want: a view of the entrance.He turns up, right on time. The last time our paths crossed, he made it away with the money and delivered it to Juliana, or at least to the poor sap whose arm she was hanging on.
The Master's Child Chapter 147: Vitale, Part 7
JamesIt's not easy leading a normal life. A cloud hangs over us all, and Mitch's palpable unhappiness doesn't help.And I feel terrible.At least Georgie seems to be getting a grip on reality.I've taken to alternating between breakfast in the house, with Michael, Charlotte and Mitch, and breakfast in the hotel dining room, with Georgie.She's subdued. "I'm sorry I made trouble for you, Dad. I'll do my best to make friends with everyone.""Thank you, Georgie. That would be an enormous help.""I know you asked me to stay in the hotel, but perhaps I could join you for lunch? If Charlotte and I could get to know each other properly, maybe we'd get along better."I reach over the table, pat her hand. "A very good idea. Why don't you join us in the house, later today. Say, about one?""I'll be there."*****"Charlotte, could you set an extra place at the table, please.""Sure." She pauses, her hand full of cutlery. "Who are we expecting?""Georgie's joining us fo
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The Master's Child Chapter 193: Natale, Part 31
It's cold outside, but Klempner sits on the low terrace wall wearing no more than a thin pullover."Want one of these?" I proffer a coffee, heavily laced with whiskey, topped with thick cream.He startles, but then, "Thank you, James." He doesn't smile. His eyes are soft with melancholy as he stares down, watching October mist curling over the lake."Will you visit the grave?""Yes." The single word isn't followed by any others."When will you go?""Sooner rather than later." He breathes steam and fragrant alcohol. "I'm making arrangements now. The Canadian winter arrives early and in force. It'll be under six feet of snow there very soon, and for the next several months.""Would you mind some company?"He twists to face me. "You want to come?""I'd like to pay my respects to the brave woman for whom my daughter is named."He blinks, nodding as he casts his gaze down. "Thank you, James. I appreciate that.""Charlotte wants to go as well."And now he smiles. I
The Master's Child Chapter 192: Natale, Part 30
JamesFamily...All gathered together around the breakfast table: Michael to the left of Charlotte, I'm to her right, bouncing Cara on my knee while Charlotte takes a break to get some food down her throat. Beyond Michael, Beth feeds Adam, Richard flanking them.Klempner and Mitch sit side by side. She's turned discreetly away, feeding Vicky. Larry watches, still wearing that slightly spaced-out expression...Man-in-shock?For all the right reasons...Charlotte is very quiet. She eats, but her gaze sweeps the table and back again.Once she had nothing...Briefly, her eyes lock with her father's. He cocks his head, eyes full of question, but then her gaze moves on.What's he thinking?It's not hard to figure. Right from the time Klempner arrived back with us, although he's clearly content to be here, he's had an air of... waiting...The Rat-Tat! of the front door rattles down the hall.Michael pushes his chair back. "I'll go." A half-eaten slice of toast in one h
The Master's Child Chapter 191: Natale, Part 29
RichardMy intercom buzzes. "Yes, Francis?""I have the police commissioner on for you, Mr Haswell. He... doesn't sound very happy."I can guess what this is going to be about. I've been waiting for it. "Thanks for the warning, Francis. Put him through please..." The line clicks and reconnects. "Richard?""Good morning, Will. What can I do for you?""I think you can guess why I'm calling you. I'm hearing rumours I don't like. Disturbing rumours.""I believe, Will, that I know which rumours you mean. I've been wanting to discuss them with you. Perhaps you would like to meet for lunch to discuss the matter? Somewhere quiet? ""And away from the office? Yes, I think so."*****The waiter sets a plate in front of each of us, steak in pepper sauce for Will, a prawn souffle for me. He tops up the glasses of Cabernet. "Is there anything else, sir?""No, thank you. That's perfect." I wait until he is out of earshot before I speak. "So, Will...These disturbing rumours?
The Master's Child Chapter 190: Natale, Part 28
KlempnerThe view is restful. Living in Mitch's small apartment, hidden away from the world, does...... I suppose...... constitute 'domestic bliss'. But that's at night. For much of the day, we spend our time in the main family home of Jenny's Triad. The women chatter and gossip. The men alternate between business and banter. One or other of the babies always needs attention...It's exhausting.But when it comes to it, that's not the root of my problem.Retreating from noise and activity and 'family-fun' to the sanctuary of the terrace, I let the view wash away the anxiety gnawing at the back of my mind.It's always the waiting...Give me action and some lunatic with a gun every time...Stay calm...Mist curls over the lake far below. On the slopes close by, every blade of grass is etched with a rime of frost that will thaw to dew when the sun crests the mountain. Further down, the individual blades meld into a smooth sheet of silver that merge into haze and wa
The Master's Child Chapter 189: Natale, Part 27
Two coffeepots later, we've run out of croissants and moved onto toasted muffins. James slices one in two, dropping the halves into the toaster. He pauses, "Another one, Beth?"She's sitting up against the headboard, next to Charlotte, the two propped up against each other, eating from a shared plate. Beth slathers butter and blackberry jam onto what she has. "Thanks, but I'm fine with this, James. I'll not eat again 'til suppertime.""Charlotte?""Mmmm..." She nods, mumbling through a mouthful, wiping a smear of melted butter from the corner of her mouth. She swallows, then holds up half a muffin - minus two bites. "What is it about muffins and bad weather? I always want more of them."James rolls a look at her, then to me, shaking his head...A wise man says nothing...Richard sucks jam from his fingers, lips smacking. "On a complete change of subject... Elizabeth and I were talking..." Beth falls still, her shoulders slumping... "... Please don't take this the wrong way,
The Master's Child Chapter 188: Natale, Part 26
MichaelIt's dark...What woke me?Somewhere down and beside me, the sound of whining. "Scruffy? You need to go out, boy?"At this hour?What the hell time is it?I'm snug and comfortable, draped with a thick duvet. Charlotte, warm and fragrant, sleeps tucked in beside me. Through the curtains, it's pitch-black.Scruffy whines again, this time scratching at the bed.Wonder if he's eaten something he shouldn't?Stretching an arm blindly out beyond the cosy comfort of the blankets, I pat across the side-table, hunting for the light switch. When I find it, as it turns out, it's not Scruffy's habit of eating every bit of rubbish he comes across that is at fault. The clock tells me it's half past seven and my rag-tag mongrel is making a perfectly reasonable request to be let out to relieve the pressures of the night.But outside, there's no sign of daylight and, joys of joys, rain lashes against the window.Goodbye to summer...Scruffy's whining ups by half an octave
The Master's Child Chapter 187: Natale, Part 25
JamesAn orderly tries to block the way, arms outstretched in front of the door. "Sir, you can't..."Klempner simply brushes by him.From beyond, Mitch's voice. "Let him in..."The orderly spins, mouth open. "What? All of them?""Yes!!!! Ah... Fuccckkkk...."The monk's feet skid uselessly over the polished floor as he tries to resist his inexorable forward journey into the delivery room. His voice rises to a wail. "But I'm not a priest. I can't do this." Klempner growls, "I don't care if you're a priest, a rabbi, an imam, or if you ran the Bring-and-Buy at the church garden party. The lady here wants our child born in wedlock. You're going to marry us."Klempner turns his attention to Mitch, lying on her back on the delivery table, yelling her way through another contraction. She flings out an arm, grabbing at his wrist. He winces, but lays his other hand on top. "We'll just let this one pass..."The midwife, checking a bleeping monitor, flashes a look at Mitch. "Yo
The Master's Child Chapter 186: Natale, Part 24
RichardMy mobile bleeps: James.Landed. at airport now. home approx 90 mins. Tell Mitch he's keenElizabeth grins at me as I tap in the reply.don't go home. come city hospital. Mitch in labourThere's a short pause...Elizabeth holds up her hand, counting down silent fingers: Five... Four... Three... Two...... and my mobile bleeps again.When M go into labour?3 hrs doc and midwife say early but all normal all goodWith you ASAP K got taxi flying on wings of fire*****The corridor is painted the required institutional off-white, scraped black in long stripes at trolley-bed height. The lighting is the compulsory harsh fluorescent white. One strip blinks on and off. Signs point off down apparently identical corridors: Intensive Care... Reception... A & E... Chapel and Prayer Room... Radiology... Cardiology... Breast Screening...How many ways is it possible to be sick?Footsteps echo along the corridor; marching footsteps, almost stampeding footsteps.A
The Master's Child Chapter 185: Natale, Part 23
KlempnerAt last, I get some privacy with her. James ushers out Jenny, protesting all the way. Michael leaves too, turning as he exits to give me a kind of approving nod.Haswell poured glasses of champagne, passing them around at their side of the screen, although I did notice that he poured for Mitch from a different bottle. The top of the flute is just in view, spitting the odd bubble over the rim."Are you alone now?"She looks sidelong, off-screen. "Yes, they've gone.""What's Kirstie doing there?""I'm fitting her for her wedding dress. They've set the date for Christmas, remember.""I didn't know that.""Oh... no... Of course you wouldn't." She takes a sip of her bubbly, looking away. "It's been so long. They said you were dead. The police said there was a body.""There was, but not mine."She peers into the screen, searching my face. "How are you? What happened?""I'll tell you sometime, but not now. What's important, is how you are and..." I nod down, bel
