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Chapter 161: Vitale, Part 21
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The Master's Child Chapter 162: Vitale, Part 22
Semi-supported by my hold, she doesn't fall all the way, but hangs poised, scraping those pointed heels over the concrete, trying to regain her feet, trying to break away.But on the slick surface, there no grip to be had and the heels scrape uselessly at the concrete. She cries out, face contorting as she tries to twist free of my grasp. Shrieking like a banshee, screeching like a fishwife... "Fuck you!" ... she struggles and squirms and twists...... then abruptly, changes tack, flinging herself forward, and head down, drops to my hand, sinking in her teeth.Pain stabs up my arm and involuntarily, briefly, my fingers slacken. And in the instant before I regain my hold, with a shriek of triumph, she's pulled free.As she slips loose of my grip, she drops, landing with a bump on her ass, scrambling backwards, shoving herself along on palms and the ridiculous silver-vinyl boots. Hurling myself after her, forward and down, I land with a jarring thud, arms at full stretch, stra
The Master's Child Chapter 163: Natale, Part 1
KlempnerJuliana coughs and her face twists, more blood spilling now from her mouth. "Gotcha, Larry."I watch as, in a slow exhalation, the air escapes her throat. Her eyes lose their focus and freeze into a sightless stare."Juliana?"She doesn't move, quite still. No lift to her chest. No flutter to her eyelids."Juliana?"She doesn't move again.I'm quite alone.No-one knows I'm here.No-one is coming.I gaze into the abyss.*****The blood pounds at my temples. My breath comes in short snatches. My vision is dark at the edges...Flattening myself back against the wall, I scrutinize the prone Juliana, hoping that I might be mistaken; that there's a breath of life in her.I'm only fooling myself. Not even that. I know a corpse when I see one.Juliana was the only person who knew I was here. She murdered anyone else who might know how to find me. Or even that I existed.Arms wrapped around my knees, I shudder, muscles trembling and out of control. Head
The Master's Child Chapter 164: Natale, Part 2
A dozen throws later, I concede that I'm not going to succeed this way. My makeshift lasso has ample range to reach but, the palm lying flat to the ground, I can't get the loop around. At the least, I need to snag a hand to have any hope of towing Juliana closer...No...A finger would do it...It just needs a good hold...Picking at the knot to my loop of rope, I unravel it. Irritatingly, the soaking in the water, or maybe the subsequent drying, has shrunk the cloth a little and the knot has tightened. It would do my soul good to curse and fling the wretched thing against the wall, but resisting my own temper, I work away at the snarl of tattered cloth and frayed threads until it unravels.My thinking is frayed too...Dehydration?I treat myself to a break, unfolding stiff joints to stand up and taking the time to allow myself a real drink: enough to quench thirst. Refreshed, I settle down again to re-tie my lasso, this time with a slip knot, and making my loop only a fe
The Master's Child Chapter 165: Natale, Part 3
Despite riding a success-high. I'm all too conscious that I'm not firing on all cylinders and could easily drop my hard-won prizes. So the belt, threaded through the buckle to give me a handle, is firmly looped around my wrist at one end. The other end... It's a bit of a contraption, but I'm working with what I have. Juliana's bra, knotted to the belt by its own straps, gives me another eighteen inches or so. My rope, lengthened with braided strips of Juliana's blouse, is weighted at one end with rolled-up vinyl, cannibalised from the top half of the boots, tied into a ball with thread picked out from belt, skirt and anything else I could find. The hairs from the silver wig look promising but are too short to be useful, for this at least.Of course, the bottom part, with the spiked heels, would be heavier, but they're far too precious to risk losing.With my makeshift bola, I take a swing, letting out the length of the 'cord' and releasing the ball.The weight impacts the w
The Master's Child Chapter 166: Natale, Part 4
Richard"... so with the works completed on B Site, we'll be in a position to open the riverside park by July as originally planned. Excellent! I think that rounds off a good morning's work. We can tell the mayor this afternoon at the meeting. Good work, James. I think it was one of my better decisions bringing you into my company."Some men might beam at that. My sombre fellow director merely gives a small smile. "Thank you, Richard."My intercom buzzes."Yes, Francis?""Mr Haswell, this is for James, I have Georgie on the line..." A small pause, then, "She sounds quite upset. She says she's called several times but you didn't answer."Alarm crosses James' face. "No, I'd barred calls while Richard and I were talking. Pass her straight through, please."A click and then a voice bawls out. "Dad! I've been ringing and ringing and...""Calm down, Georgie. What's wrong? What's the matter?"Her voice blurts out over the conference room. "Dad, I went to the stables. And she
The Master's Child Chapter 167: Natale, Part 5
JamesIn the hotel room where she's been staying since her abduction and subsequent rescue, my daughter... my eldest daughter... is red-faced, almost incoherent with rage: "I don't understand you, Dad! He's supposed to be your friend and I found him... with her. Your wife. Why aren't you..."I cut her short. "Georgie, sit down. And please, calm down. There are some things I need to explain to you. I should have done it some while ago, but there never seemed to be the right moment."She sits, shoulders hunching. "I can't imagine what you think you have to say. Are you going to tell me you knew your wife was having an affair and you just stood by?""Georgie, Charlotte is not having an affair...""She's your wife...""Yes, she is my wife, but..." I take a deep breath... "Charlotte is also Michael's wife."Georgie's mouth opens. Then closes. Then opens again. "What?" Her face screws up. "What do you mean by that?""Charlotte is married to Michael. And she is married to me.
The Master's Child Chapter 168: Natale, Part 6
Will she come?Charlotte sits at the breakfast table, hard-eyed. Scooping up mushrooms and bacon, she eats with a kind of gritty determination.She's barely spoken to me since yesterday."One egg or two, Charlotte?" Pan in hand, I hover by her."Two, please." The words are polite but terse.I return to my spot by the hob, Michael giving me an All-Boys-Together look of sympathy. "It'll come right," he murmurs.I swipe a hand through my hair. "Christ, but I hope so. This is just a mess."Bread-knife in hand, he pauses over a loaf, voice low. "Where's everyone else?""I asked Mitch, Richard and Beth to make themselves scarce. If there's any unpleasantness, I don't want them caught in the back-blow. Neither do I want any questions over why they are here."Michael sucks at his teeth, widens his eyes. "Mmmm... Quite..." Then, over his shoulder, "Would you like some more toast, Charlotte?"She nods, still chewing; curt, silent.The doorbell rings."I'll go." All but sp
The Master's Child Chapter 169: Natale, Part 7
KlempnerIt's mechanical work, boring and repetitive. It's not as though I have anything better to do, but it gives me time to think. After my initial celebration, the food ran out two sleeps ago and the ache in my belly reminds me that I'm working against a ticking clock. How long can I keep working without something to eat?It's odd the things one misses. While Juliana was alive, I spent most of my time in the weird green-tinted gloom of the camera indicator light. Now I have the harsh whiteness of the single overhead light 24/7...Not that 24/7 means much to me anymore...Bleary-eyed, my hands scraping and chipping into the cement, my mind is cloudy, my lids droop. How long have I been here?Must be weeks by now...Someone will have raised the alarm...Surely?Or was Juliana telling the truth? They already think I'm dead...Would anyone care? Or even notice?Mitch will...For sure...Definitely...Mitch...Christ... I'm hungry...That Christmas ta
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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
