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Chapter 193: Natale, Part 31
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The Master's Child Chapter 1: Target, Part 1
If you have not met Charlotte and her Triad previouslyThe Characters – Or 'What Went Before'Charlotte:Originally known as 'Jennifer Conners' (Jenny) when she was a child. Charlotte had a grim upbringing. Imprisoned in a 'Children's Home' known as 'Blessingmoors', actually an outlet for human trafficking, she never knew her mother and father, and was destined for a life as sex-slave.To escape that life, Charlotte decided to go to university to give herself the education to make it in the world. To raise the funds to do so, she chose to auction herself and her virginity to the highest bidder.James and Michael:Charlotte's 'Buyer' was James, long-term Dom, architect-engineer, divorced and stinging from his first marriage. During a madcap week of wild sexual adventure (See 'Mastering the Virgin' – Box Set One - FREE Download), James introduced Charlotte to the pleasures of BDSM and ménage with his old friend Michael, who 'loves women'. Blond, and unusually handsome, Micha
The Master's Child Chapter 2: Target, Part 2
ThailandAt 'Arrivals', I wait, card clutched in hand: Strohmayer Party.The crowds throng by, sweeping past; wives and husbands, lovers, and teenage sweethearts meet and embrace. Men smile, shake hands and slap backs, women hug and kiss cheeks. Children, olive-skinned, dark-haired and almond-eyed run to meet smiling oldsters, arms outstretched, shrieking as they run.Nothing of this feels familiar.But then, when did anyone come running to me?My mother, a smile on her lips, laughter in her eyes, hunkering down, arms outstretched as I toddle to her, as fast as short legs will carry me... "Larry, Sweetheart..."And Him in the background; red-faced, scowling, bleary-eyed.Enough.........Ah... there they are...Six in the group, middle-aged, prosperous and coming to 'party'...... for a given definition of 'party'.That's got to be them.I adjust my cap to just the right angle, brush down the jacket and straighten up, making sure the card is prominent.Th
The Master's Child Chapter 3: Target, Part 3
Michael - Eleven WeeksIn the kitchen, I find James extending the breakfast table. "Six for breakfast." His face is suspiciously straight. "We need more space."Mitch joins us, heading for the jar containing her peppermint tea. She's wearing an expression which hovers between a twinkle and a question. She turns her gaze on Charlotte. "Yes?""Yes, Michael accepted."Mitch nods, her expression thoughtful, then turns to help James set out the table. "I'll do that.""Thanks." He collects eggs from the fridge... "A good breakfast all round, I think." Then brandishing a bottle, "And perhaps some bucks fizz by way of celebration.""Sounds good to me." In truth, I feel a little awkward, pinned under Mitch's gaze. She's barely arrived with us, learning that her long lost daughter has two 'husbands', and now one of them has...What?... an arrangement that he has a second 'wife'.But she doesn't look annoyed. Her mouth is twitching as she smooths the tablecloth. "You lead an ad
The Master's Child Chapter 4: Target, Part 4
Michael - Twelve WeeksI try the switch and the bulb flicks on, then off again.Great. The last one.I spot Mitch, waiting at the door for me to notice her. "I was coming across to see how you're getting on. Sally asked me to give you this."She offers me a tray bearing a pint mug of tea and one of my hotel chef's monumental 'sandwiches'. Lifting the lid, I inspect the contents; sausage, egg and bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms and brown sauce; enough protein to feed a small family for a day. And a larger family wouldn't be going hungry. Mitch eyes the creation. "Will you eat all that?""Sally lives in eternal torment that I might waste away while her back is turned. I wouldn't dream of rejecting her contribution to my continued well-being."Double-handed, I lift the thing to my mouth and bite in; a deep, delicious mouthful. "I've just gotten in the last of the wiring." Wiping a dribble of yolk from the corner of my mouth, I gesture around the room. "It's ready for you anytim
The Master's Child Chapter 5: Target, Part 5
James – Twelve WeeksWow!What a great job.Mitch's work on the creche is seriously good. No-one would think she wasn't a professional."I based it on the room I used as Jenny's nursery when... When she was a baby... Before..." Mitch's voice catches.I lay a hand on her arm. "You have her back now. And she's not going anywhere.""I know. It's just, sometimes, when I think how I lost her..."Her voice breaks again...Spiralling out of control...Change the subject..."You have an amazing talent, Mitch. You could easily make a living as an interior decorator."She shrinks in on herself... "Oh, I don't think so..."Too many years of being told she has no worth?"...Think how much time this takes. I'd have to charge the earth to make it pay.""Alright, so you have something to sell where you can charge the earth." She looks askance at me, frankly unbelieving."Mitch, remember who your family members are. Richard and Beth move in the kind of circles where they
The Master's Child Chapter 6: Target, Part 6
James – Fourteen Weeks"You and Beth should leave some of your things here; a change of clothes, toiletries. Pick one of the guest bedrooms and it's yours."A good idea, James." Richard strokes Beth's hair. "Are you happy with that? And it means that you and Charlotte can spend more time together while you're both expecting. Mitch too."Charlotte's mother nods a smiling acknowledgement, but Beth positively glows...Pregnancy suits her..."I'd love that. Home from home. And if you're both working, we're not by ourselves.""Perfect," I say. "That's agreed then."Michael's face appears from around the door. "Ah, there you are."Clothes dusty, his hair stands in plastered points and a white smear runs from nose to chin. He aims a finger at the coffeemaker. "I'll have one of those, please." Then he tosses a small brown envelope onto the tabletop by Mitch.She picks it up, turning it over in her hand. "What's this?"Sitting as I offer him a mug of coffee, he swings his fe
The Master's Child Chapter 7: Target, Part 7
Charlotte – Fourteen Weeks"They're so small." I stare at the tiny woollen mitts my mother is showing me. She sucks in her cheeks, but she's smiling. "Well, how big did you think Peanut will be when he's newly born?""She.""You don't know that.""I'm hoping that.""Alright, for now, she. But until it's confirmed..."None of this feels real. Around me, rack upon rack of displayed baby clothes: onesies, jumpsuits, hats and caps, rompers, socks and booties..."What is all of this stuff? I thought..."My mother looks amused. "You thought what?""I thought, well, I'd just... dress her.""In what? Irish mist? She'll need clothes, Jenny."She rummages through a shelf stacked with packs of bibs, reading the labels. "Three in a pack," she mutters, then pops four packs in the cart."We don't need that many, surely?""You'll think differently when the whole lot's in the wash and she's just sicked down the last clean one." She revolves, scanning the store. "We need
The Master's Child Chapter 8: Target, Part 8
Richard – Nineteen WeeksJames stretches out on a lounger close by, a tall glass and a taller jug of something colourful, floating with ice and fruit, on a side table. The beating sun might fry some of us, but his semi-Mediterranean skin seems able to handle it as he bakes to golden rather than red.The hat over his face suggests he is dozing in the heat, but a swaying hand shifts with soft music rippling over the terrace, tapping fingers saying he is awake.Charlotte sits on the pool edge, a light robe protecting her from the sun, dangling her feet in the water. The filmy fabric, a shade of green that complements her eyes and her pale skin, flutters in the lightest of breezes. She watches from under a floppy, broad-brimmed hat as Michael and Elizabeth frolic in the pool.I sit down beside her, dabbling my feet too. It's pleasant under the hot sun; heated skin in the coolth of the water."How are you now, Charlotte? Enjoying yourself? Looking forward to the great event?" I no
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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
