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Chapter 88: Predator, Part 8
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The Master's Child Chapter 89: Predator, Part 9
MichaelI give it until mid-morning before I head upstairs again, this time with a tray of coffee, toast and cereals. In the bedroom, I find James awake, staring up at the ceiling and Charlotte, eyes closed, nestled against him, his arm tucked around her."Breakfast?"Charlotte's eyes snap open. "Great!" she grins, untangling herself from James and pulling herself into a sitting position. "Did you bring plenty?"James, sitting up to drink more coffee, eyes her, looking amused as she scrapes butter over toast then engulfs a slice in three or four bites. I have to agree. Our red-haired mermaid is sounding much more like herself.I pass her a mug of coffee. "How are you feeling now?""I'm good." She takes a gulp, then another. "Still a bit sore... you know..." She drops her eyes... "Down below... But in myself, I feel great." She pauses, sucking at her lips, her cheeks pinking, and James and I meet eyes. We both know that look."So... um..." She stutters a bit, looking betwe
The Master's Child Chapter 90: Predator, Part 10
I shoot a look over Klempner's shoulder. As he clicks, the screen displays one document after another in something that looks almost, but not quite, like Spanish."Can I help?"He semi-turns, but with his eyes still fixed on the screen. "I don't know. Can you read Portuguese?""Nope, but I thought you might like someone to bounce ideas off."He slaps a palm onto the desktop. "On that, you're right." He swivels in the chair to face me. "I'm trying to figure how to trace Baxter. Before he tries again.""You're sure he will? He might just give up having lost the first time. He got his money after all."He pulls a face. "You saw how he was. Baxter wasn't doing it for the money. Finchby was, but not Baxter. It was personal. Against me. And since we..." He makes a circle with his finger, wrapping me himself and then the house in the circle... "...fucked him up the first time around, I don't see why that motivation would change. If anything, it might get stronger... thinking he h
The Master's Child Chapter 91: Predator, Part 11
KlempnerThe frontage of these places never varies: garish, loud and colourful. Casino! Live Shows! Beautiful Girls!!!Someone deserves a life sentence just for the incautious use of the exclamation mark.A pair of bouncers stand by the door, like the world's most unattractive bookends. As I stroll through, one is already talking into a handset.As I expect, I'm only half-way across the lobby before I am intercepted: six feet two or three of be-suited and be-booted man-mountain. "Can I help you?""I'm here to see Vince. Is he around? I'm...""I know who you are, Mr Klempner. Mr Caproni told us to watch out for you. I'll let him know you're here." He waves to some suited minion who sets off at a run. Hands in pockets, I pace a little, whistling a merry tune watching morons push one coin after another into slot machines. One, fat enough for his buttocks to overhang his seat, leaps up, screaming and waving his arms in the air as his machine flashes wildly, to the clatter
The Master's Child Chapter 92: Predator, Part 12
Striding to the bedroom door, I elbow down the handle, kicking the door wide as I carry her to the bed. And there I lay her on the comforter, still wearing my shirt, her combs working loose to release her hair into a wild red tumble."Larry...""Shhh... My turn first." I lie beside her. "Yours in a while." Nuzzling into her neck, I let my fingers wander south, creeping back under the shirt. "It suits you, you know."She chuckles; that deep-down low-throated chuckle that is so Mitch. "Glad you approve. Perhaps you'd like to keep a stock of them in my wardrobe."I hover a moment, turning over the implications of that...An invitation to move in?Then, rolling her onto her back. with my hand lightly between her breasts, I press her down. "Stay there. Be comfortable." She sighs, relaxing back, but all the while, her eyes follow me.Moving to kneel between her thighs, I drift my fingertips in a slow line over the tender skin between knee and inner thigh. Mitch groans, lett
The Master's Child Chapter 93: Predator, Part 13
JamesWhere's Klempner?It's not that I distrust him... exactly...But I find the hairs rising up the back of my neck if I'm unsure of where he is or what he's doing.He's been thoughtful the last few days, with good reason of course.Baxter...Where is that bastard?I go looking for our house guest. I don't find him in the kitchen or the dining room.In the lounge, Mitch sits by the fire, something trailing down, half-knitted in shades of pink, over her lap. She's reading a knitting pattern, muttering to herself and counting stitches off on a needle.Cara is by her in her cradle, awake but quiet, apparently entranced by the dance of the flames. Mitch looks up, smiling as I enter, but keeps one long nail in place on her needle. "Jenny's gone for a catnap. She didn't get much sleep last night.""No, none of us did. Babies are high maintenance projects, even in the wee small hours. Um... Have you seen Larry?"She shrugs. "Sorry."Hmmm...I back out, considering
The Master's Child Chapter 94: Predator, Part 14
MichaelI poke my head around the lounge door. Mitch, with Cara sleeping close by, holds up some floppy thing in shades of pale rose and marshmallow. "What do you think?" "I think pink unicorns should rule the world. Have you seen James?""Not for a while. He was in here a couple of hours ago, looking for Larry. Maybe you'll find them together."Hmmm...*****JamesThe door opens...Oh, God... Who is it?It's Michael. His eyes settle on me and his jaw drops."The fucking key's on the table," I snarl.He strides across the room, snatches up the key, then drops to one knee beside me and clicks into the handcuff."Don't say a fucking word."His tone is mild. "If you notice, I wasn't saying anything.""Yes, your silence was fucking deafening."He stands, then offers me a hand, hauling me upright. "Klempner?""Klempner. I'll fucking...""What? What will you do, James? He's doing his best to keep you out of trouble.""He fucking hand-cuffed me in my own d
The Master's Child Chapter 95: Predator, Part 15
PredatorI can see you.There you are. Milling around. Playing your part. Playing the Big Man...Thinking you're hard.You're going to pay.And for all of it.You think you're tough?You don't know the half of it.You believe you're entitled to it all?Money? Friends? Family?Your pretty slut of a daughter... With those two bastards she fucks? And her brat?And your pretty lover? You think she's yours? Once a whore. Always a whore.You think you get to have friends? And family?I'll strip them all from you.One at a time...Piece by piece...Until no-one will come near you.And then... But only then... I'll finish you...Time to play...*****KlempnerVoices protest indignation as I slam through the crowd, but I don't stop for apologies, instead, barging past the massed throng to the staircase to the mezzanine.Charging up, taking the steps two at a time, I see that above and ahead of me, Baxter too is moving, more rapidly now, making for the
The Master's Child Chapter 96: Predator, Part 16
Pistol in hand, I make the short run back to the bollards and now I see him: Baxter is driving slowly along the main street. I'm looking at his rear windscreen.By habit, I take aim, but...Clear shot?Not like this...My Glock is a first-rate handgun, but right now I could wish for a rifle.To get a reliable shot at Baxter, I need to be closer and ahead of him, or at least with a decent side view: not necessarily a good idea when facing a man armed with a car.On these streets, while he's in the vehicle, Baxter has an overwhelming advantage over me; he's not just faster, but, as is not always appreciated, a car is a fearsome weapon in its own right. I have no wish to find my legs sandwiched between his bumper and the nearest wall.On the other hand...How to get Baxter out of his vehicle? Or at least, disadvantageously trapped inside it?Ah, yes...The game is afoot, Watson...Ducking back out of sight, and shielding the screen of my mobile with my hand to contai
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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
