All Chapters of Mastering Charlotte: Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

James"The bones of her story stand up, but there are some differences," comments Will Stanton, police commissioner, waving a yellowed report, one of many from the stack of fading files and folders he has with him."It was before my time in the job, but the records show that Charles Jenkins, supervisor at Blessingmoors, died while in pursuit of one Jennifer Conners, then a fourteen-year-old… um.... inmate, of Blessingmoors. Whilst giving chase he was hit by a truck, pulled under, then dragged some distance."He takes another fading paper, brown at the edges, from the top of the stack, pushing it across to Haswell. "The autopsy lists cause of death as multiple injuries resulting from that event. No mention is made of any stab wound."The girl was recaptured two days later and returned to Blessingmoors as per the normal practice at the time. This was not the first time she had been in police hands. She had made numerous attempts to run away and was described as a trouble-maker: d

Michael"What's funny?" I ask."I've never seen you in PJs before.""I thought it was more appropriate right now; didn't want you to feel pressured.""I don't.... Michael, thank you.""For what?""For being here."I kiss her forehead. "Always." She's feeling better, but she looks awful. "Would you like me to run you a bath? You'll feel better if you're clean.""That would be nice."There's no shortage of expensive oils and salts in the bathroom and I tip plenty in, making the water foamy and as much of a treat as possible."Want me to keep you company?""Mmm… I'd rather just be quiet and have a soak. Is that alright?""If you're alright, yes, of course it is."Charlotte smiles through swollen eyes, patting my chest with her palm. I kiss her. "Try to relax."She does seem fairly calm, so I leave her with it, but stand the door ajar.Downstairs, I pace, stare out of the windows, then pace again. Normally the sea calms me, but today....I make coffee for t

Richard"Perhaps he's nervous of you?""Me?""Yes, you. He knows perfectly well that you could dismiss him on the spot."I huff. "I don't need to dismiss him. He has no contract yet. It's not signed.""No?""No. I held off when I first began to sense something was wrong. If I ordered James out of the building right now, he'd have no comeback at all.""And you wonder why he might be nervous? He must have put a lot of work into what he's done for you.""Yes, he has. And that's what's at the forefront of my mind. James may be a loser at judging people, but as engineer-architect, he's phenomenal."She smiles. "So, are you going to tell him that? That you're keeping him?"I take a pace or two, then sniff. "Yes, but not yet. It'll do him good to sweat awhile.""There's no real harm done is there? You do think Charlotte is innocent?" "She is clearly innocent. Even on the slightest investigation, her story stood up. And with what I've learned from Will about Charles Je

MichaelCharlotte gapes, stammering.... "But.... I stabbed him. They told me he was dead…""He died, yes, but not of a stab wound. He was chasing you, and it sounds as though you gave him a good run for his money. He followed you halfway across town, over the old river bridge, and died nearly two miles away...."She's bobbing her head as I speak, Michael eyeing her carefully.Replaying events?".... He chased you through the traffic and went under the wheels of a truck, a twenty-wheeler. It dragged him some distance before the driver managed to stop the vehicle."Richly deserved too....… Terrorising children....She gawks at the top item on the sheaf I've given her, but I'm not sure how much she's seeing. I spell it out for her. "By the time they'd pulled out what was left of him, a stab wound inflicted by a fourteen-year-old girl would have been the least of his injuries. Certainly, it didn't show up in the autopsy report. Witnesses at the time reported him, appare

Michael"And how long have you been there?" asks James.She blushes. "Um, quite a while.... er.... I got back from my walk.... I was coming in, but you were rowing and...."Blinking hard, flushed, James offers her a hand, helping her upright. "You'd better come in."Ah.... fuck...."I'm sorry, Charlotte," I say, "I didn't mean you to hear all that.""I could hardly avoid it," she says. "The sound carried half-way down the beach.""Charlotte, I'm.… I'm sorry," says James, "Michael has given me a lot to think about....".... Finally showing a little grace...."... If you'll excuse me..." And he leaves."Oh, for pity's sake…" And I bring my fist down on the table with a crash.Charlotte recoils...."… Um, sorry, that wasn't aimed at you. It's just frustration," I say."I know."Taking her in my arms, I rock with her. She leans into me, her head against my chest. "When did this all become so complicated?" she says.When did it?"When you fell in love with my