My gut curls in on itself. “I’m beginning to understand why she got so frustrated at being locked up, not able to do anything….”
“Hang on to that thought.”
“I’ll let Richard know we’ve heard from her. That should cheer him up. Beth too.”
“Good idea.” Michael leans back against the desk, hands in his pockets. “Has he spoken to you the last day or so?”
“Barely at all. I’d say he’s trapped between joy at having Beth back and guilt that we didn’t get Charlotte.”
“Yeah….” He huffs. “I think I’d feel the same. As you say, give him a call. Put them out of their misery.”
I set the phone to loudspeaker, then call. The phone rings only once before Richard answers, his voice strained. “Yes, James?”
“Good news. We’ve heard from Charlotte.”
“Oh, my God!” Twenty floors separate us, and I can hear him stand up. “Is she alright?”
Michael’s eyes dance in the first real shot we’ve had at humour in days.
“She’s free,” I say, “And she’s on the move. Is it convenient if Michael and I come up to talk?”
“Yes, of course.” His voice breaks away from the mouthpiece, somehow echoing and muffled at once, but still clearly audible. “Elizabeth, it’s James. They’ve heard from Charlotte.”
Beth’s voice starts distantly but grows loud by the end of a few short words. “Oh, thank God. Where is she?”
“They’re coming up to talk. James, have you told Will Stanton yet? Do you want me to call him?”
“No, don’t. That’s what we need to talk about.”
His puzzlement is loud. “Really? Very well. Come up as soon as you’re ready. We’ll be here.”
“On our way.”
It’s an emotional meeting. As we enter their apartment, Beth bursts into tears, throwing herself into Michael’s arms where, slightly awkwardly, he pats her on the back, trying to ‘touch without touching’.
Richard cocks a brow, but his eyes crinkle as he watches the performance. Then he turns, shakes my hand, taking my elbow in the other hand. “James, words fail me. This last few days….”
“It’s alright,” I say. “She’s fine, and it’s clear that she’s very much functioning.” Michael disentangles himself from Beth’s trembling embrace while I recount the conversation of a few minutes prior.
*****
A few hours later, we both receive a single short message.
On my way
Then nothing for a full day, until:
Almost there
again, nothing else
despair, but now, blinded by the love of my Jade-Eyes, wondering
And we wait…. endlessly….
*****
Richard
paces up and down, his face a brewing storm as he grows more and more agitated. Something is building in him and I'm not sure I want
as well
She’s coming….
…. but when?
show in my face. Michael looks at me askance.
blame me for
furrowed. “Why would
I had forbidden
take it from me or James, I don’t think you would have gotten anywhere.” His voice is bitter. “Charlotte does what Charlotte does. Perhaps we all simply have
my wife
Elizabeth to me, but at
It’s taking too long….
Has she been
I can't say that....
must be
continues to pace, his face bloodless, shoulders knotting, knuckles
power of his arm and shoulders behind the blow, he punches at the door. Were it to connect with a face, it would certainly knock the recipient out cold. It might kill them. As it is, his fist
his
dangerous is Michael? If he is seriously
seems a
I wonder if you could ask someone from Maintenance to call by. There is some repair work needed
hangs his head, blinking. He extracts his hand from the splintered timber, then
position if Charlotte hadn’t set out to rescue Elizabeth.” I survey the damage. “I've felt like doing that myself a time or two through all
hand. “But you need to get a dressing on that.” I nod down to where blood trickles, dripping onto the expensive
Michael wraps around his hand,
voice is dry. “Hope he feels better for
*****
scrolling through
realise that, in fact, it’s
you looking
smile tugs at his mouth. “Her
Really?
don't think
happened, I think we can assume that if she didn't want me to see it, Charlotte would have deleted the information. She would have known it was one of the first things I'd
course, you are her