Masters And Lovers 1-4

Part Nine: Her Enemy’s Promise

James

I lift the latch of the door to the walkers’ shelter, push and step inside…

… something presses to my temple. “Don’t move.”

“What?” I start to turn, but the something; cold, metallic, nudges at me. “I said, don’t move.”

“Who the fuck are…?” But my words are cut short. Abruptly, the shelter is flooded with light. It shoots through my eyes, blinding me.

“Is that any way to speak to your father-in-law?”

The voice is oh-too-familiar, and as my vision clears, I see the figure sitting on a bench; hands clasped behind his head, ankle crossed over knee. “Good to see you, James,” says Klempner. “Do sit down.” Then snapping his fingers to the figure beside me. “His phone.”

Gun-muzzle to my head, I freeze, my hands semi-raised as the gunman’s hand works through my trouser pockets, first one, then the other, then slides down the zipper of my jacket to reach inside before tossing my mobile to Klempner.

My heart, which had calmed to a sensible pace during my ‘escape’ through the tunnel and the walk through the woods afterward, clatters and clamours behind my ribs.

Dry mouth.

Gritty eyes.

A cold sweat down my spine…

Air…

More air…

Don’t show him you’re afraid…

…

…

I’m not going to survive this.

…

A pulse hammers at my temple sending shadows dancing behind my eyes. Bile rises in my throat and I resist the urge to vomit.

This is it then…

…

Jade…

Oh, my Jade…

I wish I could have seen you, one last time…

Held you…

And I’ll never see our baby…

Watch her grow up…

bittersweet, overwhelming

I’m going

if I’ll give

straighten up, lifting my chin, meeting the bastard square in the eye. Michael’s words run an echo

They gutted him. Slit him down the middle from crotch to chest and left him to

at my temple

Hope it’s quick…

Jade…

sits, as I first saw him; casual, relaxed, not apparently threatening. “Kirch, put the gun away. You’re

owner stands at a

mobile, taps in, then oddly, sets it to loudspeaker. “Baxter, everything

There’s no-one

could have told

in the kitchens was just a plant. I rang the number on the security

won’t stop the police turning up now the

I’ll be a few minutes looping round the back of

too long but

“Yes, sir.”

nods in apparent satisfaction then turns to me. “We’ll be leaving soon. In the meantime, James, have a seat.” He gestures to a bench. “May

catches me off-guard. I’ve hardly

Why would he ask?

you think you and I are on first-name

Take the weight off that leg of yours. You’ve exercised it enough for

on unwilling feet, using muscles soft with panic.

his fingers together, thumbs rotating around each other. “We meet again,

doesn’t seem to be any sensible answer to this. I

to one side in easy view, then he presses a couple of fingers to the

Ear piece?

then refocuses back on

What the fuck?

jar, refocus, then zoom in

… and did…

I

going to call

His mole?

Who’s Michael with?

he

“Who betrayed us?”

Klempner blinks. “Betrayed you?”

us. All along, you’ve known things

“I had you down as brighter than that, James. I’m

And I’m fucked if I’m going to help you take

Don’t mention Mitch…

just

quarrel with you. Contrary to what you might think, I don’t mean you any harm. Nor…” He

So much for coincidence…

what you said to the

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