The Lover's Children

Chapter 89 – Solstice – Part 22

MICHAEL

Charlotte’s gaze flicks to Klempner as he stills, looking down and away. “No, he didn’t find me. And no,

it’s not about him. He’s dead now anyway.”

“That right?” Natalie arches a brow. “Not that I was ever what you’d call friendly with the cops, but that

one… what was he called? Corby? There was something about him.”

James rubs at his injured-and-never-quite-healed thigh. “Corby was corrupt and got what corrupt police

deserve.” His voice grates. “He was gunned down by other cops.”

“Yeah?” Natalie stalls, milk half-poured into a jug. “Did you ever find out what he wanted?”

Charlotte speaks hesitantly. “I… did…” Then the words tumble out. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s in the

past.”

Natalie looks at her long, her expression masked. Then, “Alright, so what is this about?”

“That serial killer who’s been going after the street girls, The Surgeon… We’re helping the police to

track him down.”

Natalie’s jaw falls slack. Tray of mugs in hand, she pulls up a chair alongside us. “Why? What’s that to

do with you?”

Charlotte slides a look sidelong. Klempner picks up the thread. “I owe the police a favour. I’m doing

what I can to help. Jenny’s helping too.” He gestures to me and James. “None of us were willing to let

her come out alone on this.”

“Yeah…” Natalie’s gaze unfocusses. “Yeah… I get that… But why come to me? I’ve not worked the

streets for years.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“The women won’t talk to me,” says Klempner.

“No?” She frowns with that not-quite-located-the-thought expression again. “Okay, how can I help?”

Charlotte leans forward, wraps Natalie’s hands in hers. “Will you come with us? We need to talk to the

street girls. They won’t talk to the police so we’re asking the questions the police need to ask but can’t

get answers for.”

“Sure I’ll come. But why won’t…” Natalie halts, pauses, shoots a shocked look at Klempner, then whirls,

aiming a long finger at him. “I knew I knew your face from somewhere, you bastard! I know who you

are. I went on the game of my own choice. But you put girls on the street with no choice at all. Couldn’t

speak the language. Didn’t have any papers. They were nothing but fucking slaves!”

She spins, face furious, on Charlotte. “Larry, my ass. What the fuck are you doing here with Lawrence

Klempner?”

Charlotte sucks at her lips, blinks. “He's my father.”

Natalie’s chest heaves. “So you said.” She looks down, then brushes dust from her lap. “And you bring

him here?” she hisses. “You have the nerve to come back here? To call yourself my friend?”

Charlotte’s eyes gloss. Her voice is small. “Natalie… It’s different. He’s changed. He’s trying to put

things right.”

Klempner rises, making for the door. “Jenny, Natalie is right. I shouldn’t have come here. Natalie, my

apologies. I don’t wish to damage your friendship with my daughter. None of what I was responsible for

was your fault or hers. I’ll leave now. Jenny, I’ll wait back in that cafe. Come when you’ve finished

here.” The door clicks shut behind him.

Charlotte gulps then turns to me and James. “Would you mind? I need to talk to Natalie. There’s things

I need to tell her, and it will be easier if it’s just the two of us.”

James sucks air between his teeth, but I slap him on the shoulder. “Of course it will. We’ll go join your

father. You two talk. Take as long as you need.” James casts daggers with his eyes but nonetheless

rises, following me out.

Out in the hall, he huffs, “Well, that went well.”

“What did you expect from an ex-hooker who recognised Klempner? He’s simply too well known in

those circles. He’s going to have to learn to take this kind of thing on the chin.”

“I’d say he already has.”

*****

In the cafe, Klempner sits with his back to the wall, facing the door. He already has another coffee, but

he cradles a glass, wafting brandy fumes. As he sees us come in, he raises two fingers to the waitress,

nodding to us, then to the mug and the glass.

His face long and thoughtful, he sips at the brandy, staring out of the window. And we sit in silence.

After twenty minutes, my phone beeps.

Come back to Natalie’s place.

*****

In the apartment, Charlotte’s old friend stares down Klempner. “Okay, I know who you are, what you

did. But Jenny’s told me what you’ve been doing to try to make things right.” She snorts. “You’ll never

succeed of course, but I’ll help as much as I can. That photo you’ve got, send it to my phone. I’ll go with

Jenny, ask around…”

He reaches for his mobile. “Agreed. But we want to be nearby, in case there’s any trouble.”

“S’fine by me. You can tag along behind. You can hang out in bars and cafes. But stay out of the way.”

*****

PAT

You were so perfect…

…

Not a hooker…

…

…

How long’s it been?

Weeks now…

I want to fuck.

I want to fuck, and then I want to finish it.

From my spot at the cafe, I watch as you leave, arm-in-arm with that friend of yours, Ginny.

My cock and balls ache.

*****

JAMES

We follow the pair. Charlotte and Natalie stroll side by side just as though they’d not been separated for

years.

Just girls together…

Which is more than can be said for the rest of the women we can see. Some singles, mainly pairs, at

intervals of fifty yards or so, they pace under streetlamps, hang around brightly lit shop fronts, or hover

across the street from bars and late-night cafes.

To my left, Klempner saunters along with that air he has, as though the world around him, and

everyone in it, has been placed there as a matter of personal convenience.

Comparing them, I can’t help but notice that Charlotte has the same manner although I don’t think she

knows it. Beside her, Natalie looks as though she belongs here: the neighbourhood stamped on her

face and clothes, her brash manner, her slightly overstated make-up.

But Charlotte, in jeans, tee-shirt and sneakers, wears no make-up. Her hair, tied back in a long

ponytail, swishes behind her like the tail of some lioness; padding along, peaceful, relaxed, but with just

that hint that, should the situation require it, the claws could come out.

Like father, like daughter…

From my right, Michael murmurs, “Do you think she realises?”

“What?”

“That she doesn’t fit in here? We’re walking through Hooker Central. She might have lived here once,

but she’s moved on since then.”

“I don’t think so, no. Not yet.”

Klempner rumbles quiet agreement.

*****

CHARLOTTE

Hooking arms with Natalie, we stroll along. Somewhere behind us, I’m vaguely aware that Michael, my

Master and my father are shadowing us.

From across the street, a yell. “Hey, Nat. How’s it goin’?” The call comes from a girl in thigh-high boots.

A clingy black dress displays most of her remaining thigh. The blonde shoulder-length bob could be a

wig.

“Hi, Jess. Goin’ good. Got a minute?”

“Sure, so long as you don’t mind me breaking off if a prospect turns up.”

“Course.”

We cross the road. Natalie takes out her phone, scrolling through screens to pull up my father’s photo

of the man he’s been following. “Got something for you to look at.”

‘Jess’ eyes me cautiously. “Yeah? Who's your uptown friend?

“This is Jenny. We used to be roomies…”

“… Before I was so uptown.”

Natalie elbows me in the ribs. “I’m helping her out with something.”

“Okay…” Jess dismisses me with a glance. “What’s that then?”

Natalie displays her mobile screen. “Recognise him?”

The girl peers at the screen. “Not a helluva lot to recognise is there. Who is he?”

“Not sure, but we think he might be this shite that’s cutting up the girls.”

“Yeah? You got a shot of his face?”

“Nope, but does this ring any bells?”

“Nah…” She frowns, turning back to me. “So, who are you? A cop?”

“No, I’m just helping with the…”

“Cos if I thought you were a cop, I might get, you know, annoyed.”

“I’m not a…”

“And who are they?” She points beyond us… “Three guys trailing you. What’s that all about?”

Natalie shrugs. “C’mon, Jenny. Jess doesn’t know anything anyway. Let’s try someone else.” She tows

me away by the elbow. But as I fling a look back over my shoulder, Jess glares after me.

*****