CHARLOTTE

“Klempner said.... he said that he… he ran her with the other whores, and that it must run in the family because I’d sold myself, and now I live with two men…. He holds some grudge against me. He said it was because of Jenkins, the man that died when he chased me, but it felt like there was more to it than that…”

Richard keeps his face bland. “That must have been… upsetting… for you.”

“Yes, but how did he know about the auction? And James and Michael? The only people who know things like that are either us or the police. They have my records…. And then later, he got a phone call…”

I finish off my water. “I’m sorry, but could I have a glass of wine, please. This…. isn’t very easy…”

Michael vanishes into the kitchen, returning with a bottle and five glasses. He fills all five, but I notice that I am the only one drinking. I knock back a couple of mouthfuls, then continue. “I persuaded him to leave Beth alone.…” I look at Beth and she nods confirmation.

“Yes, Elizabeth told me about that,” says Richard. “You convinced them she was worth more for ransom if they didn’t touch her….”

I blush, embarrassed. “Sorry about that. It seemed the best thing to say…”

“No apology needed, Charlotte. But they then put her in a separate room and she thought that….” He vacillates, losing his words.

What did Beth tell him?

“I thought I was in trouble then, that they were going to gang-rape me,” I say. “They started knocking me about a bit.… that’s where I got some of the bruises.… but Klempner said he had a buyer for me. For Beth too, though I’m not sure he wanted to sell her after what I’d told him about who she is. At any rate, I don’t think they wanted to leave too many visible marks on me if the buyer was going to be seeing me….” I gulp more wine.

“Anyway, Klempner’s phone rang. It was weird. He listened for a minute to whoever was on the other end, then he looked like he’d seen a ghost. He hit me across the face, knocked me down, and told me he knew about the tracers. He told the others to find some different clothes for me ‘cause the ones I was wearing had to go. He took the locket that had one of the tracers…. and my rings…. Then he…. he told me to…. um, empty my body cavities...copy right hot novel pub