The Lover's Children novel Chapter 105

MICHAEL

“Marty, I believe you. But…” I hunker down to her level, eyeballing her. “… Listen, given that you accepted this man’s money, even as a tip, he may consider you to be a prostitute. Not all men draw, or are capable of drawing, the distinction between a woman who displays her body for a living and one who sells it...”

She’s trembling. I speak gently, trying to keep the bite out of my word… “… And I don’t believe, given your profession, that you don’t really understand that. You can’t do the kind of work you do and be that naive. If this man really is the Surgeon, you are in clear and present danger.”

She gazes at me with a rabbit-in-the-headlights stare.

I continue. “I can see that you believe me. And you believe me without me having tried too hard to convince you. I think you’ve been in denial… It can’t ever happen to me… But you already knew that something about him feels wrong. You might have mentioned him in passing to Danny, but I don’t believe you would have done that if you didn’t know in your gut that you have a problem.”

Her eyes raise to mine. “You're scaring me.”

“Good. If this is the man we’re looking for, you should be scared.”

Lindsey rockets up from her chair. “That's it. I'm outta here. Marty, no offence, but I'm not staying. You'll find my half of the rent for the month in the jar…” She jabs a finger at an earthenware pot perched beside a stained wall mirror. “I'm going to stay with my mom till I find a new place.”

Marty stands. “You can't leave me here alone.”

“You should leave too.” Lindsey sneers around the room. “You got some sentimental attachment to this dump?”

“No, but...”

James interrupts, “Marty, your friend’s right. You should move out. Both of you. And immediately. Do you have somewhere you can go? Parents? Friends?”

“I've… I’ve got a sister, Carla. But she lives the other side of the country.”

“Go stay with her for a while. At least until this man’s been caught.”

She dithers, babbling. “I can’t just leave. My job. The rent. And I can’t just drop on Carla. I’ve arrangements to make…”

“Fine, but don’t do it from here,” says James. “Michael here runs a hotel. You can stay there for a few days while you make your arrangements.”

“My stuff…” she protests. “I need to pack and…”

“I’ll help you pack. Or Charlotte can if that makes you feel more comfortable.” I look around the room. “This furniture yours?”

“Some of it. Most belongs to the landlord. But there’s my wardrobe and the bed. I…” She sounds sheepish… “I didn’t like the look of the mattress on the one the landlord provided.”

“Not a problem,” I say. “I move stuff around all the time. I’ll bring my van and we’ll store it for you until you get settled. Now, go pack a suitcase and we’ll get you out of here, pronto.”

She blinks, her eyes watering. “I don’t know you. I don’t know any of you. You could be anyone.”

I tug my wallet from my jacket pocket. “Here, my card. Michael Summerford. I run the ‘Life and Fitness’ sports centre in the City, and the ‘Life and Beauty’ spa hotel. Go check me out. If you like, you can talk to the police commissioner too. Will Stanton. He’ll confirm who I am. He’ll want to talk to you anyway, but he can do that at the hotel.”

Shoving my wallet back in the pocket, “Let me have a look at this furniture of yours. Is there a service lift?”

She huffs. “In a building this age? With the rent I pay? Not a chance.”

*****

Making the trek back down from Marty’s apartment to the front entrance, I measure stairways and corners by eye, comparing them in my head with the bed, wardrobe and, as it turns out, the settee too. At ground level, I check the front door. That at least, is straightforward. If we can get everything as far as the bottom hall, it just needs walking out and down the front steps.

“How did you get the stuff up there in the first place?”

She pulls a face. “Came flat-packed.”

Standing out on the top step, I tap into my mobile. “Chad? You got anything important planned for today?”

My self-defence trainer sounds cheerful enough. “Nothing that won’t wait. What’s happening?”

“Emergency house evacuation. I’ll fill you in later. But I need you to bring the van down into the City. Come dressed to hump a wardrobe down three storeys…”

“Gotcha.” Humour creeps into his voice. “Twists and corners at every level, I suppose?”

“Got it in one.”

“Can I park outside?”

“Ahhh… Good question. Give me a second… Marty…” She’s listening intently… “Are we okay to park the van outside?”

“You get two hours. After that, you need a resident’s permit.”

“Should be enough. Chad? Yes, we’re good. Here’s the address…”

*****

My phone rings: Will Stanton. Even through the earpiece, his voice booms. “Michael? What’s going on down there?”

James’ head swivels and I tap onto loudspeaker. “… I’ve been talking to some woman who says you’re moving her out of her apartment on Klempner’s say-so? How come I didn’t hear this from you? Or Klempner?”

“My apologies, Will. He was specific that he didn’t want the police brought into it until he was sure he had the Surgeon rather than just some random stalker.”

A pause then… “Alright. I get that. Where is he now? And where are you taking the woman, Martina is it?”

“We’re moving Marty up to the hotel. If you want to interview her up there, I’ll make the facilities available for you. As for Klempner, I’ve not a clue where he is. The last I heard from him, he told me he was in pursuit.”

James moves in. “Will? James here. I know your instinct is to alert every squad car in the City, but can I suggest, given that he’s got his finger on the pulse, that you at least wait until we hear back from Klempner. I thoroughly bollixed his plans once before through undue interference. I’d not care to do it again.”

Another pause… “The woman’s safe?”

“Absolutely. There will be at least one of us with her at all times, while we get her moved. And I’m sure we’ll hear from Klempner as soon as he has something to tell us.”

“Very well. I’ll meet you at your place in say, an hour?”

“That’ll be fine. We’re just about ready to leave.”

*****

As the truck rattles out through the City traffic, my phone Pings with an incoming message: Klempner.

wot happening?

marty out. goin hotel. seeing stanton there. u?

lost him in hsptl. u called stanton?

girl did it. U cumin back?

no. get stanton chek pics agnst hosp staff

pics?

Seconds later, my message box rings with incoming photos: shots of Pat as seen in the Sapphire Club and from some distance sitting at a cafe window.

*****

PAT

I have to see her.

I just have to.

Lily…

It’s risky, coming during the daylight…

But worth it.

It’s still early, barely mid-morning. But after the main rush of traffic and exiting workers, no one much is around, and I loiter at the end of the road.

Knock on her door?

It might be a nice surprise for her…