Novel Palace
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
“You were great, Jenny.” Chad is beaming as he helps her strip off gloves and banding. “Your first ever
official bout, and you won.”
“Yeah, you were pretty good,” says another voice. They both turn to see a stranger. Taller than either of
them, he is also in shorts and a vest. Dark-haired and hazel-eyed, he is fit and muscular, his shoulders
broad for his age. His clear open face wears a disarming grin. “I’d shake hands,” he says, “but I can’t
with these on.” He holds up hands already in gloves. “I’m Joshua by the way, but everyone calls me
Josh.”
“You’re in the boys’ competition?” asks Jenny.
“Yeah, I’m up next, but I watched yours. Congratulations. You were really good. If I make it through to
the next round, I’ll come and watch you again.”
A voice splutters over the tannoy, making a nasal request for the next competitors to come to the ring.
Josh glances back. “Gotta go. Nice to meet you.”
Chad’s eyes follow him as he lopes across to the ring.
*****
As the bell rings, it is clear right from the start that Josh is the better fighter. His opponent is more
heavily built, but bulky and slow-moving with it. For every blow he lands on Josh, he receives three or
four back, all well placed and scoring points. Unlike Jenny’s match, it runs the full distance, four rounds
being a boy’s bout, but Josh wins it easily.
Jenny finds herself studying the match with a kind of professional interest, scrutinising the moves
between the opponents, squirrelling away manoeuvres and techniques to try herself. Chad watches Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
with a kind of fascination, all the while his gaze on Josh.
And as he is announced the winner, Josh grins down at them, pumping his fist in the air.
*****
As the event breaks up and the competitors, showered and changed, make their way out to cars and
buses, Mrs Collier brushes imaginary lint from her jacket. “Well, I still can’t say, Levi, that I entirely
approve. I haven’t changed my mind on that. But Jennifer did make a good show today, and she
obviously enjoyed herself.”
Mr Kalkowski stokes his pipe. “Yes, it will boost her confidence, both the winning, and the learning of a
useful life-skill.”
The two watch Jenny and Chad across the hall, chatting happily, then Mrs Collier nudges sidelong with
an elbow. “I’d say Jenny has picked up an admirer too.” She nods across to where Josh is standing,
alone for a moment, his eyes following the pair.
Mr Kalkowski strikes a match, sucking flame into the bowl of his pipe as he regards the three
youngsters.
“He’s a handsome lad,” comments Mrs Collier. “Chad had better be on his toes.”
“He is, as you say, a handsome lad, but... I do not believe that will be the source of any difficulties for
Jennifer.”
Mrs Collier frowns, looking puzzled. “What do you…?” But whatever she is going to ask is interrupted
by the bus driver.
“Time to go, folks,” he calls, “If I’m going to get you back home for suppertime.”
Mrs Collier bustles off, sweeping school-children young and old along with her, and calling to Brett and
Tom.
Mr Kalkowski waits a little longer, still watching. As Chad and Jenny leave, just as they exit the door,
Chad twists around to look back over his shoulder at the dark-haired boy, who smiles and waves.
*****
The Present - Klempner
“How? How can it be so hard to get two fucking women into a truck? The other one was just about
disabled with panic. What did they do? Fucking fly?”
“Sir, please calm down.”
“Don't tell me to fucking calm down, Bech. I want them back.”
Klempner’s captain knows when he has pushed his luck far enough. “We’re handling it now, sir. We
know where the Haswell woman is.”
“Which is?”
“The Haswell offices themselves, sir. Although we couldn’t interfere at that point, I had them under
observation. They were taken there in a police vehicle.”
“And Jennifer?”
“We’re still trying to find her, sir. But it would appear that, so are they. No-one knows where she is.”
Klempner calms a little. “So, what do we know about the other one, Bech? Who the fuck is she? And
what’s she got to do with our girl?”
“I am just starting investigations on that, sir,” replies Bech smoothly. “I know very little so far, except that
it would appear your Jennifer was telling the truth. The woman is, as she said, Elizabeth Haswell,
married to Richard Haswell.”
Klempner swipes a hand through his hair. “And the connection between the two?”
“We don't know, sir. Just how similar are they in appearance?”
“Enough that it's perfectly clear they're blood-related.” Klempner chews at a thumbnail. “Could she
have tracked down her mother?” he mutters, “While we’d lost track of her? Of both of them?”
“I don't think so, sir. Stanton had Jennifer’s Blessingmoors file duplicated....”
“Really? Bending a few rules, isn't he?”
“Yes sir, he is. But Jennifer somehow has Haswell, Richard Haswell that is, working on her behalf. And
when Haswell decides to lean, people bend. Besides which, he and Stanton are personal friends. At
any rate, it seems her main interest in the file was the photograph of her mother. Stanton had it blown
up for her. That wouldn't seem to suggest she's tracked her down.”
Klempner nods, picking at a hangnail. “So how the fuck has she found family? I never knew about this
one…. How could I not have known something like this?” He swivels. “Find out who she is, Bech. There
should be plenty of information about her, and him. Let's see if we can track the little bird from the other
side of the jigsaw.”
“Yes, sir. Any preferences on where I start?”
“He's a billionaire, Bech. No one gets into that position without some skeletons in the cupboard. See
what you can find.”
“Yes, sir. Any thoughts on a starting point?”
Klempner scratches an ear. “Try his financial records, personal and corporate. Tax fraud is always a
good place to begin with a man like that.”
“Yes, sir. You appreciate that I must be careful with this? These are files I would not normally have
access to.”
“Of course. Take your time. Get it right. I’ve waited twenty years. I can wait a little longer.”
*****