Seven Years Ago - Klempner
338 Words
Seven Years Ago - Klempner
“So, how is our little bird progressing, Bech?”
“She’s doing very well, sir, by all accounts. Growing up into a real beauty, so I am being told. I’ll see if I can obtain some photographs for you, but from the reports I’m receiving, you might want to think about reclaiming her in the not too far distant future.”
Klempner sniffs. “What is the source of your information, Bech? One of ours?”
“Well, let's say, sir, that he is being induced to be one of ours.”
Klempner regards his captain with a cool glance. “And the nature of this inducement?”
“Carrot and stick, sir. He's being paid, but he also knows there will be consequences if he doesn't behave.”
“That sounds fine, Bech. Keep me informed.”
“Of course. Do you want me to make arrangements to have her collected?”
“Mmm… Tempting thought.” Klempner tugs at his chin, then, “But no. I’m in and out of the country right now, and for the next several months at least. I’d prefer to wait until I have the leisure to…. appreciate her properly. It’s not as though she’s going anywhere, is it?”
Bech shrugs. “Where would she go?”
“Quite. Anything else for my attention?”
“Just business as usual, sir. We have a group of twenty or so coming in from the Middle-East next month, mainly female….”
“How old?”
“Varying between about twelve or thirteen up to early twenties. It’s often difficult to get exact ages for them from some of these third-world areas, but they’re between close-to-maturing and fully ready.”
“Fair enough. You can let Finchby run an eye over them when they arrive, especially the young ones. He’s telling me he has some special requirements clients lined up. Any more?”
“Yes, we have two females and one male at Blessingmoors we could be moving along. The boy is a looker, the two girls rather ordinary….”
“Fine. Again, let Finchby see the boy. Do the girls speak English?”
“No, sir. One is from Uzbekistan. The other is a Thai.”
“Excellent. I have a client asking for labourers on his fruit farm. I’ll forward you details.”
“Yes, sir.”
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- Writer
