Haunting Echoes
could not keep calling him that; she must ask for his
name later. In the quarter hour since her arrival the
room had become more than half full and another
brother joined the barman on duty – there was no
doubt they were twins. The clientele chattered noisily
to them and each other and to add to the noise,
someone put a coin in the jukebox.
While waiting to be served, Clive Parker eyed
Clarrie’s reflection in the mirror. How long would it
take her to get around to telling him exactly what was
she after, he wondered nervously. He scarcely believed
his eyes when he saw the picture she was painting, so
he did not doubt that she meant trouble for him. He
would lose everything he had worked for and achieved
over the past forty years. What led her to come here –
turning up on his doorstep? It certainly could not have
been by accident. How could she have found him, when
his traces were so well covered… more to the point,
who was she and what possible connection could such
a young woman have with his own distant past? It was
difficult to believe that they had a mutual link to those
old times because in those days he hardly ever left the
house and villagers had no reason to call. No local had
recognised him, he was quite sure, but she must be in
league with someone old and the reason they had kept
silent for so long was a poser. Now they were using
this young woman to make outrageous demands...
probably too frightened to make contact personally,
knowing what he was capable of.
Parker continued to fantasise; someone much older
must have told her the sordid details, and now she
wants to cash in. Is she seeking revenge, or money? Of
course, it was possible that others were already in the
know, but hardly likely; divulging such information
would render it unusable for blackmail! He could see
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