Hello everyone, coz I now know quite a few ppl read this lol anyway just to let you all know that this fic will be getting updated twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from now on.  I have now completed it and I'm half way through the sequel.

 

ATTENTION MARK FANS!!!  HE MAKES AN APPEARANCE AT LAST LOL AND I'VE PORTRAYED HIM VERY DIFFERENTLY INDEED. HE'S NOT THE INNOCENT LITTLE MARK THAT I USUALLY WRITE. HAY AND LOU HAVE FINISHED READING THIS AND LOU BEING THE NO ONE FAN SHE IS REALLY LOVES THE WAY HE COMES ACROSS IN THIS SO READ AND ENJOY.

 

Seventeen

 

 

      “What the hell did they want you for this time?” Marazzi asked as soon as Christian returned, “Georgia has Jessie…or rather had her”

“What?  I thought your mom was taking care of her?”

“Yeah, me to”

“So how come Georgia has her?”

“I ain’t got a fucking clue!  But what I do know is that Georgia plans to put her up for adoption”

“What?  They can’t do that without your consent”

“Yeah, well seems she can”

“That’s outa order bud…you should talk to someone about it”

“Yeah, well I tried that”

“And?  What they say?”

“They laughed then told me that I’d no Goddamn right to my daughter, that she were better off without me and you know what they’re probably right”

Marazzi followed him “Listen to me…don’t let them do this to you…your kid is the one thing that keeps you sane in this fucking place…so you go back in there and you tell that fat asshole that you want to talk to someone about your daughter”

“What?  And get yet another beating…no thank you…I gotta think about this…I can’t think straight just now”

 

 

      The man looked at the woman.  She looked vaguely familiar “So Mrs” he checked the notepad,” Beaumont, what can I do for you?” he asked as he signalled for her to sit down. Inger stared at him for some time, he was older but still as handsome. “Mrs Beaumont I’m a very busy man” he added, she looked around the luxurious office. “You did very well for yourself Stein.” He looked puzzled, “Right enough you always were a very ambitious man” he scratched at his beard. “Do I know you?” she smiled, “In high school…we went to high school together”

“Oh…well I’d love to catch up with you but I really am a very busy man”

“Nice office…I was pleased when you took over as editor of the globe”

“Please would you get to the point?"

“I need your help Stein”

“My help?  Why?”

“I want you to write my son’s story”

The man looked interested now. “Oh and what story is this?”

“The story that will get him out of jail”

“He’s in jail?”

“Yes”

“For what exactly?”

“Murder”

“MURDER?”

“Yes…he’s innocent of course”

“Of Course he is they all aren’t they?”

“Please don’t be complacent about this Stein”

“Look I’m sorry if you think just because you knew me in high school that I will write your son’s story, I’m sorry but I have bigger fish to fry…why should I help some kid who got himself in trouble”

“Because he’s your son Stein”

“What?  Are you crazy…I don’t have any children”

“You have one…but you thought I’d gotten rid of it”

Suddenly the penny dropped. “Inger…my God I didn’t recognise you” he smiled as he pressed for his secretary, “Bring coffee please Pen”

“You’ll help him…Chris I mean?”

“Tell me everything…I’ll decide then,” he said firmly.

 

 

      “Are you sure Kate?” Roxi inquired as she reached for the phone.

Kate nodded, “I’ll try anything now” she replied unhappily. “Okay I’ll give his secretary a call” Kate sat watching her friend dial the number.  She wasn’t like any of her other friends; she’d never had a friend with piercings before.  “Hello may I speak with Mr Read’s secretary please?” she heard her say and a moment later talk to some young woman. “Hello Mark Read’s office” she sang into the receiver. “Hollie…it’s Roxi Naylor here I don’t know if you remember me but Mr Read handled my divorce a few months back…you do?   Great…yeah I’m doing fine thanks…the thing is I have a friend who’s boyfriend is in jail and I thought Mr Read could help him…yeah I know he does but I thought he might know someone who could maybe help out…oh that would be great if you could…thanks yeah my new number is 555 3645 yup thanks”

 

      Hollie Logan drew in a deep breath as she finished jotting down the number. “Is that for me?” she heard her boss’s voice behind her, she turned swiftly round to find him leaning against the door frame of his office, tie loosened as he pondered over his next conquest. “Maybe…do you remember Roxi Naylor?” he screwed up his eyes as if sifting through which particular conquest she had been. “No…should I?” Hollie smirked as she got up from the swivel chair “You should…I mean you almost got yourself sited as being the other man remember?” Mark grinned as he followed her across her office to where the coffee machine sat, “Oh yeah…Roxi” he demonstrated her assets with his hands “Yeah that’s her…anyway she has a friend” Mark’s eyes twinkled devilishly “Oh and she wants my help in gaining a divorce?  Right?” Hollie poured coffee for herself then shook her head. “Wrong” he looked disappointed. “Oh…pity…a man gets really lonely at nights…I don’t suppose you’d err like to?” Hollie laughed “In your dreams asshole” she said, Mark simpered “I really should fire you for that remark” he told her, she spun right round. “And I should really have you done for sexual harassment!”

“Okay point taken…so this friend of Roxi’s?”

“She wanted you to look into the case of her boyfriend”

“What?”

“I told her you were a divorce attorney but she thought maybe you could help?”

“How the hell can I help?”

“Well I thought maybe you’d have contacts”

“Oh right”

Hollie stared at him, he had a reputation of being a bit of a ladies man but Hollie knew deep down that it wasn’t really the case, sure he took on cases where he could work his charm on vulnerable woman but he always got them the best deal in the end and they all seemed to go away happy.

“Holz when are you gonna give in and make love to me?” he suddenly asked, she grinned “When hell freezes over Mr Read” he drew in a deep breath. “I’ll just go get the ice then shall I?  Make a start” she shook her head.

 

      The door to his office opened and in walked Jo her sister. “Wow…Josephine how many times have I told you not to wear that uniform to the office…it just sends a man wild with passion” Mark stated, the younger woman shook her head. “Don’t you mean lust Mr Read?” she asked as she removed her hat “Lust, right that’s what it is lust.” he muttered to himself as he made his way back inside his office “Well now that he’s back in his cage…what brings you here?” Jo sat on her sister’s desk “I’m getting away from my partner” Hollie sighed

“Adams?  What’s he done now?”

“He is such a male chauvinistic son of a bitch…he doesn’t let me do anything…I honestly think he believes women should be at home taking care of business.  I don’t know how his wife puts up with him”

“At least he ain’t trying to get into your goddamn knickers every two minutes”

     

 

      Jo glanced through the glass to where Mark Read was now sitting with his feet up on the desk phone in hand. “D’you want me to have a word?” she offered, Hollie shook her head. “I can handle him” her sister replied.

“Okay if you’re sure”

“Listen while you’re here…I got a call from Roxi, d’you remember her?”

“Yeah vaguely”

“She wanted Mark’s help with something but he’s a divorce attorney, I’m not sure of all the details but seemingly her neighbour has a boyfriend in jail and she wants it investigated or something.  I don’t suppose you could help out at all?”

Jo took the number from her “I’ll see what I can do…this might keep me in the precinct and away from Adams for a while…yeah I’ll see what I can find out”

“Thanks”

 

      Christian stood in the exercise yard watching as the bus pulled round to the entrance, another intake, slowly one by one they were hauled out and made stand there for all to see but one person stood out blubbering like a baby.  Christian straightened up “Brig?  What is it?” Maz inquired Christian stood staring, it was him the guy who had given evidence against him, he’d know him anywhere.  Suddenly he rushed at him and rugby tackled him to the ground “What the fuck’s going on?” cried Hardie as Christian was dragged from the young man. “Get him in solitary now!” he added before turning back to the African/American who was just getting to his feet.  “I don’t know what kind of history you got with Ingebrigtsen and I don’t wanna know…just stay outa his goddamn way!” he was warned.  The young man wiped his face before being escorted inside.