For new readers who are not inclined to read the first five parts: Charlie (aka) Peter Churlish needs to find and shop his brother for drugdealing - in order to avoid police harrasment. Beth, Charlie's ex girlfriend but three is trying to help.
"I realise most mothers would know where their sons live, or be interested to find out, but Lady Churlish is different." he explained as they drove along a country lane is Surrey in the white van he had borrowed from a friend we may give a name to later if he becomes an important secondary character.
"Lady Churlish?" Peter, or rather, Charlie, couldn't remember Beth ever being impressed with him before. "Does that mean you're an aristocrat?"
"No, her first husband was made a life peer for making lots of money exporting arms to dictators, and she kept the title when he died."
"Your dad?"
"It's complicated."
The driveway at last. It takes ten minutes to reach the house.
"Who are you?" demands an elderly lady on the steps, letting cigarette ash fall on her decolletage.
"I'm Peter, your son. Mum, you haven't changed a bit."
"Don't you mum me! And who is this slut you've brought with you?"
"Charmed I'm sure" says Beth, going all mock cockney and curtseying. It looked silly in jeans.
"Mother, do you happen to know where Geoffrey has got to? The other one. The son you preferred."
Lady Churlish yawns and lights another cigarette form the end of the last one. "He's always asking me for money," she says.
Charlie smiled, sideways, at Beth. It is the first breakthrough they've had.
"Of course I have burnt all his letters. The nerve of it!"
To be continued....
