Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Chapter 33

I scrutinize that crack in my footprint.

Need to get new boots soon…

Or I’ll have wet feet…

“I'm scared,” I admit.

His voice is soft. “Of what? Committing? To him?”

“No, not exactly. What if it all went wrong?”

I know that I sound like some spoiled child, complaining about homework or the wrong cookies with my milk, but the words keep coming… “What if I lost my job? Or Ryan was doing badly? If we couldn’t pay, we could lose everything.”

Klempner shrugs. “So, what’s the difference with that to paying rent for the rest of your life? That’s always going to be money down the drain. If you’re on a mortgage, you’re building it up.” He sniffs, scratches his nose. “It seems to me, that you need to sort out your priorities; to decide what it is you really want…”

He’s making a lot of sense…

But he keeps talking. “… Too many people go through life making do. If you fuck up what you really want, you could spend the next twenty years of your life regretting it, before you get another chance.”

“Like you did?”

His gaze goes distant, staring off down at the lake. “Like I did.”

Why are you talking to me like this?

Lawrence Klempner in the role of agony aunt…

However, my good sense rules and I keep that thought firmly inside my head where it belongs.

But I do keep speaking. “It’s just… it’s such a huge amount of money. I’m really worried we can’t afford it.”

Klempner sucks at his cheeks. “You work for Haswell? Do I have that right? And he’s arranging the purchase for this Mill you want to buy?”

“Yes, that's right.”

“And your Ryan, what does he do?”

“He owns his own company. They make heating and ventilation systems. He's doing a lot of contract work right now for James and Richard.”

“He’s the company director?”

“He is, yes.”

“So… his files are a matter of public record. Haswell probably has a very good idea of what he's worth too. And he knows what size of orders Ryan’s company is likely to pull in over the next few years?”

“I suppose so.”

Klempner huffs. “There’s no suppose about it. You don't get into Haswell’s position without having a knack for putting a value on people.” He levels a finger at me. “If he thinks you can afford it, you can afford it. And he’s the one offering you the sale and setting the price.”

Still I hesitate.

He lets out air. “Kirstie, you do realise that Haswell's selling it to you under value?”

He is?

it on at the

and the time period… he's… well, if he's not losing money,

didn’t have any

brows, tilts his head. “Really? So why do you imagine he had an option on the place? He heads a multi-company international corporation, not a charity for retired friends and

rise. “I’m not a secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind races. “But why would he do that? He’s

But they’re clearly all looking out for each other… Haswell seems

words over

Lawrence Klempner…

much does he know about

the rest of

talk as

did.” He eye-flashes me, suppressing a smile. “Once… in my previous life… I went looking for skeletons on Haswell and I couldn’t find any. So far as I can see, he's as honourable as big business ever allows.” He aims

offence meant, Kirstie, but

do that

murdered Jenny and Mitch. And you identified Baxter as Jenny’s kidnapper.” He muses then smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget that. If you ever need my help, Kirstie, you can remember that

really is

taking the air, are

sidelong at me. “Baxter’s still out

worried about

I’m worried about him. He’s tried his best to hurt my family, in the worst possible way, as a way of coming back at me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe he’s given up on that.” He chews his lower lip, staring out

drying, “You think

not. He knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks

His words hang, half-said…

though,” I say,

breath, then breathes in, lets it out. He paces, circles, then meets my

“Baxter insisted that I betrayed him, and I still don't understand why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the police. We've known each other a long time. He

two of

but long-term colleagues. We knew each other

someone else,

blinks, his head

partner? A brother? A lover? Someone close enough to get inside his head… Is Baxter

his teeth. “Not that I’m aware of. But I’ll

and I begin to feel

his head,

everyone else; James, Richard, Beth,

snorts, but his eyes are cracking a laugh. “I understand why

like Michael? Everyone likes

say I don’t like him. I simply don’t think it’s a meeting of minds Jenny was opting for when she married him. It’s

being fair on

cocks a brow.

one with all the academic qualifications, the letters after his name, but whatever he feels inside, James isn’t good at

Klempner seems genuinely

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

Really? That's an idea

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

doesn't

muses. “It's something Mitch

you better at the job…” Then I choke

amused. “Perhaps. Still… she

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