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?

said he was selling it on at the same

I heard what he’s offering you. With the terms of payment, the agreed interest rate and the time period… he's… well, if he's not losing money, he could have made a lot more by following his original plans for the

he didn’t have any plans

do you imagine he had an option on the place? He heads

hackles 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

“Jenny, James, Haswell and his wife… But they’re clearly all looking out for each other… Haswell seems a decent enough man. But you can be sure that to be where he is, he’s been playing the

turn his words over in

Lawrence Klempner…

does he

rest

as though you've

couldn’t find any. So far as I can see, he's as

A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie,

do that

you identified Baxter as Jenny’s kidnapper.” He muses then smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget that. If you ever

he’s not simply staring into space. He really is looking into the distance,

air, are

sidelong at me. “Baxter’s still

about

to hurt my family, in the worst possible way, as a way of coming back at me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have

“You think he'll come

But...” He rocks his hand back and forth... “Just in

His words hang, half-said…

something else though,” I say,

then breathes in, lets it out.

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 knows I

two of you

friends exactly, but long-term colleagues. We knew each

it's someone else,

blinks, his head

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

I’m aware of. But I’ll think about what

silence and I begin to feel awkward. “You didn’t mention Michael,”

head, jolting

else; James, Richard, Beth,

snorts, but his eyes are cracking a laugh. “I understand why my daughter is married

like Michael? Everyone

simply don’t think it’s a meeting of minds Jenny was opting

being

cocks a brow. “You

he feels inside, James isn’t good at expressing it well. And he doesn’t always read people

Klempner

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

Really? That's an idea I have

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

that. It doesn't mean

too.” He muses. “It's something

better at the job…” Then

doesn’t seem offended. More amused. “Perhaps. Still… she

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