Hot Revenge Box Set 2

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?

on at 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

said he didn’t have

option on the place? He heads

a secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind races. “But why would he do that? He’s an

He thumbs back into the house… “Jenny, James, Haswell and his wife… But they’re clearly all looking out for each other… Haswell seems a decent enough man. But you

words over in my

Lawrence Klempner…

does he know

the rest

talk as

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 a finger at me. “You helped to protect Jenny,

a favour. A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're not too many women in your position who would be made an offer like that by a man like him; a billionaire,

didn’t do that

when Ben might have 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 I pay my debts too…”

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

taking the air, are

sidelong at me. “Baxter’s still

worried about him?

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

“You think he'll come

looking. But...” He rocks his

His words hang, half-said…

else though,” I say,

lets it out. He paces,

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 knows

of

but long-term colleagues. We knew each

it's someone

head inclining.

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

I’m aware of.

into silence and I begin to feel awkward. “You didn’t

head,

everyone else; James, Richard,

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

Michael?

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 not as though he’s

not being fair

a brow. “You think

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

what?” Klempner

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

brow rises further. “Emotional intelligence? Really? That's

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

doesn't

realise that too.” He muses. “It's something Mitch is strong on. Reading

make you better at the job…” Then I choke on

he doesn’t seem offended. More amused. “Perhaps. Still… she didn't read