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?

it on at the

time period… he's… well, if he's not losing money, he could have made a lot more by following his

said he didn’t have any plans for

you imagine he had an option on the place? He heads a multi-company international

secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind races. “But why would

not truly worked out what’s going on with them all in there…” 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 can be sure that to be where he is, he’s been playing the

his words over in my

Lawrence Klempner…

does he

the rest

talk as though you've

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 a finger at me. “You helped to protect Jenny, so he's trying

effort to do you a favour. A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're not too many women

didn’t 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 I pay my debts too…” His gaze turns distant again… “…

he’s not simply staring into space. He really is looking into the distance, scanning over field and lake and wood

just taking the air, are you? You’re

at me. “Baxter’s

worried about

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,

drying, “You

He knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back

His words hang, half-said…

else though,”

curses under his breath, then breathes in, lets it out. He paces, circles, then meets

and I still don't understand why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the police. We've known each

of you

colleagues. We knew each other

it's someone

head inclining.

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

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

and I begin to feel awkward.

shakes his head,

James, Richard, Beth, Charlotte.

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

Michael? Everyone

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

being fair on

brow. “You think

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

Klempner seems

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

“Emotional intelligence? Really? That's an idea I have trouble

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

realise that. It doesn't mean

“It's something Mitch is strong on. Reading

make you better at the job…” Then I choke

offended. More amused. “Perhaps.