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 same price he paid

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

he didn’t have any plans for

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

to me sinks in. My mind races. “But why would he do that? He’s an

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

his words

Lawrence Klempner…

much does he know about

the rest of

talk as though

as I can see, he's as honourable as big business ever allows.” He aims

collective family wing. Haswell’s making his best effort to do you 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

do

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

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

air, are you? You’re watching for

slants 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

drying, “You think he'll come

not. He knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back and forth... “Just in

His words hang, half-said…

else though,” I say, “Isn’t

in, lets it out. He paces, circles, then meets

over his head. “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 you

exactly, but long-term colleagues. We knew

someone else,

his head inclining. “Like

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

at his teeth. “Not that I’m aware of. But I’ll think about what

and I begin to feel awkward. “You

his head, jolting slightly.

about everyone else; James, Richard,

eyes are cracking a laugh. “I understand why my daughter is married to

like Michael? Everyone likes

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

being

cocks a brow. “You

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

Klempner

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

“Emotional intelligence? Really? That's

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

It doesn't mean it's not

He muses. “It's something Mitch is strong on.

suppose if you can read people it's got to make you better at the job…” Then

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