Hot Revenge Box Set 4

The coffee strong and fragrant, washes away my doubts and clears my thinking, although granted, it leaves me with my problem.

How to find Juliana?

And what is the significance of the invoice addresses?

I let my mind freewheel, caffeine lubricating the gears.

What's the connection?

?

?

Back to basics...

Finchby’s invoices...

Taken from his own files…

Supply addresses from legitimate businesses…

… Listing women, children… Human cargo.

???

That can't possibly be what went through the customs checks...

Duplicate documents then?

Same references. Same monetary values. Different cargo.

That would seem logical: A parallel accounting system: one for the outside world, one for private records.

Yes, that works. Any competent criminal could make that work. And doubtless, with the money involved, they’d have accountants and bookkeepers… Perhaps even customs officers and tax inspectors on the payroll.

But none of that gives me the connection to Antonio’s bar or any of the others.

Why here?

Frustrated, mind spiralling inward…

Damn the coffee…

I order another

*****

Charlotte

day…” My Master stands by the nursery door, wearing the jeans and boots he uses for riding, and a thick

snap to the air. And the sunshine is that brilliant clear white you only get in cold winter

Charlie could use the exercise. Um…” I look down to my tiny daughter, blinking at the mobile rotating above her in the cot, trying, with unformed

eye on Cara.” My Mom smiles from her rocking chair next to mine.

you give me five minutes, just

the few steps to bring him close to me, then reaches down with a long finger, stroking Cara’s cheek. His face might seem impassive to any that didn’t know him, but I

*****

girth. “All ready for you.” Straightening up, he runs over me

the neck of my roll-top pullover. “Two woollens, a cotton top and a thermal vest

twitch, then he stoops by Charlie, locking his hands into

off. My Master slaps him on the shoulder then runs a hand up his neck. “Shhhh… Calm down. We’re going now.”

he says, “I thought we might take the path through

“Great idea.”

*****

my wonderful Master, riding together as though there were no-one else in the world. The ground is firm with the cold and Oliver is trying to take the bit. Head tossing, his gait dancing between a walk

then eyes Charlie, also performing, jarring under me. “They both do. They’ll settle after they’ve burned off

to the end of the

to the fence.

to the wind as I kick heels at Charlie, and she moves from trot to canter to gallop in fewer

then alongside, snorting steam as he pulls ahead. But as her son begins to draw

and I do the same. I’m grinning like a maniac, panting, my blood racing. My Master’s eyes are soft. “It’s good to see you smiling properly

was great.” I scan the field, stretching down the mountain, the lake glittering at the bottom, the air frigid and fresh. Oliver and Charlie blow blue from their

reaches out, lifting the long arm of the gate latch to let me through, clucks Oliver along behind me, and lets the gate

take us to the trail through the

there’s something I want to ask