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

the nursery door, wearing the jeans and boots he uses for

indeed a lovely day, with a crisp snap to the air. And the sunshine is that brilliant clear white you only

daughter, blinking at the mobile

from her rocking chair next to mine. “She’ll probably sleep

minutes, just while Cara

impassive to any that didn’t know him, but I see the hidden smile behind his eyes. Our daughter burbles a bit but doesn’t seem

*****

you.” Straightening up, he runs over me with his eyes. “You’re wearing plenty of layers? It’s cold

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

hands into a

his neck. “Shhhh… Calm down. We’re going now.” Oliver’s

he says, “I thought we might take the path through the top field then loop back for the trail

“Great idea.”

*****

and 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

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

the end of

raises a finger. “Only to the fence. No jumping. That gate

heels at Charlie, and

have the lead. Oliver is larger and heavier, more powerful, than Charlie and almost immediately, he thunders up, first closing behind me, then alongside, snorting steam as he pulls ahead. But as her son begins to draw away, Charlie jolts under me with another burst of speed and as we reach the end of the field, Charlie and Oliver, mother

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

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 nostrils. “It’s so good to be able to move again properly.

gate latch to let me through, clucks Oliver along behind me, and lets the gate swing

follow the bridle path that will take us to the trail through

I