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

*****

Charlotte

door, wearing the jeans and boots he uses for riding, and a thick cable-knit sweater… “…I’m going to take Oliver out. Want to

is indeed a lovely day, with a crisp snap to the air. And the sunshine is

my tiny daughter, blinking at the mobile rotating above her in the cot, trying, with unformed

smiles from her

you give me five minutes, just while Cara drops

My Master takes 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 see the hidden smile behind his eyes. Our daughter burbles a bit but doesn’t seem to mind. “Take all the

*****

Charlie’s 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 Mom insisted I put

stoops by Charlie, locking his hands into a

be off. My Master slaps him on the shoulder then runs a hand up his neck. “Shhhh… Calm down. We’re going now.” Oliver’s ears flick forward, but he settles long enough for my Master to mount. “Walk

make our way through the yard, he says, “I thought we might take the path through

“Great idea.”

*****

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

also performing, jarring under me. “They both do. They’ll

you to the end of the

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

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

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

same. I’m grinning like a maniac, panting, my

and fresh. Oliver and

of the gate latch to let me through, clucks Oliver along

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

I want to ask