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…

order

*****

Charlotte

it’s a beautiful day…” My Master stands by the nursery door, wearing the jeans and boots he uses for riding, and a thick cable-knit sweater… “…I’m going to take Oliver

crisp snap to the air. And the sunshine

daughter, blinking at the mobile rotating above her in

My Mom smiles from her rocking chair

you give me five minutes, just while

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 time

*****

where he is checking Charlie’s girth. “All ready for you.” Straightening up, he runs over me with his eyes. “You’re wearing plenty of

“Two woollens, a cotton top and a thermal vest Mom insisted

twitch, then he stoops by Charlie, locking his hands into a cup. “C’mon, I’ll give

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,

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

“Great idea.”

*****

were no-one else in the world. The ground is firm with the cold and Oliver is trying to

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

you to the end of the

the fence. No

final words are lost to the wind as I kick heels at Charlie, and

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

Oliver to a standstill and I do the same. I’m grinning like a maniac, panting, my blood racing.

and fresh. Oliver and Charlie blow blue from their nostrils. “It’s so good to be able to move again properly. Sometimes, it’s just good to be alive,

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

that will take

something I want to ask