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

jeans and boots he uses for riding, and a

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

Um…” I look down to my tiny daughter, blinking at the mobile rotating above her in the

Mom smiles from her rocking

you give me five minutes, just while Cara drops

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.

*****

checking Charlie’s girth. “All ready for you.” Straightening up, he runs over me with his eyes.

woollens, a cotton top and a thermal vest Mom insisted I put

Charlie, locking his hands into a cup. “C’mon, I’ll give

is stamping and snorting, eager to 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

the yard, he says, “I thought we might take

“Great idea.”

*****

firm with the cold and Oliver is trying to take

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

to the end of the

fence. No

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

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 and son, my Master

standstill 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

Oliver and Charlie blow blue from their nostrils. “It’s so good to be

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

take us to

there’s something I