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 another

*****

Charlotte

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

to the air. And the sunshine is that brilliant

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 muscles, to reach for a

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

minutes, just

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.

*****

you.” Straightening up, he runs over me with his eyes. “You’re wearing

“Two woollens, a cotton top and a

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

then runs a hand up his neck. “Shhhh… Calm down. We’re going now.” Oliver’s ears flick forward, but he settles

make our way through the yard, he says, “I thought we might take the path through the top field then loop back for

“Great idea.”

*****

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 and a trot,

needs to run,” says my Master, then eyes Charlie, also performing, jarring under me.

to the

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

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

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

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

the mountain, the lake glittering at the bottom, the air frigid and fresh. Oliver and Charlie blow blue from their nostrils.

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

path that will take us to

I want to