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

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 out. Want to

And the sunshine is that brilliant clear white

tiny daughter, blinking at the mobile rotating above her in the cot, trying, with unformed muscles, to reach for

Mom smiles from her rocking

me five minutes, just while

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

*****

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

the neck of my roll-top pullover. “Two woollens, a cotton top and a thermal vest Mom insisted I

stoops by Charlie, locking his hands into

stamping and snorting, eager to be off. My Master slaps him on the shoulder then runs a hand up his neck. “Shhhh…

“I thought we might take the path through the top field then loop back for

“Great idea.”

*****

the world. The ground is firm with the cold and Oliver is trying to take the bit. Head tossing, his

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

to the end of

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

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

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. My Master’s eyes are soft. “It’s good

mountain, the lake glittering at the bottom, the air frigid and fresh. Oliver and Charlie blow

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

bridle path that will take us to

something I want