Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Chapter 9

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

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 out. Want to

with a crisp snap to the air. And the sunshine is that brilliant

look down to my tiny daughter, blinking at the mobile rotating above her in the cot,

Cara.” My Mom smiles from her

you give me five minutes, just while Cara drops

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

*****

stable, my Master glances up from where he is checking Charlie’s girth. “All ready for you.” Straightening

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

hands into a cup.

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

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

“Great idea.”

*****

Master, riding 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,

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

the end of the

to the fence. No jumping.

Charlie, and she moves from trot to canter to

almost immediately, he thunders up, first closing behind me, then alongside, snorting steam as he pulls ahead. But as her son begins to draw

like a maniac, panting, my blood racing.

stretching down the mountain, the lake glittering at the bottom, the air frigid and fresh. Oliver and Charlie blow blue from their nostrils. “It’s so good to be able to move again

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

take us to the trail through

there’s something I

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