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 cable-knit sweater… “…I’m going to take Oliver

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

Charlie 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

on Cara.” My Mom smiles from her rocking

me five minutes, just while Cara drops

impassive to any that didn’t know him, but I see the hidden smile behind his

*****

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

a cotton top and a thermal vest Mom insisted I

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

hand up his neck. “Shhhh… Calm down. We’re going now.” Oliver’s ears flick

we might take the path through the top field

“Great idea.”

*****

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, everything about him says

jarring under me. “They both

you to the end

raises a finger. “Only to the fence. No jumping.

as I kick heels at Charlie, and she moves from trot to canter

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 and as we reach the

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

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 properly. Sometimes, it’s just

lifting the long arm of the gate latch to let

take us to the

there’s something I want

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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