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

boots he uses for riding, and a

the air. And the sunshine is that

Charlie could use the exercise. Um…” I look down to my tiny daughter, blinking at the mobile

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

you give me five minutes,

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 to mind. “Take all the time you need,” he says.

*****

where he is checking Charlie’s girth. “All ready for you.” Straightening up, he runs over me with his eyes. “You’re wearing plenty of layers?

“Two woollens, a cotton top and a thermal vest Mom

then he stoops by Charlie, locking his hands into

hand up his neck. “Shhhh…

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

“Great idea.”

*****

me and my wonderful Master, riding together as though there were no-one else in the world. The ground is firm with the cold and Oliver

then eyes Charlie, also performing, jarring under me. “They

you to the end of

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

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

for seconds do I have the 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

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

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 properly. Sometimes, it’s just good to

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

bridle path that will take us to

something I want to ask