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

*****

Charlotte

day…” 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 out. Want

is indeed a lovely day, with a crisp snap to the air. And the sunshine is that brilliant clear white

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

from

give me five minutes, just while

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. “I’ll be

*****

he is checking Charlie’s girth. “All ready for you.” Straightening up, he

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

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

slaps him on the shoulder then runs a hand up his neck. “Shhhh… Calm down. We’re going now.” Oliver’s ears flick forward,

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

“Great idea.”

*****

were no-one else in the world. The ground is firm with the cold and Oliver is

jarring under me. “They both do. They’ll settle after they’ve burned off some

to the

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

Charlie, and she moves from trot to canter to gallop in fewer hoofbeats than I

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

pulls 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 to

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

it is.” He reaches out, lifting the long arm of the gate latch to let me through, clucks

the bridle path that will take us to the trail

I want to