Hot Revenge Box Set 4

The meal goes smoothly enough, albeit with a lot of negotiating the rapids and under-currents of good manners and courtesy.

Beth’s pregnancy proves a safe topic of discussion, with none of the pitfalls and booby traps lying in wait if we talk about anything closer to home. Mitch is a star, repeatedly shifting the conversation back onto the imminent birth of Beth’s and Richard’s new son.

Later, in a quiet moment with Michael, “My apologies,” I say. “Tact isn’t one of Georgie’s virtues. It never was.”

His answering smile is wry. “Like father, like daughter.”

*****

Klempner

Two weeks and… nothing…

Not a whisper. Nothing I can find.

Sitting in the corner of Antonio’s, I’ve spent a pleasant afternoon, but frustration gnaws at me. Hickman reports that all is well, but…

Has Juliana given up?

?

Not fucking likely…

Antonio’s cafe has become somewhat of a routine. Misgivings nudge me, reminding me that I shouldn’t develop such habits…

… Making myself vulnerable…

But, with nothing to go on, what the hell else can I do?

On the other hand, there has to be some reason for the address to have been used in Finchby’s invoices.

Perhaps I just need to wait.

But what am I waiting for?

How long can I keep doing this?

Still, in the meantime, while I wait for my mystery to unravel, the old man is genuinely good company. And also, a mine of local information.

Finishing a cup of the excellent coffee, I consult a local guide, comparing my list of addresses to a local map, looking for some pattern, seeking inspiration…

Access to road…

Access to the ports…

Whereabouts of police stations…

end of town… the

Nothing hangs together.

nodding down to my empty coffee

“Sim. Thank you.”

glances at my guide. “Senhor Hughes…” He stabs a finger at my page. “You not

that I ‘can’t speak the language’… “What’s the

bad. Many bad men there. And badder

ears prick. “Woman? Que tipo de bad

years, this city….” He sweeps his arms out in circles all around… “…all bad place. Much…” He falters then holds out two fingers making a Bang Bang gesture…

I say. “Much

He nods vigorously. “Sim, muita violência.

smoke an imaginary cigarette and again he nods. Then I mime injecting myself… “Cocaína…? E

He takes the book from me, closes it, then slaps it down on the table. “Bad place, Senhor. And bad

woman

nodding. “Prostitutes, sim.

bad woman. What

good city. People not die…” Fingers spread, he rocks his hand… “… Not so many. Bad men gone. Not like other cities. Since two years, bad men here again.

sounding deeply

Juliana…

her name? What does she

at

“The bad woman…

“Ninguém

mystery? What does she look

Again, that blank stare…

“Tall?” … Then lower… “Short? Alta? Baixo? Loiras?

waves a forefinger at me, then at my city guide, repeating, “Bad place. Bad people. You

like o museu de arte, Senhor Hughes? We have many artista famoso there. And we have parques…” He nods vigorously…

ramble on, nodding as he jabs fingers at places where ‘Nice turista man is

their English editions. I can read Portuguese, but it doesn’t come so naturally as reading in English. I spend more of my

into the newspaper archives, I know what

Paulo organised crime… Then

blinks: 139,000, 000 results, starting with a Wikipedia

Hmmm…

Narrow it down…

tap in another search. Names of criminal gangs sao

results, this time, but some more

gang is enticing recruits with a

the Most