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 red-light district…

Nothing hangs together.

materialises at my elbow, nodding down to

“Sim. Thank you.”

cup across the table, and he glances at my guide. “Senhor Hughes…” He stabs a finger at my page. “You not go this place. Is bad place for nice English cavalheiro

I ‘can’t speak the language’… “What’s

bad men there.

tipo de bad

me. His voice lowers and he leans in close. “One time, since many years, this city….” He sweeps his arms out in

I

He nods vigorously. “Sim, muita violência. Muito

he nods. Then I mime

slaps it down on the table. “Bad place, Senhor. And bad men.”

woman too?

“Prostitutes, sim. But

bad woman. What she

bad place. Then, since ten year, Sao Paulo 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. And this woman is

is sounding deeply

Juliana…

name? What

at

again. “The bad woman… A mulher má… Her name?

shrugs. “Ninguém sabe.

does she look

Again, that blank stare…

my hand to my head… “Tall?” … Then lower… “Short?

waves a forefinger at me, then at my city guide, repeating, “Bad place. Bad people. You not go there. I show you nice place for nice English turista man.

arte, Senhor Hughes? We have many artista

ramble on, nodding as he jabs fingers at places where ‘Nice turista man is safe.’ But my mind’s

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

now, delving into the newspaper archives, I know what I’m

experimental search term… Sao Paulo organised crime… Then as

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

Hmmm…

Narrow it down…

Names of

time, but some more

largest gang is enticing recruits with

Evolution of the Most Lethal Criminal Organization