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…

to the poorer end of town… the

Nothing hangs together.

elbow, nodding down to my empty coffee cup.

“Sim. Thank you.”

and he glances at my guide. “Senhor Hughes…” He stabs a finger at my page. “You not go this place. Is bad place for

remembering that I ‘can’t speak the language’…

bad. Many bad

ears prick. “Woman? Que tipo de bad men and

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

violence,” I

vigorously. “Sim,

nods. Then I mime injecting myself…

“…And the womans para prostitutas.” He takes the book from me, closes it, then slaps it down on the table. “Bad place, Senhor. And bad men.” He wags a finger at me. “You no

woman

“Prostitutes, sim. But há

bad woman. What she

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 baddest. She is…” He splutters for a moment… “She

sounding

Juliana…

name? What does she look

stares at me

bad woman… A mulher má… Her

shrugs. “Ninguém sabe. Ela

What does

Again, that blank stare…

raising my hand to my head… “Tall?”

the shrug. But he waves a forefinger at me, then at my city guide, repeating, “Bad place. Bad people. You not go there. I show you nice

museu de arte, Senhor Hughes? We have many artista famoso there. And

ramble on, nodding as he jabs fingers at places

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

archives, I

Paulo organised crime… Then as an

results, starting with a Wikipedia

Hmmm…

Narrow it down…

in another search. Names of criminal

this time, but

largest gang is enticing recruits with a

of the Most