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.

my elbow, nodding down to my empty coffee cup. “Mais café,

“Sim. Thank you.”

He stabs a finger at my page. “You not go this

‘can’t speak the

very bad. Many bad men there.

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

pulls a chair 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 out in circles

I

vigorously. “Sim, muita violência. Muito

cigarette and again he nods. Then I mime injecting

closes it, then slaps it down on the table. “Bad place, Senhor. And bad men.” He wags a finger at me. “You no go

said bad woman too? A

up again, nodding. “Prostitutes, sim. But há sim one bad

woman. What she

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

is sounding deeply

Juliana…

her name? What does she

stares at me

try again. “The bad woman…

“Ninguém sabe.

What does

Again, that blank stare…

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

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 place for nice English turista man. You go this

“You like o museu de arte, Senhor Hughes? We have many artista famoso there.

he jabs fingers at places where ‘Nice turista man is

for subscriptions on a variety of Brazilian newspapers, or at least, their English editions. I can

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

an experimental search term… Sao Paulo organised crime… Then as an afterthought,

000 results,

Hmmm…

Narrow it down…

Names of criminal gangs

this time, but

largest gang is enticing recruits with

the Most Lethal