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…

poorer end of town… the

Nothing hangs together.

at my elbow, nodding down to

“Sim. Thank you.”

stabs a finger at

‘can’t speak

bad men

prick. “Woman? Que tipo de bad men and

in close. “One time, since many 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… “And

violence,” I

He nods vigorously. “Sim, muita violência. Muito

again he nods. Then I mime injecting myself… “Cocaína…? E

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

said bad woman too? A

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

woman. What

Paulo 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

sounding

Juliana…

name? What does

at

try again. “The bad woman…

upheld, he shrugs. “Ninguém sabe. Ela é um

does she look

Again, that blank stare…

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

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

riffling through. “You like o museu de arte, Senhor Hughes? We

he jabs fingers at places where ‘Nice turista man

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

the newspaper archives, I know what I’m looking

Paulo

000 results, starting with a Wikipedia

Hmmm…

Narrow it down…

tap in another search. Names of criminal gangs sao

but some more useful

gang is

the Most Lethal

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