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 red-light district…

Nothing hangs together.

down to my empty coffee cup. “Mais

“Sim. Thank you.”

at my guide. “Senhor Hughes…” He stabs a finger

remembering that I ‘can’t

bad men

prick. “Woman? Que tipo de bad

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 all around… “…all bad place. Much…” He falters then holds out two fingers making a Bang

violence,” I

nods vigorously. “Sim,

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

takes the book from me, closes it, then slaps

said bad woman too?

down, then up again, nodding. “Prostitutes, sim. But há sim one

bad woman. What she

men gone. Not like other cities. Since two years, bad men here again. And this woman is baddest. She is…”

sounding

Juliana…

What does she look

stares at

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

shrugs. “Ninguém sabe.

mystery? What does she look

Again, that blank stare…

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

a forefinger at me, then at my city guide, repeating, “Bad place. Bad people. You not go there. I show you

up the guide, riffling through. “You like o museu de arte, Senhor Hughes? We have many artista famoso there. And

places where ‘Nice turista man is safe.’ But

subscriptions on a variety of Brazilian newspapers, or at least, their English editions. I can read Portuguese, but it doesn’t come so naturally as reading in English.

newspaper archives, I know what I’m looking

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

000 results, starting with a Wikipedia

Hmmm…

Narrow it down…

tap in another search. Names of criminal gangs sao

but

gang is enticing recruits with a

the Most Lethal Criminal

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