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…

Nothing hangs together.

down to my

“Sim. Thank you.”

cup across the table, and he glances at my guide. “Senhor Hughes…” He stabs a finger

I ‘can’t speak

place very bad. Many bad men there.

ears prick. “Woman? Que tipo de bad

many years, this city….” He sweeps his arms out in circles all around… “…all bad place. Much…” He falters then holds out two

violence,” I say.

“Sim, muita violência.

cigarette and again he nods. Then I mime

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

said bad woman too? A

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

woman.

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 same as prostitute. She has man. Then

is sounding deeply

Juliana…

her name? What does she look

stares at me

woman… A mulher má… Her

“Ninguém sabe. Ela é

does she look

Again, that blank stare…

“Tall?”

then at my city guide, repeating, “Bad place. Bad people. You not

Senhor Hughes? We have many artista famoso there. And we have parques…” He nods

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

signed up for 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. I spend more of my time interpreting the language than I

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

in an experimental search term… Sao Paulo

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

Hmmm…

Narrow it down…

in another search. Names of criminal gangs sao

this time, but

largest gang is enticing recruits

Evolution of the Most Lethal Criminal