Michael

“Congratulations, Richard.” Will Stanton clinks glasses with his old friend. “I came over as soon as I heard. And how’s Beth? I have some flowers for her.”

‘Some flowers’ is an understatement. The bouquet is huge.

“I’ll find a vase for them,” I say. “You can take them up together.”

“Great!” His smile is broad. “And the baby, Adam is it? How’s he?”

“All present and correct,” beams Richard. “Mother and baby doing well.”

From the front door, the sound of knocking. “I’ll get it,” I say. “Enjoy your champagne. It’s probably another delivery of Congratulations cards.

I head down the hall, chuckling. I’d not considered that, Richard being who he is, one of the Great and Good of the City, we’d be overwhelmed by cards. The house is festooned with them: hundreds of the things: from friends, employees, colleagues, bankers and hangers-on, they all want to be remembered to the richest man in a hundred miles.

I open the door, expecting to see a mailman. Instead, it’s Hickman, a large brown envelope clasped in one hand. “Please excuse my intrusion, Mr Summerford, but I saw the police commissioner arrive. I wonder if I might have a word with him?”

in.

with exaggerated politeness. “And what would you and I have to talk about, Mr

from my

say that you could hear

closes again. Then opens once more. “You have my attention.” In

lips quirk as he takes something from the envelope, passing it to Will: a sheaf of photo prints. “My employer requests that you obtain identification and anything else you can tell him about the men in

the sheaf of images, examining each one quickly then moving on.

running a protection racket on a number of small, apparently reputable and legitimate businesses in Sao Paulo. The businesses concerned are based at the addresses

“Is that so?” He peers at the images, holding them up to the light. “So, what’s

supply chain… and the female named as Juliana Diaz by Baxter, now apparently

awards him a slow look,

to… What was his phrase? … Cut the supply at source. He intends to ensure the Diaz female is no longer a threat to his family…” He casts

and his face cracks to a

Klempner wants me to supply him with information identifying

not entrust me with the fine detail of

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