Hot Revenge Box Set 4

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?”

course. Come in. Everyone’s

as he enters. He speaks with exaggerated politeness.

have a request from my employer. He needs

to say that you could hear a

then closes again. Then opens once more. “You have my attention.” In the background, Mitch rises

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

blinks then works through the sheaf of images, examining each one quickly then moving on. “And these individuals

are gang-members running a protection racket on a number of small, apparently reputable and legitimate businesses in Sao Paulo. The businesses concerned

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

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

him a slow

Hickman continues… “Mr Klempner suggests that it would serve all our interests 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 a small nod to Mitch, another to Charlotte… “… And since it appears that the gang is still dealing with at least

face cracks to a smile. “What

have this right. Lawrence Klempner wants me to supply him with information identifying individuals involved in organised crime

did not entrust me with the