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?”

Come in.

rise as he enters. He speaks with exaggerated politeness. “And what would you and I have to

have a request from my employer. He

say that you

more. “You have my attention.” In the background, Mitch rises from her seat,

Will: a sheaf of photo prints. “My employer requests that you obtain identification and anything else you can tell him about the men in these

one quickly

in Sao Paulo. The businesses concerned are based at the addresses taken from a number of the…” …He makes air commas… “… invoices…

at the images, holding them

Baxter’s…um… supply chain… and the female named as Juliana Diaz by Baxter, now apparently under the name of Sola or

slow look, his lips

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 two branches of organised crime, protection and trafficking,

his face cracks to

Klempner wants me to supply him with information identifying

me with

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