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. Everyone’s in

“And what would you and I

from

that you could hear

more. “You have my attention.” In the

face is straight, but his 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

one

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

peers at the images, holding

operation here, Baxter’s…um… supply chain… and the female named as Juliana Diaz by Baxter, now apparently

awards him a slow look, his lips

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 two branches of organised crime, protection and trafficking, he felt you might be interested in cooperating

cracks to a smile. “What

this right. Lawrence Klempner wants me to supply him with information identifying individuals

with the

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