Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Chapter 34

Michael

“James, we have to tell her. Given her condition, Mitch has to know. ”

He exhales slowly, avoiding my eye. “Yes, she does. I’ve… been avoiding it…”

“Hoping it would go away? That Klempner would contact us out of the blue and we could warn him? That just like that, everything would be alright?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“If Mitch doesn’t have all the facts, she can’t make proper decisions. She’s going to need support. And part of that support is to give her the truth. It’s not doing her any favours to be kept in the dark.”

“You’re right of course.” James squeezes his eyes closed, presses at a temple. “Let’s get it over with. Can you get everyone together. We’ll need the family with her for this.”

*****

Richard and Beth drop what they are doing, joining us in the lounge. Georgie appears shortly afterwards, strolling in from the hotel with a speculative look in her eye.

Elbow resting on the chair arm, I talk behind my hand to James in the next seat. “You think it’s a good idea to have Georgie here?”

“She’s family too,” he snaps. “And she was also targeted by that maniac woman. So, yes, she should be here.”

Turning away from me, he flips open his mobile, giving the screen a couple of taps. “Hickman? Yes, it’s James. Could you join us in the house, please… Yes, right away.”

I bite down on my doubts. Georgie sits off to one side, silently waiting, regarding me from under lidded eyes as she sees me watching her.

But it’s James’ call…

His daughter…

His problem…

Or at least, the problem he created…

Charlotte perhaps has similar reservations. She meets my gaze for a long moment, her attention broken as James speaks. “Charlotte, could you fetch your mother, please. Tell her I need a word.” He stares at his feet for a moment, then, “Don’t say more than that. This has to come from me. Try to keep her calm.”

Sucking at her lips, Charlotte nods and heads out.

James paces the room, looking as though he’s just been asked what he would like for his last meal.

Richard pushes a glass into his hands. “Calm down. We all know it wasn’t intentional.”

James knocks back half an inch of golden liquid, then thrusts the glass back at Richard. Legs akimbo, his back to the fire, he stares moodily into space, cracking his knuckles.

He takes an armchair at the back of the room; leaning back, arms folded, legs

her mother’s. Mitch pauses in the doorway, brow furrowing as she sees the gathering. “What can I do for you,

to an armchair. “Um… why don’t you sit down, Mitch.

holds… “What? What is it? Is it about Larry? You’ve heard something?”

“Please, Mitch, sit down.”

“Sit by

at her daughter. “So you know something I

please sit down. James needs to talk and it’s not going to

sidelong, but sits, sandwiched between me and Charlotte, who slips her hand

slow, speaks like one making a

indeed,

fooled into uploading James’

a locator

backup into the cloud, so that when Klempner replaced his mobile, he

and that virus now has control

that it is Juliana behind

his hands, “Mitch, I’m sorry. I never intended any of this, but we’ve heard nothing from him. Hickman can’t make contact…” He glances to Klempner’s henchman,

sallow. “Are you telling me that woman can trace exactly where Larry is? And he

Mitch. But yes, that’s

And it didn’t occur to you to tell any of us what you were

James doesn’t reply.

speaks carefully, precisely, hands clasped over a still flat stomach. “What exactly is she able

He swallows…

rises an octave. “Tell

complete control of Klempner’s mobile. If the phone is capable of doing it, then she has control. She’ll certainly know where he is. She’ll have his log-ins, passwords and his entry codes. She’ll be able to use the camera and the microphone. If

fingertips to his forehead. “Larry uses a top-line model. It’s capable of a

at him, trembling, stroking her

us anywhere. Hickman, how long is it now since you last

etch glass then, speaking in a

he

once a day. Different times. Different pattern. Mainly…” He looks towards Mitch… “… it was

thing you discussed with

to obtain the information regarding the organised crime syndicates in

me,” says James. “I’d have been

his gaze

trouble because of me. I’ll book

but his voice has lost its edge. “Mr Alexanders, I know you mean well, but if Mr Klempner has encountered

I say. “I

you can, Mr Summerford.” Hickman sucks at his lips, rubs his nose. “Do you speak

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