Richard

My intercom buzzes.

“Yes, Francis?”

“Mr Haswell, I have the police commissioner on for you.”

“Put him through, please…” The phone clicks… “Richard?”

“Will, good to hear from you. What can I do for you? Do you have any news?”

“I do, Richard, yes. But it’s not good news I’m afraid.”

Damn…

“Go on.”

“I’ve emailed you a report from the authorities in Brazil. Briefly, there was an explosion in a hotel room in São Paulo; a booby-trapped lavatory would you believe. It took out several rooms and there were a lot of casualties. Two bodies were taken from the room. One was a member of the hotel staff. The other was a guest. The passport identifies him as one Harry Hughes: English. But take a look at the photograph and tell me what you think.”

My mouth sours…

Christ…

If it is…

“Can you hold, Will, while I pull up the email.”

“No problem. Take your time.”

Tap… Tap… Tap… Click…

Password…

Scroll…

Click…

Crap!

I breathe in. Let out air.

“Yes, that’s him. He’s clever with the hair and the glasses. It’s quite subtle and you wouldn’t see it on a casual glance, but that’s him…”

“Richard?”

I

… Or Charlotte?

“Richard? Are you alright?”

no, I’m not. It might sound ridiculous. We know the man Klempner was in the past… But the courage he’s shown… The way he behaved when Charlotte was abducted… And when he knew there was a threat to Mitch.

What a waste…

call by and tell Mitch myself?

I’ll tell her. Or I’ll tell James and Michael, and get

If there’s anything I can do, you know

“Thanks, Will.”

*****

next door to mine. He

“James?”

nose, eyes squeezing. “I feel terrible. This is

know that

know it ninety-nine per cent for sure. I gave Juliana the wedge to crack his defences. It’s almost certainly

shouldn’t tell her. At least for a while. After the birth.

and hoping. Could this be worse? At least it’s closure and she knows what she’s dealing

into the house? So we can all keep a closer eye on her? Elizabeth and Charlotte

feel we’re spying on her. But we could make up her old room again, so it’s there as an option if she wants

news face-to-face. I’ve already asked Francis to

he tugs his jacket straight. “You’re right. Time

*****

Klempner

dim to bright, and grunting, I raise a hand to shield my eyes for a few seconds.

stuffed with God-knows-what, and as usual, colour-co-ordinated to her outfit.

red today; very gaudy, very Latin. The dress fits too tightly and the lipstick is too bright for her. Although that might not show on the casual

you

a fashion statement.” Her voice is

my knees up to relieve the strain on my fettered ankle, hands loosely clasped around my legs, I do shift a little, moving my weight from one side to the other. I’ve almost ceased to notice the cold striking up from the concrete, but it still rubs, being

too dark for her complexion. Not that her complexion is visible, with her face plastered under a brown sludge that would be flattering on some young woman of genuine Latino descent, but which simply looks unsubtle, almost grotesque on Juliana. A scarlet hibiscus set in

On auto-pilot, I catch the miserable thing mid-air before it hit the deck but,

Lunch?

some fragrant dainty, then appears to realise I’ve not moved. She nods down to

Still, I don’t move.

that one now and behave yourself, I’ll

slowly to convince my stomach

“Enjoying that?” she says.

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