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 tell

… Or Charlotte?

“Richard? Are you alright?”

the courage he’s shown… The way he behaved when Charlotte was abducted… And when he knew there

What a waste…

call by

Or I’ll tell James and Michael, and get one of them to break

there’s anything I can do, you

“Thanks, Will.”

*****

in his office next door to mine. He takes

“James?”

pinches the bridge of his nose, eyes squeezing. “I

know

It’s almost certainly down to me.” He breathes in, then out again. “No. The question is, how do I

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

He tugs at his chin. “She’s already stressed out with waiting and hoping. Could this be worse? At least it’s closure and she knows what she’s dealing with. She’ll have all her family around

can all keep a closer eye on

But we could make up her old room again, so it’s there as an

go. Deliver the news face-to-face. I’ve already asked Francis to cancel appointments for both

straightens up. Eyes red-rimmed, he tugs his jacket straight. “You’re right. Time to face

*****

Klempner

light flicks from dim to bright, and grunting, I raise a hand to shield my eyes for

as usual, colour-co-ordinated to

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

do you wear

fashion statement.” Her voice

Sitting with 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 in contact with the

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

I catch the miserable thing mid-air before

Lunch?

lunch box, unwrapping some fragrant dainty, then appears to realise I’ve

Still, I don’t move.

eat that one now and behave yourself, I’ll give you another

over the head. I take a bite from the potato, chewing slowly to convince my

“Enjoying that?” she says.

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