BooksBarbecue
Back Angels of Vengeance
Chapters (68)
  1. Blurb
  2. CONTENTS
  3. Dedication
  4. CHARACTER LIST
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. TWO MONTHS LATER
  60. ONE YEAR LATER
  61. TWO YEARS LATER
  62. FOUR YEARS LATER
  63. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  64. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  65. Also by John Birmingham
  66. ALSO BY JOHN BIRMINGHAM
  67. Copyright
  68. Cover

‘Well, I think that probably concludes our business, Detectives,’ Downing announced, calmly returning the lid to his expensive pen. ‘And really, I can’t reiterate it enough, my client has an obvious personal interest in seeing this matter resolved. But this is not the way to go about it. This is merely wasting everybody’s time. We are more than happy to make ourselves available for interview whenever necessary, for good reason. But next time, perhaps, a phone call might suffice. Now, if that’s all?’

Detective Dennis began shaking hands and saying farewells before Palmer could further poison the atmosphere.

‘Mr Downing . . . Mr Shah . . . and Ms . . .?’

‘Julianne,’ she answered with what she hoped was a pleasant, distracting smile. ‘Jules, if you like.’

‘Jules then,’ said Dennis before turning back to the other two. ‘I’m sorry if this is all a bit difficult, gentlemen. But it’s important we chase down every possibility. I’m sure you understand.’

‘Of course,’ gushed Downing. ‘But do feel free to simply call next time.’

Palmer grunted something and excused himself from the room as Mr Shah and his legal team prepared to leave.

‘You’re English,’ said Dennis while Jules was gathering up her notes. ‘Been in town very long?’

‘No.’ She shook her head.

‘Julianne is our newest associate,’ Downing interjected, in something of a rush. ‘She’s very new in town.’

‘Oh, okay then. Maybe I’ll see you around again, Jules?’

Was he trying to pick her up? Jules retreated into character.

‘Well, I’m just filling in on this case. Short-handed at the office, you know.’ She threw her supposed boss a look that cried, Help me!

‘Short-handed indeed,’ agreed Downing. ‘But I’m afraid it’s back to conveyancing and land titles for you, young lady, when you’ve typed up these notes. This job can’t all be about bloody murder and intrigue now, can it, eh?’

‘We live in hope,’ said Jules.

29

NORTH KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

She set her alarm to wake her after two sleep cycles. Three hours. It wasn’t ideal, going into the first day of an infiltration already fatigued, after a two-day crunch of briefings, presentations, liaising and general immersion in all things Blackstone.

‘Life is pain, princess. Suck it up,’ she groaned after forcing herself out of bed as the clock radio came on.