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Blowhards apartment was set in its own private park in central Monte Carlo. A tall condo building that looked like giant steps.

“He’s in the top one.” James pointed up to the condos. “Calls it the penthouse, but it’s a bit smaller than all the other apartments in here.”

Euroback looked around at the very expensive looking gardens “Must have cost a bit though.”

“It’s the maintenance charges that he struggles with, probably why he stole the list.” James continued “I can’t remember how much, but he told me the charges were crippling him.”

“But he’s a master criminal James; surely he can afford the maintenance charges?”

“He built a lair on a mountain once, inside a volcano with a hydraulic, movable lake inside of it.”

James thought for a moment then continued “Cost him a fortune and it was useless, miles away from anywhere and could only be accessed by helicopter.”

Euroback looked at James and said “But he has a helicopter.”

“Yes, but the phone company doesn’t.”

“The phone company?” Euroback was confused.

James looked her in the eyes and explained. “How can you run a criminal organization without any phones? What do you do, write letters for ransoms?” James laughed a little “Dear President of America, We have a laser pointed at your Whitehouse from space. If you do not pay us $100, 000,000 we will fire it. You have 3 weeks to respond. PS send all letters to, Volcano lair, Hawaii.”

Euroback frowned at James. “Shall we go up?”

The doorman recognized James straight away and let them into the building without any problem. They took the elevator up to the top floor and walked over to Blowhards front door.

“Can you pick the lock James?” Euroback said.

“Oh no need it’s open, keeps loosing his keys!”

James opened the door and stepped inside. The deep red rug on parquet flooring was very much to Eurobacks taste “Wow it is lovely.” She said.

James opened the mini bar in a beautiful teak globe. “Want a drink?”

Euroback looked at him. “A drink?”

“Yes, a drink, now we wait, and it’s much better waiting with a drink in your hand.”

James poured himself a nice large Talisker and sat down on a white leather armchair. James looked around the room, he was already familiar with as he had played chess here many times.

James dozed off.

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