“I’d be happy to offer you a complimentary pass, but an annual membership starts at five grand.”
“Ouch. I’m a government employee on a government salary with two kids to put through college, so I’ll pass on the kink. Plus, I like to keep the fun at home with my hus—”
“Okay, so thanks for that.” After shooting Patricia a brief smile, she said, “Regarding Luck, I haven’t learned a damn thing. His file was redacted. What’s ALPHA?”
“I don’t know. There’s nothing anywhere about an organization with that name and I’ve asked around. No one knows.”
“How can I build a profile if there’s no information on him?”
“The old-fashioned way. Keep your eyes and ears on him.”
I can think of a few other body parts I’d like to press against his.She tried shaking that thought. And failed.
“Lou didn’t have much to tell me about this gig,” Providence said. “What’s Luck suspected of?”
A car pulled into the lot and Patricia glanced over her shoulder. “Killing men on The Most Wanted List who have eluded us for years.”
“Hmm, a vigilante.”
Patricia rose and paused while a pair of joggers ran past. “Several months ago, an anonymous caller using a burner led Philadelphia police to the body of Kevin Ericson. He’d been on The List for over a decade for the abduction and deaths of over thirty coeds. He was arrested for the murder of three, but there were mistakes made with the evidence and he got released. When his body was found, he had a broken neck, a gunshot wound to the head and another to the chest. Same M.O. for a handful of murders over the past few years.”
“I see,” Providence said.
“We’ve never gotten a break, until a couple of months ago,” Patricia continued. “Another murder, same M.O. This criminal had been on The List for a string of violent crimes against homosexuals in southern Virginia. A DNA match linked him to several of his victims. While in custody, he escaped. An informant at the crime scene caught a partial license plate. That was linked to Luck and about three hundred other people, but a majority of those have been ruled out.”
“Have you had eyes on him before me?”
“An undercover agent out of the Virginia FBI office is a licensed real estate agent. A perfect cover, if you ask me.” Patricia paused to pat her pup. “Anyway, she got a job working at one of Luck’s real estate offices in Virginia. Her husband works for the State Department. He recently got transferred, so she put in for a relo.”
“What did she find?”
“Not a damn thing. In her report, she stated he was the most ethical broker she’d ever worked for. Since he spends a fair amount of time at The Dungeon, I need someone who can get close to him.”
Providence wanted to ask her exactly how close she wanted her to get, but decided against that. Instead, she said, “I’m using my real name. I’ve never done that before and I feel vulnerable.”
“Your legend as a marketing consultant with time on her hands works for this case.”
“I’ve gotta be honest. I’m not happy with this assignment.”
“Your last gig was intense and everyone—even you—needs a breather between jobs. It’s easy, it’s local, and this beats a desk job. That would drive you crazy.”
“True.” Providence downed more coffee. Though she’d voiced her concern, she was stuck working this one.
Patricia opened her handbag and offered Providence a name tag. “Speaking of sticking close to Luck, he’s got some upscale real estate event. And you’ll be attending.”
She glanced at the name on the tag. Elaine Jones, Larke Realty. “What’s my story?”
“You’re an agent with Larke Realty in Bethesda. Stagehand set up your realtor profile on their website. I heard you’re great with accents. Can you pull off a Boston one?”
“I’ve got one that’ll pass,” Providence said.
“Good. You just moved to the area from Boston.”
“He already met me…as me.”
“The event has a masquerade theme, so you can use one of those sexy club masks. It’s at the National Harbor from seven to ten. There will be a few hundred realtors, plus their guests, so it’ll be easy to blend in.”
“When?”
