AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Jackie was no innocent,” Kendra said. “But she could have been learning a few new games she hadn’t thought of playing. At any rate, whenever she went back to Europe in the next few years, she returned to Amsterdam…and Milo Fletcher.”
“And what did Dumont find out about our Milo?” Lynch asked.
“That by the end of her third tour he had Jackie turning tricks in the Red Light District for him. He evidently completely dominated her.” She paused. “And she wasn’t the first one. Pierre said he had a contact who knew the Red Light District very well and he got him answers from the proprietors. Milo Fletcher had brought three or four girls to service customers in the past. He often hit the hostels and bed-and-breakfasts and occasionally chose a girl to seduce to his way of thinking. It started as two lovers playing a domination game, but it ended with him totally in control. He was a professor of psychology, and he was very good at what he did. But Jackie clearly decided, though she liked the power game, she didn’t like being under his thumb, and left him to try a little domination on her own.”
“What else do we know about Milo Fletcher?”
“That he disappeared from Amsterdam about a year later, coincidentally about the same time as one of the new girls he’d been bringing to the Red Light District ended up drowning in a canal.”
“Is he a U.S. citizen?”
“Yes, born in Philadelphia, got his degree from Princeton, spent at least ten years touring Europe.”
“Relatives? Friends?
She shook her head. “I’ve no idea yet.”
“But brilliant, well educated, and has no moral compass.”
“That about covers it. Apparently also has a gigantic ego, and he was able to move around the world by using his abilities and people to his advantage. Murder seemed to be on his agenda even all those years ago, but Pierre said he’d checked, and Fletcher had no Interpol record. He’s in the process of trying to find out anything more, but said he doubts if the FBI is going to be able turn up anything on him, either.”
“We’ll have to see, won’t we?” Lynch said grimly. “It appears he’s excellent at cleaning up after himself, but he’s not a ghost and something will show up somewhere. Thanks to your dogged determination we now have a name, and we have a history. Let me work a bit and call a few people and I’ll bet we’ll find the bastard.”
“Sounds easy. It won’t be.”
“Sure it will. You’ve done all the hard stuff. We’ll do the rest together. It’s always easier when we’re together. Now close up there at the FBI office and I’ll see you at the condo. I know you’re going to want to tell Tricia about the progress.”
“You’re right. At last we have something to tell her. Bye, Lynch.”
She ended the call and leaned back in her chair. Some of the excitement was gone but she felt lighter, more motivated just discussing it with Lynch. He was also right about everything being easier when they were together. Everything and anything seemed possible at this moment.
She started to gather her notes to put them in her briefcase to take them home and share with him.
***
She got the call after she pulled into her spot at the condo parking garage.
NUMBER BLOCKED.
She tensed.
Shit!
Not now. Not when she was experiencing this surge of hope.
Take the call. Find something in it to screw the son of a bitch.
She punched the access. “Too bad you don’t have anyone else to harass, Milo. You’re beginning to bore me.”
Silence. “Then I’ll have to make our encounters more interesting.” His voice was silky smooth and filled with malice. “Believe me I have enough experience to assure that you’ll find our future meetings unforgettable.”
“I doubt that. I haven’t found you to be at all unusual compared with the other creeps I’ve caught or removed from this earthly realm.” She added, “Did you have a reason to call me? I don’t want to be late for dinner.”
“Bitch.” His voice was suddenly low and filled with venom. “You don’t know who you’re talking to. I’ll remember every word you say, and I’ll punish you in very special, painful ways for each one.”
“I know who I’m talking to. A braggart and a bully. We’ve kept you from touching your target and you’re feeling helpless and want to feel like a big man. Unless you have something intriguing to say, I’m going to hang up now.”
“I could have taken you out at any time,” he said harshly. “Do you think a few extra guards would keep me away? I could tell you stories that would make you shake. I was just giving you time to build yourself up so that I could knock you down again. You’ve been spending a lot of time at the FBI, haven’t you? You think you’re going to find the mole at the heart of my arrangement with Griffin’s detectives? It won’t happen. He’s too clever. And every time you believe you’re safe, he’ll be setting you up for me. He’s just another weakling I can bend to my will. It didn’t take me long at all to bring him down.” His voice went lower still. “But you’ve made me angry this time. I warned you, didn’t I? You didn’t pay attention to me. I’m going to choose a target that will hurt you very, very much, Kendra. And the most enjoyable aspect for me will be I know you’ll be looking around at all the people you care about and wondering…which one?”
