Fragrance of Revenge (9 page)

Chapter 19

“Paddy, its Mike. I’m at the office going over some of our investigations. I had a question to ask you about the Nielsen investigation.”

“Good morning Mike. You’re in on a holiday weekend…not that I’m surprised, but I thought you and your family were headed out to the Cape.”

“We were, but our kids came down with what’s going around. We thought it better to stick around. I thought I would take the opportunity to clear some things off my desk. Do you have any plans for the balance of the holiday weekend?”

“No, not really. We have company coming tonight for dinner and some cards. What did you want to ask me about the Nielsen investigation?”

“Never mind…I just found what I was looking for. I’m sorry. I should have just opened my eyes more.”

“Did you hear the news about the body found in Venezuela?”

“Yes, I heard it. It doesn’t look good for the other missing women, does it?”

“You know Mike, I had my doubts about whether we would ever find those people, but I think the women are indeed being held as part of the slave-trade. Now that one was found murdered, I wonder if the others will turn up the same way, or was this being sent as a warning to the others.”

“I should call Scott to see if Mercedes is involved.”

“Have you heard from Scott?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, we had some drinks yesterday morning at the pub. He is…never mind.”

“What were you going to add?”

“I can’t say.”

“Is, is a powerful word. Is he doing something he’s not supposed to be doing?”

“Interesting you should ask it that way. Okay, without telling you the details, Scott is about to get himself into another investigation.”

“I thought we had an understanding that we do the investigations, and he takes care of the business process side of our business.”

“Yes.” Mike thought about his response. “He’s caught between respecting a request to help, and Mercedes strongly requesting he never get involved in any more investigations.”

“So, does this involve Stephen Strong?”

“Why did you mention him?”

“Scott doesn’t have too many other people that might make a request of him like that. So, it does involve Stephen?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, but you didn’t need to confirm it. Can we take this over for him?”

“I wish we could, but I don’t think he will consent to it. I’m going to give it another shot, but I’m not too confident that he will take our offer to help. We almost lost Scott twice already. I would hate to see him get in over his head again.”

“Mike, Scott’s doing some good things for the office, and we owe it to him to keep him away from things he shouldn’t be involved in. Can we do anything behind the scenes, if he doesn’t allow us to help?”

Chapter 20

Maybe it was because she was missing Scott so much, but she was enjoying the police captain’s obvious interest in her assets. Ralph went off with one of the central police officers to view some related files on human trafficking.

The captain confirmed, “Ms. Strong you have come to the right place to learn about what might have happened to your citizen. Please sit down.” He pointed to a seat across from his desk in his large office.

She sat down, but the overhead fan was not doing much to combat the humidity within the police station or his office. She watched Captain Chavez wipe the sweat on his brow. “Captain, now that it was confirmed that the body is that of Paula Scott, we know that she was brought to Venezuela. We’re concerned for the safety of her sister and that of Ms. Quinlan, along with Mr. Damelio. I would like to know your thoughts on what happened to her.” She was talking to his eyes, but they were riveted on her chest.

“I’m sorry Ms. Strong that our office is so oppressive. The humidity here is hard to deal with. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, that’s not necessary.” She was surprised that he spoke English so well. She wondered what his background was.

“I suppose you’re wondering why I speak English so well?”

“Yes, I was surprised.” She wasn’t surprised that he moved slightly to get a better view of her legs. She felt it in her best interest to allow him the benefit of her short skirt.

“I was educated in the states, and moved back here with my parents who were Venezuelan citizens. That was about twenty years ago.” He moved even closer to his desk. He wiped his forehead again, but he was not hiding his interest in her body.

“That’s very interesting. Where did you live in the states?” She could feel the perspiration on her chest, and put her thumb in between her two top buttons to wipe the moisture.

“We lived in Texas…Houston area to be more exact.”

Mercedes watched him studying the outline of her black bra. “Very interesting. I need to ask you for your opinion of what you think is happening with our missing citizens.” She undid the top button on her yellow shirt, which was starting to soak up some moisture.

“Well, you read the report on Ms. Scott. She was found nude and tied up, and she had been tortured. She was a very pretty woman, just like you.” He let the words linger, and then added, “The other two women are also young and very attractive. Maybe we could examine the file together…let’s say this evening at your hotel?”

“Thank you Captain Chavez for your offer. However, my boss is here and we have limited time for our investigation. If I can’t learn anything from talking to you, I’m sure Mr. Gordon will be talking with other officials. Maybe we need to make some progress while I’m here.” She crossed and uncrossed her legs on purpose, hoping to entice him to spend more time now with her.

He smiled and didn’t immediately reply, but his eyes did. “Yes, why don’t we spend a few more minutes?” He got up and came around to her side of the desk and seated himself closer to her.

It was so obvious that it caused her to smile. “Thank you Captain.”

He resumed talking, but she knew he was obviously enjoying a closer look at her body, or what he could imagine she looked like under her slightly wet clothes.

“Although there is no actual evidence that Ms. Scott was connected to what is happening here in Venezuela, my thoughts are this.”

She watched him take a deep breath and she was glad she had put on additional perfume before they left the hotel. The scent of Gardenia works many wonders. She thought of Scott and how she would like to be with him at this moment.

“Young women are being kidnapped and held as part of the slave trade here in our country. Young attractive white females are very much in demand. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen pay a large sum of money for such women. Pirates operate in the Caribbean area and when they find a vessel alone on the sea, they commandeer it, usually kill off any men aboard and rape the women continually until they’re brought ashore.”

She acknowledged, “Yes, the ‘Import-ant’ was last seen in Bermuda with Mr. Damelio and the three women. They would have been in the Caribbean, and could have encountered pirate activity.”

“I think it would be certain that they did. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the pirates have eyes in Bermuda and ports in the Bahamas and other places, making note of interesting targets leaving port. I don’t see a ring on your finger, are you not engaged?”

“No, I’m not.”

“American men must be so behind the times, that they allow someone of your beauty to remain
free.”

She noticed how he mouthed the word while licking his lips. “Thank you again, Captain. I noticed how interested you are in my…presence.”

“Perhaps I can show you some of the possible places where these women might be held against their will.”

She felt her skin crawl, and knew he was just looking for an opportunity to get his hands on her body. “Perhaps those locations were overlooked in your original investigations?” She noticed his expression change. “I would like to see where you are considering, but I would like my partner to accompany me.”

“I see.” He sat back and altered his view slightly. “What we think happens when the women are brought into the country, is that they are forced to sign some false paperwork showing they owe a large debt. Maybe for their rescue.” He smiled. “The debt is so large that in order to pay for it, they are forced into being a ‘domestic servant’ and as such are paid for their sexual services to their new owner, and possibly a much larger circle of friends. It’s not a pretty picture, but when they tire of them, they are sold to those foreign countries, which could care less about how they were treated.”

“That does sound like a solid scenario.”

“The ones who manage to avoid the local forced labor, shall we say, command an even higher price. I’m sure you can appreciate unspoiled goods, versus abused ones. I’m not sure why Ms. Scott was tortured, but maybe that is how the owner made his money, or got his kicks…or both.”

She noticed how he was perspiring, and wanted to wipe the moisture forming again on her neck, but resisted the temptation.

“Ms. Strong, I must admit that you yourself are quite the beauty, and we don’t see many redheads around these parts. You really should utilize our services while you are in this country, as there are many men who would pay a hefty amount for you.”

“Thank you Captain Chavez for the compliment.” However, he was insinuating she whore herself.

There was a knock on the door. The captain got up to open it, and looked like he had a pistol in his pants pocket. He didn’t try to conceal the affect she had on him. When he opened the office door, Ralph was standing there with another officer.

“Are you ready Agent Strong?” Ralph asked.

“Yes.” She got up and let the skirt slip to a more proper place. She held out her hand to the captain. “Thank you for your insight, and we will be talking further.” He shook her hand and then held it with his other.

“Once more Agent Strong, I urge you to consider our services, and protection, while you are doing your investigation. I’m sure your group is on someone’s radar at the moment. Please let me know if I can be of any service to you. Regardless, be very careful where you go, and don’t go anywhere alone.”

Chapter 21

Her new found power over the doctor was providing more rewards than she had anticipated. She liked being the center of his past attention, but this role reversal was incredible.

He shared his desire to have the roles reversed, and she was an excellent student. Hours ago when they first got started, she took it slow and followed his commands for what he wanted her to do to him. He was enjoying the attention and her body told her how much she liked it.

When this all started, his ankles were tied like hers had been and his hands were holding onto the headboard ropes. He wanted her to use the whip device on him, which she obliged. However, her reluctance to really whip him caused him to yell at her. That was his second mistake.

His first was allowing her to actually tie his wrists. Something happened as soon as he was immobile. She didn’t totally understand the transition, but she loved her new found power. The doctor was caught between enjoying her attention and wanting to be released. She wondered if he finally realized her true condition since she failed to react to his hypnotic trance termination. However, his constant pleas to be released forced her to gag him.

She remembers that moment very well. His eyes got big as saucers and she believes he finally realized what he was getting himself into. He truly panicked when she sat on his thighs and reached behind her exposing the straight razor.

She opened the razor and studied the blade. His head was rolling from side to side. She jumped off the bed and came back with the blindfold he used on her. She could see he realized he had lost all control and was showing honest concern. He resisted her blindfolding him, but she managed to accomplish the task. The back of the razor against his body immediately caused him to freeze.

They both enjoyed her attention to his body for quite a while, but she knew she enjoyed it more than he did. Receiving punishment is not as much joy as giving it. She may never relinquish control again, and she realized if she did, she might truly regret what he would do to her.

Despite how the doctor feels, she has found new ways to punish him and reward herself. She stopped punishing him and just looked at what she had done. He was covered in red welts from his forehead to his feet. She wanted to roll him over, but was concerned he might overpower her. She opted not to at this time.

“Oh, wow just look at you. You’re covered with red marks.” She touched his forehead, cheek, neck, chest, stomach, and lingered just a bit lower. “Are you hurting?” He didn’t move his head. She reached out and grabbed him. “I said are you hurting?”

He quickly nodded his head. She released him.

She climbed onto his thighs as she couldn’t stand waiting any longer. Minutes later she collapsed onto his chest. His heart was beating like crazy. “Doctor Adler, are you a happy boy now?”

He nodded. They still had many more hours to spend together and she had a major decision to make about which one she was going to kill. With all this new experience she couldn’t get Chris out of her mind.
She wanted to use these new techniques on Chris. But how could she?

She smiled at what she had accomplished and what the future was going to be like. She looked at her fingers and they were covered in blood, it wasn’t his it was hers.