life in a city where favors were the currency of choice and most of the money was laundered after a bloodbath. Clark spoke quickly, concisely. Most of the report was meant to be informative, less actionable, though Clark’s contacts were assisting a task force within Narcotics to staunch the flow of cocaine fromNewAmsterdam’s harbors to points south.
WhenClark got to the politicalmaneuverings ofone Hendrick Gray and listed who was currently on the man’s payment and bribery schedule, Lucian leaned forward. “Thank you, Clark. As everyone knows, we keep close tabs on my dear father and on those he keeps in his intimate circle. And we’ve linked severalof those names to a string of murders we believe connected to a club called Haze.”
“The kink club just outside the city lines?” Tim asked.
“That’s the one.”
“You mean you haven’t got it shut down, yet?” Chance asked. “Damn, Lucian. What’s the hold up?”
“Priorities,” Lucian answered. “Not to mention red tape and information. As long as the club stays open, we have a better chance of making links between victims and patrons that might actually stand up in court witha decent lawyer.”
“Which means that people will continue to get killed,”Timpointed out.
“Sad but true,”Lucianacknowledged.
“What do youknow so far?”Danielasked.
Lucianquicklyoutlined the victims’ information. Out of the corner of his eye, Lucian saw Shea stiffen, sitting forward to follow this conversation far more closely than the others. Lucian liked the interest. “Most of the victims are women for hire who were seen more than once at Haze.”
“That’s what you call a ‘connection’?” Chance scoffed.
“The older injuries on the bodies are dislocated shoulders, long thin scarring, assorted broken bones, and burns,” Clark said. “And the deaths are allmade to look like auto-erotic asphyxiation or drug overdose during bondage play with a client who conveniently leaves no trace, record, or tie.”
“Sounds like bad Scene,” Chance conceded. “But what the hellcan we do? Take a field trip to Haze? We already talked to everybody we knew the first time this came up on His Majesty’s hit list. Might look a little fuckin’ conspicuous if we all traipse in at once, you think?”
“That’s why you send in a spy, moron,” Ryuu said, quiet and fixated onhis iPad.
Chance grunted. “Well. We ain’t done that, it’s true.”
“I’ve got a few people I could talk to at Break, see if they’d be interested in earning a little extra to scope out the competition,” Clark said. “People who owe me and whom I’d trust to watch and not interact, to listen and not speak.”
“Is there anyone in this city who doesn’t owe you a favor, Clark?”Timasked, smiling.
“What can I say?” Clark asked with a shrug of artifice. “I’ma helpfulguy.”
“It’s a new avenue we’ve not explored,” Lucian said slowly. “But the implicit danger is a concern.”
“Would be shitty to lose a good resource, eh, your royal pain in my ass?” Chance said to Lucian, who ignored him.
“There’s a fairly large contingent of ex-military on the member list for Break, sir, as either guests or standing, non-VIP members,” Clark said. “Some of themmatchup to the profile I just described.”
“Get me names and rationale,” Lucian said, and Clark nodded smartly.
“Good. Anything else?” Lucian asked. The men collectively shook their heads, and Lucian stood, signaling that the meeting was finished. “Thank you,” he said.
“Sure, Lucian,” Chance said. “And happy fuckin’ birthday.”
“One can hope there will be fucking,” Ryuu muttered, smirkingat Lucianand tossinga coyglance at Shea.
“I’m sure you’ve done enough to account for all of us,” Lucian said sweetly. He waited until Ryuu’s eyes dropped his, and Lucian touched Shea’s upper arm. “If you wouldn’t mind staying, I’d like some time with you,”he said to Shea, tone far kinder and sincere.
WhenClark got to the politicalmaneuverings ofone Hendrick Gray and listed who was currently on the man’s payment and bribery schedule, Lucian leaned forward. “Thank you, Clark. As everyone knows, we keep close tabs on my dear father and on those he keeps in his intimate circle. And we’ve linked severalof those names to a string of murders we believe connected to a club called Haze.”
“The kink club just outside the city lines?” Tim asked.
“That’s the one.”
“You mean you haven’t got it shut down, yet?” Chance asked. “Damn, Lucian. What’s the hold up?”
“Priorities,” Lucian answered. “Not to mention red tape and information. As long as the club stays open, we have a better chance of making links between victims and patrons that might actually stand up in court witha decent lawyer.”
“Which means that people will continue to get killed,”Timpointed out.
“Sad but true,”Lucianacknowledged.
“What do youknow so far?”Danielasked.
Lucianquicklyoutlined the victims’ information. Out of the corner of his eye, Lucian saw Shea stiffen, sitting forward to follow this conversation far more closely than the others. Lucian liked the interest. “Most of the victims are women for hire who were seen more than once at Haze.”
“That’s what you call a ‘connection’?” Chance scoffed.
“The older injuries on the bodies are dislocated shoulders, long thin scarring, assorted broken bones, and burns,” Clark said. “And the deaths are allmade to look like auto-erotic asphyxiation or drug overdose during bondage play with a client who conveniently leaves no trace, record, or tie.”
“Sounds like bad Scene,” Chance conceded. “But what the hellcan we do? Take a field trip to Haze? We already talked to everybody we knew the first time this came up on His Majesty’s hit list. Might look a little fuckin’ conspicuous if we all traipse in at once, you think?”
“That’s why you send in a spy, moron,” Ryuu said, quiet and fixated onhis iPad.
Chance grunted. “Well. We ain’t done that, it’s true.”
“I’ve got a few people I could talk to at Break, see if they’d be interested in earning a little extra to scope out the competition,” Clark said. “People who owe me and whom I’d trust to watch and not interact, to listen and not speak.”
“Is there anyone in this city who doesn’t owe you a favor, Clark?”Timasked, smiling.
“What can I say?” Clark asked with a shrug of artifice. “I’ma helpfulguy.”
“It’s a new avenue we’ve not explored,” Lucian said slowly. “But the implicit danger is a concern.”
“Would be shitty to lose a good resource, eh, your royal pain in my ass?” Chance said to Lucian, who ignored him.
“There’s a fairly large contingent of ex-military on the member list for Break, sir, as either guests or standing, non-VIP members,” Clark said. “Some of themmatchup to the profile I just described.”
“Get me names and rationale,” Lucian said, and Clark nodded smartly.
“Good. Anything else?” Lucian asked. The men collectively shook their heads, and Lucian stood, signaling that the meeting was finished. “Thank you,” he said.
“Sure, Lucian,” Chance said. “And happy fuckin’ birthday.”
“One can hope there will be fucking,” Ryuu muttered, smirkingat Lucianand tossinga coyglance at Shea.
“I’m sure you’ve done enough to account for all of us,” Lucian said sweetly. He waited until Ryuu’s eyes dropped his, and Lucian touched Shea’s upper arm. “If you wouldn’t mind staying, I’d like some time with you,”he said to Shea, tone far kinder and sincere.
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