Allure (Mercenaries Book 1) Read online

  “I will make that arrangement whether or not we ask Rebecca to do this.” Jamse sipped more coffee. “In the morning, I must meet with Doctor Stone at his home. We should get some rest.” He paused before going to the door. “Ms Jinet, I think it might be best if you were to accompany me to meet with Rebecca. Your influence might be appropriate.”

  “As long as we keep sharp objects away from her, certainly,” she said with a huge grin. “Minneapolis, isn’t it? I’ll ask Boynton to set up the trip. How long?”

  “No more than a day. We will leave tomorrow and return on Friday evening no matter her answer.”

  Several miles of narrow country road out of the city, Jamse allowed the car to roll to a gentle stop on the verge in front of Stone’s cottage. The roses were not yet in bloom, but buds showed all over the plants. He stopped to admire an opening flower. Just like Rebecca, he thought.

  A teenage girl greeted him at the door, inviting him into the small but comfortable home. “Please have some tea. My grandpop asked me to set out these cakes and cookies for you and him, so please…” She waved a hand over the tray. “He’ll be down in just a tick.” He nodded his thanks to her, and with a smile, she disappeared through the door.

  He took a cookie and nibbled as he looked around. The sitting room was as comfortable as the doctor’s university office, with even more books lining the shelves. The sunlight splashed through the window, highlighting the colors of the Persian rug on the hard pine floor. Jamse seated himself in a chair by the desk.

  Greetings were brief once the professor came into the room. Jamse began with the rudiments of the plan. Once he explained the few details he thought appropriate to the Professor, Doctor Stone frowned. “I worry that you’re throwing good after bad, Ian. I’d feel better if we had any sense of Cari’s fate.”

  “I understand your concern, and I share it fully. However, the trail is already old, and we have no information. You are learning more about our techniques than you might wish, Doctor.”

  “I agree,” he said, and Jamse could see it was grudging agreement at best. “Why do you believe this Rebecca is the best person for your… operation?”

  “Beyond her physical appearance, which matches what we believe is sought?” His face twisted in a wry grin. “Since I have not seen her in over a year, I do hope she has not gained a foot in height and several stone. I prefer not to discuss our previous meetings.” He paused, then decided what he could share. “My team did a comprehensive study of her as part of that earlier task. While nothing in her background suggests that she would enjoy exotic dancing, she had already displayed, and did again during the job, a high level of maturity and overall acumen.

  “I believe that someone of her appearance will be necessary to recover Carina, or failing that, to stop these events from occurring again. This is of utmost importance, and from what I recall of Rebecca, may sway her to work with us. I am confident of her demonstrated ability to not only survive the rigors she is likely to face, but to prevail over them. I have reviewed the plan with my associates; none has yet offered an alternative. Neither have we identified a woman with a better chance of bringing success to the plan.”

  Jamse departed to pick up Susan, holding their tickets to the Twin Cities. Inside Heathrow, Susan checked her messages.

  “You know, Mr. Jamse, I can’t think of a more propitious beginning to this job,” she said with a smile.

  “In what way?”

  “Turns out that while Beckie has school tomorrow, Friday, she’s out for the next week, for spring break. So… If we can convince her…”

  “Indeed. One worry down—”

  “Thousands to go. Yeah.” She pointed to the left. “Security’s that way.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Preparations

  IN THE MINNEAPOLIS SUBURBS, JAMSE drove the rented car toward the quiet suburb he recalled, then parked; no one was at home. He and Susan had no small talk left; he withdrew the Financial Times from his case. He’d barely begun when a car pulled into the driveway; he looked up to see three teens leave the car. Now certain he was in the correct place, he glanced at Susan, then opened his door. Standing next to the fender, Jamse looked at the three young adults.

  “Hello Rebecca, Michael. And you also, Ms Durst. How are you? It has been over a year since we last met; you may not recall it,” he said.

  “I’d never forget that voice! Mike, it’s Spock!”

  Jamse watched Beckie survey him.

  “But he sure looks different, doesn’t he?”

  Mike looked at her, then back at Jamse. “I don’t know, Kie. It doesn’t look like him, hair’s all blond and stuff. But the voice…”

  Both Melissa’s look and silence betrayed her amazement.

  Jamse spoke quietly. “I trust that you will not require that I recount events of our past meeting to be certain of my identity, Michael. You may recall that not all were flattering. I prefer to convince you without resorting to that.”

  “Yeah, really. No one could ever string words together that way ‘cept you, Spock.” Susan was unable to suppress a snicker; Jamse snapped a glance at her while Mike continued, “What happened? You sure don’t look the same.”

  “Neither do you three. However, while the intervening months have improved you, they have not been so kind to me. It matters little, but I assumed a disguise for that task. You now see me unadorned. And my name: it is Jamse, not Spock. That was another facet of the appearance modification.”

  “Sure was good,” Mike commented.

  “Apparently so. After removing the makeup, I helped guard the beach where you swam, as one of the security team.”

  He heard, almost in unison, “No shit?”

  Jamse smiled, a little self-consciously, but smugly too. “I followed our brief conversation near the bar with a trip to New Zealand, where Trillian and I were reunited.

  “You will not remember her, but this is your second meeting with Ms Susan Jinet.” He gestured toward her, now standing alongside him. He paused, more self-conscious now.

  “Please call me Sue.”

  Beckie’s stare appeared tentative. “I remember. I hope the arm’s okay?”

  “Yeah, it is.” She took a breath. “You remember me?” Sue said.

  Beckie rubbed her own arm. “All the scars. Yeah, I remember.”

  “Ah.” Susan glanced at her exposed forearm. “Ran short of make-up.”

  “It looks better than it did,” Mike said. To Melissa, “Beckie tried to break us out before—”

  The diversion energized Jamse. “Yes, she did.

  “Although I promised both of you that we would not meet again, I find it necessary to request your aid with a problem.”

  “You need them? ‘Scuse me if I find that hard to believe. You gave the impression that you’re real capable.” Melissa made this observation firmly.

  Again, Susan chuckled just audibly, drawing a second glance from Jamse.

  He turned back to the teens. “Thank you, Melissa. Still, as you will understand if I may explain, there are things that I cannot do. In this case, I believe that Rebecca is best suited to assist us. Believe me, I have reviewed my options time and again before leaving to visit you,” Jamse said, looking directly at Beckie.

  “That, I believe,” she responded. “So, tell me what you need.”

  “Could we move first? Perhaps you know a less… exposed venue?”

  “Yeah,” Beckie said. “There’s a sit-down coffee shop a couple blocks away. Follow me.”

  Once Beckie understood Jamse’s problem—Cari’s exotic dancing and kidnapping—and her role in its solution—dancing in Cari’s place, to be kidnapped as she’d been—she tuned out the discussion, contemplating her own path. Finally, in a quiet moment, she said, “I suppose it’s necessary, but… I’m not sure about, you know, the dancing part. I mean, having guys looking at me and all.”

  Susan nodded, then described the visit to the club she’d made with Kevin. Beckie wasn’t much relieved at
the images Susan evoked. She sipped her lukewarm coffee as Susan finished: “Each of the girls we saw danced for seven or eight minutes, starting with not very much on and ending with nothing for the last two minutes or so of the dance. And, yeah, the guys were staring at them.

  “It’s an old fashioned place. I mean, no private dancing, no lap dances, no table dancing. The dancers only work the stage. We saw eight different dancers. A few of the dancers came back out, waiting tables and all.”

  “We would not allow that for you.”

  Beckie guessed that Jamse had a reason for his restriction; it pleased her. Susan’s confirmation of ‘ending wearing nothing’ didn’t please her nearly so well.

  “And,” Susan went on, “if it makes any difference to you, one of our women is in the club, dancing, as back up. You won’t know her, but she’ll know you, and she’ll watch out for you.”

  “Wow,” Beckie breathed. “How long do you figure before these guys who took Carina make a move on me? And what if they look at me up there and decide I’m not what they’re looking for? I’m not that impressive, you know.”

  “I expect them to act very quickly. I am still astounded that Ms Betheler was there more than a week. However, once a buyer agrees, the girl is removed.” Jamse paused. “Looking at you, and considering the market into which the girls are reportedly transferred, I deem it virtually a certainty that you would be taken within four days.”

  Beckie contemplated Jamse’s words… his schedule for her kidnapping. Suddenly, Melissa was speaking. “Mr. Jamse, does Beckie have to do this alone? Wouldn’t it help if there were, like, two of us? I mean, Beckie and I are pretty much alike: slim, kinda short.” She patted her hair. “I’m blonde and she’s got brown hair. That’s like the biggest difference. Wouldn’t your plan work better with both of us?”

  Beckie reacted first to Melissa’s statement; beaming, she reached across the table and squeezed her friend’s hand. Can’t believe she said that! So cool! “Thanks, Lissa,” she whispered. She turned to see both Jamse and Susan staring at Melissa. The wonder on their faces amused her until she thought of the risks.

  “I did not envision using anyone but Rebecca.” Jamse replied. “However, it bears consideration even if you only support her.”

  “Let’s think about it, then,” Mike said. “I’m coming if Beckie says she’ll do it, and I think Lissa’s right: anyone who’d like Beckie would like her, too.”

  “I’ll add my vote to theirs,” Susan said. “As Mike says, if we believe that Cari was selected on the basis of her appearance, both Beckie and Melissa fit the same mold, and given that they are in addition… well, underage, not to put too fine a point on it, I can’t see them being passed by, no matter what.”

  “Hey, we’re not all that young!” Melissa, the younger of the two, protested.

  “Actually, at seventeen, you are legal in England; in any event, the customers care only about your appearance. And—”

  “And we could both of us pass for fifteen, Lissa. Or less. You know that.”

  “That is true.” Jamse paused. “With both of you, other possibilities…” He stopped again, looking at each of them, in turn. “What will your parents say? This is not the most wholesome experience in which your holiday might be spent, and it is certain that your parents will not have particularly fond memories of me.”

  “Really.” Beckie heard both Melissa and Mike murmur in unison with her.

  “We are scheduled for that church camp—”

  “But I’m sure you came prepared.” Beckie didn’t want Jamse to worry about her other plans. “You wouldn’t leave that to chance.”

  “That is correct. However, I could not know whether or not you would agree. With Melissa and Michael determined to accompany you, Ms Jinet and I must decide how the plan may be best modified. I believe we will repair to our hotel, returning later this evening to discuss our intentions with your parents. If you are still willing, that is?”

  After a look at Melissa, Beckie nodded, hesitantly at first, then with confidence as she felt Melissa’s hand grip hers.

  After Jamse and Susan left, Beckie brought Melissa and Mike back to the house and studying started. Some history and math were actually discussed.

  Once Beckie had done all the studying she could tolerate, she finished her soda, then looked at Melissa.

  “We’re being silly about this, Lissa, and we really shouldn’t be. Do you really want to do this, dance in front of a bunch of guys? In England?”

  “Better England than here!” Melissa laughed, but then turned serious. “Why? What are you thinking? Not that that girl should be left?”

  “No, not at all. Just, are you really, really ready for that?”

  Melissa looked at her, then at Mike and back again.

  “It’s not what I think of when I hear ‘vacation,’ if that’s what you mean. But no way I’m going to let you… Is that it? You’re wondering if you—”

  “No! No, that’s not it. I don’t want to prance around naked in front of a bunch of guys who… Whatever. But I don’t want that girl… I want to help find her, get her back.” She scrubbed fingers through her hair, then pushed her chair away from the table.

  “So,” Melissa said, “I’m confused. Mike—”

  “No!” Beckie commanded. “Mike’s not part of this deal. He’s not up there naked. He shouldn’t even be going,” She silenced his protest with a glare and gesture. “It’s you and me.”

  “I’m going,” Mike said. “But also, you know, there might be bigger problems than just this girl being abducted. Like, I don’t know, you guys get taken like Mr. Jamse wants, and… There’s a lot of news stories about girls being, you know, attacked and raped and murdered and they didn’t even put themselves up for it.” He stood up behind Melissa and hugged her. “I’m worried about it,” he finished.

  “Yeah,” Melissa said. “I wasn’t thinking about that, so much.”

  “I know. I trust him to keep us safe from that.” She pulled Melissa out of Mike’s grasp. “So, are you really okay with it?”

  “No, Beckie, even before Mike said… I’m so not okay with it, but… But I’m not okay with you going by yourself, either, and that ranks. If you go, I go.” Beckie didn’t like her friend’s glare. “What brought this up?”

  “Even I know that if Mr. Jamse tells Mom and Dad anything like the truth, or even anything about England, we will be so shut down. Probably he could find someone else…”

  “Yeah,” Mike whispered to Melissa who smacked him, but gently. “Go on, Kie, I’ll keep quiet.”

  “You better,” she threatened. “Anyway… Mike, can you go out for a minute? I need to tell Lissa something.”

  With a frown and a look at Melissa, he went to the door.

  “I’ll come get you in a minute,” Melissa said.

  The door closed.

  “Yeah?”

  “I can’t tell Mike, but I’m really excited that Mr. Jamse came to ask me to do this for him.” She lay back on the bed. “Stupid, right? ‘Specially as a reason… but that’s why I have to do this: to help him out.”

  Melissa returned Beckie’s tortured look with one that Beckie took as sympathetic. Her words gave the lie to that interpretation: “That’s absurd, Beckie! You’re…” She spluttered, unable to continue.

  Beckie rolled over on the bed, supporting her head on her hands. “No! It’s that I learned a lot in Hawai’i. Mike did, too, didn’t he? So, Mr. Jamse’s capable.” She blushed. “He’s good looking, too, and—”

  “Yeah, girl, you should be embarrassed. He’s way older than you.”

  The look on Melissa’s face was priceless. She’s really wound up!

  “He kills people, for God’s sake!” her friend continued. “‘He’s good looking,’ she says. What—”

  “Just a damn minute!” Beckie swung her feet around to sit again. “Yeah, he’s good looking, but that’s not—”

  “You better be sure about that, because it’s a lousy reason t
o run off to England.”

  She jumped off the bed to pull Melissa up from the chair. “I am damn sure of it, Lissa. While I want to help him out, it’s not ‘cause I think he’s cute.” Melissa twisted out of her grasp; she went to sit on the bed while Beckie continued, “It’s ‘cause there’s a girl out there somewhere that no one’s looking for, who’s in trouble. She’s got no crew to help her; we can be that for her.”

  “Yeah.” The disbelief was clear. Melissa stood. “I’m gonna get Mike, unless—”

  “Why does he want to come?”

  “Excuse me?” Melissa turned away from Beckie, toward the door. “He wants to see me. That’s pretty sure. I mean, he didn’t think about it at all, like he would have if he was just going to help the girl.” She looked back. “So, I think that’s second, and the chance to see me is first.”

  “Yeah,” Beckie mused. “I guess I won’t think about him watching me, too.”

  “Yeah, that’ll be so weird. Should we tell him he can’t go?”

  “I already said he shouldn’t, but if you’re right, not likely we can. And that leads to the problem.”

  “I’m gonna get him, then?”

  Beckie nodded, wondering what the right thing would be. She went back to her desk.

  At the door, Melissa took Mike’s arm and pulled gently. They sat on the edge of the bed.

  Beckie sat on the edge of her chair, focused on them. “So, where I was going when I started, was Mom and Dad sure won’t let us go if they know about it.”

  “So, we won’t tell them,” Mike volunteered.

  “Kind of what I was thinking,” Beckie agreed. “The question is how, without actually lying to them.”

  “Yeah, it’s okay to not tell them long as you don’t lie,” Melissa scoffed.

  “I know, it’s still wrong. But—”

  “We got camp, so it’s not like we were gonna be here anyway,” Mike reminded them.

  “I know. That’s what gave me the idea,” Beckie told him.

  “And my folks wouldn’t be a problem,” Melissa said, “since they work all the time. In fact, tomorrow they’re off to a conference, since I’m going to the camp.”