The Gadget: The Rondon Chronicles Book One by V. J. Timlin

Author:V. J. Timlin [Timlin, V. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2021-03-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Anouk rubbed her face. Why did Madam Valeria want her so much that she would even break her long-term friendship with Nat when he stepped to her defence? Surely, she had enough pretty-eyed girls. It must be something else. Yes, Anouk was relieved the madam had let them go, and they… No, she wouldn’t have to deal with the woman again. Nevertheless, a question nagged in the back of her mind. What would be the price? How would this affect their hunt for Stalo? If Madam Valeria truly was as important as Nat had led her to believe, the investigation had now become a tad more complicated.

Nat hadn’t said a word since they left the premises, but looked straight ahead, his jawline hard as if he were grinding his teeth. Anouk opened her mouth but then closed it. What would she say? She opened her mouth again. “I’m…”

“I’ve been blind,” Nat spat.

Anouk startled. “Umm, it’s normal to trust friends and not expect the worst from them.”

Nat stopped and turned to face her. “In this line of work, you meet shady people. You have to pick out the most trustworthy of a real untrustworthy lot.” He shook his head. “I know what she is, but still I trusted her. Blindly.”

“I’m sorry.” Anouk didn’t know what else to say. He was feeling betrayed, and she sympathised. Only, a small victory tickled inside her. Now that they were banned from the brothel, they should have one less problem.

Nat took off his top hat and pushed his fingers through his curls before putting it back on.

“What’s wrong?”

“Madam Valeria has wide connections. I find it very hard to believe she hasn’t learned anything concerning Stalo.”

Maybe she had been too hasty in ticking Madam Valeria off their list of problems. Anouk chewed her lower lip as she pondered. That girl… What was her name? Shannah! Yes, Shannah had come to tell the madam there was the call she had been waiting for. Also, the previous visit had ended because there had been a gentleman who wanted to see the madam. Her skin started to prickle in discomfort when a thought occurred to her.

“The first time we went to see Madam Valeria, there was a gentleman who wanted to see her, and just now she received a phone call she was expecting.” She hesitated. “And that might be a coincidence, of course, but what if the gentleman and the caller are the same person, and that person is…” She licked her lips. “Stalo?”

Nat regarded her, his eyebrows knitted together, and then nodded slowly. “It’s possible. Madam Valeria makes no difference with whom she deals as long as it is of benefit to her.”

Anouk took a deep breath. “That’s what I thought. So, do you think she might have struck a deal with him?”

Nat shook his head. “No, otherwise we wouldn’t have walked out of the door.”

“What if she’s blackmailing him?”

“With what?”

Anouk shrugged. “Well, if Stalo is a fugitive, Valeria could threaten to report what she knows to the enforcers.

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