The Ingredients of Bliss by Lisabet Sarai

Author:Lisabet Sarai [Sarai, Lisabet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2014-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The detective answered on the first ring. “Emily!”

She’d obviously stored my number in her mobile. I found that reassuring.

“Hey, Toni.”

“Et bien? You sound much better. Did you sleep?”

“Some.”

“Superbe! Look, I’ve been doing some research on Le Requin…”

“I just talked to the kidnappers.”

That stopped her cold. “Really? How…?”

“My ad in the Chinese paper. They phoned me, just as I hoped they would.”

“And your friends? They’re safe?”

“According to what the caller told me, yes. To prove it, he agreed to let them call me, soon. I thought maybe you might want to trace the call when they do.”

“I doubt that will be useful. They’ll probably just toss the SIM afterward.”

“Probably. Anyway, you might check this land line.” I recited the number I’d scrawled on the pad by the bed. For a minute all I heard were key clicks.

“Public phone. I figured as much.”

“Where?”

“Centre Bourse shopping center. That would be packed at this time of day.”

“Well, at least we know the gang hasn’t taken them far from Marseille.”

“Not yet, at least. So what’s the bottom line, Emily? How much do they want to release your friends?”

“It isn’t money they want.”

“Huh?”

I explained about Le Requin and the stolen drugs.

“Exactly as you guessed! You’re brilliant!”

“Doesn’t do me much good, does it?”

“Never mind. We’ll figure out where they’re hiding, somehow. I’ve got some nifty search tools I can try…”

“No—we can’t. I promised. I told them I would get the shipment back for them. In return, they’ll let Etienne and Harry go.”

Toni let her breath out in a whistle. “Folle! Absolutely crazy! Do you have any appreciation for who you’re dealing with, girl?”

I shuddered. She had no idea. “I grew up with gory stories about the Triads.”

“Then you should know better than to get involved. Let the police handle this.”

“The gang leader swore he’d kill them if I go to the authorities. I believe him. Besides, this is officially Inspector Rousseau’s case. You think I should trust him not to screw up?”

The patter of fingers on the keyboard filled Toni’s silence. “He’s got an APB out for certain known terrorist figures,” she continued after a moment. “Other than that, his report recommends that the police suspend action until the kidnappers tip their hand.”

“Well, they have, but in not the way he expects.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my robe. “Look, I’m going to deal with this privately. I’m Chinese. I have some idea how these guys think. Somehow, I’m going to find Le Requin, get hold of the opium, and deliver it to the Iron Hammer.”

“Somehow? How?”

“I’m working on that.” In fact I didn’t have the slightest clue how to go about accomplishing any of these objectives. But I didn’t intend to let that stop me. “I’ll put together a plan.”

“Like I said, you’re nuts.” I could imagine Toni shaking her head, her lips pursed in disapproval. “But I can tell from your voice that I won’t succeed in convincing you. So what can I do to help?”

My mood brightened a bit. Detective Leblanc would make a valuable ally.

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