Sleuths & Seductions: A Delightfully Irreverent & Spicy Mystery Romance (Elizabeth Templeton Mysteries Book 1) by Andrea Knight

Author:Andrea Knight [Knight, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: A Dream & A Wish Productions
Published: 2023-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The stillness was broken only by the scratch of my quill against parchment as I scribbled every detail I uncovered—mostly through Blackwood’s journal—about Cassius, Stanton's quiet and unassuming accountant. But the unassuming part was just an act. The information I compiled filled page after page – with a special focus on two things, his visits to the local massage parlour known for providing special services, and invoices for shipments of rare and expensive wines delivered to his home. In the margins I’d scribbled second-hand accounts I had carefully coaxed from chatty barmaids who had encountered the man.

Cassius struck me as the weakest link in Stanton's operation. While the other men radiated gravitas and commanded fear, Cassius faded into the background, more occupied with ledgers and figures than with the shady dealings that kept Stanton's coffers filled. He was a man ruled by his baser desires, flashes of greed and lust breaking through his mild-mannered façade, and I was about to become his favorite sin.

The man was a walking, talking seven deadly sins wrapped in one pudgy, lustful package with a taste for exotic wines, and a weekly visit to Madame Velvetine’s for a standard massage followed by one of the special “deluxe” treatments.

His greatest vice was his desire for the unattainable. Which is exactly what I was about to dangle in front of him.

A day later, I stood before the mirror surveying my transformation - the rich velvet gown accentuating my figure, and eyes smoky enough to start a forest fire. I hardly recognized the woman staring back - she was a stranger, an enchantress. My fingers went to my side, pressing lightly to feel the ridge of bandage through the corset I wore over the slice in my side. One last reminder of why I had to succeed today.

With a final deep breath, I stepped outside into the bustling city. The sun was dipping low, casting an amber glow onto the rain slicked streets. Evening was the domain of those who preferred anonymity - of secret trysts and furtive deals. Drawing my cloak tightly around me, I slipped into the swelling crowds making their way toward more lascivious pursuits. None would mark my passing - I was just another shadow seeking distraction as night approached.

Madame Velvetine's was tucked down a dim side alley, discreetly marked with a weathered sign depicting a lotus in bloom. I wrinkled my nose as I stepped inside. The air was cloying, reeking of cheap perfume and desperation mixed with the tartness of wine and the faint hint of sexual odors. My eyes adjusted to the low light, taking in the heavy drapes sectioning off private rooms for entertaining clientele. A piano played languidly in a back corner.

I spotted a woman who could only be Madame Velvetine holding court by a carved mahogany bar. Her dark hair was upswept, lips painted a deep red that matched her gown. She arched a brow that was penciled on so sharp it could cut glass.

"I don't believe we've had the pleasure.

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