Fragrance of Revenge

by Dick C. Waters

  “Please dad, I’m concerned about him. This isn’t like him at all. I need to talk with him.”

  “I understand. Let me try to track him down and have him call you.”

  “You can’t reach me here. Why do you think you can track him down? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Mercy I will explain everything when you get home. In the meantime I will try to track him down. Call me before your flight leaves and I’ll either have him here, or I will let you know where he is.”

  She was trying her best to hold her emotions back. “Dad, I’ve had a very trying day here, and I really need to talk with Scott. If you could get him there when I call back around 9 before my plane leaves that would be great.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “Thanks Dad. I’m sorry I was so short with you. How is mom doing?”

  “The same. Things are very fragile here. We’ll talk when you get home. There’s much we have to talk about.”

  They said their goodbyes but she knew her dad well enough that he wasn’t telling her the whole story. She never told him she had discovered who he was having an affair with and wondered now if that was what he was going to share with her.

  She thought about her mom. She hasn’t been the same for several years and when the news came out about Melanie and the other women keeping and killing men in Boston, well she had a nervous breakdown. When Melanie’s exploits were reported in Bermuda and then when she killed herself that caused her to have a heart attack. If she knew what her father was doing, it might just cause another. She knew she could never tell her mother she was kidnapped and molested twice, but knew she could share it with her father.

  Could she ever share that with Scott?

  Chapter 71

  “Hello Mercy?”

  “No, Stephen its Mike Miller, Scott’s work associate. You were expecting a call from Mercedes?”

  “Well she just called a minute ago to tell me she was coming home later this morning. However, the real reason she was calling was she couldn’t reach Scott, and wondered if I knew where to reach him.”

  “That’s why I’m calling Stephen.”

  “About Scott?”

  “Yes. Look, I know that Scott was doing an investigation for you to find out who was blackmailing you.” There was dead silence on the other end. “Here’s what has happened. Scott has been abducted. We know it was the guy who was blackmailing you. His name is Chris Sullivan and he works at the Lighthouse Manor where you have hidden your daughter.”

  “Please hold for a minute, I need to pick this up in my office. No honey, its Mercedes calling back and I need to talk with her in my office. Go back to sleep.”

  “What time is it?”

  “It’s very early, so please go back to sleep. Everything is okay.” There was a pause on the phone. “Mike, I’m back. So, Scott has told you what he was doing?”

  “He only told me about the blackmailing. I went with him for the money drop tonight and Chris picked up the money but we lost him. We located him at Doctor Adler’s house.”

  “Why was he there?”

  “It gets more complicated. Here’s the bottom line…I’m calling to give you a heads up. The press will be reporting what I’m about to tell you and I want you to do what you need to do ahead of them. Your daughter Alexis was torturing the doctor who was tied up in his basement. After they both discovered Scott and I observing what she was doing, she killed the doctor. Before she did that she said something to him and took his manly parts with a razor.”

  “You have to be mistaken.”

  “I wish, but I witnessed it first hand. She held up what she cut off before she sliced his throat. All three of them were naked.”

  “Three?”

  “Chris was there watching her have sex with the doctor before she took his parts and slit his throat. Chris and Alexis took Scott before they left in a car.”

  “That’s why Mercedes couldn’t reach Scott.”

  “Look Stephen, I know Scott was trying to help you find out who was blackmailing you, but now we know and it has gotten a lot more serious. This was a courtesy call to tell you some of what you might hear.”

  “Thanks for the call Mike. I hope Scott is going to be okay.”

  “You know Stephen, if Melanie tried to kill Scott twice, and did some other horrible things while he was in captivity, her twin might just pick up where she left off. You better pray for his safety. Do you have any idea where she or Chris might go?”

  He heard a click. “Did you hang up the phone in the bedroom?”

  “Shit,” Stephen answered.

  He heard the dial tone next.

  Chapter 72

  He slowed the car down realizing Alexis was right about drawing attention. It was hard to believe what Alexis did to the doctor. Not the part about torturing him and then making love to him. It was cutting his manhood off and then slitting his throat. All while she knew he was watching her and while she knew there were others outside the window.

  He stole a glance at Alexis who was sitting back in the passenger seat. She seemed to be in a trance and very quiet. She was staring at the straight razor blade which he noticed was still covered in blood. He looked back at the road and then saw something out of the corner of his eye. It couldn’t have been what he saw. He confirmed what he saw—she actually licked the blade.

  “What?” Alexis asked.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Why…because I wanted to taste his blood?”

  “Yeah. Don’t you feel bad about what you just did?”

  “Should I? He treated me like a slave for years. It was a good thing I enjoyed what he was doing, but that doesn’t forgive him for how he took advantage of me. Speaking of what I did…you didn’t take pictures did you?”

  He didn’t like where this was going. “No, you did everything so fast I never had a chance.”

  “Are you sorry about what I did to the doctor?” He didn’t respond. “Be thankful it wasn’t you.” He saw her turn to look in the backseat. When she turned back around she turned the razor over and licked the other side.

  He thought about how casually she took killing the doctor. He wasn’t a stranger to her at all, but she doesn’t seem to be regretting what she did. He remembered being tied up and it could have been him that she parted. He was glad they had company who she might focus her attention on. He remembered she wants to go to her father’s house. That doesn’t sound good, but the good news is that she needs him to drive her there. He had planned to kill her parents at some point. Maybe she was going to do it for him. That would leave her other sister Mercedes…what about her?

  *.*.*

  He pulled into the Burlington mall covered parking area. He noticed a few cars parked on the third level and backed his up against the wall.

  “Nicely done Chris. This is just what you were looking for.”

  “There’s a hotel right next door. We just need to get Scott into a room without attracting attention. It is early in the morning and checkout time is in just a few hours.”

  “Just tell them you’re from out of state and staying more than one night. You need to check in, you know I can’t.”

  “Are you going to be okay alone with him?”

  “You have got to be kidding. I have a razor that is still very sharp despite its recent use, and I have his gun. He wouldn’t dare try anything…would you Scott?”

  There wasn’t any response.

  “Cat got your tongue?”

  Still no response.

  “That gives me an interesting idea. I wonder what he values more, his tongue or his…”

  “Should I go now?” Chris asked.

  “Yes, and Chris…relax a little. You look like you were the one who would be using the ladies room today.”

  “What name should I give them?”

  “If you were with a girlfriend, or somebody’s wife, what name would you use? Oh, and Chris…we need two double beds, one for our guest. In your travels see if you can
find something to tie him up with.”

  “At least he doesn’t have a door to get out since this is a two door.”

  “That gives me another idea.” He watched her climb over the seat still with the razor blade exposed. “We’ll be getting acquainted while you’re gone. There are some things I’m curious about.”

  He looked in the rear view mirror. She was seated way over on his side of the car, and Scott was still lying down on the seat. He could feel a tinge of jealousy.

  “Well, the quicker you get us a room, the quicker we can get settled in. Hi Scott, we haven’t been properly introduced yet, I’m Alexis. You’ve seen me before, but I had a different name. Aren’t you going to welcome me back? Didn’t you miss my attention, or was Mercedes satisfying all your needs?”

  “Alexis, don’t kill him in my car.”

  “Tsk tsk tsk, giving orders again are we? Scott won’t be much use to me dead. You can leave now. I have some research to do.”

  The light came on in the car as he opened the door. He heard her ask, “So when you were watching the good doctor and me, what part did you like most?”

  There was no answer.

  “Cat still got your tongue, huh? Fine, stick out your tongue.”

  He was still standing by the car and saw her hit him in the groin, fortunately with the hand without the razor. He heard Scott yell.

  “Okay Chris, the shows postponed for you. You were going to get us a room.” He watched her turn back to Scott. “Now stick out your tongue.”

  He walked away from the car, but wondered even more what she was capable of. He could also feel some jealousy forming, but knew he shouldn’t show it to her.

  Chapter 73

  He wasn’t feeling any pain now, since he was on some heavy duty pain killers. His injuries could have been much more serious. He knows they were rescued relatively soon after their abduction, but he still wondered what Mercedes had suffered. If he asked she probably wouldn’t tell him. He still felt bad about not protecting her like he planned.

  “Feeling some better now Ralph?” Mercedes asked as she came over to his side.

  “Yeah, I could use a handful of whatever they gave me for some future time,” he replied.

  “Ralph, I’m so sorry they beat you so badly.”

  “It could have been much worse. I’ll be okay. I’m sure you did your part to limit my injuries.”

  “Actually it was getting to that point.”

  “Mercy, are you okay?”

  “I’m okay. We were both lucky we were rescued when we were. We still do not have any idea who called the military and told them where we were. There’s an angel out there and I could give him a big hug.”

  “Speaking of hugs…I’m sorry I didn’t protect you like I planned.”

  “Ralph, you did as much as you could. You weren’t even armed. Fortunately, they didn’t kill you.”

  “No they wanted me there so they could get you to give your body up. I need to ask you this.” He tried to think of the best way to ask it. “You seem to be in good spirits considering what we went through…did any of them take advantage of you?”

  “If you mean did they rape me? No they didn’t. Captain Chavez was the only one who came near me, and fortunately I kept him talking long enough to avoid any real issues.”

  “Then he did do something to you.”

  “Ralph, all he did was put his hands on my body. I suffered worse than that when I was kidnapped the first time.”

  “I’m very sorry.”

  “Please don’t give it another thought. I’m okay and I learned some information that will help us find the people we were looking for. Other than Paula Scott, the people who went missing in Bermuda are all alive, but there are more than sixty other people, many from the US and the balance from Europe, who still have not been found.”

  “Mercy, I know I apologized for what I did to your apartment. It was childish of me and you didn’t deserve that treatment. I hope I haven’t caused a problem with Scott.”

  “Thanks for telling me you’re sorry. I know you like me and I think we can be friends. Scott at the moment is in some hot water of his own.”

  “Why, what has he done?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ve tried to reach him, but he isn’t at his apartment or mine. There’s a slight chance my earlier words might have sent him to someone else.”

  “He would be a fool.”

  “Thanks. He told me he had some bad news and some bad news. I asked him what the first bad news was and he said he went to see an exotic dancer do her stuff.”

  “Well he told you.”

  “Yes that is Scott. He doesn’t lie. However, he wouldn’t tell me what the other bad news was. I hung up on him and haven’t talked to him since.”

  He saw her tears forming. He put his arms out and she bent over. He could smell a hint of Gardenia. It hurt to hug her but they both needed it. He realized how lucky they both were, but Scott was luckier than he was.

  “Ralph, that was nice of you. I needed a hug. I’m going to share something with you and it has nothing to do with you.”

  He saw her tears running down her cheeks and realized she wasn’t as tough as she seemed. He tried to wipe them, but the IV prevented him from reaching her cheek. “Once again I seem to be just a little too far away.”

  She wiped the tears. “Ralph, when I get back to the states, I’m giving my notice. I’ve had two close calls and there are more important things to do with my life. I can’t take the chance the next time I won’t be this lucky.”

  “I’m going to miss working with you partner. For all the dumb things I’ve done, I’m sorry.”

  “You’re a good agent and will do even better without my distraction.”

  “Yes, but you were such a nice distraction.”

  She bent down and surprised the hell out of him kissing his lips briefly but with some obvious feeling. He could feel his own emotions and his eyes started to water.

  “Hello you two,” Max said as he entered the treatment room. “Is everything okay here?” Max looked at Mercedes for an answer.

  “Everything is just fine here and couldn’t be better,” Mercedes said as she kissed him again, but this time on the forehead. She left the room without saying anything else.

  “Ralph, she looked like she was crying. Are you sure everything is okay?”

  “We both patched some things up. I’ll be fine and she will be even better.”

  “I’ve found out who we have to thank for both of your rescues. Richard Damelio’s brother Robert is here and is working with a former military person. Robert got a call from the states that alerted them that you and Mercedes were abducted. They got to the right people in the military to make a timely rescue.

  “I guess we all have our angels when we need them most.”

  “Should I be worried about you and Mercedes working together?”

  “No, that won’t be a problem at all.”

  “Good. I arranged for you to return to the states in two days. Do you think you are going to be ready to travel by then?”

  “Thanks Max. Sounds good to me, and I’ll miss these pain killers, but I will be ready.”

  Chapter 74

  She left Ralph’s room and went to the ladies room. Several things surprised her. The first was that she told him she was giving her notice. She had only thought about that, but while she was with Ralph she solidified her decision.

  Her two close calls were weighing heavily on her and she was very lucky she wasn’t more seriously damaged by either of those two abductions.

  The other surprise was that she felt very close to Ralph. Not as a lover, but as a friend. She was glad he was alive, and she was glad he made her feel like she had value. He obviously has deep feelings for her, and she was sorry she couldn’t reciprocate his feelings. They would be friends for sure after she leaves the FBI.

  She was surprised she was crying back there and now. She rarely does that, but for some reason all the emotions were
too much to handle. They had both been rescued. He from being more seriously hurt, and her from being raped and having to live with those scars for the rest of her life. Her beauty was an asset in many ways, but she realized it was a definite liability when dealing with the scum of the earth.

  She was also concerned about Scott and sorry they had words. She was wrong hanging up on him and should have been more tolerant. Not being able to reach him and talk to him, along with not knowing if he was okay, was also a major concern. If he had actually spent some time with Maggie, she was going to forgive him. He must have needed her. That was her fault, not his.

  All her adult life she had worked to become an FBI profiler. She had managed to reach that, but it wasn’t what she really needed. She wanted Scott and she wanted a family. Having children would be risky if she were still with the force. It wouldn’t be fair to them if something were to happen to her. It obviously could have already happened. Her angel saved her and this was a wake up call.

  She asked Scott not to do any more investigations, but realized she was asking him to give up something she should be giving up. They both need to do something less risky and more conducive for family life. They had skills and would be able to use them.

  She looked at her image in the mirror and noticed how white her face looked. She looked sickly and suddenly felt her stomach turning and an awful taste in her mouth. She made it to the toilet just in time. Maybe she should have eaten something. She felt the same thing and leaned over the toilet once again.

  She was trying to concentrate on getting her stomach to relax, but thought of Scott’s scar. He was so lucky to be alive. Her sister could have killed him twice. Then she thought of what she had forced him to do. He has never really told her what she made him do, but can imagine what her sister had made all the men do. Since she was keeping them for that purpose, why would she think that her sister wasn’t successful?

  She then thought of Ralph being tortured and the pain Scott must have endured when Melanie cut the arrow into his abdomen. She felt her stomach turning again, but this time it was just bile coming up.