Fragrance of Revenge

by Dick C. Waters

  I wish I hadn’t heard her say that. I recalled what I saw when I looked in the window, and my end, or worse, could be right around the corner.

  They were still engaged and not focused on me at the moment. I didn’t hear Chris’ answer, but hearing what they were doing now, if the answer was no, it was going to be yes for sure when they were done.

  I couldn’t believe I got myself into another life threatening situation. I remembered the naked dream I had when I woke up in Mercedes’ bed. That was the last time we were together. The visions of my last captivity came to mind. Melanie had me for an extended period of time and I had learned it was useless to delay the inevitable…she got what she wanted and why not avoid the pain associated with resisting.

  She almost killed me twice and now her sister was going to pick up where she left off. The fact she knows about Mercedes is not good for either of us. Now she’s going to her father’s house and without any doubt she’s planning on killing him, if not both of her parents. What if Mercedes happens to go there while they are there? Oh shit. All three of them might die. My only hope is to be there and maybe I can save her, and her parents.

  I heard the bathroom door close and then the water sound of the spray. I looked up and saw Alexis smiling and headed towards my bed.

  “Well now Mr. Tucker, you look all tuckered out. Did I overdue it before? Chris is good, but there is something about seeing you defenseless that excites me.” She came over to the foot of the bed and just stood there.

  I didn’t need her anywhere near my bed or my body. I saw her eyes move to the cord and wish I could have done something to distract her. She moved and sat on the bed next to my hip. Her hand moved and she picked up the cord.

  “After our shower Chris said he would do as I asked him to do. He is going to whip you with this live electric cord. That will give you two things to cause you pain, the cord itself and the ends of the cord if they touch you at the same time. I know I could keep him from doing that if you give me what I need.”

  I watched her dangle the cord over my body and closer and closer to my arrow scar.

  “There’s only so far you can push your body into the bed. At some point you’re going to have to let up. I should join Chris. He’s probably playing with himself by now.”

  “Do you?”

  I didn’t answer and cried out from the electricity entering my body. It stopped but I was breathing fast and could feel my heart beating a mile a minute.

  “That looked like it really hurt.” She put the cord against her body and jumped from the shock. “Shit. That does hurt like a bastard.”

  “I asked you a question…do you?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s my Scott. Honest Indian. I’m going to share this with you. I’m going to kill Chris at some point and if you are still alive and a man…you and I can really have some fun.” She put the cord down on my body, but it wasn’t close enough yet to shock me. “I have to tend to Chris’ needs, but I think he’s jealous of you. So, he might really want to hurt you, or even kill you. You have only me to save you…think of that.”

  She put her fingers to her mouth and then touched me between my legs. “I want you to miss me and to think about how you’re going to stay alive.”

  Chapter 79

  It was 9 o’clock back in Boston. She had just checked in at the airport and picked up her boarding pass. She would be home in less than ten hours and it couldn’t be fast enough. She was concerned about Scott since she just tried his apartment and hers and there was still no answer. She knew this wasn’t like him, and she feared the worst.

  She knew the process to make a collect call and this time she was calling her dad. He accepted the charges.

  “Hi Dad, it’s me.”

  “Mercedes I can’t tell you how great it is to hear your voice. Are you at the airport?”

  “Yes, I’m about to board the plane. Have you heard from Scott?”

  “Honey something bad has happened, but the authorities are involved.”

  “What? What has happened?”

  “Scott has been abducted.”

  “When did this happen and where was he…and what the hell was he doing?”

  “There are many things we need to talk about and this is not how I want to tell you about them.”

  “Jesus, Dad, my concern right now is Scott. You can tell me the other things later, but I want to know what has happened to him. This is like déjà vu and I’m not there this time to help.” She was attracting attention. “I need to get on the plane, but tell me what you know about his abduction.”

  “Mike Miller called me this morning very early. Scott and he were doing an investigation and they both witnessed someone being attacked and then killed. Mike said he went to help the person, but the attackers escaped and in the process took Scott.”

  “I’m going to kill him.”

  “Mercy I’m so sorry. You might want to kill me first.”

  “Oh Dad, don’t tell me he was involved in something for you. I think I knew this earlier when you wouldn’t elaborate why you knew how to reach Scott. Dad, I’m really worried about him. This is his third abduction and it might be his last. You said ‘attackers.’ Who the hell were they and why did they take Scott?”

  “This is too involved to go into on the phone.”

  “Jesus, Dad, that gives me something to consider on the plane. This is the man I want to marry and you’re not telling me what I need to know.

  “Okay, you’re right. Just give me a second to gather my thoughts.”

  “Dad the final boarding call has just been announced. Why can’t you just tell me? It can’t be that bad?”

  “It is Mercy…it really is. You have another sister. Worse, Melanie had a twin sister. She was one of the abductors and Mike said she is the one who killed their original captive.”

  “Oh my God, no! This can’t be happening again.” She beat the receiver against the payphone. This was just too much to hear especially after her rescue. She heard the dial tone and her name.

  ‘Would passenger Mercedes Strong please report to gate twelve for final boarding? Once again, would passenger Mercedes Strong please report to gate twelve immediately? The plane is about to depart from the gate.’

  “Ms. Strong?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is for you.”

  She opened the white paper and read the note.

  ‘Proceed immediately onto the plane.

  Do not talk to anyone. We have eyes everywhere.

  I have your associate, Ralph Reynolds.

  Enjoy your flight.

  I am looking forward to seeing you soon in Boston.

  You will be greeted when you arrive.

  Captain Chavez’

  It was a bad day and it just got worse. As she entered the gate she turned to see the man who gave her the note smiling at her.

  She had just a few hours to plan what she was going to do to make it a ‘heads-up’ kind of day.

  Chapter 80

  I heard them in the shower and this was my chance. I knew I couldn’t break the power cord, but I might be able to slip it off my wrist.

  This time there was nobody watching me and from the sounds in the bathroom it might be a few more minutes until they might check on me. I wrapped my fingers together into the tightest ball I could and pulled. The loop of the cord slipped up my hand just a little as it did before. I twisted my hand and pulled as hard as I could. The loop slipped a fraction of an inch more. I looked over to see how much progress I had made and it had just about an inch to go and it would be over my knuckles.

  I twisted and pulled again with all my might and the loop was almost there. I did it again and this time I tried to move my body. The pain was excruciating.

  I bit my tongue as the electricity coursed through my body. I shot my hips up almost as a reaction to the shock but it was enough to move the cord away from my skin. I looked down and the cord was still dangerously close to shocking my body again. I lift
ed my right knee slightly and the cord slid towards the wall. I lifted my left knee and saw the cord hang even closer to my body.

  I heard them laughing in the bathroom and wondered just how much time I had left. I realized I was either going to be shocked again, or the cord was going to slide to the wall some more. I jerked my right knee and the cord slid some more. With only a small amount of freedom to move it was like watching a snail move. The thoughts of being whipped with a live cord gave me some additional strength.

  I moved everything I could and did a slight bounce on the bed. I lifted both knees quickly and the cord slid off me down beside the bed. I pulled my left wrist again and withstood the pain of the cord. Repetitive twists and one final pull and I had freed my left wrist.

  I rolled my upper body to my right side and started to work on the knot Chris had tied. I realized I no longer heard the water running. I frantically pulled on the knot and tried to work it loose, but it was not in the right place to get leverage on it. I don’t know why I didn’t realize it before but with my left wrist out of the loop my right arm could pull the cord from under the bed.

  In two seconds, I was sitting up in bed with the length of the cord laying on me while I tried to undo one of the knots holding my ankles. I heard the bathroom door open and saw a blur out of the corner of my eye. It was Chris running naked at me and he was reaching for the revolver.

  “Alexis he’s trying to get loose.”

  I heard the loud crack and felt the pain on the side of my head and everything went dark.

  *.*.*

  I don’t know how long I was knocked out. My head hurt in two places and every beat of my heart made it sound like the ocean waves were washing over my head. I kept my eyes closed and heard the television. My mouth was very dry and I wanted to lick my lips, but didn’t dare. I didn’t feel cool like before, and I realized I had clothes on. There was a strong scent of Gardenia and I knew Alexis was close at hand.

  ‘…police are looking for the two suspects seen to be driving a 1963 gold Pontiac Tempest. They were last seen in the Chestnut Hill area of Boston. They are described as a male, Chris Sullivan, about six feet tall with blonde hair. The woman, Alexis Strong, is about five nine with long red hair. There is no description about what they were wearing. Police caution the public not to approach these individuals and to call your local police department should you spot them or their vehicle. They are armed and considered dangerous. Once again, these suspects are wanted in the death and mutilation of a Doctor Samuel Adler who was found murdered in his basement early this morning. We resume our regular broadcast.’

  “Well we’re famous now. I wonder why they didn’t mention Scott’s name.” I could feel her eyes on me. “I think our guest is awake and might have a serious headache.”

  If I wasn’t awake the slap to my groin would have woken me.

  “It’s nice to see those bright blue eyes of yours. Sorry you’re dressed Scott, but we need to be on the move. It was fun dressing you, but Chris wasn’t happy about what I did before I dressed you.” She looked down and I could see the blood stain on the left side of my pants. “It would have been more fun if you were awake and watching me. In case you’re wondering I duplicated the arrow design. Mercedes might enjoy the stereo road signs, but she’s not going to have that luxury.”

  I wasn’t tied up and they looked ready to leave the room.

  “The good news is you avoided the punishment we had planned for you, but the bad news is you will still have the joy of it later. Better said, we will. Chris is very upset with your attempted escape and if he doesn’t kill you, I might enjoy watching Mercedes squirm as I cut you piece by wonderful piece. I’ll even let Chris have my sister. I owe him some reward for his help.”

  “Chris she plans to kill you too,” I yelled.

  The straight razor appeared right between my eyes from some place. It was a good thing she stopped its movement before it sliced my nose off. “That’s right Scott, that’s your blood on the razor.” Her face distorted. “Lick the blood off.” She didn’t like my hesitation. “Do it, or I will slice your tongue instead…or, maybe you would like an amateur circumcision?”

  “Alexis we have to get out of here.”

  “Scott, I’m not going to ask you again.”

  I licked the razor and wondered if she was going to cut my tongue anyway. I tasted my own blood and there was a metallic taste to it. At least I was alive. She turned the razor over and I knew what she wanted and obliged.

  “Something you should know. Scott doesn’t lie. Behave yourself Chris, but be very careful.”

  Chapter 81

  “Mike, I wanted to give you an update on where we are in locating the people who took Scott,” Paul Brosque said.

  “Paul, thanks for calling. Any progress?”

  “None yet. We have an APB out for Sullivan’s Pontiac, but have not had any reports of any sightings. I think that’s strange and I feel they may have ditched the car, or parked it completely out of sight.”

  “You’re probably right on that score. One other thought is that they made it out of state by now.”

  “That’s a possibility, but I’m betting they got off the road pretty quickly. Mike do you have any idea why they abducted Scott?”

  “I have one thought on that. If Alexis knew about her twin and what she did and attempted to do…well, she might just pick up where her sister left off.”

  “We have a problem then. When we searched Doctor Adler’s house we found an extensive collection of material including news clippings on Melanie Strong’s two rampages, one in Boston and the other in Bermuda.”

  “Paul, I was afraid of something like this. What else can you tell me?”

  “Well the straight razor used to kill Adler was not found at his house and looks like they took it with them when they left. You already reported Scott had a revolver with him. We also found a file box of material on Alexis Strong which the doctor kept hidden. He kept a very detailed account of her progress, but it was obvious he was using her as a sex toy. The pictures he took were not meant to be seen by anyone.”

  “I think Scott might just have walked into a very unfortunate situation.”

  “Mike…we also located Ms. Strong’s diary. Although the doctor thought he was doing things while she was hypnotized, it was obvious by her notes that she was just playing along with him. That may have been the reason she mutilated him before she killed him.”

  “Do you anticipate they might go to either Scott’s apartment or Sullivan’s?”

  “I hardly think they would go to either location, or to Stephen Strong’s house or office building. However, we have all four under surveillance.”

  “Thanks Paul. I’m waiting here at the Brattle office for Paddy. When he arrives, we’re going to get involved in some manner. If something breaks, try us here. We’ll also be monitoring the primary channel for any developments.”

  “Mike, what’s the story on Mercedes?”

  “The last word I had was she was headed back on an earlier flight from Venezuela.”

  “Scott’s abduction by Melanie’s twin sister is going to devastate her.”

  “I think you’re right about Scott’s abduction, but I don’t think she knows anything about her sister’s twin yet. We’re going to pick Mercedes up at the airport and let her know what has happened.”

  “I’ll try my best to keep you informed of how things are progressing. If you don’t hear from me, call me. If you can’t reach me at the precinct, have dispatch reach me on the radio.”

  “Thanks again Paul.”

  Chapter 82

  She needed to stop worrying about Scott for a minute and take some positive action to ensure her own safety. The thoughts of being in Captain Chavez’s hands again, or even worse, in the hands of the men who abducted her the first time, made her stomach turn. She knew the next time she was abducted it would be her last time.

  She took a piece of paper and a pen from her leather satchel and wrote a note. />
  ‘My name is Mercedes Strong. I am an FBI agent.

  Before boarding the plane, I was given a note.

  My fellow agent Ralph Reynolds has been abducted in Venezuela. I was warned, I will be abducted myself when we land.

  I have been given instructions to contact nobody.

  Please call FBI headquarters in Boston to alert them.

  Do not say anything to me because they could be watching me on this plane.

  This is not a joke. My life could be in serious jeopardy.’

  She folded the paper and put it in her purse. She tried to assess the surrounding passengers to see if any might be watching her. There was only one man who was back three rows on the other side of the aircraft who looked like he was staring at her. Maybe I’m not as attractive as I thought I was.

  She got up and headed up to the wait station. A stewardess was preparing some coffee. She tapped her on the shoulder and opened her purse and handed her the note. She put her finger to her lips with her back blocking the gesture. She closed her purse, took a bag of peanuts and headed back to her seat.

  Her heart was beating rapidly as she took her seat. The man she spotted earlier was smiling at her, but she ignored him. Her mind was going a mile a minute. Scott and Ralph were abducted. It was hard to believe but she could smell Captain Chavez just like he was sitting beside her. She turned and the man was still looking in her direction, but got up and walked to the same stewardess.

  He came down the aisle a minute later and sat in the seat beside her. She tried to ignore him, but he tapped her on the arm. She looked at him and he handed her back her note.

  There was a commotion up front and she saw two other stewardesses running to the coffee area.

  “You were warned once. You will not be warned again. You caused one death already, don’t cause any more. Ralph didn’t send his best wishes, but unless you want his best parts sent to you…stay in your seat.”