Page 48 of The Enforcer

“Actually, that makes some sense,” said Seth. “I’ve been tracking Janine Webster Rennault. There’s some mental instability and some question as to how her parents died.”

“But why?” asked Alicia.

“Money,” said Brock and Seth in unison.

“There’s also some real irregularities and instability in her finances. It takes a lot of money to keep up appearances in a town like Stilton.”

“Well done, baby girl,” said Brock.

She knew there were some who wouldn’t like it if he called her that and wouldn’t like the way it made her feel, but Alicia didn’t care. All Alicia knew was he made her feel safe and happy to be alive, and she was pretty sure he felt the same way.

They parked in the back of the building and waited until one of the employees came out the back door. They managed to slip into the archived records and started searching.

“I think I found it,” said Brock. “There’s a bunch of other stuff, and frankly this looks like some guy’s cold case file. There is another dead Mrs. Rennault. You were right; this isn’t the first time they’ve done this.”

They jotted down the information and left the records office undetected. They gave the information they found to Seth and went to make a sandwich. They returned to the office in the house where Seth had set up shop.

“Joanna Reynolds was married, or at least everyone thought she was, to Ewan Webster. Apparently, he was using his first wife’s maiden name. I think Brock is right; this is somebody’s cold case. The minute I started to tap into some of the info, I had someone chasing me down. Well, chasing cybernetically, anyways. I set up an electronic trap and got a message to the person. She’s willing to meet with us tonight.”

“Does she know who we are or why we’ve contacted her?” asked Brock.

Seth nodded. “I told her we were Cerberus. I don’t think she would have agreed to meet with us if it hadn’t been for that and for recognizing Alicia.”

“Did she know what was happening when it was happening?”

“I don’t think so. I think she knew the other victim. Curiously, she knows Alicia as Sonata Royale. It wasn’t until she saw Alicia that she agreed to meet with us.”

“She agreed to meet with the three of us when she was the only one?” asked Alicia.

“Yes. Actually, she agreed to meet with you on a memorial bench down on the beach. And before Brock tears my head off, Miley has already taken up a position where she’s got a perfect visual and sights on the bench. Damon is hidden up in the headland where he can’t be seen, but he can see everything. Brock is to go with you but stay back. She only wants to talk to Alicia, but understands that if the big guy can’t keep her safe, we won’t risk her.”

“I don’t like it,” growled Brock.

“I’ll be safe, Brock. I promise. Miley will have my back, as will you and Damon.”

Brock turned to Seth. “What are you going to be doing?”

“Earlier today, she sent me a boobytrapped encoded file. If we try to download or decipher it without the key, it’ll self-destruct. If she likes what Alicia has to say, she’ll send a short burst transition with the key code.” He looked at Brock. “Your call.”

“Don’t I have anything to say about it?” asked Alicia.

“No,” said Brock and Seth in unison.

“Do you two practice that? You may not like it,” explained Seth, “but where Doms and the safety of their subs are concerned, Doms have veto power. If you want to see Miley go nuclear, ask her about it sometime.”

* * *

In the late afternoon sun, Brock accompanied Alicia down to a deserted beach. It was nothing but open coastline as far as the eye could see. Both Miley and Damon were in place and Brock stopped about two hundred yards back. Alicia approached the woman by herself—Alicia may have appeared to be alone, but she was anything but that.

She came around the front of the bench. “I’m Alicia.”

“No, you’re Sonata Royale. I saw you at the Majestic. Your routine was by far the best.”

“Do I know you?” The woman’s face was vaguely familiar, as was her angular frame.

“From a thousand years ago.”

“Rosemary?” Alicia said, recognition kicking in. “Rosemary Reynolds?”

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