Page 66 of Lure

“Maybe,” Bones said over his shoulder as he added more details to the wall. “You said he offered you a million dollars to join him before you went to see your sister?”

“Yeah, he did things like that. The yachting—well it’s not something I really enjoy but I can’t imagine any of them kidnapping women, locking them up, or raping them the way they were.” A shudder went through me and Voodoo settled a hand on my shoulder. I leaned into the contact. “I’ve met Maurizio several times—I know that he can make things happen for people. Models and actors, he can introduce you to people who can make things happen.”

I swallowed around a sudden lump in my throat. Even if I hadn’t wanted to go yachting then and I didn’t care how muchhe offered, that was a long leap to get to get to him being tied up with the traffickers.

“Why would anyone who keeps upping their offer and goes as high as a million dollars just take ‘no’ for an answer?” Bones raised his brows and there was a blunt challenge in his words.

“Eleanor—” Pain spasmed at the mention of her. I forced myself to push past it. “She got him to agree to stipulations in the contract—no sex, no demands for nudity. That was when he was offering a quarter of a million.”

Doubt reflected in Alphabet’s expression when he looked over his shoulder. Voodoo’s downturned lips didn’t offer a much better assessment.

“I guess that does sound shaky.” I hated admitting that. “Eleanor would never have made any kind of agreement if it involved that kind of danger.”

“Perhaps.” Bones didn’t sound like he believed that. Not really. “How would she enforce such an agreement once you were there? What recourses would you have after boarding his yacht? What about him? Does he have staff? Security?”

“I hate this.” I folded my arms. “I’ve gone to parties before, parties hosted by clients and other wealthy men. Some women too. I’ve been hit on more than once, and while I’m never going to judge someone who traded sex to get a leg up in the industry, that’snotme. If it came down to fucking someone to get a modeling gig, I’d pass.”

“Unless you weren’t given a choice,” Lunchbox said as he returned to the room. “I put a lasagna in the oven. Garlic bread will be ready later.”

“Good, hopefully we all have an appetite after this. Can you give us some more names?” Voodoo asked and I tilted my head back to meet his gaze. “Other offers you may have had? Someone who was pushier? Have you ever met with a client or a company that wanted to hire you during contract negotiations?”

“Do models audition?” Alphabet frowned.

“Yes, we do. I still do now, though nowhere near as often. But when I was starting out, I had to do a lot of auditions. They need to know if you can walk a runway or how you stand. How comfortable are you in front of the camera. That means sometimes you have a portfolio, it would include a number of different shots. Art directors and casting agents need to know.”

“But you haven’t had to since you established yourself?” Bones asked. “Or was it onlyrarethat you would have to.”

“A little of column A and a little of column B. Eleanor made them pay me for auditions, particularly if I had to fly somewhere to meet them.” She could be every bit the hardass as Bones. They probably would have hated each other. For some reason that thought made me smile. “I have an extensive portfolio and number of returning clients that I’ve worked with over the years. Most contract negotiations just went through Eleanor. When she liked the deal, she would come to me about it.”

“So you always signed off on every deal?” Lunchbox dropped onto one of the other chairs near the whiteboard.

“Eleanor always knows…” I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment as Voodoo gave my shoulder another gentle squeeze. “She knew what kind of jobs I would take and what kinds I wouldn’t. When I was just getting started, I rarely said no unless she advised me against it. You need work to build a reputation and to command a fee. So, I had a list of hard lines I wouldn’t cross. I didn’t mind posing nude, but I wouldn’t do the overly sexual. It had to be more artistic. That kind of thing. There were some photographers I didn’t like after I worked with them and others who had shady reputations. She avoided those. Eventually, we had a great rhythm between us and I trusted her judgment. The longer I’ve been at this, the more I liked to control my schedule—especially if I had already let her know I wouldn’t be available.”

“So, we leave Gallo on here and dig down.” Bones nodded once. “Give us the other names.”

It took me time to remember them all. They had questions about all of them. Not always the same questions. About music maven Lucinda Cross, they wanted to know, “Did she ever hit on you? Or was she only using you as entertainment for her guests?”

“I was there to pretty up the place.” Not an answer any of them seemed to care for. She stayed on the list.

“John Aldridge,” Alphabet said as he pulled him up. The man was seventy years old, married happily for fifty of those years and his wife was wonderful. “What about him? What did he want you to do?”

“Marry his youngest son, I think.” I made a face cause that jerked all of their attention around. “He was really shy and very much not interested in his dad’s business. He liked gaming. So when he had to do these formal events, he never took dates. I think they were worried he might be gay. I know that Teddy—Mrs. Aldridge, asked me about a few male models that I would recommend inviting so they could find out.”

Bones stared at me. “They wanted their youngest son to date and get married so they put out hundreds of thousands to invite you to parties?”

Considering all our conversation so far, I could see why he thought that. “It wasn’t hundreds of thousands. But, yes. Their oldest son and daughter were both in happy relationships and popping out grandkids. Robbie is my age and he’s sweet. But he couldn’t care less about having kids or getting hitched. I think he wanted to design games or be a tester or something. Not anything to do with his father’s luxury goods business.”

“The old man never hit on you?” Voodoo verified.

“No.” I made a face. “I will say that Robbie taught me to play Mass Effect and I got pretty good at it. We had ‘dates’ when Iwas in town just to get his parents to leave him alone, and before you ask, no he isn’t gay and no we didn’t actually go out. We just played online. He might be a little socially awkward and his family is a little over the top, but they aren’t shady.”

I just couldn’t see it.

“Put them on the maybe list.” Bones shook his head. “Next name?”

It was like pulling teeth and by the time Lunchbox returned with lasagna, I was actually ready to eat some pasta just for the comfort.

Morgan Whittingham. Oil, Gas, and Mineral Rights Company, CEO. He was a little handsy and I only ever went to one party as a favor to a friend. He stayed on the list.

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