Page 40 of Stranger Gifts

“They’re all young women about to become nuns.”

“Is that right?” he smiled. “How many do you have here?”

“Twenty-three right now. Sometimes we have more. Why do you ask that? Aren’t you here for me?” she asked with big sad eyes.

“Of course I am, sweetheart,” he said reaching through the bars, stroking her face. “Frances, our son was murdered.”

“I know,” she said nodding her head.

“How did you find out?” he frowned.

“A man, a very strange man came to tell me. He seemed to know everything even that I was his mother.”

“What did you tell him?” he growled gripping her wrist.

“I didn’t tell him anything! I swear,” she cried out. “He knew it all. He knew everything about us, me and you and our son.”

Killer stared at the woman, shaking his head. She was nothing really to look at. Plain, slightly plump, obviously no make-up and nothing done to her hair. He’d enjoyed her body but he never intended it to go any further than that.

“Where is she, Frances? Where did Sister Agatha go?” he asked.

“She doesn’t go by that any longer. She left the convent and the order like you wanted. She’s with some people somewhere else, but I don’t know where. I’ve tried calling her but she doesn’t return my calls.”

“I get it. I’ve been trying to find her and not having much luck.” Three more novices walked toward their rooms and Killer felt his dick stir. These women were perfect for what he needed to present to Ferdinand. More than what he’d promised, all virgins. Truly fresh meat.

“Where’s the Mother Superior?” he asked.

“She isn’t here. She had to visit another convent further north. She’ll be back in a few days.”

He looked behind her once again, then turned to ensure that no one was watching him. Taking her hand, he held it to his chest, then kissed the back of her fingers.

“I’ve missed you so much, Frances. We should have married,” he smiled.

“We should have,” she gasped nodding at him with tears in her eyes.

“I think we should run away. We should make a family of our own somewhere else.”

“I-I’m not sure I can have children any longer,” she said in a sad, child-like voice.

“We can always find children, baby. Do you trust me?”

She stared at him, for the first time unsure of how she should respond to that. Did she trust him? She thought she did but he’d always let her down.

“Frances?”

“Y-yes. I trust you.”

“Good girl. Because I’ve got a plan that’s going to make both of us very, very happy and quite possibly very rich.”

“Will I have to hurt anyone?” she asked.

“Baby, I would never ask you to hurt anyone. That’s what I’m for. Are you with me, Frances?”

“Yes. I’m with you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The following morning, Code and Sly were running around like crazy, gathering documents to give to the team. Ace stood at the end of the conference table frowning at them.

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