Deadly Seduction Read Online Free Page A

the file he’d brought in. Part of it split open and spilled onto the floor. Not missing a beat, he quickly snatched it up and grabbed a stack of eight-by-ten photos. Riffling through them, he pulled out several aerial shots and a topo map of Thailand then shoved the rest aside.
    Travis laid the photos out on the table. “This is where your father’s village is. And the prison was here. Correct?”
    Luc moved closer and frowned. “How old are these satellite shots?”
    “December of last year,” Travis said.
    Luc pointed to a spot several inches from where Travis had. “Actually the prison was here.” He moved his hand again. “And my parents and uncle lived here. Did I pass your test?”
    “For now. Did your uncle work at the prison, too?” Travis asked.
    “No. But he and my father had no secrets.” Luc’s nostrils flared. “My father gave my uncle the chit and all his notes and sent him ahead. He was supposed to meet my parents later in Bangkok. When my father didn’t show up, my uncle returned to their village and saw the damage. He’s been hiding ever since.”
    “I want to speak directly with your uncle,” Travis said. “In addition to seeing all your father’s papers.”
    Luc nodded. “You do understand those are two separate negotiating points? That means two retainers.”
    Rocco couldn’t believe the kid’s gall. He was also tired of being ignored. “It sounds like we can get everything we need from your uncle.”
    “Perhaps. But try finding my uncle without my help.”
    “It’s premature to talk money,” Travis interrupted. “Until we’ve established you, or your uncle, have something significant. Something I want.”
    “And how do we do that—quickly?”
    “Do your father’s papers mention the others who were held at the prison?” Travis asked.
    Rocco held his breath, silently willing Luc to say yes . Two prisoners . Max. Harry.
    Luc paused, squinting. “As far as other prisoners, my father’s notes say nothing. However…” He waited until both Travis and Rocco looked at him before going on. “I know where the new prison is. But that will cost even more zeroes. Immediate zeroes.”
    New prison? Rocco bent forward and slapped his open palms on the table in front of Luc. “Where is it?”
    Clearly unwilling to give up anything for free, Luc held his ground, going mute again.
    “Your rush for fast money destroys your credibility,” Rocco snapped. “Afraid Mongkut’s men will get you? Believe me, we have the same concern—that they’ll slit your throat before our deal is complete.”
    “My rush is my business. And you are not the only potential buyer.” Luc tilted his head toward the jumbled mess of photos that Travis had shoved aside. “I bet I could find plenty of others who would pay for information on him. People who hate Westerners.”
    Rocco looked at the topmost visible photo. A group shot, the file folder covered all of the men pictured except one: Dante.
    Biting back disappointment, Rocco rapped the photo with his knuckle. “Him? He’s safe and sound. Game over.”
    “No.” Slanting Rocco a you idiot look, Luc tugged the photo completely out into full view. “I mean him.”
    The man Luc pointed to was Max Duncan.
    Rocco shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet. “So help me God, if you’re screwing with us—”
    Travis held up his hand. The eternal referee. “Trust me, Luc, if that man is alive, it’s worth a lot of zeroes.” Tugging out his phone, he used the push-to-talk. “Bring it in.”
    Moments later, the door opened. Grimes came in and set a briefcase on the table, then exited. Travis spun the locks, opening the case before swinging it around for Luc to see.
    Rocco knew there was fifty grand, U.S., inside. More than enough to pay off both loan sharks. To this kid, fifty grand probably felt like a million.
    In Rocco’s mind it was nothing. Hell, he knew Travis would gladly fork over ten times that amount if it got definitive answers on