Miss Minnie and the Brass Pluggit (10 page)

Pierce stared at Felicia, looking as stunned as Minnie felt. He was the first to recover his voice. “You’re talking white slavery.”

She nodded. “It’s a possibility.”

“God.” Minnie blinked.

“Think about it,” said Felicia. “Whoever has the money makes it known he wants…let’s say half a dozen girls over the space of a month or so. Not impossible and probably not noticed if they arrive singly or in pairs. They’re ferried out to a ship and taken somewhere that is happy to accept white prostitutes in trade. In their turn, they send something somewhere else, and somewhere else is sending something back here to England.”

“Drugs?” Dusk asked the question in a quiet voice. “It’s no secret there’s a growing market for opium. Hashish from the Middle East maybe. Or coca leaves. There’s a lot of work going on in Europe on that substance, I believe.”

“Could be.” Felicia nodded approvingly. “I must add that I’m finding this conversation exceedingly stimulating. Frightening, but stimulating. I’d forgotten how thrilling it could be to talk to people who use all their brains instead of just a tiny part.” She laughed and the tension eased.

Which, thought Minnie, had been exactly her purpose. They were talking of things that could easily manifest as nightmares. A little humor was a very good thing and Felicia knew just how and when to stir it into the mix.

“I’m inclined to accept Felicia’s theory.” Pierce stroked his chin idly, losing himself in his thoughts for a minute or two. “If we take it further, there are a few things which will help us confirm her notions.” He held up his fingers. “First, we need to see if we can dig up anything about women coming into Cowes over the past couple of weeks. That’s a long shot, but you never know.”

Minnie nodded but said nothing.

“Secondly, find out what—if anything—links the earlier cases to ours.” He folded down the second finger. “And third, we need to find out all we can about the Godolphin aerodrome project.”

“Why?” The question popped from Minnie’s mouth before she even realized she’d spoken.

He turned to her and waggled his eyebrows. “Because, dear Minnie,
my
piece of news is this.” He tapped a paper. “I learned from my contacts this morning that the ship we saw a few nights ago, anchored off the coast…” He paused dramatically. “It’s chartered by Godolphin Industries. Supposedly carrying equipment for the new aerodrome. And its point of embarkation is Rotterdam.”

“Hmm.” She thought about that.

“It’s a rather thin association but how about this.” Felicia straightened in her chair. “White women, from our shores.” She, in turn, ticked off a finger for each point. “Destination…let’s say Egypt. Cairo perhaps, since it’s large enough to handle a lot of trade. And white women probably command a healthy price there, since it’s at the crossroads of the Middle East.” Another finger folded down. “From Cairo to Rotterdam. The cargo? Could be diamonds, could be gold. Could even be hashish or coca leaves. Egypt has little control over its trading practices at the moment.” The last finger went down. “And finally, from Rotterdam back here. To the Godolphin project. Machinery? Chemicals? I don’t know. But at no time has money changed hands in regard to those women who vanish. So nobody gets dirty or breaks the law by doing anything that could be construed as slave trading.”

Pierce shook his head then stood, reaching into Felicia’s lap, grabbing her hand and kissing it. “Good God, Felicia. That’s a damned fine construction of a devious and frighteningly efficient scheme.”

“Thank you. I think.” Felicia grinned. “Helps to have a devious mind, I suppose.”

Minnie chuckled at the disgruntled expression on Dusk’s face as he watched Pierce and Felicia. His mask only hid half of it. He needed to learn to control the emotions on the other half.

“So we’re agreed this is a workable assumption? It gives us a place to start, anyway.” She looked around to see nods greeting her words.

“Do we need the authorities in on this?” Felicia sounded hesitant. “We’re not trained constables or skilled in this sort of thing. We have no official license to pursue these inquiries.”

“If not us, then who will?” Pierce looked at them all. “We’re here, Johnnies-on-the-spot, whether we like it or not. I don’t intend for any of us to break any laws. If we can simply gather enough information to present to the authorities, I’ll feel quite content. As you say, we’re not professional crime solvers.”

Dusk raised the one eyebrow Minnie could see and stared at Pierce. “Be that as it may, we’re giving a rather good impression of it.”

Felicia chuckled. “Perhaps we should consider a new career choice. The Brass Pluggit Bobbies.”

Minnie’s snort echoed the general laughter. “Nice idea, Felicia. But I think the name needs work.”

Chapter Six

Pierce found himself with a lot on his mind for the rest of that day.

It wasn’t only the framework that Felicia had proposed, intricate and viable though it was. The more he considered it, the more likely it became—at least it accounted for the poor young women who’d met their demise. But then again, there were probably a dozen other scenarios that could be put forward.

It was frustrating to say the least. Every now and again the image of the latest victim’s face would swim across his consciousness. The feel of her cold limp hair as he moved it from around her neck…his skin crawled at the memories and his anger rose once more at whoever had snuffed out a life.

Something, some hunch or intuition or sixth sense—whatever he cared to call it—niggled at the back of his head. It told him that they were on the right track. That the loose ends could indeed be woven into a cloth that might not be whole, but at least be something deserving the word clue.

Because right at this moment, clues were damn few and far between. He’d remembered the shipping tables, and after dinner they’d looked them over. Godolphin did indeed have an interest in the one Pierce and Minnie had seen anchored off shore. It was right there on the schedule. The Ahira, port of origin listed as Rotterdam. Her cargo was apparently heavy equipment, her departure date scheduled for next week.

Sadly, the records only covered the previous two weeks and four weeks ahead. London probably had copies going back to the Vikings, but Yarmouth didn’t. So there was no way to make any connection earlier than two weeks before. Not much help there.

And yet the ships and the ocean were the two common threads that clearly asserted themselves. Dead bodies washed up on the shores, obviously not accidental deaths. They could only have come from the sea. Thus—they must have been on ships.

He sighed and pushed away from his desk, aware that he’d lost himself too long in this puzzle. He needed to relax. A glance at the clock on the wall, however, and relaxation was suddenly the furthest thing from his mind.

Minnie. Tonight.

Together.

He’d done his best to push the possibilities aside. His sexual activities, important though they were to him, were nothing as compared to multiple murders. So he’d compartmentalized his priorities and worked through the day.

But now that compartment with Minnie’s name on it was starting to weaken. The door was bowing and his need clawing hungrily to be let out. It was full dark, lit only by the rhythmic sweep of the light above him.

His rooms were directly below the light itself, so some over-splash was inevitable. But Pierce had never found it intrusive or disturbing. It was more comforting than anything else. He was tucked safely up beneath a device that protected mariners.

Not a bad way to spend the night. Although there were better.

And with any luck, one of those was about to come to pass.

He decided on a shower, rushed through it, slipped into his dressing gown and proceeded to pace. Everyone had retired for the night, and he found himself wondering if Minnie had remembered their conversation. It was quiet. So quiet.

Had it ever been quite this quiet before? Pierce wasn’t sure. The windows in his suite were not as plentiful as the floor below, but he still had several large ones looking seaward. The coastline was attractive, but there was nothing quite like the ocean at night and it was his view of choice.

The water was, like the interior of the Brass Pluggit, quiet. There were clouds building—they’d been gathering during the day but now they promised they meant business. The light swept rhythmically across the sea, illuminating a surface barely rippling until a fair distance out toward the dark horizon.

It was one of those moments when Pierce knew a storm was brewing somewhere. And a tiny flash of light way off over the ocean confirmed his assumption. It glittered from the enormous brass bed that dominated the room.

Then it twinkled over the handles of the dark mahogany bureau, the matching Piers glass and a small desk. It dusted the richly hued oriental carpet, illuminating the colors for a heartbeat.

When it was gone, the room darkened once more. Pierce hadn’t lit lamps. He wasn’t quite sure why, but he felt the darkness would be more comfortable for this first time between them. Perhaps he was catering to a masculine notion about women, sex and modesty.

He thought of Minnie and shook his head. No, she wouldn’t be modest.

He was most likely worried she’d find him lacking or unappealing. Perhaps he’d fail to measure up to her previous lovers. Or, God forbid, Roger Lutterson.

Once again he shook his head. He’d seen Roger Lutterson naked in school. The colorful expression “needle dick” had fit. Whether he’d grown or not, Pierce neither knew nor cared. And he had no business worrying about Roger Lutterson’s sexual equipment—he should be focusing on how he could best use his own to make this night memorable for Minnie.

He opened one window a little, wanting to hear the soft shush of the sea as it kissed the land. Tonight it was indeed a soft kiss, a barely discernable whisper. If the storm blew in to their portion of the coast, that whisper could well become a brutal smash of water against cliff. But for now, it was a sensual caress and befitting the events ahead.

Half-hard at the thought of Minnie here, in his bed, Pierce wondered if he was just another in a string of lovers for her. Would he suffer the same fate? Set aside with polite smiles and empty promises?

Would their intimacy strengthen what he felt was a growing attraction, or would it mark the end?

So many questions, and only one woman could answer them.

He sucked in a deep lungful of the salt-flavored night air, expelling it in a whoosh as another flash of lightning flickered in the distance. The breeze had changed. There was an edge to it now, a warning that no matter how soft it was at this moment, it wouldn’t stay that way. The storm was coming, heading for the coast and the Brass Pluggit.

He welcomed it. He felt as turbulent as the skies, his gut churning, his cock beginning to throb in anticipation. It only needed one thing—his own personal thunderstorm.

And the soft tap on his door told him she’d arrived.

Minnie swallowed nervously as she lifted her hand in another attempt to tap on the door. It was the third time she’d tried.

Why she was having this difficulty, she had no clue, but after the second try, when her knuckles refused to go within an inch of the wood, she nearly turned tail and ran back downstairs to the sanctuary of her room.

She knew Pierce wouldn’t follow. He wasn’t that sort of man. If she came to him, he’d take her presence for what it was—a gift. One he’d appreciate most thoroughly.

It was the thought of that appreciation—and everything it might entail—that finally gave her the courage to tap on the door.

It opened almost immediately.

“You came.”

To describe his voice as a reverent whisper might be an exaggeration, but Minnie felt it was close. And she let her nerves drop away. “Not yet. But I remain hopeful.” She lifted an eyebrow, barely able to make out his features in the darkness.

His soft laugh revealed white teeth and a quick flash of lightning lit the rest of his features, his green eyes fixed steadily on her face.

“Oh, a storm at sea?” She walked in as he stepped aside and closed the door behind her.

“Yes. Heading this way I believe. They’re not unusual at this time of year. Probably be over in a short time once it hits.”

“How thrilling.” She stood at the window watching the clouds, seeing the lightning increase in both frequency and intensity. “I like storms.”

He stood behind her, near enough that she could feel the heat of him through her thin robe. “So do I.” He reached around, hugged her briefly and then untied the knot securing the garment. “I like the electricity that darts through the air.”

A touch of his lips on the nape of her neck sent chills down her spine.

“And I like the sound of the wind and the rain.”

A distant rumble of thunder echoed and Minnie matched it with a low moan as Pierce’s hands stroked from her shoulders down over her arms and back again, a soft petting touch that melted her reserve completely. She leaned back against him, feeling the hardness of his desire pressing against her buttocks.

With a little smile, she wiggled.

“Jesus, woman.” He jerked and slipped both arms around her in a crushing hug. “You’re determined to drive me completely insane, aren’t you?”

“I do my best.” She giggled, loving the sensation of being part of a storm, both outside over the ocean and inside as well. The man behind her was a sensual storm just waiting to break.

She moved her arms, placing her hands over the back of his as they rested around her. Slowly she gripped them and moved them, placing a hand on each breast without hesitation. “I very much enjoy a man touching me here.”

His body tensed behind her. “How? How do you like to be touched? Show me…”

She obeyed, taking his hands and sliding them under the edges of her robe. He gasped as he realized she wore nothing else but her own soft skin. Then, with the lightest of pressures, she rotated his palms, a gentle movement that made her sigh and shiver against him.

The darts of pleasure hardened her nipples beneath the light caress. It was incredibly arousing and Minnie leaned her head back against Pierce as she willingly surrendered to the flickering flames of growing desire.

“Wait…” He stopped for a moment and she felt him shift, then his hands slipped her robe away from her body. When he stepped back she almost cried out. He was nude as well, naked and searingly hot, pressing the front of his body into the back of hers.

Returning to his play, he held her breasts, this time letting his thumbs stroke her nipples while he cupped them, lifting them and adding the gentle squeezing pressure of his fingers.

She moaned quietly, her eyes closing at the pleasure of his touch. His cock was rigid, crushed against her buttocks, easing itself into a comfortable spot between them. The pressure was an arousal in and of itself. She knew her body and its many sexually sensitive places. He’d found a few of them already.

“You’re getting wet for me.” He licked her shoulder. “Your scent. It’s all around us.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“I want you, Minnie. I want to do things to you, with you. Wonderful things, terrible things, pleasurable and forbidden things.”

Swaying a little as her hips moved involuntarily, she sighed. “What kinds of things?”

“You want me to tell you?”

“Yes. Paint me a picture with your words of what we shall do together. My body is already weeping for you. Make me crazy, Pierce.”

“All right.” He cupped her breasts and pinched her rigid nipples between his thumbs and his fingers. He pinched hard, making her gasp and moan louder.

“I’ll do
that
, for a start. Then I’ll suckle you until you beg me to stop. Or never to stop. I’ll suckle you until you come for me. Did you know women can come just by being suckled?” His fingers continued to torment her breasts and she didn’t doubt a word of what he was saying. “Then, after that first time, I’ll make you come again. Perhaps with my fingers. I’ll finger fuck you while I watch your face, while you smile and whimper and then cry out my name as you shake and clamp down on the fingers I’ve got inside your pussy.”

“Oh…” She pressed her bottom into his erection. “More. Tell me more.”

“After that, perhaps you’ll need a little time to recover. I’ll let you catch your breath. Then I want to watch you as you touch me, as you learn about me and my body. I want you to do whatever strikes your fancy as I lie beside you. I’d love it if you took my cock into your hands. And yes, into your mouth. I’d very much enjoy watching your lips and seeing them suck my cock.”

She felt that part of him twitch. Truly his words were doing as much to arouse him as they were arousing her. Much more of this and the storm would break early.

“I might come in your mouth if you let me, Minnie. And then I’d make you come in mine. I’d find your special little pearl and tease it with my tongue. I’d lick it, kiss it, urge it outward, make it tremble as I sucked it softly—I know a woman is especially sensitive there. But by God, the feeling when you shatter, when every muscle contracts—it’s as amazing for the man whose tongue is deep inside as it is for the woman.”

“Christ, Pierce…” Liquid slicked Minnie’s thighs. “Jesus Christ.” She moved, an awkward twist, slipping her breasts from his grasp and turning in his arms to crush their bodies together. “Do it. Do it all.
Now
.”

Pierce stumbled, blinded by a quick flash of lightning. Or perhaps Minnie’s words had closed his eyes forever. He didn’t know, he was just trying to walk her backwards the few short feet to the bed. “What do you want?”

“You.” Her fingers gripped him and moved at his direction. “Anywhere. Everywhere.” She let herself fall, her legs connecting with the quilt.

“Be specific.” His hands stroked her as she lay there, illuminated more frequently by the nearing storm.

“I want you to suckle me.” She gasped and moaned when his hands ran over her breasts to her waist and hips and then down to the inside of her thighs. “I want you to fuck me with your hands and your tongue and your cock.”