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Left to Loathe, page 1
L E F T
T O
L O A T H E
(An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book Fourteen)
B L A K E P I E R C E
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising twenty four books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising fifteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising four books; of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising nine books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the VALERIE LAW mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the PAIGE KING mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); and of the MAY MOORE mystery series, comprising three books (and counting).
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Copyright © 2022 by Blake Pierce. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright ASolo, used under license from Shutterstock.com.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
MAY MOORE MYSTERY SERIES
NEVER RUN (Book #1)
NEVER TELL (Book #2)
NEVER LIVE (Book #3)
PAIGE KING MYSTERY SERIES
THE GIRL HE PINED (Book #1)
THE GIRL HE CHOSE (Book #2)
THE GIRL HE TOOK (Book #3)
THE GIRL HE WISHED (Book #4)
THE GIRL HE CROWNED (Book #5)
THE GIRL HE WATCHED (Book #6)
VALERIE LAW MYSTERY SERIES
NO MERCY (Book #1)
NO PITY (Book #2)
NO FEAR (Book #3)
NO SLEEP (Book #4)
NO QUARTER (Book #5)
NO CHANCE (Book #6)
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
HER LAST FEAR (Book #4)
HER LAST CHOICE (Book #5)
HER LAST BREATH (Book #6)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
CITY OF GHOSTS (Book #4)
CITY OF DEATH (Book #5)
CITY OF VICE (Book #6)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
GIRL, FORSAKEN (Book #7)
GIRL, TRAPPED (Book #8)
GIRL, EXPENDABLE (Book #9)
GIRL, ESCAPED (Book #10)
GIRL, HIS (Book #11)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)
ALREADY DEAD (Book #5)
ALREADY TAKEN (Book #6)
ALREADY CHOSEN (Book #7)
ALREADY LOST (Book #8)
ALREADY HIS (Book #9)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
LEFT TO LOATHE (Book #14)
LEFT TO HARM (Book #15)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
THE PERFECT COUPLE (Book #20)
THE PERFECT MURDER (Book #21)
THE PERFECT HUSBAND (Book #22)
THE PERFECT SCANDAL (Book #23)
THE PERFECT MASK (Book #24)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTER
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
She called herself Silver and she called herself French, yet neither of these things was true. She adjusted her lingerie top, pulling at the underwire and settling one of the bows. A gaudy, over-the-top display, but the clients seemed to like it.
She combed a strand of blonde hair behind one ear, standing outside the door in the dingy, red-lit hall. The faint scent of cinnamon candles lingered on the air, and the carpet pressed softly beneath her feet. Other doors, in dark alcoves, lined the hall, sealed from prying eyes. She heard the faintest tinkle of piano music playing over unseen speakers hidden in the ceiling trim. But the music couldn't completely disguise the sound of panting, of pleasure, and sometimes pain emanating from the rooms beyond.
Once she'd adjusted her outfit, Silver adopted a more docile posture. Her shoulders narrowed, her chest pronounced, her lip—ever so slightly—curled. She placed one foot just slightly behind the other, a leg cocked. The client sheet, which he'd filled out earlier, suggested the man wasn't into strong, domineering women.
And so she adopted a more bashful, hesitant demeanor, like a chameleon shedding its skin. Silver was an expert at providing whatever clients wanted.
In De Wallen, Amsterdam, her line of work was quite competitive. Over two hundred window brothels, with many more professionals operating in such establishments. People came from all around the world to taste and experience what Amsterdam offered.
She tapped tentatively on the door, even this gesture calculated. A soft, hesitant knock. “Hello?” she said, even adding the faintest quaver to her tone.
“Come in!” a voice called from within.
She opened the door, not too quick, not too slow, like a dancer flowing through the motions. She stepped into the room beyond, adopting a schoolgirl smile and a coy flutter of her eyelashes.
The man sitting on the bed resembled a supply teacher, or a dusty old librarian. He wore round spectacles and had early-onset worry lines creasing his forehead beneath a dark, but fading, fringe. He had pleasant features and kind eyes.
His hands were clasped in his lap where he sat on the bed. His shoes were still on, plus he was still dressed.
Peculiar, but not unusual. For first-time clients, it often took time to make them comfortable. Silver closed the door behind her with her bare heel, allowing her long leg to catch the man's eye with the entrancing motion available to all denizens of the gentler sex.
When the door clicked shut, though, leaving them in the comfortable room with its queen-sized bed and attached bathroom with a luxury shower, the man wasn't even looking at her.
Instead, his eyes were downcast, his hands still clasped in his lap like a priest at prayer. His cheeks were tinged red, and she watched his fingers tremble as he released his clenched hands and adjusted his spectacles. “You're very nice looking,” he said in English, his voice shaking.
She had to hide a smile. She liked meek and reserved men. He wasn't bad looking either. Nice guys finished last, some said. In her experience, nice guys often finished first. She got paid the same either way.
“Do you think you'd like to get more comfortable?” she said, tugging at the strap of her bra to indicate what she meant.
The man shifted, raising a quizzical eyebrow beneath his fading fringe, but when he realized what she meant, he blushed suddenly, forcing a quick cough to hide his discomfort. “Oh—oh no, that's quite alright. Thank you. I'm—I'm okay staying dressed. Is that okay with you? Geez—sorry. I don't mean to cause trouble...”
He spoke English quite well but had a faint accent she couldn't place. She dropped a bit of her own docile posture. With clients like this, they were often just grateful to be in the room.
The window above the bed was covered in a faint, red gauze, allowing the fading evening light from the city beyond to bathe the room in a romantic, pink-red glow.
The scent of cinnamon from the hall also lingered in the room, and three tastefully placed blue candles sputtered in alcoves around the bed.
The man gave a wave of his hand, his fingers trembling. “I'm not here for... for that... I don't want what other men want.”
“I see,” she said, a purr to her voice. “You're a special sort of man, yes?”
He ducked his head again, smiling at where his hands were clasped once more. “You're special too,” he said. “I knew it when I first saw you. You have very, very pretty hair.”
Silver chuckled, a throaty, breathy sound. “You have kind eyes. You also have me. For the hour. What is it I can do for you, Mr...”
She trailed off, allowing him to provide whatever name he wanted to use. Instead, he just looked at her. “What do you think my name is?”
She paused. An unusual question, but her smile returned just as quickly. “I wouldn't know.”
His left cheek dimpled. “What would you call me if you had to guess?”
She paused, a long finger against the underside of her own chin. “Hmm, let me see... I once had a puppy I loved. He had kind eyes too.”
“What was his name?”
“Remus,” she said. “I can call you Mr. Remus if you like.”
“Perfect,” he said, nodding. He looked up, meeting her gaze full on for the first time. His eyes crinkled in the corners; his premature worry lines softened as he looked at her. “And you're called Silver, yes?”
“Mhmm... I like you, Mr. Remus. So I think I have to inform you that if we go over the hour, you'll have to pay for another full session to continue this company. Which is quite enjoyable, I'll add. You are a great conversationalist.”
He chuckled, his dark eyes twinkling. He waved a hand airily, relaxing a bit it seemed at the compliment. Silver hid a smile again. She liked this part, when the turtle crept from the shell. When her silver-tongue helped loosen the more uptight sorts. She was in the business of helping folks relax. It was one of the reasons she'd come here, to Amsterdam. She enjoyed her job, enjoyed this place. Particularly, she loved the people.
Sometimes, her clients could be creeps and weirdos. But the vetting process and the security team often helped keep such people at bay. Normally, her clients were the usual sort—bankers, lawyers, tourists, bus-drivers. People. Interesting people with their own lives and stories and secrets.
In this context, they often opened up, sharing things they wouldn't even whisper in their priest's ears. She liked the job. And tonight, it seemed, was going to be a good one. The man still had his clothes on and had made no overtures. Some of them just liked to talk. Of all the clients, this was her favorite type.
“Mr. Remus,” she said, “do you mind if I sit next to you?”
His cheeks were still tinged red, but he didn't blush this time and, clearing his throat, he stuttered, “N-no, I mean, yes. Please. Here. Whatever you'd like.”
Silver sidled over, not even bothering to sway in her usual way. She sat on the bed, next to her client, studying his silhouette. He was thin, wiry. Average height. Nothing particularly remarkable at all except those kind eyes of his, crinkled in the corners beneath the worry lines of a fifty-year-old on the face of a thirty-year-old.
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