Death By Degrees by Harrison Drake Read Free Book Online Page A

Kat; gentlemen, through and through.
    “Kat, this is Jean-Pierre Dumas. Jean, my wife Kat. Jean is in charge of INTERPOL.”
    The look of surprise on Kat’s face was obvious. “A pleasure,” she said. “What brings you here?”
    Jean smiled. “Business of course. Where in Poland are you from?”
    “Warsaw. And I thought my accent had faded.”
    “I lived in Poland for several years. Kat must be short for…” He paused, hesitating.
    “Katarzyna.”
    “Of course.”
    “I’ll leave you three to talk. Lincoln, do you want me to take the kids down to the park?”
    I didn’t get a chance to answer. Jean spoke first. “Actually, if you could join us. This has to do with you, as well.”
    Kat and I looked at each other, both with no idea what was going on.
    “Where to start?” Jean took his glasses off and cleaned them. I hadn’t noticed any dirt or grease, which led me to believe it was a nervous reflex. “I was in Toronto for conferences when I found out about this case you have going on. The number of queries you did, the agents you spoke with… word traveled quickly. An international serial killer. We’ve seen people cross country borders before, but never to this extent. And when I learned that the killer had contacted you directly, well, it was beyond precedent.”
    “Agreed. I’m not sure what to make of this case.”
    “Neither am I, Lincoln. And I find it very concerning. Which is why I want to make you an offer.”
    I couldn’t help but think of The Godfather when he said that.
    “What kind of an offer?”
    “Work for us. The OPP has already approved my request. This case will have you traveling all over the world, working with various police forces, and we have the resources to make that work. We have offices around the world, agents fluent in more languages than you can name, and our own passports that will make traveling simple.”
    I had heard of that – INTERPOL passports. They weren’t recognized by every member country yet, but I remembered hearing that around a hundred countries recognized them. Complete with biometric data they were a secure and convenient way for agents to get through customs while on duty.
    “I don’t know, Sir,” I said, reverting to formalities. “It’s a huge decision. And not one that I can make alone.” I looked at Kat and recognized that face. She was worried, and so was I.
    “Understandable. It wouldn’t just be you, either. Your family could join you there, we could arrange for an apartment in Lyon and schooling for your children. And we want you to assemble a team to assist you.”
    “A team?”
    “Whichever detectives you want to bring. We’d prefer to have you working with people you know and trust, and you would have our personnel to assist as required. What we are doing is forming a new division, something that will likely only operate as long as it takes to bring this case to a close: the International Homicide Division. And we want you to lead it.”
    “I really don’t know what to say. I mean, I’m flattered, but I don’t know if I can do it.”
    “It’s fine, Lincoln,” Kat said. “I think it’ll be good. I’ve always wanted to spend more time in France, the kids can work on their French and this will be extremely good for your career. Not to mention, it’ll be hard to catch this guy from here.”
    I looked at her, deep into her eyes and saw that she was telling the truth. She wasn’t agreeing just for my sake, she wanted to do this.
    “How many people can I bring?”
    “How many do you think you’ll need?”
    Kara, Eddie and Chen.
    “Three. If the one can come, we’ll need arrangements made for his family as well.”
    “Done. Do we have a deal?”
    “Actually,” I said, thinking of Dr. Heinlen. “Maybe four, an anthropologist.”
    “Not a problem.”
    My eyes met Kat’s again. A nod from her was all it took. “Deal.”
    “Good. I know there is a lot to arrange, but I would like to have you in Lyon the day after