Milady looked at the file Athos forwarded to her two days ago. Lady Catherine Smythe, nee de Garrouville, widow of Lord Smythe, British nobleman. She had to laugh at Catherine doing the same thing she had - going to anothercountry and finding a rich husband that had then proceeded to die. Not that that humorless cow would appreciate the irony.
The search under both her names had come back with no arrests, no known underworld associates, no contact in any form with anybody that had the faintest whiff of illegal activity. And no known location in Paris where she was staying, The cell phone listed for her hadn't been used in months. She was off the radar and didn't want to be found.
All the KM did know was that Catherine wanted Athos dead and the KM destroyed. As of yet, she didn't know Milady was still alive and who knew what would happen when she did find out. Milady smiled at the thought of telling Catherine to her face. The two women never had liked each other.
First thing was to find her though - and stop any hit on Athos. While he and the KM went through legal channels, she had more unethical lines she could follow. Changing into jeans and a sweater with her hair in a low pony, she was on her way to the lower side of town and the first of those lines.
She entered the low-end bar and walked straight to the door at the back with the NO ADMITTANCE sign. Two burly men stood up from the table next to door.
"Tell Saracen that Milady is here to see him," she ordered without hesitation.
The door opened just enough to let her in and closed as soon as she was clear. Another burly guy blocked her way. "Gotta check you for weapons."
"Don't even try," she told him him icily.
"Leave her be, Tony. If she meant any harm, we'd both be dead already." Saracen laughed from behind his desk.
On the wall off to the side behind the desk was a framed map on some sort of ragged round parchment. The plaque on the frame read, "My Friend Dan".
"Was that a gift from him?" Milady asked as she sat down.
"No, that's Dan. I found out he had a treasure map tattooed on his head and wasn't willing to share, so I took full control. I keep it there as a reminder to others that if I'm willing to do that to a friend, they can imagine what I'd do to an enemy."
"Nice strategy. Too bad it's a fake."
"So, why are you here? Interested in coming back to work for me?" he quickly changed the subject. "I could use someone with your talent."
"You couldn't afford me. No, I'm looking for information. There was a botched hit on one of the KM several months ago. I heard a rumor my name may have been attached to it. Do you know anything?"
"It was just that - a rumor. It was just some newcomer trying to make their bones. There was talk of a woman trying to contact some of the folks looking for training, but nobody took her up on it. Thought it was a set up."
Milady leaned forward. "Do you have information on her? Or who she might have contacted?"
"Why the interest?"
"Word is she has a contract out on one of my parties and I want to have a little talk with her. You wouldn't be doing business on my territory, would you, Saracen?"
He gave a nervous chuckle. "If I did, it would be purely accidental and cancelled immediately. Just to be sure, though, who would be the party in question?"
"Athos of the KM."
"Oh, definitely not. I don't handle contracts against any government or political figures. Those get investigated much too thoroughly. As for names, I can't help you there. Ethical standards, you know."
"Of course," Milady nodded in understanding. At the door, she told him, "Next time I see Dan, I'll give him your best."
She smiled at the glass breaking and indistinct yells she heard as she walked away. That lead didn't pan out so tomorrow she would try the second one. One that had a completely different set of ethical standards.
