The Red Light Girls (Unsolved Mysteries Book 2) Kim Knight (best romance novels of all time txt) 📖

A deafening silence overtook the line.

“Let me come with you.” Chris was the first to speak. “If this person’s out there and you’re a target, I want to come along.”

On the other end of the line Madeline opened and closed her mouth with surprise. “No, Chris. Honestly, I’ve got this—”

“Madeline, just try and keep me away. I’ll meet you outside Amsterdam Centraal in an hour.”

“Chris, wait. No!”

The line went dead, and Madeline was left in a daze.

She pulled the phone from her ear, dropped it on the sofa, then headed to the hallway for her jacket.

22

Amsterdam Centraal

Madeline Slone

An Hour Later…

“So,” said Chris. “Where are you thinking of heading first?”

She and Chris made their way from Amsterdam Centraal station, toward Dam Square.

“I’m not a hundred percent sure.” Madeline shoved her hands in her pocket from the bitter cold.

It was only early afternoon, but already, the streets of Amsterdam were busy. As she walked along, the cafes were bursting with people. When she and Chris turned up the cobbled street, the scent of cannabis wafted in the air and became stronger.

Walking past the provocatively dressed window girls lined up, Madeline noticed Chris tried his hardest to keep his head straight—she assumed out of respect for her.

She eyed the displays. In the daylight, she had a better view. The girls sat propped in the windows on chairs or poles.

“Oh, my gosh! They’re beautiful. But damn, I could never,” Madeline whispered.

She looked over at a heavily tattooed female with gothic make-up and dark hair. The woman wore a skin-tight dress and sky-high heels.

“Not that I’m judging,” she quickly added. “Far from it. I love a liberated woman. But I would never have the confidence.”

Chris laughed and turned to her.

“I dunno. I think you’d look pretty hot up there.” He seemed to undress the female Madeline pointed to with his eyes.

“Hey. We’ve got to stay focused.” Madeline playfully punched him on the arm. “Wednesday night, one of the waitresses told me that Fenna Bakker and Zoe Van Dyk worked over at The Blue Martini. They weren’t Erotica girls. Let’s head there.”

Madeline pulled Chris’ arm, and together, they headed in a direction away from the window girls. She picked up her pace, weaving in and out of the locals and tourists along the narrow pavements.

When she and Chris approached the canal, a boat slowly sailed past with a group of tourists snapping pictures and pointing at different landmarks.

A smile bloomed on her face, and Chris caught her admiring them.

“We should do that.” He nodded in the direction of the canal.

“Maybe.” Madeline blushed and looked up into his blue eyes.

Damn you are way too cute! Stay focused, girl, she reprimanded herself. Work first.

She pushed the carefree images of her and Chris setting sail down the canal, out of her mind.

“Here we go.” Arm outstretched, she pointed. “There’s the Blue Martini.”

Madeline pulled Chris across the pavement. Some bike riders whizzed by. They honked their horns, rung their bells or called out a warning in Dutch. A few members of the group, cursed and yelled to get out of the way.

Chris yelled back in Dutch over his shoulder, and from what Madeline could understand, he told them to go to hell, which caused her to crack up with laughter.

Her Dutch wasn’t perfect, but from what she could make out, Chris wasn’t impressed by the cyclists.

“Dumb fucks,” Chis said in English, then turned back to her.

“C’mon. No trouble. We’ve got work to do.” Madeline giggled again, then pushed open the door to the Blue Martini club.

As soon as the doors opened, a heavy drumbeat and heavy bass music floated out of the building. The blinds were pulled over the windows for privacy, making it dark and cosy.

Madeline looked around the room, lit with disco lights.

It’s hard to imagine it’s early afternoon with the smoky atmosphere, she pondered the thought.

Patrons sat around tables, drinking and smoking. Some played pool while others were on the dance floor. The working girls climbed their poles with skill, and some sat at tables with customers.

Madeline led Chris over to the bar area where they could both remove their jackets, and then took a seat.

A female bar tender approached, all smiles.

“Hi. What can I get you?” She drummed her nails on the bar to the beat of the music.

“Two Heinekens, please.” Chris placed his debit card on the bar.

Madeline turned to him. “This is where they worked. Can you believe it. I wonder what happened the night they went missing?”

“God only knows.” Chris shrugged his shoulders.

The waitress placed two ice-cold beers on the bar, then swiped Chris’ card, and then handed him a receipt.

“Are you okay?” Madeline asked her. “Ya know, since Zoe and Fenna’s disappearance.”

The barmaid sighed and shook her head. “It’s been rough. That fucker’s still out there and every girl here is walking on eggshells.”

“Damn, that’s too bad,” said Madeline. “Did they work here long?”

The woman narrowed her eyes, scrutinising Madeline. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I just, well…I, I’m just a-asking, that’s all, ya know—woman to woman. I’m worried a-about the girls who work here.”

The barmaid leaned on the bar. “Thanks, that’s sweet.” She looked Madeline over again. “You’re not from around here with that accent. What are you doing here?” She casually started to wipe down the bar with a cloth.

“I’m new in town. Just moved here a few months back.”

“Cool. Well, welcome. Don’t let the murders worry you. Just be careful around town, that’s all.”

“I will. Tell me a bit about them. Did you know Zoe and Fenna?” Madeline probed and held her breath.

The waitress looked from Madeline to Chris, then back at Madeline again. “You’re not cops are you.” Her eyelids narrowed again. “What do you want?”

“No, of course not. Like I said, I’m new here and don’t know many people. The girls’ cases just took me by surprise, that’s all.” She took a swig of her beer. “It’s been months, and they’ve not caught whoever is responsible.”

“Hmm, true. I’m pretty