{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0
{\fonttbl
{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2\fttruetype Times New Roman;}
{\f1\fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2\fttruetype Arial;}
{\f2\fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2\ftnil Dingbats;}
{\f3\froman\fcharset0\fprq2\fttruetype Symbol;}
{\f4\fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1\fttruetype Courier New;}}
{\colortbl
\red0\green0\blue0;
\red255\green255\blue255;}
{\stylesheet
{\s1\fi-424\li720\sbasedon29\snext29Contents 1;}
{\s2\fi-424\li1440\sbasedon29\snext29Contents 2;}
{\s3\fi-424\li2160\sbasedon29\snext29Contents 3;}
{\s8\fi-424\li720\sbasedon29Lower Roman List;}
{\s5\tx431\sbasedon25\snext29Numbered Heading 1;}
{\s6\tx431\sbasedon26\snext29Numbered Heading 2;}
{\s7\fi-424\li720Square List;}
{\*\cs11\sbasedon29Endnote Text;}
{\s4\fi-424\li2880\sbasedon29\snext29Contents 4;}
{\s9\fi-424\li720Diamond List;}
{\s10\fi-424\li720Numbered List;}
{\*\cs12\fs20\superEndnote Reference;}
{\s13\fi-424\li720Triangle List;}
{\s14\tx431\sbasedon27\snext29Numbered Heading 3;}
{\s15\fi-424\li720Dashed List;}
{\s16\fi-424\li720\sbasedon10Upper Roman List;}
{\s17\sb440\sa60\f1\fs24\b\sbasedon29\snext29Heading 4;}
{\s18\fi-424\li720Heart List;}
{\s35\fi-424\li720Box List;}
{\*\cs20\fs20Reference;}
{\s21\fi-424\li720\sbasedon10Upper Case List;}
{\s22\fi-424\li720Bullet List;}
{\s23\fi-424\li720Hand List;}
{\*\cs24\fs20\sbasedon29Footnote Text;}
{\s25\sb440\sa60\f1\fs34\b\sbasedon29\snext29Heading 1;}
{\s26\sb440\sa60\f1\fs28\b\sbasedon29\snext29Heading 2;}
{\s19\qc\sb240\sa117\f1\fs32\b\sbasedon29\snext29Contents Header;}
{\s28\fi-424\li720Tick List;}
{\s27\sb440\sa60\f1\fs24\b\sbasedon29\snext29Heading 3;}
{\s30\fi-424\li720\sbasedon10Lower Case List;}
{\s31\li1440\ri1440\sa117\sbasedon29Block Text;}
{\s37\f4\sbasedon29Plain Text;}
{\s33\tx1584\sbasedon5\snext29Section Heading;}
{\s34\fi-424\li720Implies List;}
{\s29\f0\fs24Normal;}
{\s36\fi-424\li720Star List;}
{\*\cs32\fs20\superFootnote Reference;}
{\s38\tx1584\sbasedon5\snext29Chapter Heading;}}
\kerning0\cf0\ftnbj\fet2\ftnstart1\ftnnar\aftnnar\ftnstart1\aftnstart1\aenddoc\revprop3{\info\uc1}\deftab720\viewkind1\paperw12240\paperh15840\margl1440\margr1440\widowctrl
\sectd\sbknone\colsx360\pgncont\ltrsect
\pard\plain\ltrpar\qc\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch Lacey Lee }{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\qc\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch and}{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\qc\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch The Case of the Missing Model}{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\qc\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\i\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch by Jay Petto}{\s29\f0\fs24\i\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\b\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch The Mad Hypnotist had struck again, this time absconding with the delectable Veronica Day. The little blonde had been taken from a dressing room at the Ritz Modeling Agency an hour earlier and I had no doubt that the police were already baffled. Still, I wanted to find out what they knew.}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch A press card and a bit of persuasion got me past the police guard at the door. The reception area oozed taste. It was done in a cool off-white, with oh-so-sophisticated portraits of agency\uc1\u8217\'92s models along the walls. A number of cops, in uniform and out, darted about, argued or simply stood and scowled.  They really didn\uc1\u8217\'92t go with the room.}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch One of the scowlers was thrilled to see me. \uc1\u8220\'93Just what I need,\uc1\u8221\'94 he groaned. \uc1\u8220\'93Lacey Lee, girl reporter.\uc1\u8221\'94 }{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93Tom Mahony, Boy Detective,\uc1\u8221\'94 I gave him my prettiest smile. \uc1\u8220\'93And you\uc1\u8217\'92ve got just what }{\s29\f0\fs24\i\lang1033{\*\listtag0}I}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0} need - facts. Is it the same guy?\uc1\u8221\'94 I waved my hand to indicate the offices. }{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93Yeah. Same M.O. - victim gone, gloating message, nobody saw anything, except maybe the receptionist, and we haven\uc1\u8217\'92t been able to get her to talk yet.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93Frightened?\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93No,\uc1\u8221\'94 he drawled. \uc1\u8220\'93She won\uc1\u8217\'92t talk until ... well, all she\uc1\u8217\'92ll say is that she\uc1\u8217\'92s been bad.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93That can\uc1\u8217\'92t be a confession, or you wouldn\uc1\u8217\'92t have turned so red. Spill!\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch He leaned forward, like they always do when it\uc1\u8217\'92s good. \uc1\u8220\'93I didn\uc1\u8217\'92t tell you this, but when we got here, she was writing. \uc1\u8216\'91I have been naughty and must be spanked,\uc1\u8217\'92 I don\uc1\u8217\'92t know how many times. It was eight sheets of paper, front and back, in a fine hand. She won\uc1\u8217\'92t make a statement until an officer, ah - Headquarters is trying to figure out what to do.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93She isn\uc1\u8217\'92t holding out for a judge to do the honors? Standards must be slipping. What else?\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93We\uc1\u8217\'92re dusting for prints, but I\uc1\u8217\'92ll lay odds there won\uc1\u8217\'92t be anything to find. Our boy probably put the receptionist under, then had her escort him to Day. Her writing exercise is just his idea of a joke.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93Well, what do you expect from someone who has his victims write \uc1\u8216\'91I am a pretty plaything for the Mad Hypnotist. PS: You\uc1\u8217\'92ll never catch him, muh-ha-ha-ha!\uc1\u8217\'92 I mean, really!\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93He\uc1\u8217\'92s one twisted individual, all right. Twelve women vanish without clue - one a policewoman! They reappear days or weeks later, with no memory of where they were or what happened.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93I\uc1\u8217\'92ve got a clue about what happened.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch \uc1\u8220\'93You also have a dirty mind.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch I stuck my tongue out at him. \uc1\u8220\'93You have no idea.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch There was little else Tom could tell me, though he hinted that I ought to be careful, what with a hypnotic sex fiend on the loose and all. It was rather sweet of him, but honestly, I can take care of myself. }{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch Back at the newsroom, I typed up what I had for the morning edition. One of the columnists was handling the shock angle (with just the right hint of prurience - Walt always gets the good stuff), so I left out the bit about the receptionist, but told Walt in case he could use it. After that it was \uc1\u8220\'93goodnight\uc1\u8221\'94 from the editor and off for home. }{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch Home is two story house up Pinecrest Road. }{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}It\uc1\u8217\'92s an Aladdin kit house my folks left me - a Hudson, if you\uc1\u8217\'92re familiar with the style.}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0} All the trees hide it from the road and on windy, moonlight nights it\uc1\u8217\'92s almost magical. You can believe that almost anything is about to happen. As a matter of fact, it was a night just like that. I could feel it, like electricity flowing through my veins. }{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch I unlocked the door, stepped in and paused. Someone waited in the living room. I knew it without looking, knew that the old wing chair was occupied. A shiver of anticipation ran through my body and I walked slowly into the room, though I wanted to dash.}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch A petite blonde rested before me, wispy underwear doing nothing to hide her charms. She slumped with her head against the side of the chair, like a doll waiting for someone to play with her.}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch Well, that someone had just walked in the door. I leaned forward. \uc1\u8220\'93Wake up, Veronica,\uc1\u8221\'94 I whispered and her eyes opened. \uc1\u8220\'93It\uc1\u8217\'92s time for our bubble bath.\uc1\u8221\'94}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}
\pard\plain\ltrpar\ql\s29\sl240\slmult1\itap0{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\abinodiroverride\ltrch PS: You\uc1\u8217\'92ll never catch me, muh-ha-ha-ha!}{\s29\f0\fs24\lang1033{\*\listtag0}\par}}