What is the connection between a photographer who takes pictures of models who pose next to exotic animals and a human trafficker responsible for the deaths of 14 young women found dead in a shipping container on the docks in New Orleans?
Find out in Deadly Promises: a New Orleans Mystery
Here's an excerpt:
It was time for Danielle to pose with the wolf. She would’ve felt a lot safer if Candy hadn’t made Brent suspicious earlier when he overheard her talking about the bear and the model.
Candy was just finishing up her last shot with the tiger. She was wearing a pink and white polka dot bikini and sporting a pair of shiny gold hooker shoes that had four-inch heels. Danielle saw Brent put an Indian headdress on Candy’s head.
He told her, “Now, put your hand on the tiger’s back.”
Candy did her best to hide her fear, but it looked like she was having a massive panic attack.
“Just relax,” Brent said. “Yes, that’s right,” he told her and took a final shot. “Beautiful, Candy.”
She let out a big sigh of relief and walked away from the tiger as quickly as she could. She noticed Danielle and ran into her arms crying, “Oh, my God!” She hugged her as if she was her long-lost friend. “Never again!” she whispered into her ear.
Danielle could feel Candy’s body vibrating and did her best to soothe her. She whispered back, “We’ll talk later.”
The trainer appeared and at Bridger’s urging, led the tiger back to the air-conditioned semi. He left humming a song, with a trail of marijuana smoke behind him.
“You’re up next,” Brent barked to Danielle. “How do you feel?”
“Nervous, to tell the truth.”
“No need to be. I’ve never had any accidents with wolves.”
She wanted to ask him which animals he had accidents with but kept quiet. She did not want to piss him off; especially since he and the trainer would be putting her life on the line when they paired her with the wolf.
Bridger tried to loosen her up by asking, “Have you ever had a dog, Danielle?”
“Yes. A German Shepard.”
“Was he a nice dog?”
“Yes. We used to sleep in bed together. He’d lie on his back with his front paws bent like this,” she told him, bending her arms and imitating her dog.
“That’s really cute.” He looked at the cabin and said, “I think I want you to pose on that fur rug next to the cabin.”
“Oh, okay,” she said and waited for him to set up his photography equipment in this new setting.
When he was ready, he told her, “Go ahead and lie down on the rug. Can you turn on your right side?”
Danielle lay down and tried to look as sexy and provocative as possible but felt ridiculous.
“Okay. Good. Are you ready to meet the wolf?”
“Yeah. Let’s do it,” she answered, trying to sound upbeat.
The trainer she saw earlier with the lion now walked a wolf over towards her. She sat up, wanting to keep an eye on the wild animal. Lying down had made her feel too vulnerable. Smiling, the trainer, grunted a “Hi” to her and uttered, “Meet Rex.”
“Hi Rex,” she managed to answer.
“Are you okay, Danielle?” Bridger asked.
“I think I need some water.”
Looking slightly miffed, he motioned for someone to retrieve a glass and a woman soon emerged from the kitchen with one.
Danielle took a few sips, hoping to delay the inevitable.
“Are you ready now, Danielle?” Bridger asked her.
She took a couple more sips and the woman took the glass away so it wouldn’t show in the photo. He told her, “Now, the trainer is going to take the wolf off the leash, but he’ll be standing nearby. No need to be afraid.”
“Uh, okay.”
“Just imagine Rex is that nice German Shepherd you used to sleep with.”
“Okay,” she nervously answered.
“So, tell me, why were you asking all those questions?” Bridger asked while adjusting his lenses.
Danielle felt trapped—stuck between this wild animal and his question. She nervously answered, “Ah, I’m just curious. That’s all. This is so new to me.”
“Don’t you trust us here?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“You know, these animals answer to the trainer and to me. We can make them docile or make them, well, angry and growling for the picture. They’re very responsive.”
Now she felt really nervous and threatened. What if she said something wrong? What if he made the wolf attack her?”
“Now, I want you to lie back down on your right side and put your head next to his.” The trainer directed the wolf to lie next to her. She could hear the wolf’s heavy breathing.
Oh, my God. What am I doing?
“We’re almost there, Danielle.”
Almost there? What else does he have in store for me?
“Okay, Danielle. Lookin’ good!” he said and took several shots. “Cradle his head in your arm.”
Holy Crap!
“That’s right. You got it. Purse your lips. You have beautiful lips.”
Just take the friggin picture, already.
“Rough up your hair a little so you look sexy wild.”
When will this nightmare finally be over?
“How are you doing?”
“I’m ready to stop!”
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