Note- “Focus” is both a sequel to an earlier story, “Tame Your Pet,” and an homage to the novel Venus in Furs.

Heinrich was suspicious as soon as the woman walked through the door.  The modeling agency that sent her was legitimate; he had taken work from them many times when he was under cover here in Los Angeles. But their services could have been commandeered by the FBI or some other government office. Heinrich had been using the cover of a professional photographer for decades (it was the perfect smokescreen for reconnaissance, no one questioned why a photographer would want to inspect buildings and terrain in great detail), he had met hundreds of models. This woman was not one. Read more…