“Not arguing that, and there’s nothing we can do about it now. Our mission is to bring his daughter home.”
Slaves are expensive, for many reasons. The operation we’re tracking sells girls for anywhere from a few hundred grand to a million, maybe two million tops. I’ve never heard of them auctioning off a girl for more than that amount.
“So, they found a cash cow, and a man desperate enough to answer their ransom demands with money.” Knox slams his fist into the top of the table.
“Correct.”
“But still.” I lean forward. “It’s been months. Why didn’t he go to the authorities? Or hire us back then?”
“Threats.” The muscles of Sam’s jaw bunch. “They told Mr. Deverough if he involved the police or any other law enforcement branch, they would start taking her fingers.”
“Fucking pigs.” Knox grinds his teeth beside me. An unsettling sound, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Did they…?”
“No mutilation as far as we know. Our client states he met their demands, but they never released his daughter.”
“And his policy is for thirty-million? I take it he realized what was happening?”
The kidnappers were taking more and more, until he was unable to pay.
“So, he’s out twenty-six million. He’s run out of cash.” His policy only has four million left on it. “Why isn’t the insurance company investigating?”
“They are, but this is beyond them.”
No doubt about that. Something like this is way beyond what a pencil pusher can handle. “Why didn’t his insurer contact us when this all started?”
“He told them not to because of the threats.”
“I can’t believe they listened.” I pull at the roots of my hair. What a cluster fuck. “It’s been three months.”
“Yes.”
“Anything could’ve happened to her.”
“Which is why we need to get to her as soon as possible.” CJ, who’s been silent during the entire briefing, finally speaks up. “I want Alpha on this case. Bravo’s not fully functional. Delta’s on a domestic assignment. Charlie is working another case. I need your team.”
“Okay, so the money is running out and he finally wised up that they’re never going to release his daughter.”
“Correct.”
“And he hasn’t approached the authorities?” I glance at Knox and read him. He’s with me. We’re taking this case. “And he told his insurer to stand down.”
Knox leans back and crosses his arms. Like me, his attention hasn’t shifted from Evelyn’s terrified face.
“Yes, and yes. It’s just us.” CJ drums the table with his fingers. “When it became clear they were milking him for money, he realized they had no intention of letting her go.”
“Any idea where they may be holding her?” I glance at CJ.
“The newspaper’s in Spanish. Mitzy’s looking.” He gives a sharp shake of his head. “Our guess is Colombia.”
“Well, shit.” Now it’s my turn to tap the table. “Someplace in Colombia is a lot of territory to cover.” We’ve gone on missions with much less than this, but this one feels all kinds of complicated.
“Like I said, it’s complicated.” Sam picks the words right from out of my head.
“I’d say.” I glance at Knox. “How are we expected to find her? She’s a ghost.”
“We’re hoping the proof of life photos will help. Mitzy and her team are already working on it.”
“How can that help?”
“Mitzy Magic?” Sam holds up his hands and shrugs.
It’s a running joke. Mitzy accomplishes the impossible like it’s nothing. It’s magic.
“Let’s hope she can work some of her famous magic.” CJ shifts in his seat and crosses his arms.
“I want to meet Mr. Deverough in person. I have questions.” From the look on Knox’s face, he has questions as well.
“Already anticipated that. We’re sending a helicopter to pick you up. You and Knox will meet with Carson Deverough. The rest of Alpha team will stay here and finish the interrogation.” Sam lays out our next steps. “Once we have something actionable, I’ll call them back.”
At least Griff and the rest of the team can finish up with Julian Townsend. We’re not abandoning that mission.
“You’ve got twenty minutes to pack your things before the helicopter gets here.” CJ glances at his watch.
“Copy that.”
With that, Knox and I go have a talk with the team. In less than twenty minutes, we board a helicopter and head back to land.
Three
Eve
One Month Ago
“Evelyn.” Tomas Benefield snaps his fingers, calling me to his side.
Despite the heat and humidity, he’s decked out in black trousers and a crisp, white shirt with matching black jacket. The red satin of his tie matches the scarlet peeking out of his left breast pocket. Dark hair, slicked back, matches the onyx of his eyes. His oily gaze takes me in and sends another chill rushing down my spine.
I smile and give the slightest inclination of my head, as if it’s my choice I join him here.
The stifling unease, which is my constant companion, intensifies. I brace for an uncomfortable evening and harden my emotions to withstand the torment that will come later tonight.
As for the guests, they are older men with too much wealth, too much power, and too much free time. The thought of any of them touching me makes me want to retch, but the only man in this room who will dare lay his hands on me is the man with the black hair and oily gaze.
Tomas Benefield, Satan in the flesh, Lucifer incarnate, with his infernal appetite for power and control, holds out a hand, beckoning me to his side.
He controls everybody and everything, then justifies what he does with ethics the devil would be proud to call his own.
I smile as I put on my game face for the evening. It’s Auction Night. A banquet is being prepared. After all is said and done, six girls will take one further descent into a living hell as their new masters make them vanish from this world.
“I hope you had a good day with your guests?” Exchanging pleasantries with a monster is now a part of my new normal.
As for this day? Today is the day the guests get to sample the girls they will shortly bid upon.
“It has been a very good day.” He draws me to him and insists on pulling me in to kiss my cheek. I hold perfectly still as he takes a deep breath, flooding his senses with the noxious perfume he forces me to wear. “How was your day? Did you enjoy the spa?”
The spa again.
He sends me to the spa on Auction Day, wanting me to look my best for the banquet and subsequent festivities.
I’ve been pampered from head to toe, and I do mean head to toe: hair, facial, manicure, pedicure, full body waxing, and a full body massage. I endured a luxurious day while the guests defiled the girls. Guilt weighs heavily on my shoulders.
“Yes, it was very relaxing.” Eyes cast down, in deference to the power he wields, I wait to serve.