Joanie looked put out but didnt say so.
Give me a second, she said and wandered back down the hall.
Keri looked at Ray, who shook his head in shared disgust.
You mind if I wait in the car? Keri said. Im worried Im going to say somethingunproductive to Joanie.
Go ahead. I got this. Maybe you can call Edgerton and see if he can bend the rules to access their social media accounts.
Raymond Sands, my stars, she said, rediscovering a bit of her sense of humor. You seem to be adopting some of my more questionable law enforcement methods. I think I like it.
She turned on her heel and walked off before he could respond. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the men two doors down were all watching her. She zipped up her jacket, suddenly aware of the cold. Late November in Los Angeles was pretty tame, but with the sun gone, the temperature was in the low fifties. And all those eyes on her added an extra shiver.
When she got to the car, she turned and leaned with her back against it so she could maintain a good view of both Lanies house and her neighbors as she dialed Edgertons number.
Edgerton here, came the enthusiastic voice of Kevin Edgerton, the units youngest detective. He may have been only twenty-eight, but the tall, lanky kid was a tech genius who was responsible for cracking many cases.
In fact, hed been instrumental in helping Keri get in touch with the Collector while shielding her own identity. Keri imagined that right now, he was brushing the longish brown bangs out of his eyes. Why he didnt just get his sloppy, millennial hair cut was beyond her, as were most of his technical abilities.
Hey, Kevin, its Keri. I need a favor. I want you to see if you can access a couple of social media accounts for me. One is for Sarah Caldwell from Westchester, age sixteen. The other is Lanie Joseph, Culver City, also sixteen. And please dont give me a hassle over warrants and probable cause. Were dealing with exigent circumstances here and
Got it, Edgerton interrupted.
What? Already? Keri asked, stunned.
Well, not Caldwell. All her accounts are password-protected and require her approval to view. I can crack them if you need. But Im hoping we can avoid any sticky legal situations just using Josephs stuff. Shes an open book. Anyone can look at her pages. Im doing it now.
Do they say anything about where she was today after about noon? Keri asked, as she noticed three of the men from the Corvette driveway walking toward her.
The two other men remained behind, their focus on Ray, who was still standing at the Hart front door, waiting for Joanie to find a recent photo of her daughter. Keri readjusted herself slightly so that even though she was still leaning against the car, her weight was more evenly distributed in case she had to move suddenly.
She hasnt posted on Facebook since last night but there are a bunch of posts on Instagram of her with another girl, Im assuming Caldwell. Theyre from the Fox Hills Mall. Ones in a clothing store. Anothers at a makeup counter. The last one is of her at what looks like a food court table, eating a pretzel. The caption says yummy. Its from two oh six p.m.
The three men were crossing into the Harts yard now and were less than twenty feet from Keri.
Thanks, Kevin. One last thing Im going to send you cell phone numbers for both girls. Im betting the GPS was shut off in both of them but I need you to track their last known location before that happened, she said as the men came to a stop in front of her. Ive got to go. Ill get back to you if I need more.
Keri hung up before he could respond and slid the phone into her pocket. Along the way, she inconspicuously unsnapped the holster of her weapon.
Glancing at the men but not saying a word, she still leaned against the car but lifted her right leg so that her foot rested against the vehicle. That way she would have extra power if she needed to propel herself forward.
Evening, gentlemen, she finally said in a firm, friendly tone, a little nippy out tonight, dont you think?
One of them, clearly the alpha, sniggered and turned to his friends. Did this bitch just say it was nipply? He was Hispanic, short, and a little paunchy in the face, but his bulky flannel shirt hid his frame, making it hard for Keri to tell what she might be up against. The other guys were both tall and skinny with the shirts hanging off skeletal frames. One was white and the other was Hispanic. Keri took a moment to appreciate the racial diversity of this particular street gang before deciding to exploit it.
You guys letting white boys in these days? she asked, nodding at the odd man out. What? Hard to find enough brown-skinned members willing to take orders from you?
Keri didnt love playing this card but she needed something to create division among them and she knew a lot of these gangs were very particular about membership requirements.
That mouth is gonna get you in trouble, lady, the Alpha hissed.
Yeah, trouble, repeated the tall white guy. The tall Hispanic guy remained silent.
You always go around repeating what your boss says? Keri asked the white guy. You pick up any trash he drops on the ground too?
The two men glanced at each other. Keri could tell shed hit a sore spot. Behind them, she saw that Ray had gotten the photo of Lanie and was walking back toward them. The two remaining guys by the Corvette started to step in his direction but he gave them a sharp glare and they stopped in their tracks.
This bitch is rude, the white guy said, apparently unable to come up with anything more clever.
We may have to teach you some manners, Alpha said.
Keri noticed the tall, quiet Hispanic guy with them tense up at that. And suddenly she understood the dynamic among these three. Alpha was the hothead. White was the follower. Quiet was the peacemaker. He hadnt come over to join in any trouble. He was trying to prevent it. But he hadnt found a way in yet and that was partly Keris fault. She decided to throw him a lifeline and see if hed use it.
You two twins? she asked him as she nodded at White.
He looked at her for a second, clearly unsure what to make of the comment. She gave him a wink and the tension seemed to seep from his body. He almost smiled.
Identical, he answered, taking the opening.
Yo, Carlos, we aint twins, man, White said, not sure whether to be confused or angry.
No, man, Alpha jumped in, temporarily forgetting his anger. Bitch is right. Its hard to tell you two apart. We need to pin some tags on you, right?
He and Carlos laughed and White joined in, although he still looked perplexed.
How we doing over here? Ray asked, startling all three of them. Before they could get riled again, Keri jumped in.
I think were good, she said. Detective Ray Sands, Id like to introduce you to Carlos and his twin brother. And this is their dear friendwhats your name?
Cecil, he said willingly.
This is Cecil. They like Corvettes and chatting older ladies up. But unfortunately, were going to have to leave you to the car repair, gentlemen. Wed like to stay, but you know how it is with LAPD always working. Unless, that is, youd like us to stick around and discuss manners a little more. Would you like that, Cecil?
Cecil took a look at all 230 pounds of Ray, then back at Keri, seemingly unruffled by his insults, and apparently decided hed had enough.
Nah, its aight. Yall go on and do your LAPD thing. We busy with car repair, like you said.
Nah, its aight. Yall go on and do your LAPD thing. We busy with car repair, like you said.
Well, you guys have great night, okay? Keri said with a level of enthusiasm that only Carlos noticed bleeding into mockery. They nodded and headed back to the Corvette as Keri and Ray got in their car.
That could have gone worse, Ray said.
Yeah, I know youre still not a hundred percent from that gunshot wound. I figured I shouldnt get you involved in an altercation with five gang members if I could help it.
Thanks for looking out for your invalid partner, Ray said as he pulled out into the street
Dont mention it, Keri said, ignoring the sarcasm.
So did Edgerton have any luck with the social media stuff?
He did. We need to go to Fox Hills Mall.
Whats there?
Im hoping those girls, Keri said, but Ive got a feeling we arent going to be that lucky.
CHAPTER FOUR
The second Sarah woke up, she felt like she needed to vomit. Her vision was blurry and so was her head. There was a bright light shining down on her and it took a second to realize she was lying on a threadbare mattress in a small, otherwise nearly empty room.
She blinked a couple of times and her eyesight cleared up enough for her to see a small plastic garbage can lying on the floor beside the mattress. She leaned over and pulled it to her, retching into it for a full thirty seconds, ignoring her watery eyes and even more watery nose.
She heard a noise, looked in that direction, and saw that someone had pulled back a black curtain to reveal that she wasnt actually in a small room at all. She was in a cavernous warehouse. As far as the eye could see, there were other mattresses. And on almost all of them were girls her age, all scantily clad or naked.
Some were alone, either sleeping, or more likely passed out. Others were with men, who were having their way with them. Some of the girls struggled, others lay there helplessly, and a few didnt seem to even be conscious while they were being violated. Sarahs mind was foggy but she guessed there were at least twenty girls in the warehouse.
Someone stepped into view. It was Chiqy, the huge guy with the long beard from Deans room. Suddenly, Sarahs head cleared and the observational distance shed felt while taking in her surroundings disappeared. Her heart began to pound and she felt a creeping terror take hold of her.
Where am I? What is this place? Why do I feel so weak?
She tried to sit upright as Chiqy moved closer but her arms collapsed under her and she slumped back onto the mattress. That made Chiqy chuckle.
Dont try to get up, he said, the drugs we gave you make you clumsy. You might fall and break something. And we cant have that. It would be bad for business. Clients prefer that if any bones get broken, theyre the ones doing it.
What did you do to me? she demanded hoarsely, trying to sit up again.
Before she knew what was happening, Chiqy backhanded her across the face, knocking her back onto the mattress and sending an explosion of pain from her cheekbone to her ear. As she gasped for air and tried to regain her equilibrium, he leaned over and whispered in her ear.
You gonna learn, little miss. You dont raise your voice. You dont talk back unless a client wants it. You dont ask questions. Chiqy in charge. You follow my rules, youll be okay. You dont, then not so okay. We clear?
Sarah nodded.
Good. Then listen up cuz here come the rules. First, youre my property. I own you. I may loan you out but never forget who you belong to. You understand?
Sarah, her cheek still throbbing from his slap, nodded meekly. Even as she tried to wrap her head around the situation, she knew that openly challenging Chiqy in her current condition was unwise.
Second, you gonna satisfy my clients needs. You dont gotta love it, although who knows, maybe youll take to it. That dont matter. You do what the client says, no matter what. If you dont, Ill beat you til your insides bleed. I have ways of doing that so you still look pretty for the clients. On the outside, youll look like angel. But on the inside, youll be all pulp. We clear?
Again Sarah nodded. She tried to prop herself up again and squinted in the bright light, hoping to get her bearings. She didnt recognize any of the other girls. Suddenly a cold chill ran up her spine.
Wheres Lanie?
Can you tell me what happened to my friend? she asked in what she hoped wasnt a challenging voice.
Before she knew what was happening, Chiqy had slapped her again, this time on the other cheek. The force of it slammed her down against the mattress hard.
I wasnt done, she heard him say despite her ringing ears. The last rule is you dont speak unless I ask you a question. Like I said, youre gonna learn fast that being uppity doesnt pay around here. You got it?
Sarah nodded, noticing her head throb as she did.
But that question Ill answer, Chiqy said with a cruel smile on his face. He pointed at a mattress about fifteen feet away.
Sarah looked over and saw a man who looked to be in his sixties on top of a girl whose head was slumped to the side. Just then, the man grabbed her chin and lifted her face so he could kiss her.
Sarah nearly gagged again as she realized it was Lanie. She was naked from the waist down and her black tank top was up around her neck, revealing her bra. When the man lost interest in her lips, he let go and her head lolled in Sarahs direction.
She could tell that her friend was conscious, if only barely. Her heavy-lidded eyes were barely slits and she didnt seem to be aware of her surroundings. Her body was limp and she didnt physically react to the things being done to her.
Sarah took it all in but somehow the horror of the moment seemed like it was happening far away, on a distant planet. Maybe it was the drugs. Maybe it was getting hit in the face twice. But she felt numb.
Maybe I should be grateful for that.
She was hard to handle so we had to calm her down a lot, Chiqy said. That could be you. Or if you dont fight so much, we wont have to give you the sleepy shot. Its up to you.
Sarah looked at him and started to answer but then remembered the rules and bit her tongue. Chiqy saw it and smiled.
Good. Youre a quick learner, he said. You can talk.
No sleepy shot, she pleaded.
Okay, well try it clean. But if youstruggle, its the needle for you. Understand?
Sarah nodded. Chiqy, a satisfied smile on his face, nodded back and stepped out, pulling the curtain closed behind him.
Not knowing how long she had, Sarah looked around desperately, trying to take stock of her situation. She was still wearing her jeans and teal top, which suggested nothing had been done to her yet. She checked her pockets for her phone, change purse, and ID but they were all gone. No shock there.
A loud female groan from somewhere nearby snapped her out of her numbness and she felt something approaching panic seep in. She welcomed it as it came with a jolt of adrenaline that sharpened her mind and gave her greater control over her limbs.
Think, Sarah, while you still can. Youve been gone awhile. People are looking for you. There is no way Mom and Dad would wait this long for you to get in touch without calling the cops. If theyre looking for you, you have to give them some kind of clue, something to let them know you were here, in case something happens.