Caged

by Shanna Ehrlich

  When they asked why he thought the Grims would take her, he told them it was to extort money from him. Every man in the room knew it was a lie, but pretended to believe it wasn’t. Bringing the Emmo down was no longer important, they’d moved on to a new gang, one with a bigger headline and greater recognition.

  Braxton left the station knowing they would stop at nothing to find her.

  Trevor, also headstrong to find her, finally began earning his keep. He questioned everyone possible, found out she’d been taken near the bank, had been running from someone. One man on his way to work noticed a young girl getting into the back of an unmarked white van. At first he didn’t think anything of it, but then noticed the man with her had a gun. He didn’t catch the plates, but saw the vehicle head north. He watched for as long as the van stayed visible and it never stopped to turn, it was heading toward the docks, Baller Grim territory. The man immediately called the police and told them what he’d seen, but had been brushed off. Things like that happen all the time in the city, they told him, without plate numbers or identification of a missing person there was little they could do. Well now they had their missing person.

  The following afternoon, over thirty-six hours since she’d been gone, Detective Mak called to tell him they had a lead. An abandoned building near the dock. They were going to send their team in. Braxton wanted to send his men in too, but he couldn’t exactly admit to having men. He volunteered to go with them, was more than willing to fight for her, but as expected they turned him down. This was official police business. In the end, all they found was a man with a bullet through his head and remnants of her blood and hair, marking where she used to be; a small gated enclosure, the same one from the picture.

  After the failed rescue attempt Braxton called Annie’s parents. It was long overdue and when he told them what happened he was shocked by how little they seemed to care. They acted out the usual scared parent routine, but Braxton could tell they cared more about him being involved in the hunt for their daughter than the actual fact that she was missing.

  When he offered to fly them out, told them he wanted them to meet with a reporter friend of his, their level of remorse depreciated even further. They seemed to be excited for the CNN coverage. Were going to use their daughter’s disappearance for their own political gain. Braxton almost told them to fuck off. They were terrible parents, but he didn’t have any room to judge. When it came to Annie he was just as bad. When he got her back, and he would, he knew he would, he’d never make her hurt again, no matter what she did or how mad she made him. She was his everything and he would treat her as such.

  Braxton ended the call with Annie’s parents and then dialed Trevor. He was still on the streets, frantically searching for his best friend. He was the only one who deserved her.

  He told Trevor to set up a meeting with Kari Cruz since she was still under the impression that he was Ax.

  “What do you want me to tell her?” Trevor asked.

  “I want you to tell her we have news that needs coverage tonight. I want her to go live with Annie’s disappearance and I want her to blame it on the Emmo.”

  Trevor coughed into the phone. “You what? Why?”

  “Because they know we’re on to them. The cops raided the building where she was being held and they already moved her. They’re being careful. I want them to think the police are looking into us now, not them.”

  “And you don’t care you’re going to ruin the reputation you’ve been trying to fix?”

  “No. I don’t care what the public thinks. I never did. Ms. Cruz was always just a tool to help us in whatever means possible. To spin the reporting in our favor. This is what we need right now. You, me, the cops, we all know the truth. We know they have her. That’s all that matters.”

  “I understand. I’ll call her now.”

  “Let her know her parents are available for an interview.”

  “Her parents? They know?”

  “Yes, I just told them. I flew them in.”

  “You shouldn’t have told them. They aren’t good people.”

  “I know, but we need them. We need the sad and political aspiring parents to play up our story. It will get picked up by stations nationwide. There’s no chance the Grims won’t see it.”

  Just as Braxton said, the news coverage hit CNN that night and by the following morning it was airing on every major news outlet in the country. To his surprise, Keith called. It was the last person he expected to hear from.

  “You asshole,” he yelled after Braxton answered the phone. “This is all your fault. How could you let this happen? You got her involved in your shady dealings and now they took her. If she ends up dead, I’ll kill you. I don’t care who you are. I’ll find a way.”

  “If she ends up dead, I’ll kill myself.” And that was the truth. “If that’s all you called for then you can rest easy.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  The earnest gesture caught him off guard. His wife had just left him and he still wanted to help. He really was a nice guy and Braxton mildly felt bad for taking that from her. “I don’t think there’s anything you can do. The police are looking into it and I’m doing everything on my end to find her.”

  “I hate you so much. But find her. Make sure they pay for what they did.”

  “I will. You know I will.”

  Trevor started the next morning continuing to do what Braxton had asked. He loitered the streets, questioning every person he came in contact with, but at that point it felt futile. They already found out who took her, already knew where they brought her and she was no longer there. He itched to do something else, something with his gun that involved threatening the fucking Baller Grims, but Braxton had said no, told him he wasn’t ready, and while that may be the case, it didn’t mean he didn’t want to. But like a good soldier, he heeded Braxton’s word. Just like they all did.

  The street he was covering was desolate, very few people to speak of. Sitting at the edge of a corner store on a short, graffitied wall, he observed. It was Baller Grim territory and since Trevor was new and looked nothing like a gang member, Braxton sent him there specifically to keep an eye out, knowing no one would pay him any mind.

  The hours ticked by and he kept an eye on everything, everyone. Nothing all day stood out to him and he was about to leave, the sun beginning to set, when he noticed Benny walk out of one of the restaurants. Like all the others, Benny didn’t notice him. He walked around to the side of the building and stepped into a black sedan.

  Something about him being there struck Trevor as odd. Why was Benny eating at a Baller Grim restaurant? Maybe he was doing the same thing as him, checking out the scene, but it didn’t make any sense. People knew who he was. They would be suspicious of him being there.

  It was a split second decision, one he worried would get him into trouble, but he decided to follow him. A gut instinct if you will.

  Benny pulled out of the lot and Trevor had no car to speak of, cabs nonexistent in the area and he did the first real illegal activity of his stint with the Emmo. He stole a car.

  An older man, leaving the corner store he’d been sitting near, unlocked his car and left his keys in the front seat while unloading his cart of groceries in to the back. Before the man took notice, Trevor was already seated, pulling away. He felt terrible stealing, especially from an elderly man, but he’d make sure to pay him back. Would give him his yearly salary if it meant being closer to finding Annie.

  Several cars back, he trailed Benny, out of the city and up north. His car pulled down an alleyway and Trevor had to be careful to wait before following, not wanting to get caught.

  When he finally turned down the narrow pathway, he saw Benny’s car parked behind an old, deserted building; a place that was likely condemned.

  Trevor waited in his car for less than fifteen minutes before Benny emerged; what looked to be a body wrapped in a white sheet draped over his shoulder. Opening the trunk, he placed the body inside, and
Trevor followed him further, eager to see where he would go.

  Half an hour outside the city, Benny finally stopped, pulling around to the back of a warehouse. Trevor parked his car across the street and got out on foot. It was dark now, the desolate area lit only by moonlight. The shady street sent chills up his spine. He didn’t want to be out there alone, with no one to speak of knowing his whereabouts.

  Taking out his phone he dropped a pin in the maps app and texted it to Braxton, but didn’t have time to send him an explanation. He needed to see who was in Benny’s trunk, what he was doing with the body. Already he could have missed it.

  Staying close to the building’s edge, Trevor peered around the corner. Benny’s car was surrounded by over thirty men, weapons drawn and aimed as he opened the trunk. Reaching in he fumbled with the sheet, removing it from the person who was wrapped within. Trevor was too far back, couldn’t get a good look to identify the body, and for a moment no one said a word as they gazed into the trunk. They were in shock. Whoever was in the trunk meant something to them. If it were one of theirs, shots would be flying, but instead they all stood still. A couple even lowered their weapons.

  “I was worried this would be a trap, but you seem to be true to your word,” said the man closest to Benny, obviously the one in charge.

  “Like I said on the phone, the Emmo is weak. Ax can’t do the job like Cole could and I won’t stand by and fight for them any longer. I need out and this is the best way possible. If you do to her what you did to the other girls, the Emmo will be done.”

  “What other girls?”

  “Let’s not play dumb. I’m handing you over Ax’s girl. We don’t need to pretend anymore.”

  The man smirked. “I guess not. Fitz! Don!” he called out to two of the men. “Get her out of the trunk and bring her inside. We have some handy work to take care of.”

  When her limp body was pulled from the trunk Trevor had to cover his mouth to stop from puking. His chest heaving in and out as he took in her bruised face and frail form. He wanted to kill them, wanted to go out there, guns blazing, but knew he couldn’t. Not only was he outnumbered, but out trained. These men knew what they were doing. He did not. The only thing he could do was watch as they carried her inside and beg; beg God or whoever was listening to let her still be alive.

  Trevor ran back to his car, dialing Braxton on the way. He picked up on the first ring.

  “I’m on my way. Almost there.”

  “They have her, they have her!” Trevor was freaking out. Couldn’t hold himself together. Not after what he just saw. He wasn’t a bred killer. He was a gay man who liked Grinder and banana hammocks. Never in his life had he wanted to be part of a gang, watching people die and get beat. And he especially didn’t want to see it happening to his best friend. “Benny. It was Benny!”

  “I don’t understand. I need you to try and calm down and talk to me. What was Benny?”

  “He took her. He was the one who took her. He did that to her, the picture,” Trevor choked on his words. “It was him all along. He just gave her to the Grims. He was using her to try and take down the Emmo.”

  Braxton went silent and when he finally spoke the anger in his voice made the hairs on Trevor’s arms raise. This was the Ax everyone feared. “He’s a dead man. A fucking dead man. Worse than dead.”

  Trevor didn’t respond. What do you say to that?

  “Where are you right now?” Braxton snapped. “Are you still there?”

  “No. I’m back in the car. I had to steal one to follow him.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Just stay put. Don’t try to go in there without me.”

  “Are you coming alone? They have like thirty men and that’s only the ones I saw.”

  “This is war Trevor. You don’t go into battle alone. I knew what your text meant. I brought the whole fucking squad.”

  “Good. I’m going in with you.”

  “No. You’re not. When I get her back I don’t want to have to tell her her best friend died trying to play hero.”

  “I don’t care if I die.”

  “I’m your fucking boss Trevor. I’m not your friend right now. You’ll do as I say. Is that understood?”

  This was not the time to mess with him. He didn’t need to be any angrier and while Trevor itched to throw caution to the wind and tell him off, he held his tongue and instead replied with the only answer he could give. “Yes. Understood.”

  Braxton had his driver pull over a mile from their destination, not wanting to tip off the Grims. The other vehicles behind him followed suit, ten SUVs in total. He gathered all fifty of his men, strapped to the nines, and went over the game plan. They were to leave no survivors. They would split into groups of ten and take the building from every angle with all eyes on the prize. They went through every detail until they were ready to go, ready for anything except what happened next.

  Loud sirens filled the air as multiple unmarked cars pulled into the lot, surrounding them. Braxton cursed. He didn’t have time to deal with their shit. Purposely left them in the dark on her location. He wanted to do this his way, not theirs. The Grims had her now. Getting her out immediately was of the essence. They wouldn’t wait much longer to do what they intended.

  Mak and Stevens stepped out from one of the cars, weapons drawn. “I can’t let you do this Cage,” Mak called out.

  “What are you doing here?” Braxton growled, not responding to their threat. He’d do whatever the fuck he wanted.

  “We followed you. It wasn’t hard to tell you were on to something.”

  “Stay out of this Mak. We’ll hand you over the scene when we’re done.”

  “Not going to happen.”

  “You don’t even know where the fuck you’re going and we’re wasting time talking when we could be saving her. I won’t let your guys fuck this up for me again. You can kill me or you can let me go. Your choice. “Move out!” he yelled to his men, each of them responding as if the officers surrounding them didn’t exist, Ax’s order the only thing that mattered.

  Mak and Stevens looked toward each other before lowering their weapons, both coming to the same conclusion; in this situation, they were not the authority.

  “Gather your guys and get them suited up,” Braxton told them. We’re not waiting for you, but if you’re here, you might as well help.

  Annie had been in a state of tears for days. Her body and soul thoroughly hurt. If she had the means to kill herself she would, though she sensed it wouldn’t be much longer. She couldn’t remember the last time she had anything to eat or drink, and was sure the dehydration would kill her before they had the chance.

  Quietly she lay on the floor, the cool cement giving her bruised body comfort. How long had it been since Benny brought her to them? An hour, two? She was all alone. It was dark. She couldn’t tell the difference from when her eyes were open versus when they were shut, but she welcomed her time alone, terrified of when they would return.

  She still couldn’t believe Brax never came for her. No matter what Benny said, she always thought he would find her, it’s what got her through each day. She wondered if maybe he no longer cared. If he found out she was going to steal the money and no longer wanted anything to do with her. She wouldn’t blame him. She was originally the one who wanted nothing more to do with him. Funny how your perception can change so quick. She’d give anything to have him now.

  While terrible the first day, Benny never laid another hand on her. He left her bound and locked in that tiny cage and didn’t return until the following night when he put a sheet over her head and body and moved her to a new location. She was left alone there too. No one to talk to, nothing to do but worry and wait for her fate.

  Her face had swelled from Benny’s punch in the van, her left cheek significantly larger than the right, and she one hundred percent had a broken rib. Each time she took a breath, pain coursed through her side, but the worst was the thirst. She had no more saliva to come by. Could barely
scratch out a word from her vocal cords. Annie was sure things could have been worse, were likely going to be, but she felt like she had already hit rock bottom.

  Amidst her thoughts the door to the room she was being held in opened, the sudden light causing her to shield her eyes. Two men lifted her by her upper arms and dragged her into a second, larger area before letting her fall, too weak to sit up.

  As her eyes adjusted she looked around the room and took in her surroundings; no windows and gray cinderblock walls. Several men surrounded her, one of which she recognized as Benny, the others she’d never seen before. Each of them staring down at her with a mixture of disdain and excitement. They were looking forward to what they were going to get to do.

  “You did a number on her Benny,” said one of the men, clearly the leader. His brown skin sporting the expected, excessive gang tattoos.

  “She wouldn’t shut the fuck up. Now she can barely say a word.”

  “I can see that. It’s a shame. I would have liked to have talked with her, but we don’t have time to wait.”

  “She wouldn’t have answered your questions. Her allegiance is to him.”

  “You underestimate me Benny. My specialty is getting people to talk.”

  The smile that went along with his response reinforced Annie’s fear that this man was a psychopath. Not that she expected anything less, but when you’re desperate, sometimes your mind wanders. It makes things up. And in her mind, she imagined the Baller Grims taking mercy on her. Turning out to not be as bad as Brax had once told her. She knew now that was only wishful thinking. Something she’d been doing a lot of.

  “Do you know what we’re going to do to you, girl? Nod if you do.”

  Annie did as she was told and nodded her head.