Ben’s loving touch warms my body and a very small smile caresses my lips. The exchange was definitely intimate and private. Not private enough.
I turn away from Ben as Officer Christine leads me into the opposite direction and I see Katsu frozen, staring at me. Two police officers circle him.
His eyes have narrowed and his face completely flushed.
He witnessed Ben’s touch.
He knows.
Katsu pivots his body and sizes up Ben.
Ben stands tall with his head lifted and chest out. The two men are dueling for rights to me.
Neither are backing down, both assessing the opponent.
This is becoming a silent showdown.
I watch as the exchange occurs, Officer Christine’s trying to pull me along.
“Stop,” I growl at her. She flinches at my tone. I can’t tear my eyes away from the battle unfolding before me.
Officer Christine does her job and tugs me along toward an interrogation room.
Katsu’s head drops in defeat, but not before he looks at me. A heinous sneer is plainly evident.
I feel that serpent bite travel up my arms. I don’t need to touch Katsu to know he intends on killing Ben and me.
There’s no turning back now.
Anna
Façade on.
I’m led to an interrogation room that resembles the room at the castle where Scar Man cornered me.
Officer Christine stands by the closed door inside the very bleak and sterile room. I assess it and see there’s one camera in each corner, facing the industrial table and two uncomfortable-looking plastic chairs placed on either side. There’s a two-way mirror running the length of one wall, only one-third of the wall’s height. I can just imagine the people behind that mirror waiting with baited breath to see me spill what I know about the operations of a certain Yakuza boss–Katsu Vang.
The door opens and FBI Man from the castle and who handcuffed me, steps through. He’s a man of approximately 55, with silver strands scattered through his naturally dark hair. Tired and suspicious eyes. Those particular features must come with the job.
“Take a seat, Miss Moore,” FBI Man starts.
“Could you please take the cuffs off me? I can’t exactly go anywhere?” I chuckle.
FBI Man considers my request for a few seconds then gives Officer Christine a small nod. She uncuffs me, and I walk around the small room, rolling my shoulders so they relax.
“Miss Moore.” FBI Man gestures to the seat opposite him. He sits and places a blue manila folder on the table. I comply and take my seat.
“Miss Moore, my name’s Special Agent Peter Trell. You may call me Agent Trell.”
“Am I under arrest?” I sit straight up in my seat with my hands in my lap and my head tilted down just a little, so I’m looking up from under my eye lashes, a submissive posture indicates he has the power of authority over me.
“You’re being held under the suspicion of aiding and abetting in human trafficking.” FBI Man seems to have a certain confidence that telling me what I’m being detained for will have me quivering with fear.
He doesn’t know me.
If I were a regular woman who happened to be Katsu Vang’s girlfriend, I’d probably be singing like the proverbial canary. But I’m not a regular woman.
I’m Anna Brookes. And I won’t give Katsu up to the law because he and I have a special date to keep. A date to end his life.
But first, Ben and I need to find Claire. Katsu’s on the back burner. For now.
“That doesn’t sound too good does it, Agent Trell?” My body language now changes. I place both elbows on the table and entwine my fingers, bringing my chin to rest on them.
“No, Anna they...”
“Miss Moore” I interrupt FBI Man. His eyes shift from the paper to me and he appears annoyed I cut him off.
“Pardon?” His eyebrows shoot up and his mouth flattens into a thin line.
“Miss Moore. I expect the same courtesy I give you, Agent Trell.”
He clears his throat and adjusts his body in the horribly uncomfortable plastic chair.
“As I was saying, Anna, no that doesn’t sound too good. Actually these charges will get you jail time.”
“Sorry, Peter. Again, am I under arrest or am I simply being held? There’s a difference and so far, I haven’t been told I’m under arrest.” I emphasize his name, making it clear how two can play at the game he’s started.
“Well, Miss Moore?” He looks me in the eyes with a pointed ‘eat shit’ grin, “I’ve been speaking to my superiors and they’re under the impression they may be able to help you.”
And here it comes. The ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ pitch. If only they knew who they were dealing with.
“And in exchange for a possibility of assistance you would want what?” Oh, let them think they have me. It’s only a game of chess to me, they make one move and I counter. However I already know I have them at checkmate.
“Well if you could provide some information on the operations of Katsu Vang, take a look at some mug shots and give a description of the people you’ve seen with him. And if you have any knowledge of his outings you could supply us with, then I’m sure we could take jail time off the table and possibly offer you probation with community service.” FBI Man relaxes his pose completely and sits back in his chair. He thinks he has me.
I mirror his pose, all the while concentrating on my facial features, schooling them to read I’m seriously considering his offer.
“I think your offer sounds…what can I say? I think it sounds exceptional and very generous.”
FBI Man smiles, thinking he’s gotten what he wants out of me.
“But first, Agent Trell, show me the evidence you have proving I’ve aided and abetted in human trafficking.”
FBI Man makes an audible gasp.
“I’ll have to confer with my superiors, Miss Moore.”
“Do so. I’ll wait here.” As if I could go anywhere.
Agent Trell takes his manila folder that was clearly just a prop, an attempt to instill fear into me. He pushes the chair away as he gets up and leaves; Officer Christine steps aside, allowing him access.
FBI Man doesn’t come back.
I’ve been sitting in the interrogation room with no other visitors since FBI Man left. It’s now 6:30 a.m., and I haven’t heard anything for the last 5 hours.
The door opens and Officer Christine and I both look to see who’ll come in. No one does. Officer Christine has a hushed conversation with someone and the door flings open and remains open.
“You’re free to go, Miss Moore,” Officer Christine says.
“Thank you,” I say, my only spoken words in the last five and a half hours.
I step out and see a flurry of officers. I don’t see anyone from the castle, FBI Man, or Katsu.
I’m escorted out the front of the station and I look for the one face I need to see.
I hear the rumble of Ben’s Mustang before I see it.
I stand at the curve and he pulls up right in front of me.
Getting in, I notice Ben looks like death warmed over.
“Let’s go find Claire,” I say to him.
Anna
“Do you have your phone, Ben?”
“Yeah, do you need it?”
“Go to the station and leave it in your desk.”
“Why?” he questions me.
“Ben, we do this my way.” I turn my body in the cushy leather seats to watch him. “If you can’t do what I tell you, you’ll get us all killed.”
“Okay, Anna.” He heads toward the station.
“The next thing is there’s no more discussion until I get us to a safe place. Nod if you understand.” Ben nods.
The rest of the ride is silent.
Once we’re at the St. Cloud police station we both exit the Mustang and go inside.
Grace is at the desk and she gives me a small, pained smile when she sees me. She l
ooks like she’s been crying and doesn’t seem her usual self. Ben goes to his office, leaving Grace and me outside to talk.
“Hi there, Anna, how are you? It’s been a long time.” Her voice holds a small tremble and is a lot softer and more subdued than usual.
“I’m great, Grace. How are you?” I choose to ignore her obvious sadness.
“Great too,” she stands to get something from the printer and I notice she has a baby bump.
“Congratulations. How far along are you?” I’m sincerely happy for her.
“Thank you. I’m 21 weeks. I’ve just had a tough couple of weeks.” That explains the sad look.
“Sorry to hear that. Could I use the phone, please?” She gives me the phone and leaves me while I place a call to the local cab company.
When Ben comes out of his office, Ophelia walks up behind him.
“Ben, are you okay? Grace said you’re on emergency family leave.” I watch as Ophelia places her hand on Ben’s forearm. Ben doesn’t break his stride toward me, he just mumbles something.
Ophelia follows him out to the reception area where I’m waiting and I witness her subtle attempts at flirting.
“Hi there, I’m Anna, Ben’s girlfriend.” I stick my hand out to her as Ben stands beside me and puts an arm around my waist.
“Ophelia Woods. Pleased to meet you, Anna.” I take her hand to shake it and I feel nothing at all. No feeling of dread, no feeling of an attacking serpent. Maybe she isn’t the one Katsu’s using as a mole.
“We have to go, baby girl,” Ben whispers in my ear.
“Take care, Grace. You too, Ophelia,” I say to both women as Ben and I make our way to his car.
We stand in front of the Mustang and I’m clear again with my instructions.
“Drive home. Do not say anything in the car. There will be a cab waiting at your house for us or they’ll be there soon after we arrive. Have you got money on you?”
“Yes.” He looks so defeated.
“We’ll find her, Ben.” A small shimmer of hope sparks his eyes for a split second.
“Okay,” he barely exhales the word.
We drive to his house in silence. When we get there, the cab’s already waiting. We get out of the car and go directly to the cab.
Once we’re in it, I give clear instructions to the driver about where to go. Ben looks like he’s barely functioning, let alone paying attention.
We get a mile away from my cabin and I indicate to the driver to leave us where we are.
“Come on, Ben. We need to go the rest of the way on foot.”
“Okay, sweetheart, just lead the way.”
We get to the cabin in twelve minutes.
Once inside I power up the laptop and see my security hasn’t been breached.
Ben looks around and shakes his head.
“You’ve been this close to me and didn’t contact me for all those months?” A small sparkle of life’s coming back to him. “And you’ve been with that Katsu Vang monster?” Anger’s now rising. “Please tell me he hasn’t put his hands on you?” His voice is clearly elevating with agitation.
I take a hesitant step toward Ben, his hands raking through the ends of his hair as he’s pulling and tugging at it. A clear sign he’s stressed.
“Ben, let’s concentrate on Claire for now.” I take another step but I see Ben’s shoulders slump when I say his sister’s name.
“Claire,” he says in a small whisper.
He collapses on the floor. “How do we find her, Anna?” I fall to the floor with him and pull his body into my arms, just trying to soothe him.
“Give me something to work with, Ben. When did she go missing and what do you know about why she was taken?”
Ben swipes a lonely tear from his cheek, and I stand to get him a bottle of water from the fridge. He gets up from the floor and makes his way over to the sofa, where he crumbles.
He tries to regulate his breathing and opens the bottle of water. He takes a long drink, almost emptying the bottle before replacing the lid and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“I think she was taken as a warning to me,” he starts.
“Who would be warning you?”
Ben goes to say something, but he decides against it. He scratches his head and runs his hands through his hair, again.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Something doesn’t seem quite right with Ben.
“Claire’s involved with people she shouldn’t be and I think someone may have taken her because of that, and to warn me.”
“What sort of people are we talking about?”
Again Ben looks like he’s fighting with himself to tell me the truth.
“Look, the more you tell me the easier it will be for me to find who’s taken her and kill them. But if you’ve got secrets and you only tell me half the truth, that’s the quickest way to get all of us killed. And likely, we’ll all be killed in the same place because we’ll be ambushed. Now if Claire’s involved in some bullshit, I need to know what bullshit that is in order to get her back. Give me something to work with for fuck sake, or just say your goodbyes now because you’ll never see her again.”
Ben inhales a deep breath through his mouth. His eyes are down-cast. He sits forward and leans his elbows on his knees, covering his face with his two very large hands.
“She’s involved with the mob.”
Fuck me.
Anna
“The mob? As in the fucking Mafia? Are you fucking kidding me, Ben? Your own fucking sister? How the hell did that happen?” To say I’m pissed off is an understatement.
“Yeah.” He removes his hands and looks up at me.
“Do you know who she’s involved with or who’d come after her and why her?” There are a hundred other questions running through my mind, but I’ll settle on having these answered for now?
“The mob she’s involved with is called the Pace family.” He stands and starts pacing back and forth.
“Okay, calm down and get your fucking head in the game. Tell me what you know.”
He stops his traipsing and leans against the wall.
“She’s involved with the Pace family and they joined forces with the James family to take down a human trafficking shipment that was being sent to Mexico. The girls in the container were as young as six. Claire called me to tell me her ‘bosses’…” He uses air quotes, “…aren’t too keen on human trafficking and wanted to take them down. She asked for police help, but because she didn’t know about the shipment until an hour before, police intervention couldn’t be coordinated quickly enough. Apparently her ‘boss’ had already joined forced with the James family and they were going to do what mob bosses do.”
I think back to the evening after the meeting at the castle when Katsu received a call. ”It appears the Pace family and the James family have joined forces. They’ve taken down a very large shipment of girls we were sending to Mexico.”
“Ben, did Claire mention who owned this shipment of girls that was on its way to Mexico?”
“She wasn’t sure. Her boss didn’t tell her much, which is why she only found out about the shipment an hour before it was happening, not giving me any time to get a strike force together.”
I mull over all the information Ben’s just told me and there’s something here that isn’t right. Ben’s a police officer, and he couldn’t get another government department to help him take down a human trafficking shipment?
When I spoke with Agent late last week he told me of a crooked cop in St. Cloud. Could somebody be blocking Ben’s requests? I need to get in there once we find Claire and sort all that shit out. A female cop on Katsu’s take and a crooked cop selling out to God knows who. Ben certainly has the world on his shoulders at that damn police station.
“Why do you think they took her to warn you? What have you got to do with it?” I’m trying to get my head around all this shit because I can see Ben will be losing his mind soon, with his sister gone and all the information on the two
mob families.
“Because I’m a cop, Anna–maybe they need my cooperation and thought this is the best way to get my attention.” Now I’m running my hands through my hair and tugging at it, just like Ben does when he’s stressed.
I silently get up and take myself to the safe room; I enter the code and close the door. I can think in here away from Ben.
I sit on the floor cross legged.
I breathe in and out slowly. I regulate my breath.
I calm my pulse.
I slow my heart rate.
I let my mind clear of all thoughts.
My eyes snap open and I start formulating a plan.
I’m sure Katsu’s taken Claire and is most likely either torturing her for information on the Pace family and the James family or he’s already killed her.
My first call is to Agent.
I get the phone I had in the safe room and see there’s an email from Agent. When I open it, it’s the blueprint to the castle. I don’t believe I’m going to need that, yet.
Dialing Agent’s number, I’m really hoping he can give me something on Katsu and his whereabouts that may lead me to Claire.
“15, what the hell’s happened to you? I’ve been listening to the FBI taking in Katsu and your alias was mentioned.”
Agent sounds worried.
“It’s fine; they had to let me go. They had nothing on me. But I need some information on Katsu, have you found out anything more on him?”
“Yes. When FBI arrested him they fingerprinted him. I was able to obtain them and have ascertained a lot of information on him. I’ll send it through to your phone, 15.”
“Any information on local properties that aren’t residential?” My mind goes to the warehouse where I was taken for my lie detector test.
“There’re several near his penthouse.” Agent stops and waits for my further instructions.
“I need you to check for heat signatures on all the industrial properties. I need you to tell me if they’ve been used within the last 48 hours.”
“3 hours ETA, 15.” I can hear the distinct clatter of a keyboard having its keys caressed by his determined fingers.
The HiT Series Page 38