“Thank you,” Lydia said as she rose to answer a knock on the door. “Inspector Indo,” she greeted the man at the door. “Come in.”
“I have some news,” Lucas Indo said.
“Please take a seat,” Lydia said. “There’s coffee.”
“Life’s blood,” Lucas said. He poured a cup of coffee and sat.
“What news,” Mycos asked as Lydia returned to sit with him. He felt how tense she was.
“I’ve got the names of the women,” Lucas said putting his coffee cup back in the saucer. “It appears they are three women who were kept by the gangs. Annika Pache, Toiressa Kerwin, and Sabria Schwark.”
Lydia gasped turned her head into Mycos’ shoulder. “Mo chroin,” he murmured as he rubbed her back.
“Did you know them,” Lucas asked frowning.
“They were street kids with me,” Lydia said clearing her throat. “Anni disappeared two years ago. They must have gotten tired of her.”
“You think this was the gangs,” Morgan asked.
“No, I think the girls were rented from the gangs,” Lucas said. “I’ve not spoken to the leader of the gang in your area but I’m trying to track him down.”
“Rented implies the gangs were expecting to have her back,” Abraham said.
“It’s a common practice,” Lucas said.
“They weren’t very old,” Lydia said. “I think the Sabria was the oldest at seventeen. I hadn’t seen her for three years.”
“Her brother is a gang member,” Lucas said. “Apparently to assure his place in the gangs, he gave her to them for …” He sighed.
“I know what happens with girls who are kept by the gangs,” Lydia said. “Why do you think so many of us fought to stay away from them.”
“He gave her to one of the higher lieutenants to assure his place in the gang,” Lucas said. “The lieutenant apparently expressed an interest in her.”
“It’s common,” Lydia said.
“It’s tragic,” Morgan said. “Why haven’t the police cracked down on these gangs? When you say rented, you mean sexually, right? Basically they treated her as a slave. This is…”
Lydia reached over to pat Morgan’s knee. “It is but there’s little we can do about it at this time,” she said.
“Do you think they were bought for the sole purpose of pointing you in the direction of the gangs,” Abraham asked.
“I believe it’s a misdirection,” Lucas said. “If the locals had come up with the lead, they could have pointed to the gang problem in general and said they don’t have the resources.”
“The case would have gone cold and that would have been the end of it,” Abraham said.
“Likely,” Lucas said. “However, this news paired with the trace on the explosives gives two different pictures.”
“The source of the explosives,” Lydia asked. “Military?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Lucas said.
“Not stolen,” Abraham said. “At least not officially.”
“They led to a facility which has extremely tight security and has reported nothing missing,” Lucas said. “However, we are looking into links between personnel at that location to others in the government.”
“The senator,” Mycos asked.
“Possibly,” Lucas said. “I’m following the evidence. I know it’s slow going, but the evidence will lead us where we need to go.”
“What other leads do you have,” Lydia asked.
“Leads… leads I’m not willing to talk about,” Lucas said. “When I get concrete evidence, I’ll let you know. Until then, this is what I have for an update.”
“One step forward,” Lydia said.
“Several steps forward,” Lucas said. “Did Nic know any of these girls?”
“I’ll let her know,” Lydia said. “Thank you for thinking of it.”
“Their names will be released tonight,” Lucas said.
“We will make sure she knows before then,” Mycos said.
“Good,” Lucas said. “I’ve enjoyed her quick mind and sharp tongue. I’d say if she didn’t have a previous commitment, I’d direct her to be an investigator.”
“She might be,” Mycos said. “On our worlds.”
“Good,” Lucas said. He put his coffee cup on the tray. “Thank you for the coffee.”
“Investigator,” Lydia said. “Who are you leaning towards?”
“I’m not,” Lucas said as he stood. “I have to be objective. I cannot afford to look at anything but the evidence.”
***
Nic worked through the moves of one of the Hylatians training. She controlled her motion and movements completely as she worked through one routine after another. Landros watched her for the last hour. She never faltered, never lost focus but he could tell she was disturbed. She wobbled as she held a pose with her one leg extended up. As she moved into the next pose, Landros strode across the workout room, blocked her move.
“Not now,” she grumbled at him. Turning her back on him, she started to do the next pose.
“Now,” Landros said. “Talk to me.”
She shook her head, started to move away. He grabbed her, spun her around. She threw up her arm to block him, push him back. He stayed, blocked her strike. Anger boiled over in her, she threw another and another.
Landros let her batter him, though none of her blows hit him. She moved closer and closer, until he took her wrists and twisted them behind her back. She choked, swallowed and tried to escape him but he held on. “Mo chroin,” he murmured as he held her immobile against him.
Nic turned her face into his chest and choked out a sob. He pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her. Slowly she embraced him, held him and cried. He picked her up, rocked her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
“I love you,” he murmured in Hylatian. “I am here, take my strength, take my heart. It is all here for you.”
“Oh Landros,” she murmured into his neck when the wave of tears eased. “I’m not some weak…”
“Never,” Landros said. “They were your friends.”
“I didn’t do anything for them,” Nic choked out the words. “I suspected but I didn’t do anything.”
“What could you have done other than get taken yourself,” Landros said. He sat on the mat, holding her close to him, stroking a hand down her hair, her back to comfort her.
“I hate this world. I hate how girls are treated,” she said. “We’re nothing here. It’s like we’re expendable, unimportant.”
“You are very important,” Landros said he rocked with her, held her tight, and grieved with her. “This world is backwards.”
“I know a ship is leaving soon,” Nic said. “I wish we could go on it.”
“But you want to stay with your sisters,” Landros said.
“Yes,” she said her body shuddered another time as she took an unsteady breath. “I want to be at your worlds.”
“Why,” Landros asked.
“By the time we get there, I’ll be of age,” Nic said.
“There is no age limit,” Landros said. “I know on this world, eighteen is the age of consent but if you are not ready at eighteen, I will wait.”
“Really,” Nic asked.
“You set the pace,” he said. “I do all of this for you. One of my uncles found his mate when he was fourteen and she was three. She made him wait until she was in her twenties. Patience runs in my family.”
Reaching up, she pressed her lips to his. Gently, he responded, held her close and let her explore. When she pulled away, her heart seemed to stutter. “I’m sorry I got all weepy on you,” she said.
“Do not ever be sorry for sharing your emotions with me,” Landros said. “Your emotions make you stronger and bring us closer.”
“I always feel stupid when I cry,” Nic said.
“Why,” Landros asked.
“Because… huh. I guess I thought having them makes me weaker,” Nic said.
“They do not
,” Landros said. “
“You make me stronger,” she whispered. “I know you will protect me and you give me courage.”
“Mo chroin,” Landros said. “You do this for me.”
***
“Milady,” Landros said. “A van approaches the gate.”
Lydia asked, “Have you scanned?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Landros said. “No explosives but a lot of people crammed into it. There’s a male driving.”
“Send a squad down to meet them,” Lydia said. “Make sure they have their armor.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Landros said. “Do you want me to send the girls downstairs?”
Lydia considered for several long moments. “Not unless you think it’s necessary,” she said.
“They are in school,” Landros said.
“All the women who want more knowledge are spending a lot of time using your education devices,” Lydia said. “Go see to the visitor and let’s find out what they want.”
Landros left her in Mycos’ office, leaving two men to stand watch in case this was more than a drop off of women.
When the gate opened, the van pulled up to the house. The man jumped out of the front, went to the back to open the door. “Come on,” he said. Tattoos covered his arms and neck, peeked out from his open collar.
“You’re sure this is the right place,” a small black haired woman said.
“Stop,” Manere ordered.
“Look,” the man said putting several women behind him. “We don’t want no trouble.”
“State your reason for being here,” Manere demanded.
“These women are in danger if they stay here,” he said. “They want to go with you… guys.”
“Do you have any weapons,” Manere asked.
“No,” he said. “Only the women.”
“This is my brother,” the black-haired woman said. “Please if we go back it will be…”
“Is Jenna here,” another woman asked. “She knows me.”
“Please don’t send us back,” a small blond woman said.
Paric said, “No weapons or explosives.” New to the planet, he watched as the women crowded around Manere.
“We will not send you back,” Manere said. “You may come in. If there is any aggression, we will use force to stop you.”
“We understand,” the man said.
“This is my brother,” the dark-haired woman said. “Can he please come in with us?”
Manere gave him a once over and decided. “He may come in but he may have to be searched,” he said.
“I got nothing on me,” he said putting his arm around his sister.
“Come this way,” Paric said, tall and lean he watched all for any suspicious moves. When he met the eyes of the black-haired woman, he knew she was his mate. Manere seeing his look nudged him, made him look away from the woman. Paric nodded but kept glancing at her.
“I’m Andrea,” she said. “This is my brother Byron. Neither of us can go back.”
“I can’t stay,” Byron said.
“They’ll know it was you,” Andrea said. “He’s with the gangs. Please don’t hurt him. They didn’t blow up those poor girls.”
“What do you want here,” Manere asked.
“We were taken by the gangs,” the blond said. “They kept us… we’ve escaped from them and we want to be safe.”
Surveying the foyer, Manere counted thirteen women and one man staring at him, hope and fear warred on their faces. “How old are you,” Manere asked Byron.
“I’m…” Byron said.
“He’s sixteen,” Andrea said. “He’s gonna lie to you and tell you he’s eighteen but he’s not. Our parents died in the plague. He’s all I’ve got for family.”
“He gave you to the gangs,” Paric asked frowning.
“He protected me from them,” Andrea said. Her dark brown eyes bore into Paric’s. “He kept them from seeing me and knowing I was around. I hid in our apartment. If it weren’t for the gangs we would have been on the street and without food. He did all of this for me.”
“How old,” Manere asked.
“I joined the gangs when I was ten,” Byron said. “We moved into a one bedroom after our parents died. No one was in there. When the landlord came around, we paid him and he said nothing.”
“A warrior,” Paric said in Hylatian glancing at Manere.
“I will get Lady Lydia to speak with you,” Manere said. “Please wait here.”
Andrea gripped her brother’s arm, he pulled her close and patted her back, comforting her.
“You have taken good care of each other,” Paric said.
“She took care of me,” Byron said.
“We took care of each other,” Andrea said. “Are you a soldier?”
“For this trip, I am,” Paric said.
“When you aren’t being a soldier,” Byron asked.
“My family has many farms,” Paric said. “Back home, it’s planting time.”
“Long days,” Byron asked.
“Very long days,” Paric said smiling. “Exhausted at the end of the day but satisfied with a good day’s work.”
“I’d like that,” Byron said. “Better than… You’re only taking women.”
“We’re taking families,” Lydia said. “I know you.”
“I’m pretty sure you elbowed me a time or two,” Byron said.
“Yes, but you never held too tight,” Lydia said. “I recognize several of you. Were you all taken by the gangs?”
“There are a few who have hidden from them,” Andrea said. She pointed to a few younger girls.
“Anyone underage,” Lydia asked. “Be honest. If you aren’t, it will cause problems.”
“Because if you take underage girls, the government gets involved,” Andrea said. “There are six. Come on, step forward.”
The six younger women stepped forward. “We need to know your ages and birthdates,” Lydia said. “As soon as you turn eighteen you can make your own decisions. Landros, will you contact Sally and let her know we have more guests for her.”
“Yes, milady,” Landros said.
“Please don’t make us go back to the streets,” Millie said. “I’m sixteen. I won’t last two years on the streets.”
“We have a safe place for you to stay on this world,” Lydia said. “The adults can mix with the men to see if they find a mate.”
“If we don’t, will we have to leave,” Andrea asked.
“There are thirteen worlds with more men on them,” Lydia said. “If your mate is not here and you’re willing, you may join one of the ships returning to the Hylatian home worlds.”
“We don’t have to… we’re safe,” one of the women said. Weeping and laughter echoed around the foyer.
“You’re safe within the confines of this compound,” Lydia said. “You’re safe with the men who seek mates. There are education programs you will be required to take to learn about the home worlds and their laws.”
“School,” one woman said wrinkling her nose in distaste.
“Don’t knock it,” Nic said. She walked to Landros, squeezed his hand, before joining Lydia. “The programs help you more than you can imagine and it’s nothing like the schools here.”
“I’m for it,” Andrea said. “Can my brother stay?”
“For now,” Lydia said. “There are those who will want to question him about the gangs.”
“I can stay with my sister,” Byron asked. “Really?” His eyes glistened and he blinked rapidly.
“You will have to meet with Lord Mycos,” Lydia said. “If you’re here to give the gangs a way into this compound, you should think twice about betraying us.”
“We won’t betray you,” Andrea said. “Not if you get us away from the gangs.”
***
“Do you think it wise to allow a member of the gang in your home,” Abraham asked as they met to discuss security issues.
“He is sincere,” Mycos said.
“What makes you so sur
e,” Lucas asked.
“He’s asked to see as little of the house as possible,” Lydia said. “He said if he didn’t know about it, he couldn’t be blamed if information leaked.”
“Smart boy,” Lucas said. “Is he willing to answer questions about the gangs?”
“Do you still consider them suspects,” Lydia asked.
“Not serious ones,” Lucas said. “It would be nice to be able to eliminate them.”
“He has already agreed to answer all questions,” Mycos said. “He is staying in the men’s area in the basement. He has access to the women’s hall so he can visit his sister.”
“But not the training area or some of the other areas,” Abraham said. “Good.”
“He wants to train with our men but understands he needs to build trust,” Lydia said as she poured more water into her glass. When she offered to the rest around the table, only Abraham took her up on it.
“Sally,” Lydia said. “Can you give us your update?”
“Do you really want me here for this,” Lucas asked.
“You will see holes in our security,” Gregor said. Lucas nodded and settled in.
“Our guests have increased,” Sally said. “All beds are full.”
“All sections,” Mycos asked.
“The underage area is overflowing,” Sally said. “Ages range from eight to seventeen. We’ve made pallets for them on the floor and added bunkbeds.”
“More keep coming,” Gregor said. He shook his head. “How can this world abandon those who need help the most?”
“A question I’m not sure can be answered,” Abraham said. “What is the count up to?”
“The single women have all moved here,” Sally said. “This gives us more space for the underage but we’re up to a hundred thirty one.”
“You have children as young as eight who were surviving on the streets,” Lucas said.
“Many of our younger guests have older siblings who helped look out for them, but we have a few who were on their own,” Sally said. Tears rushed to her eyes as she considered these children. Gregor rubbed her back. Blinking the tears back, she said, “We search for family, immediate or extended. So far, we’ve found none. These are all orphans.”
“Were they in foster care,” Lydia asked.
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