by S. M. Shade
Grabbing the documents, I nod. “I’ve got this.”
“You need to check in with us once a day using the burner phone. Always keep it on you. These guys don’t fuck around. They’ll be watching you. You need to stay away from anywhere you normally would have gone. Different grocery store, gym, everything. There can be no contact with friends or family. If you’re made, the assholes won’t hesitate to use them against you.”
“I understand.” Turning to Dare, I tell him, “Tell Sadie…” The realization strikes me. I can’t tell her anything without putting her at risk too. “Tell her I had to work, and I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.”
I hate the thought of being away from her, and I can’t even tell her why. I won’t even have a chance to say goodbye.
“I’ll take care of it,” Dare assures me.
Agent Murphy regards me. “Your car is out front. The address to your apartment is in the paperwork I just gave you. Go, get settled in, and make it look like you’ve lived there forever. Keep in touch and let us know what’s going on. I’m sure they’ll want to test you, give you hoops to jump through.”
Agent Michaels produces a flash drive. “Which brings us to this. These are fabricated photos that appear to be young girls in sexual situations.”
“I’m not touching any kiddie porn! Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“They aren’t real. We’ve taken photos of toddlers, changed the hair color and eye color, and age progressed them to teenagers. These kids don’t exist. You aren’t hurting anyone. And you know as well as I do they’re going to want you to incriminate yourself. Possessing and sending child porn is a common way to test you.”
Fuck, this whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.
“Anything else?”
“Don’t fuck up and get yourself killed.”
* * * *
It’s been a week and I’m already sick of being Jackson Crowe. I’ve continued to participate in the forums, talking to men who make me want to puke, then gouge out their eyeballs.
As the agent predicted, I receive a request to send kiddie porn to an email address, and after I do, they seem a lot more willing to talk to me. The sick fucks who really are there to abuse kids often share photos and videos on the forum, so I also post the faked photos there.
I assume I’ve become a trusted member of their little community when I get a private message from a Mr. Bishop, the man auctioning off the women, including my sister. He states he’d be willing to sell to me, but insists I try out a few others first, to make sure Hannah is the one I want.
I argue that I’m not into little girls, that I’m looking for a young woman in her early twenties, hence my interest in Hannah, but all that gets me is a promise to send a woman in that age group.
Fuck. I know what this is about. The agents told me it was a possibility. Incriminating myself with photos isn’t enough. They want to see I’m willing to pay for sex, to use the women. There is no way in hell I’m fucking one of them, whether they’re over eighteen or not, but I have to do something.
I’ll find a way to get the woman alone, fake sex sounds, whatever. With a knot in my stomach, I arrange a “date” for this evening.
“Jackson, what is it?” Agent Michaels answers when I call him from the burner phone.
It takes me a second to realize I’m Jackson. I can’t get used to the name. “Seriously? That’s how you answer a phone? No Hello, how are you?”
“I’m not your damn girlfriend. Now, what’s going on?”
My girlfriend. Sadie flashes through my mind for the thousandth time since I became Jackson. I might not have a girlfriend when this is over. I can’t think about that right now.
“They’ve arranged a date for me tonight. Promised she’d be of age. Eight o’clock at the Jimson Hotel.”
“We’ll be monitoring.”
“Yeah, just like that? I’m supposed to fuck her?”
Sighing, Agent Michaels replies, “Do what you have to do. She’ll be willing. Hopefully, this will be the last obstacle.”
“She’ll be willing because she doesn’t have a fucking choice,” I snap. “I’ll find a way around it.”
“I’m sending you a picture. Commit it to memory and delete it. We have an agent on the inside, a young woman who looks much younger than she is. You may run into her at some point.”
“She’s posing as a sex slave?” Christ, she’s actually fucking guys to infiltrate them?
“Yes.” His curt response tells me he doesn’t like it either. “Check in tonight when you return home.”
“Got it.” I hang up and flop onto the tiny sofa. Home. This fucking place isn’t home. Home is where Sadie is. God, I miss her. Staring at the burner phone in my hand, I consider calling her. After a few moments, I toss it aside. What am I going to say? Hey, sorry you haven’t heard from me in over a week, and by the way, I have a date tonight?
Another bad thing about being Jackson is having too much time alone to think. When this is all over, even if everything goes the way I hope, everything will change. I’ll have Hannah back, but in what condition? I have no idea what she’s been through, but I know it has to be horrible.
She’ll have to be my main concern, getting her well, making sure she’s happy. I have to make up for all the years I failed to protect her. How can I do that and maintain a relationship with Sadie? If that were the only obstacle, I could find a way, but there’s so much more. I’m a murderer. Granted, the men I’ve killed deserved it, but somehow, I doubt that would make a difference.
Hannah, ISH, my ability to kill without a shred of remorse. What the hell made me think I could ever have a relationship with a woman? Sadie deserves better. I can’t call her. Even when this is over, I have to let her go.
Eight o’clock approaches far too quickly, and before I know it, I’m headed to the Jimson Motel. It feels like all eyes are on me as I make my way up to the fourth floor to room 413. Like everyone can see I’m some scumbag here to pay for sex. Logically, I know it’s because I’m too damn handsome, but still.
A young woman with red hair so light it’s nearly pink answers the door. Of course, they think I like redheads.
A plastic smile is painted on her face. “Mr. Crowe, come in.”
A large burly man waits inside, his arms folded across his chest. “Don’t mind Dak, he’s here to see to my safety. I’m Maya.”
“No offense, babe, but I’m not into threesomes or being watched.”
Laughing, she shakes her head. “After you pay him for my time, he’ll wait in the bar downstairs.” She approaches and runs her hand down my arm. “You’ll have me all to yourself.”
That’s a relief. “Here you go, bruiser,” I tell the guy, handing him the money. “Just don’t eat me.”
“Never heard that one before,” Dak grunts, and counts the money before leaving the room.
Fortunately, there’s no adjoining room to worry about, so when I lock the hotel door, I know it’s safe. When I turn around, the woman has stripped to her panties and bra. Fuck, Sadie would kill me if she knew. I know it’s over, but she doesn’t which makes this really wrong.
“Hold up, babe.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, would you like to undress me?”
“Erm…no. This is going to sound weird, but I don’t want to have sex with you. I mean, I do, but…I can’t. I’m impotent!” I blurt. The guys would never let me live it down if they knew I said that.
She tilts her head. “So, what is it you want?”
“Company.” I shrug. “I just…didn’t want to be alone tonight.”
A wide smile spreads across her face. “That’s not as odd as you might think. I’m happy to keep you company.”
She sits at the table across from me. “I need one more thing. I don’t want your boss to know this is why I hired you. It’s embarrassing. And …you know, if we have fun, I could hire you again.”
Laughing, she gets up and slides her dress back on. “I won’t say anything. If he kne
w I got off this easy, I’d have four more dates arranged tonight. Your secret’s safe with me.”
Relief floods though me. If she went back and told Bishop I didn’t fuck her, he’d never trust me.
“So, what do you want to do?” she asks.
“American Ninja Warrior is on TV.”
Kicking off her heels, she jumps on the bed. “Sounds good to me.”
* * * *
The next two weeks pass the same way. I go on two more dates, another with Maya, and one with another woman who is only too happy with the set up as well. So far so good.
Bishop finally gets in touch by email and informs me he’s sending a car for me so we can complete our business.
My stomach churns, but no matter what, I can’t back out now. I need them to think they can trust me, that I’m a high roller who can bring them even more business after I purchase my own slave.
Sharing the sickening child porn—and therefore putting myself at risk— lowered their guard, as did my dates, but I’m well aware it might not be the last test I have to pass.
A black town car arrives at my fake apartment, and a man the size of a house knocks on the door. Christ, I thought Dare was big. This guy makes him look like a munchkin. A lump under his arm shows me he’s packing.
“Mr. Crowe?”
“Yes.”
“Come with me.”
So much for the small talk. I can’t make out the driver behind the heavily tinted windows, but I'm sure he’s armed as well. The giant slides into the backseat with me, signaling the driver to go. He also confiscates my cell phone and runs a metal detector wand over to me to check for other recording devices.
“How far are we going?”
“Downtown. Mr. Bishop wants to speak with you privately.”
Silence fills the car for the twenty minute trip downtown. I’m surprised when we pull up at a high class hotel. The giant grunts at me to get out, and I’m escorted through the lobby and up to the fourth floor. We stop in front of room 422 and the giant knocks.
The man who answers the door wears an oily smile to match his hair. Dressed in a tailored suit, he looks ready to step into a boardroom, but his business is much seedier. “Thank you. I’ll take it from here.”
The giant grunts and hands him my phone before leaving. Thankfully, it’s the dummy phone I carry for just this kind of situation, full of fake numbers and contacts.
Eyeing me with suspicion cloaked in a smile, he steps back. “Come in, Mr. Crowe. I’ve been expecting you.”
Another man sits in the corner of the room, a pistol lying on the table in front of him. “Don’t mind Randall. He likes to watch.”
Bishop studies my reaction, his eyes glinting with predatory malice. He’s thin and quite a bit older than me. Frankly, I could break this little fucker in half, but I nod at him, and take a step back, pretending to be as intimidated as he wants. Narcissists are the easiest people to manipulate. Their egos are right there in the open, waiting to be stroked.
“I understand you have an interest in one of my girls.”
“Ruby.”
“Ah, yes, Ruby. Who doesn’t love a redhead?”
She’s not a redhead, you piece of shit. “She’s very beautiful. Tell me, is she obedient?” Years of talking to perverts online have been practice for this, but I’ve never had to spew this shit face to face.
Laughing, he pours two tumblers of whiskey and hands me one. “All my girls are obedient. It’s just like training a dog, you know.”
Bile rises in my throat. “Good. I don’t want to waste time training her. I want a girl who will do as I say, whether it’s cleaning my house, or sucking my cock.”
“Well said,” he responds, raising his glass before draining it. I follow suit, trying not to wince at the taste. I hate hard liquor.
“So, your price for Ruby is—
“Not so fast. Why, we hardly know each other. And I’ve come to realize the best way to get to know a man is to watch him fuck.”
No. I know where this is heading.
“I’m flattered, Mr. Bishop, but you have too much cock for me.”
The asshole laughs aloud. “I’m afraid you do as well. Luckily, I brought one of my new girls, Jana.”
No. Fuck no, this isn’t happening. He wants me to rape a girl to prove I’m trustworthy. I’ll do anything in my power to save my sister, but I can’t do that. My panic is short lived as he calls for Jana to come in from the bathroom.
Mason is a damned miracle worker, or at least his FBI contact is. The woman who enters is the same one Agent Michaels showed me a picture of weeks ago. She looks young, but she’s an agent, undercover for a few weeks now. Her testimony and mine are what they’re counting on to bring this operation down.
“Hello, Mr. Crowe.” She glides up to me, wearing nothing but red lace panties and a matching bra. “I’m Jana.”
Turning to Bishop, I shake my head. “I’m not really into being watched.”
Randall picks up the gun from the table, and a smile spreads across Bishop’s face. “I’m afraid I must insist.” He gestures to a phone propped up on the nightstand. “Fuck her, and we’ll come to a deal for Ruby. If you fuck me over, I have a video to ensure you go down with me.”
Jana’s hand slides under my shirt and she says, “Give me a chance. I can make you feel so good.” When she leans to kiss my ear she whispers, “It’s okay. Just do it. We need this.”
Fuck fuck fuck. She’s not an innocent underage girl, but she is in a position where she can’t say no. One glance at Randall tells me I have no choice. I can fuck her, or end up with a bullet in my head. Probably her too.
“I don’t have a condom.”
Jana gives a fake giggle and pulls out the drawer beside the bed, displaying an array of condoms, lube and sex toys.
Resigned, I grab a new tube of lube and a rubber. Jana crawls backward on the bed, sliding her panties off and opening and closing her legs, giving me a glimpse of her pussy. The flat look in her eyes tells me she isn’t really seeing me now, she’s gone to whatever place in her head allows her to fuck strangers without giving up a piece of herself.
Sadie’s blue eyes flash in my mind, and as guilty as I feel that I’m about to cheat on her, I know picturing her is the only way I’m going to get hard. Shoving my pants and underwear down, I grip my cock, stroking it while I imagine Sadie’s hands on me, her plump lips wrapped around me. The condom rolls on smoothly, and I coat it in lube since I doubt this situation will make Jana wet.
Bishop takes a seat across the table from Randall, and I try to block them out. At least they’re far enough away so we can whisper and not be heard. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, we don’t have a choice, and it’s not the first time. Just do it. Doggy style.” Running her hands over my chest, she gives me a wide smile.
“How do you want me?” she asks, loud enough for them to hear.
“On your hands and knees,” I order, barely recognizing my own voice.
Her ass is toward me now, and we’re faced away from the two psychos watching. Closing my eyes, I picture Sadie. I keep her in my mind’s eye as I slide inside Jana. All I can see is Sadie’s smile, hear her sexy giggle, as I thrust in and out.
Jana plays her part, moaning and begging for more, and I throw in an ass slap every now and then until finally, I feel my release building. I’ve never wanted to come less in my life, but my body doesn’t know that, and I empty into her with a grunt.
“Not even a hint of foreplay!” Bishop laughs, clapping his hands. “Ruthless.”
Leaning over Jana’s back, I whisper, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, fine.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I know, just keep playing the game.”
Pulling out of her, I yank off the condom and toss it in the wastebasket beside the bed. “You can get dressed. I’m done,” I bark, before turning to Bishop. “Now, about Ruby?”
“Seventy-five thousand in cash,” Bishop announces.
Fastening my pants, I face him. “I can have it as soon as the bank opens tomorrow.”
“Meet me back here at five p.m. tomorrow and I’ll bring the girl. No refunds. If she gives you trouble or escapes, you’re shit out of luck. If you get busted, you never heard of me. Fuck me over and there’s nowhere you can run where I won’t find you.”
“Understood. I can keep a bitch under control.”
Laughing, he slaps me on the back like we’re old friends. “I don’t doubt that.” He opens the door and I take the hint, walking out. “Five o’clock tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here.”
I’m relieved he didn’t insist on taking me home. I need time to think, to try to come to terms with what I just did.
* * * *
Tomorrow. After eight years of searching, I’m going to see my sister again. The dummy phone rings and it’s Agent Michaels. Trying to get my shit together, I accept the call.
“Yeah.”
“Crowe?”
“It’s me. Everything is going as planned.”
“They agreed to the transaction?”
“Yes, the day after tomorrow. Redfern Hotel.” I try to sound natural, sure that the lie is evident in my voice. Their plan isn’t my plan. I want my sister out. Before any raids or takedowns or any other shit that’ll mean she has to testify. I don’t want her anywhere near when the shit goes down. After we’re clear, I’ll call them in, tell them the truth so they can take down the operation.
“That doesn’t match the intel from our agent.”
Fuck. “I don’t want my sister in the middle of this shit!” I exclaim, running my hand through my hair. “Let me make the trade and get her clear before you start chucking tear gas or whatever the hell you do.”
A heavy sigh emanates from his end of the line. “We’ll give you as much time as we can, but this has to be choreographed perfectly. We need to raid all three houses at the same time, and we need this bastard in custody before we do.”