“Lewis, just how tall are you?”
“Six, nine...or so the doctor always told me growing up. I’m a little older so it's possible I shrank an inch or two.”
“I doubt that's possible, you are like a freaking giant to me and my five, six ass. You make me feel like a hobbit.”
“Well, you do kind of look a little like Frodo.”
She said, “Haha! Very funny,” as she made her way to the cordoned off section, along with the other three. Mike was up first and he looked terrified and unsure. Vylette could hear the softness of Lewis' voice while he assured Mike it wouldn't hurt and he would barely feel it. She adjusted her position so she could peek around the curtain. Mike was laying in the reclined type chair, with a small tin table between him and Lewis, who had his back to her. Looking a bit further, she watched the guard somehow slip the small device into a needle and shoot it into Mike's arm. Cringing, she absently rubbed her own arms.
I hate needles. He is either a tough guy or a really good sport, I’ve never seen him even make a face or suggest it hurt. Hey, maybe it doesn't...
Mike got up from the chair and it was her turn. She shuffled over and sat in his place and waited for Lewis to stab her. His voice was just as smooth as before.
“You will only feel a little twinge, it doesn't hurt. The worst part is the needle point breaking the skin.”
She eyed him wearily. “I doubt that, I hate these things. They always hurt.”
She turned away determined not to look. Don't look it won't hurt.
“Tell when you are about to poke me.”
All was silent for a moment. Icy coolness coated her skin and she knew he was cleaning the area where he would stick her. The back of her arm, held tighter in his grip indicated that he was about ready for it.
Here goes...
She gritted her teeth and waited...and waited.
Huh?
She glanced back and Lewis still holding her arm, was also doing his best no to laugh.
“Are you going to make it, Vylette?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Quit making fun of me and just get it over with.”
He wasn't the only one laughing, her classmates joined in the round of chuckles.
“What?”
Lewis filled her in on what she missed.
“Vylette, the tracking device is already in your arm.”
Moving her arm this way and that, feeling around just to be sure. She felt the alcohol, but she never felt the needle go through her skin. Her hand pulled on her skin, looking for a puncture wound and found a tiny speck of blood on her inner arm. Proof, he had indeed stuck her.
“Well, I'll be...you were right...I never felt it.”
“You will learn, what I say is golden.”
As much as she didn't want to, with the smirk on his face, she smiled back.
“Yeah. Yeah.”
She hopped out of the chair and headed to the little desk across the way where Hardass was activating their trackers, leaving a smirking, chuckling, Lewis to aggravate the others.
I am so glad he is going to be on my team. I feel safer already.
Taking the seat, Hardass offered, she sat down and waited for his instructions.
“Okay, Vylette, I need to prick your finger...”
He did.
“...and I am going to input it into the system to match it up with your tracker...and...Viola! We are done. If you will look up at the wall map, you will see you are now a blinking red dot. Active and safe.”
She glanced up and spotted her number right away. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, it showed her exact location on another screen, her stats next to her picture.
Vylette Echo: Special Ops Status: Classified TN# 33EV42 Location. US Academy/Culture
“Okay, that is just scary cool.”
“That's how we do things around here...Scary cool,” Hardass answered.
Once all of them had their trackers in and active, it was time to hear about where they were headed and what they were up against. She had pulled up a chair, and using a small piece of desk, scribbled notes on the mission as Hardass Haiden spoke in detail on what had happened and what they were expected to do.
“As you can see this is a map of Florida, and here is where you will land. A limo will be waiting for you at the airport to drive you here to your hotel in West Palm Beach. A logistics and back up team is already there, set up in the hotel monitoring things while they wait for you. We recently caught wind that Drekkon Wyndmire is in town. In the 1970s he was a young up and coming mob boss assistant, since then he has built quite an empire. He is one of the biggest catches in the trafficking world and as luck would have it in Florida scouting new talent...talent as in new ladies to steal, at the annual End of Summer Bash thrown every year by one of his associates. We have Intel that suggests each year two to four girls are taken from this party, but as he has paid for half the police force in WPB, no one has asked many questions.”
Vylette asked what she knew the rest of them were thinking.
“Then how did we find out about it?”
“Well, because we own the other half...of Florida. It has been a five year sting operation to finally get this far and with all the intel, plus this party, we have enough information to rescue any of the girls he brings for entertainment to this year's event, any that he takes and the best part, we have the locations of where he is keeping all the others.”
It was Mike's turn to ask questions.
“Are they all in Florida?”
“No. You guys will be responsible for rescuing the new ones, and the entertainment, we already have teams on the ground awaiting instructions to get the others. What we have decided is to have all the girls at every location to be rescued at the same time, that way when it gets back to Wynmire, he won't be able to give orders to have the others moved. I mean, he will of course, go that route, but they will be gone and he will be left...well we will see how this plays out.”
Jazmin, who was always the quiet one, asked a question even Vylette was going to wait and see if they just gave the order rather than bring it up.
“Is there an 'approach with extreme prejudice' order for him and his men?”
You could have heard a pin drop the room got so quiet. Everyone knew what that meant in this business.
“Yes, there is, but not from your team.”
That kind of got the room heated, as all four of the new agents got in an uproar.
“What?”
“Hold on!” Vylette quieted the others. “What are our orders and who is going to take him out? How is this going to work?”
Haiden was quickly explaining, “You four are the extraction team only. You will take out any opposition that comes against you, but first and foremost, you are to rescue the captives. Mr. Buchanan is already in Florida in negotiation meetings with Wyndmire. He has the order for Florida. The original meeting was for a group of women in one of his overseas locations, and then we got lucky and found one location after another. So to buy us time to pull this off, Mr. Buchanan is in another meeting vying for the purchase of additional women. There are four locations overseas and one in Florida. The other teams have their orders.
You four, this is the run down. Vylette and Jazmin, we are sending you to the End of Summer Bash as college students. It is your objective to be the ones captured by him and put with the other girls. It is imperative he want you both. You two will be the inside eyes and first command of rescue. While you are on the plane you are to study and learn the layout of this location. We have for you surveillance footage and pictures of heat signatures from inside the building to give an idea of where the women and the guards are located. Since we do not actually have eyes inside, this is the best we have.”
“What is plan B?” Jazmin asked.
“What do you mean Plan B?”
“What I mean is, what if Vylette and I are not picked. Then what?”
“Then you rely on your training and find another way. There are
so many variables in this situation we can't accurately come up with a plan B. We will be in constant contact with all of you, and improvise as we go if need be. Once we know what's going on, then we can formulate a plan to get you where you need to be.”
“Okay fair enough.”
Vylette sat in awe at the moment of Jazmin. The girl had gone from the scared little recruit that she’d had to take responsibility for to the aggressive, let’s make a plan and destroy shit, woman. She had a great head on her shoulders, a quick wit and could now take orders like any other soldier. She was Vylette's favorite person to take on mock missions because they worked so well together. Hardass Haiden went on with further instructions.
“Now guys, you will also attend the party as potential scouts. You are just coming into the business and looking to start a small company, so just a few girls to get you going. Ask for blondes only, now that Jazmin and Vylette have blonde hair, that may help put them on his radar. For the most part, since you are going is as potential clients, hang out at the party, mingle and get as much information as you can.
“Under no circumstance are any of you to acknowledge or communicate at this party with the exception of the two girls who will be together and the two guys will be together.
“If there are any questions, ask them now. If not, head to your rooms, change into some street clothes and head to the limo.”
It was all quiet in the command center for a few minutes, the recruits letting it all sink in and the instructors awaiting any questions. Vylette had a last question before she went on. “I have a question. What about Lewis? He is supposed to be with on all my missions.”
Hardass looked back at Lewis, who looked to be wondering the same thing and back to her.
“He will be at the party, keeping an eye on you from a distance. He will be given a hand held device, that looks like a cell phone, to keep track of all of you, but since we want you and Jazmin caught you can't be seen hanging out with him.”
“I don't like it,” Lewis said. “This is their first mission and it feels like we are throwing the girls to the wolves. I was under the assumption I would be with them.”
“If you have a better plan, Lewis, please let em know. I don't like it either, but that being said, if I thought Vylette and her team couldn't pull it off, I wouldn't do it and neither would Mr. Buchanan.”
Vylette shared a look with Lewis, and they both caved. The two had gotten close enough they could almost read each other's mind. Plus Lewis, knew Vylette had the attitude, to agree and then do whatever she felt was the best course of action. She turned to her team.
“Are we all in agreement with this plan? We still have time to work this out.”
By a show of shaking heads and a murmured, “Yes.” her team agreed with the plan. She glanced at Hardass. “Then let the team in Florida know we are coming.”
Chapter 27
Vylette, with Jazmin at her side, walked into the party at the huge lush beach house of Wyndmire's associate, Baxter. The large three story stucco mansion was elaborately decorated in warm colors despite the fact it was located right on the beach. As they walked and mingled through the crowd, heading toward the bar, their sundresses rubbing against their freshly tanned skin, Vylette protested not only her shoes, but her outfit.
“I hate dresses and heels!”
“I think they are cute outfits. We fit in very well here. It is what all the girls are wearing, look around. Well, the ones who aren't prancing around in bikini's.”
Vylette did indeed take notice of their surroundings and the hundreds of people who attended this event. The men were dressed in anything from suits to beach shorts and the women, like Jazmin pointed out were in anything from dresses to bikini's to denim shorts and bathing suit tops. She spotted a few who actually wore shirts and tanks with their shorts. Looking around, she suddenly felt very unqualified for this mission.
She turned to Jazmin. “How are we supposed to know which of these woman are captives and which aren't. They all look like they are having a good time, and half of them are all over the different men at this party.”
“I don't know. We only got a picture of Wyndmire and Baxter, I guess we start there.”
They made it to the bar and the cute bartender asked what they wanted to drink.
“I’ll have a rum and coke,” Vylette said.
“I’ll have the same,” came from Jazmin.
Not long and they had their drinks in hand. Vylette whispered to her partner, “Well, we have a mission to finish, so let’s mingle and explore. See what we find.”
“Works for me, I’ll follow your lead.”
With Jazmin in tow, they headed outside to the back where the house and the beach fused into one big patio leading to the ocean. Music blared from three different stereos and staff weaved between guests, taking drink orders and offering fancy seafood and drugs, all on the same trays.
Not to self, do not get anything from the staff.
They walked a bit further and sat under a canopy and chatted as if it was the party of the year. They swooned and gushed over some the hot bodies walking around oiled up and half naked and the decorations. Before too long they were joined by two men wearing cabana boy attire. The tall one with dark hair did all the talking, while the short blonde only smiled. So, to keep in theme, Vylette did all their talking.
“Hello ladies, enjoying the party?”
“Yes, we are. You?”
“Oh, yes...”
“I am Steven and this is my buddy Leo. Mind if we join you?”
“Sure.”
The two young men sat in the chairs across from them. Steven kept the conversation going.
“So, do you ladies have names?”
“I am Betsy and this is my best friend, Carmin.”
She watched the two men eye their bodies as if no one noticed. Steven again, spoke first.
“You don't look like a Betsy to me. I mean, isn't that a name for a cow?”
Morons! Complete Morons.
“Well, Steven, I have found that with all that West Palm Beach has to offer you can lose just about any unwanted thing you have, including weight.”
For the first time, Leo spoke.
“That is true, people lose a lot of things here.”
Jazmin stepped in.
“Is that so, Leo? What did you lose?”
He glanced nervously to everyone and Vylette wondered what was going on with him and Steven.
“Well, I lost...”
Before he could finish, Steven answered for him. “His sense of humor. C',om Leo, let's get you a drink and loosen you up.”
The two left abruptly. She tuned to Jazmin.
“Was it just me or was that weird?”
“No, that was weird.”
Vylette got out of her chair. “Let's mingle more and see if we can run into Mr. Disgusting and his filthy brood of scumbags.”
“That's what we are here for.”
“C'mon, let’s head toward the beach and see if we can overhear anything interesting.”
Vylette and Jazmin shed themselves of their heels.
That’s better.
With shoes in hand, they trekked out toward the water. They made it about fifty feet and spotted quite a spectacle. Maneuvering around the crowd to get a better view, there in the middle sat a Beer Pong table. There was a man at one end and a girl at the other end, both had what Vylette guessed, as their friends gathered around each of them.
“That is Baxter,” Jazmin said and pointed out the man playing the game.
She got a good look and sure enough it was, his voice carried over the crowd.
“...You missed. You know the rules, that cup of booze or a piece of clothing.”
Watching the event unfold, the girl chose the drink and downed it. Now it was Baxter’s turn and he made the shot. The guys in the crowd went wild. Again, Baxter was the loudest to speak.
“Haha, I made it, so now you must shed some clothes...of my choosing and I choose th
e top, so hand it over.”
Vylette looked back at the half drunken girl who, with a smile on her face, handed over her top with a flirty smile to boot. The tiny blonde was clearly enjoying the game. Baxter, all smiles and full of liquor and confidence spoke once more.
“Hey, sweetness, since you are a good sport, I’m going to give you a stamp. This will get you into the V.I.P room later tonight.”
She kept her eye on the stamper as it came closer to the girl's skin. As luck would have it, the girl turned her arm and Vylette spotted the image marked on her wrist. It was a pair of handcuffs.
Odd stamp to get into an after party.
Something about that mark bothered her and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She stared at the girl who acted as if she’d just won the lottery, showing all of her envious friends the mark. It was just as Jazmin pointed it out, that the picture came clear.
“Vylette, look around, that is the mark. As in the mark for the chosen. There are a lot of girls at this party with that mark. Some are actual tattoos while others, like that blonde are just temporary, washable ink.”
She took a harder look at the girls, and to her surprise several men, who had the permanent tattoos and the ones who just had the stamp. It made perfect sense now.
“Jazmin, the tattoo I bet are the ones he owns and the stamp are the ones he plans to take by the end of the party...and by what I’ve just seen, he doesn’t have to work very hard at it. That girl is willing and happily, walking into hell and she doesn't even know it.”
“We need to get one of those stamps and find out where the after party is.”
“I have that covered, I bet we can get in without that mark. As for location we will just keep an eye on that girl. When she is away from Baxter, we will approach and ask her. As drunk as she is, I hope we get to her before they do.”
“Me too, Vylette, me too. If we can keep her from going that is one less person to have to get out of here.”
“Well, let’s have a seat, looks like we are going to be here for a while. They took some empty seats on the other side of the Beer Pong table and watched the rest if the game. It went back and forth, Baxter always having the upper hand and she spotted how he did it. When it was his turn to drink, he put the cup to his lips, but he didn’t drink from it.
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