Deadly Exchange

by Lisa Harris

  “I’m not sure we should do that,” Levi said.

  “Why not?”

  “For the same reason we can’t let you get involved. There’s just too much at stake for us not to do what they are demanding. And they told us not to get the authorities involved.”

  “But I have connections. People I know that can be trusted.”

  Levi caught the spark of hope registering in Kayla’s eyes. At some point they were going to need to get outside help, but right now he didn’t believe it was worth the risk of getting her father killed.

  “Surely I can do something,” Beverly said. “If you’re not going to the police, then where are you going?”

  “If you can drop us near the city center, we’ll be able to figure out a way out of this.”

  Levi glanced behind them as Beverly drove into the outskirts of the city. The car that had been behind them had slowly bridged the gap, and now there was no longer any doubt that the vehicle following them was Nicu’s.

  “After I lose the sedan behind us?” Beverly asked as they approached the city.

  Levi hesitated. “I’m sorry to have dragged you into this, but yes. That would help.”

  “Then hang on.”

  Levi grabbed the armrest as Beverly pushed on the accelerator. The sedan behind them sped up as well, staying barely a car length behind them.

  Beverly turned onto a narrow street that ran along one of the canals, trying to avoid pedestrians and bicyclists in the process.

  A moment later, the other vehicle smashed into the back of the Mercedes. Their car skidded forward while Beverly fought to keep the car on the road.

  “Beverly?”

  “I’m okay,” she said, still gripping the steering wheel, “but what in the world is he trying to do?”

  Levi felt any ounce of remaining control vanish as he braced for a second impact. “He’s trying to push us into the canal.”

  Twelve

  Levi felt the impact of the other vehicle as it slammed into the back of the Mercedes a second time, shoving their car precariously close to the edge of the canal. Beverly pressed on the accelerator while swerving to the left and somehow managed to prevent the anticipated nosedive into the water. But a glance behind them confirmed that Nicu had no intention of backing down.

  “Try getting us away from the canal,” he said, wishing he could somehow take control of the situation and put an end to it.

  Beverly sped forward, then at the last minute took a sharp left up another narrow street. Behind them the sedan, following too closely, missed the turn and instead slammed into another vehicle parked along the edge of the canal. Levi watched as the compact car teetered for a couple seconds on the edge of the street above the canal, then plunged into the water below.

  Beverly took advantage of the situation and put distance between them, while Nicu struggled to back up and catch up with them. But two blocks later the Mercedes lost power and died.

  “Beverly...” Kayla grabbed Levi’s arm, her fingernails digging into his skin.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong.” She tried to restart the car. “The engine won’t turn over.”

  He caught the look of panic in Kayla’s eyes.

  The accident had already caught the attention of a number of people who’d been walking along the canal, and within a matter of minutes, a crowd had gathered near the road and around the side of the sedan, blocking their way. Jumping out of the passenger side, Nicu and his partner abandoned their vehicle and started sprinting away from the canal.

  “You both need to get out of here now,” Beverly said. “There are enough people around, and I’m sure the police are already on their way.”

  “We can’t just leave you here,” Kayla said.

  “And besides that, your car—” Levi started.

  “Don’t worry about me or my car,” Beverly said. “Now go.”

  Staying would be dangerous, so Levi thanked the woman then slipped out of the car ahead of Kayla. Together they hurried in the opposite direction from the crowd that now had their attention focused on the car that was floating in the canal.

  “Did you see which way Nicu went?” she asked.

  “I think they headed west, but we have no way to know where they are now.”

  She was still holding on to his arm as they hurried down the cobbled sidewalks lined with tiny boutiques selling vintage clothes and embroidered Dutch farmhouse tablecloths and linens. They passed rows of skinny houses and a sprinkling of cafés, with outdoor seating catering to customers willing to brave the low temperatures. Reggae played from a coffee shop across the street. Levi breathed in the scent of freshly baked bread, reminding him that neither of them had eaten since the night before. But he couldn’t even think about eating right now.

  “We’re not far from the safe house,” she said, “but I don’t think it’s wise to go straight there. Not if there’s a chance they could spot us.”

  “Agreed.”

  Which meant if Nicu was anywhere nearby, they needed to find him first.

  Sirens buzzed in the background. Someone must have called the authorities about the accident, which helped ease the guilt of leaving their Good Samaritan behind. But he doubted Nicu was interested in talking to Beverly. At this point, his only objective was going to be to find them and, in turn, Mercy.

  So much for Nicu giving them twenty-four hours to find Mercy. Apparently he’d never intended to just let them go.

  “I don’t see them,” Kayla said, gripping Levi’s forearm even tighter.

  “I don’t, either.” He glanced behind him, looking for Nicu’s tall, lean frame. “But there are so many people. For now, let’s just concentrate on putting as much distance between them and us as we can.”

  He wrapped his arm around her waist, wanting this nightmare to be over. Because he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to explore the city with her without anyone after them. Wondered what it would be like to sit down at one of the cafés and have dinner together, or to take one of the canal cruises at night. Because part of him still wanted to get to know Kayla again, and to find out more about the woman she’d become.

  But that wasn’t why he was here. He was here to keep her safe, and that’s exactly what he intended to do.

  “Who runs the safe house,” he asked, keeping his arm around her as they maneuvered down the busy sidewalk.

  “It’s above a café that’s been in a local family for five generations. Their daughter was murdered two decades ago, so they’re emotionally invested in our program. It’s how they originally got involved in what we’re doing. The girls are taught to memorize the number to the safe house and to always keep a phone card with them. If for some reason they can’t get to the safe house, they can call from a public phone anywhere in the city, and someone from our team will pick them up.”

  “That’s a lot of security precautions you have in place,” he said, glancing behind him. There was still no sign of Nicu or his brother.

  “We tried to think of everything.” Kayla slowed down in front of a bakery. “The safe house is only a block away. But if we’re being followed...”

  He scanned the dozens of pedestrians bustling down the street. A woman pushing a baby carriage, along with couples, shoppers and businesspeople, while those on bikes sped past them in the red cycling lane.

  But there was still no sign of Nicu.

  A tram bell rang from the adjacent street as it passed them. From what Kayla had told him, the safe house had been chosen primarily for its easy connection to city transport. And for the couple who’d agreed to take in the girls if ever they were in trouble.

  “Let’s go ahead and go there. The longer we’re on the street, the more of a chance there is they’ll spot us.”

  A minute later, they stepped inside one of the dozens of cafés sprinkled across the city, where reg
ulars were currently catching up on a football match in front of old-fashioned open hearth. Stone floor, beamed ceilings, a cozy wood interior and wooden barrels over the bar completed the old European look.

  Kayla hurried through the café without stopping, leading them to the back of the building and an inconspicuous flight of stairs. At the top, she knocked on the door with a peephole that was opened then promptly locked behind them.

  Kayla hesitated briefly inside the small entryway before embracing her friend. “Celine, it’s so good to see you.”

  “And you as well, though never for this reason.”

  Kayla quickly introduced Levi to Celine. “Has she said anything to you?”

  “Not really.” Their host nodded toward the couch on the other side of the room at a young girl who didn’t look a day over fourteen. “I gave her some tea, hoping she would sleep for a while, but for the most part, she’s just been staring out the window.”

  Mercy sat cross-legged on a couch, her hair neatly braided in thin rows down her back. A strong wave of compassion washed over him, because Mercy’s sense of safety and security were gone. And for her it wasn’t the first time.

  * * *

  Kayla felt her eyes well with tears as she pulled Mercy into her arms. She might not have any idea at this point how they were going to save both Mercy and her father, but for right now the only thing that mattered was that the girl was safe.

  “I’m so sorry,” Mercy said, looking up at her with her wide, almond-shaped dark eyes.

  “Stop.” Kayla pulled her back into her arms and hugged her tightly, her own eyes filling with tears. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m just glad you’re safe. I’ve been so worried.”

  “I know I should have come here first, but I was afraid he was following me. Afraid of what he would do if he caught me, so I just kept running.”

  “You’re safe now. He can’t find you here.”

  “Maybe not, but he’s smart. If he wants to find me, he will. But I know I never should have left, because leaving only put you and the other girls at risk.”

  “Mercy, this isn’t your fault. None of it. You need to know that.”

  Kayla turned around to where Levi stood, her arm still tight around Mercy’s shoulders. “I want you to meet Levi. He’s a friend of mine. We grew up together, actually, and he’s here to help.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mercy,” Levi said, shaking her hand.

  She shot him a timid smile. “It’s nice to meet you as well.”

  Kayla motioned the two of them to the couch. “While I wish this was a happy reunion, there are some questions we need to ask you.”

  Kayla caught the fear in her eyes as Mercy drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.”

  Kayla sat down on the couch next to Mercy while Levi took the empty chair across from them. “We know Nicu is trying to get you back. Can you tell me when you last saw him?”

  Mercy’s gaze dropped. “Yesterday morning. I was riding the tram to work, and he was there. At the back of the tram. I thought I had just imagined him following me. Thought I was paranoid. I don’t know how he found me.”

  “What happened next?”

  She shook her head. “I jumped off the tram, but he followed me and grabbed my arm. Told me he had been looking for me. He insisted that I come with him because I still belonged to him.”

  “But you got away?”

  Mercy’s lip quivered. “I...I started screaming and ran. And somehow I lost him in the crowd.”

  It was what they’d told the girls to do if they ever felt their life was in danger. But it was also something that would have made Nicu angry.

  Kayla squeezed her hand, knowing that the day was replaying in Mercy’s mind. That day and probably a dozen others.

  “You should have called me.”

  “I know, but I didn’t want you to get involved. He would kill you if he knew you were trying to keep me from him.” Mercy drew in a ragged breath. “He’s done it before.”

  Everything was starting to come together. This was more than just a matter of money for Nicu. He was obsessed.

  Celine quietly set a plate of kroketten—deep-fried rolls with meat ragout inside—and a second plate of stroopwafels, Dutch cookies made from thin layers of waffles filled with a sticky syrup, and a pot of hot chocolate on the table.

  Kayla smiled up at her friend. “Thank you.”

  “Please continue talking, but I have the feeling that all three of you need to eat something. I’ve also updated your team on what’s going on, so you don’t have to worry about that. They’ve been worried about you. I’ll be back in a second with plates and cups.”

  Kayla thanked her while Mercy stared at the food.

  “I’m not sure if I can.”

  “When’s the last time you ate?” Kayla asked.

  “I don’t remember.”

  “Then just try,” Kayla said.

  Mercy picked up one of the waffles but only nibbled on the edge before setting it down on one of the plates Celine brought.

  “You said you believed that someone had been following you?” Kayla asked, pressing for more information. “I’m assuming it was Nicu.”

  Mercy nodded. “There were a couple of strange calls and a few text messages. I knew it was him. I tried to convince myself he couldn’t find me, that he was still in Italy. But I was wrong.”

  “Do you still have your phone?” Kayla asked.

  “Yes...it’s...it’s in my backpack.”

  “If you’ll let Levi look at it, he’ll make sure you can’t be traced.”

  Mercy grabbed her backpack off the floor, pulled out her phone, then hesitated.

  “It’s okay, Mercy. You can trust him.”

  Levi took the phone, then stood up. “Thanks, Mercy. I’ll go work on it over by the window where there’s better light.”

  Kayla nodded at his understanding. Trust didn’t come easily for girls like Mercy.

  “What happens now?” Mercy asked.

  “We’ll work on a plan, but you’ll be safe here for now. And in the meantime, you could take a nap in the guest room, if you’d like. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

  Mercy fiddled with one of the straps of her backpack. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Has something happened to one of the other girls?”

  “The girls are fine.”

  “Then what is it? Because I know Nicu. I’ve seen what he will do when he wants something.”

  Kayla hesitated, not wanting to pile guilt on top of everything Mercy was already trying to deal with. But it was something she would find out eventually.

  “They took my father,” Kayla said. “They thought they could use him for leverage to get me to find you. But I don’t want you to worry. We found you, and we’ll find a way to get him back as well.”

  Mercy’s fingers dug into the backpack in her lap. “So Nicu wants to trade me for your father.”

  “We would never do that, Mercy.”

  “Then how will you get him back? Nicu won’t just hand him over to be nice.”

  “I’m not sure yet what we’re going to do, but we’ll figure it out.”

  “No...” Mercy dropped the strap of the backpack, then stood up. “No. This needs to end. I won’t sacrifice anyone’s life for mine. I’m going to go back to Nicu.”

  Kayla stood up and stepped in front of Mercy. “Forget it. There’s no way we will let you do that. We will find a way to keep both of you safe.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t understand. This is the only way. He won’t just let this go.”

  “Listen to me, Mercy.” Kayla rested her hands on the girl’s shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “When you came into our program, we agreed to do everything we could to keep you
safe. Nothing has changed. We’re going to figure out a way to keep both of you safe.”

  Mercy pulled away, then tugged on her shirt so her shoulder was exposed. There was a bar code tattooed across her dark skin, like an item label in a grocery store. Below them were the initials ND. “You know what this is.”

  Kayla stared at the markings, her heart breaking.

  “It’s a brand,” Mercy continued. “A brand that tells everyone that I’m his property. Nicu Dragan. A war wound that will never let me forget what happened to me. You convinced me that I could simply walk away from him. Told me I could be free, but now...look what my walking away has done. And now if your father or one of you die because of me...”

  Kayla bit the edge of her lip, at a loss for what to say. Branding the girls was a way of taking away their humanity. Something that had been done to people throughout history, from Roman slaves to Auschwitz prisoners to today’s sex-trafficking victims.

  Mercy had become his property, and even though she’d found a way to run, nothing had changed for Nicu. Branding had become a way to control the girls, to compel them to do what he wanted. Gangs, violence, rapes... And because the crime was so lucrative, it had become a never-ending epidemic. Some people, like Lilly, would never find freedom. But there was still hope for Mercy, and there was nothing she could do or say that would convince Kayla to send her back to Nicu.

  “You cannot tell me this isn’t my fault. Your father was abducted because of me.” Mercy grabbed Kayla’s hands, exposing the rope burns where Nicu had tied her up. “And this... What did he do to you?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Doesn’t it?” Mercy rubbed her forehead with the palm of her hand, the anxiety clear in her eyes, then sat back down on the couch. “I always knew he would kill me. Every day I waited for the moment when he’d beat me to the point where I didn’t wake up. And when it didn’t happen, I thought about killing myself.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  “No. The hope of one day getting back to my family kept me going. Knowing how much my mother would hurt if I didn’t try to fight to stay alive. But now...now it would be better off if I were dead. Then none of this would have ever happened. I wouldn’t have hurt any of you.”