RESCUED (Elkridge Series Book 6)

by Lyz Kelley

  “I’m glad you got to talk to her.”

  “I saw the US Marshals arrive. She’s going into protective custody, isn’t she?”

  Sandra shrugged, and her brows furrowed. “Sung and her sister have been slaves for a long time. She knows too much.”

  Slave. What an awful word. “I hope she finds somewhere safe to live, with a good job, so she can raise her little boy.”

  “That’s what we hope.”

  “Over the years, I’ve listened to sex trafficking reports on the news. Until this happened, I didn’t pay too much attention. Macedo told me he would make me disappear. He was going to sell me. That’s what he meant—wasn’t it?”

  Sandra put a hand on top of hers. “Look, I know you’re scared, but it’s okay. I’ve been working for the past two years to help bust this massive cartel for selling babies and fetal matter. I started in Philly, then moved to Dallas, then Los Angeles, then the trail led me here. Over two hundred arrests will take place in the next twenty-four hours. Anyone who might come after you is either dead or in custody.”

  “But I’m not pregnant.” And I can’t get pregnant. “Why did they decide to take me?”

  “They wanted free river access to the compound. With you out of the way, they could move up and down the river without your dogs barking and drawing attention to their activities. Plus, it was assumed you could be moved out of the area easily. You were marked for transport to Vegas with the rest of the women.”

  A shrill voice echoed through the trailer. “Take your hands off me.”

  Karly leaned back and stared down the long narrow space. A shockwave rocked her system. The sheriff was leading Vivian Newhall, Jenna’s mother-in-law to a chair, and then locked her handcuffs to a table. The sheriff escorted in Richard Clairemont, the town’s wealthiest real estate agent, and repeated the process.

  “Excuse me for a moment.” Sandra exited through the doorway. As voices escalated, Karly moved to the black mesh window in the canvas to watch. Sandra had disappeared.

  Clairemont’s face was red and blotched. “I’ll have your job for this.” The dire warning had no effect on anyone in the vicinity. “Give me a phone. I’ll call the mayor.”

  “I can loan you a phone,” Joe said in a slow, even voice, demonstrating he didn’t take kindly to the elitist’s demands, “but I don’t think you’ll be getting a hold of the mayor.”

  “He’ll answer my call.”

  “Not from a jail cell, he won’t.”

  “How dare you!” Clairemont’s spittle landed on the sheriff’s shirt front.

  The scene reminded her of a television show, only this time she knew all the characters personally.

  “I've read you your rights,” Joe reminded, “but I have to ask, why heroin and sex trafficking?”

  Clairemont gave the sheriff an indignant look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Sheriff Joe opened a file containing several pictures. “Look familiar?” Joe dropped a picture on the table beside the belligerent man. “Your business trip to California last month to set up a transfer of drugs and women? How about this one? You were meeting with a land developer, but you weren’t going to develop the land—were you? You just wanted to have clear access to the river to transport your goods more easily.”

  “I’m being framed. You don’t have one piece of evidence that ties me to anything. I insist that you release Mrs. Newhall and me this instant.”

  Sandra moved into the scene and stood next to Joe. “Good evening, Dick. Mrs. Newhall. Nice to see you both again.”

  Both of the prestigious community members’ faces instantly paled, and their eyes widened. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m special agent Sandra Johnston, member of a special joint task force.” She moved next to Joe. “Sheriff Gaccione, I don’t think you have been properly introduced to the man in front of you, either.” The sheriff watched Sandra curiously as she leaned back against a desk and folded her arms. “Meet Dick Clairemont, the man who murdered your brother.”

  “That’s preposterous!” Clairemont tried to stand, but the table beside him lifted. Papers and a computer slid to the end. Joe shoved the arrogant SOB back into the chair.

  The sheriff’s expression transformed from astonishment, to a flash of rage, to a simmering bitterness, before the professional mask voided all emotions. He turned to the doctor. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yep, he bragged about it. He even took Sam’s personal videocam recording. He’s such a narcissist, he couldn’t bring himself to destroy the computer chip. When I found it, I made a copy and had the conversation transcribed. It’s sitting in an evidence locker back at headquarters.”

  Clairemont became quiet as a mouse trying to sneak past a cat. However, the sheriff had the look of someone who was longing to pounce, extend his deadly claws, and strike the fatal blow.

  “Nothing to say, Vivian?” Sandra prompted.

  “I insist on talking to my lawyer.” The socialite’s chin rose with indifference, though Karly caught something sinister in her eyes.

  “Smart choice, since we will be adding the kidnapping of Karly Krane to the list of charges.”

  Vivian sat up straighter. “Kidnapping? Now you’re reaching, doctor. Why would I do something like that?”

  “That’s what I wanted to ask you. After your daughter escaped from your little operation, why did you break your rule? You didn’t like the scrutiny. You were the one who gave the order—no more townspeople were to be taken. Why Karly? Why now?”

  Her eyes narrowed, and her voice became venomous. “Daughters should always obey their mothers.”

  “What?” Karly pushed through the door. “What does my mother have to do with this?”

  Vivian’s mouth flattened.

  Sandra looked at her. “Don’t blame your mother, Karly. She’s just as much a victim as you were. Like I said before, Dick wanted your land. I just wanted to hear Vivian admit it.”

  Karly took a step closer and focused on Vivian. All the job applications. The pressure to interview. My mother is so gullible. “So, when manipulating my mother with lunches and shopping trips didn’t work, you decided to put me out of business by releasing the animals.”

  Joe’s chuckle was humorless. “I bet she didn’t count on the whole town pitching in to help.”

  “I know she didn’t,” Sandra added. “She was furious and ordered Dick to get Karly out of the way. And of course Dick agreed, since he was eager to snatch up the property for pennies, or tie the property up in court. Either way, Karly’s business would be closed, and he’d get the river access he needed.”

  “Stupid people.” Vivian’s barely audible mumble expanded in the small space.

  “No, Vivian.” Karly moved toward the woman, and leaned down to look Vivian directly in the eye. “The townspeople of Elkridge are supportive and kind. Only you don’t know it, because you’ve never wanted to be a part of the town. You always wanted to be above everyone else.”

  Joe shifted, his eyes watchful. “Looks like she’ll get her wish.”

  Karly turned to Joe. He shrugged and pointed. “She won’t be part of this town for a very long time.”

  Delight danced across Sandra’s face. “I hope you like the color orange. I hear orange is the new black. Although somehow, Vivian, I think you’ll find the color doesn’t suit your complexion. But where you’re going, complaints like that will fall on deaf ears.”

  “How does Mr. Newhall fit into all this?” Karly wrapped her arms around her waist, trying not to fall apart.

  “Buck? He doesn’t.” Sandra looked at Vivian, who seemed to be shrinking more with each passing second. “Vivian wasn’t satisfied with owning one of the largest estates in the area. She wanted more, and her husband couldn’t provide the lifestyle she craved, so she went to find her pot of gold. Her cut from the sales of drugs and babies provided a way for her to fill her offshore bank accounts. The extra money increased her social status. Once the stateme
nts are analyzed, I’m pretty sure tax fraud will be added to the list of charges. She even used poor Dick to implement her master plan.”

  “That’s a lie.” Though Dick’s belligerent stare and bulging neck muscles suggested Sandra was telling the truth.

  “And all this time,” Karly’s voice wobbled with shock, "we didn’t know what was going on in our own backyard. No wonder so many people in this town have gotten hooked on heroin. Talk about easy to get.”

  Joe hands gripped his utility belt, and his stance shifted subtly, menacingly. “Finding drugs won’t be easy anymore. After the arrests we’re making tonight, finding a rehab center will be easier than finding drugs.”

  Karly looked at Joe. “Did you really arrest the judge and the mayor?”

  “Plus half the city council, Cuhna and Beaulieu, a county clerk, and eight people from a drug hideout. Oh, and a drug kingpin, a Shane Boulis, out of Chicago. The general tipped us off about him. That makes twenty-one in all,” Joe confirmed.

  “Cuhna and Beaulieu, your two deputies?”

  “Yep. I knew they were dirty the first time I met them, but there was nothing I could do about it until we got this problem solved.”

  “The town will be in shock.” Karly rubbed her head. Just thinking about the complexity of the scheme gave her a thumping headache. The desolation on the women’s faces would haunt her the rest of her life. How could she trust anyone again? So many people she considered upstanding citizens were honey badgers, ready and willing to rip the throat out of their victims for money. Greed. “Will we have to testify?”

  “I’m not sure yet,” Sandra’s soothing hand touched her arm. “Regardless, none of you will be alone. We will be here to support you.”

  “Maybe I can work with some of the not-for-profits. There are several supplying service dogs to victims of sexual abuse. There is something to be said for unconditional love.”

  “Pffft. Why bother?” Vivian piped up. “They’ll be on the streets again in a matter of weeks.”

  That’s not true!

  Putting Vivian in a mini skirt and heels and propping her on a busy corner on the wrong side of the tracks in a crowded city to teach the bitch a lesson sounded awesome. Then again, if she could have gotten away with walking over there and punching the woman in the mouth, she would have.

  The woman was a piece of trash. “Do you mind if I give my statement now? I want to check on my animals.” And snuggle with a kitten or get a few thousand puppy kisses.

  “You should know,” Joe held out his hand. “Several volunteers stepped up to help. Mara wants you to know everything is being taken care of.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Dang those tears. She promised herself she wouldn’t cry. “I’m worried about Thad. Would you look in on him? I was supposed to bring him a change of clothes.”

  “I’ll make sure he’s looked after.” The commitment in Joe’s voice reassured her. “However, he’s lucky I don’t arrest him for obstructing justice, but we’ll discuss that at another time.”

  Her chest squeezed out a nervous sigh when she saw Joe’s face lighten a little when he uncuffed Dick Clairemont to take him over to the processing table.

  Finding out the man who’d shot your brother was also the guy you played poker with once a month had to be tough to take.

  Life was sure one helluva twisted road, full of curves and steep cliffs.

  She hoped her life stayed on level ground for a while, and that Thad could find a way to move on. He deserved happiness.

  Then again, what was she going to say to her mom? Or the townspeople?

  And she’d thought her life was complicated before.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Karly tied the malamute’s lead on the railing, next to the bowl of water sitting outside Dreamy Delights bakery. She hadn’t slept at all. The knowledge Sung shared had haunted her dreams, and Thad kept coming to her rescue. She didn’t want to think about Thad, or her captivity, but that’s all she could think about, that and the town.

  A virtual tornado had ripped through the town council, courthouse, and local justice system. Only bits and pieces were left, though everywhere she looked, people were moving on with their lives like nothing had happened. Only her life was stuck. She wasn’t moving forward, and was trying really, really hard to avoid thinking about the past.

  She pulled open the bakery door. Once inside, she took a deep breath, breathing in the sugary fragrance of heaven.

  There were good reasons Jenna named her business Dreamy Delights, the scrumptious smells being just one. Never before had Karly fully appreciated the simple freedom of being able to walk into a store the way she did today. The rich oranges and greens and lively artwork added to the ambiance. The picture of the three sows’ behinds while the animals ate out of a trough was her favorite. The extra-large oil painting splashed bold colors across the blank wall, and was most likely the reason Jenna selected the piece.

  “Hey, lady.” Jenna’s smile expanded. “I’m glad you stopped in. Come here. I want a hug.”

  Karly shifted the backpack on her shoulder and reached for her friend.

  “How are you? How’s Thad?”

  The crick in Karly’s neck twisted. “I hear he’s good. Busy. Healing. I haven’t seen him since he got out of the hospital.”

  Jenna titled her head back. “Really? I thought you two were an item.”

  “You know how this town likes to gossip.”

  “What can I help you with?”

  “You wouldn’t happen to know a couple of dozen people who want to adopt animals, would you?”

  “Sorry. I don’t. Not at the moment, but I could put up some fliers.” Jenna’s eyes softened. “Maybe Thad can help. He’s gotta know a few people.”

  “That’s the last thing I need.” Her breath hitched, and she stopped mid-thought. I can’t believe I just said that out loud.

  “Men can do that. They just jump into the mix without being invited, then one day you turn around and find they are a mighty tasty ingredient.”

  “Thad is a wonderful man. Don’t get me wrong.”

  “But…”

  “I made plans for my life, and they don’t include him.”

  Jenna’s bangs lifted with a puff of her breath. “I had plans once, but I was wrong. It’s none of my business, and I shouldn’t ask, but why not give Thad a chance?”

  Why not? That’s the question she’d been asking herself for days, weeks. It always came down to what she couldn’t give him. She loved him. He wanted kids. She couldn’t have them. She loved him too much to deny him the happiness that went with building a life together. “It’s complicated.”

  Jenna's eyes opened wider, and bold laughter rang out through the store. “Those are the exact words I said to Maggie and Gwen when they were pressuring me about Grant.” She sobered. “Little did I know, I’d have to eat my reluctance. It tasted a bit bitter. But I can tell Thad is not why you stopped by.” She grabbed a tray off the back counter. “I was going to stop by to see you today, but since you’re here, you have to try my newest invention.”

  Jenna never changed.

  But Karly had. She’d changed a lot.

  Karly picked up the small square cookie on the plate Jenna thrust her way. Chocolate, vanilla, and caramel melded to create an ooh-la-la sensation. “These are awesome.”

  “You like?”

  “When can I get more?”

  “I’ll box you up the rest of the samples. What do you think of Krane’s Konfections, you know a play on Karly Krane and the KK family?”

  “You made a cookie for me? I have my own cookie?” Karly raced around the counter to give Jenna a bigger hug.

  A blush rolled up Jenna’s cheek. “You’ve always been special. Now, you’re just super-duper special. I took your favorite tastes and mixed them together. I figure the town’s hero should have a cookie named after her.”

  A rush of heat exploded from her chest and burned across her cheeks. “I’m no hero.” Not even close.
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  “Helping a doctor save the lives of eight women? Okay, whatever you say, but I still think you deserve to have a cookie named after you. You’ve done so much for this town.”

  “I need another hug.” Karly held out her arms, and Jenna obliged. “Thank you.” She reveled in the warmth of her friend’s hug and let a long sigh escape. She leaned back. “Does this mean I get free cookies from now on?”

  “That’s the deal. It’s your cookie. Whenever Krane’s Konfections are in the case, you get a free one, with a purchase.”

  “Well, smart business lady, I think I just might have to stop in more often.”

  “I’d like that. Whether or not you buy something.” Jenna’s unspoken words of friendship were like spring perennials, popping up and blooming just when things looked bleak. She’d received the same friendly support from people at the café and gas station and grocery store.

  She’d almost disappeared. Just like Caitlyn, Jenna’s younger sister, only worse. At least Caitlyn had escaped and had time to love her son before she died.

  “Seems we’ve both come a long way in the past year.”

  “It’s mind-boggling to think that a year ago I was pretending to be happy on my own. Now I have a wonderful man and business partner, and a happy kid. Nothing could be better.”

  A small niggle of indecision crawled up Karly’s spine. Maybe I shouldn’t say anything.

  “What?” Jenna scrutinized her face, and reached for her arm. “Did something happen to you?

  “No, not me.” Guilt for stopping by made her start counting the number of cupcakes remaining in the case. “Has the sheriff come by to see you?”

  Jenna’s fingers tightened on her forearm before releasing. “No. Why? Did my criminal mother-in-law say something about Kyle?”

  She should go, let the sheriff handle it, but the heaviness in her gut spoke of responsibility.

  Thinking about the woman who’d almost sentenced her to a living hell bubbled up to the anger she’d been trying to keep a lid on.