Well that was all in the past. I had Harley back in my life now and he was willing to help me. This was, therefore, my first step to doing the right thing – escape.
“Hi, Lionel.” I said, “I just want five minutes of your time.”
The door clicked. Taking a deep breath I pushed the door open and headed for the lifts.
Harley
I watched from my position across the road from the block of luxury apartments that was where Lionel Hessey of ‘Hessey Holdings Limited’, lived.
I’d run a few lines of enquiry on him and could find little that suggested he was anything other than an exporter of luxury goods. It all seemed to be above board but my gut instinct said otherwise.
Since my gut instinct never usually let me down, I wasn’t about to trust my investigations so far.
I watched as Alfie pushed the door open and then I waited...
Alfie
With every step I took towards Lionel’s apartment, my inner voice was screaming at me to turn back. I should have listened and got the hell out of there, and called him on the phone as Harley had suggested. But I’m an idiot – I think I might have mentioned that a couple of times – and I didn’t. I carried on and knocked on his door.
He took his sweet time opening it to say he knew I was on the way. Finally he opened the door and stood there, staring at me. “So?” He asked, “You wanted to talk?”
I nodded, “Uh, yeah.” I said.
He smiled, his eyes remaining completely cold and emotionless, “Come on in.” he said.
I stepped over the threshold and followed him into his lounge.
“Coffee?” he asked, “I’ve just made a pot.” He nodded to the pot on the coffee table. He’d already got a cup poured for himself and although he knew I didn’t really like it – he’d tried educating me and I could just about stomach the stuff these days – I could see that it was all he was going to offer me.
I nodded, “Sure, thanks.”
He poured one for me and added milk and sugar – I really didn’t like it without.
I took it from him, “Thanks.” I muttered taking a sip.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
I looked up at him, “I think we need a break.” I said.
He nodded, “Sure.” He agreed, “If that’s what you want.”
I nodded again, “I do.” I said quickly, taking another gulp of my coffee to calm myself. I had to get it all out and to get the hell out of there before I totally lost my nerve and allowed him to talk me out of it. “I feel as if things are going a little too fast and I’m kind of out of my depth with you.”
He smiled and leaned back in his seat, watching me finish my drink. He leaned forward slightly as I put the empty cup back down on the table. “You’ve always been out of your depth with me.” He said, “You just couldn’t see it.”
I frowned. Well, that was a strange thing to say. I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant but my lips felt strangely numb. Then the room started spinning and a little thrill of fear went through me. Jesus, that coffee must have been strong. I looked up at him and he started laughing. He seemed to be getting further away. I blinked and shook my head. What the fuck was wrong with me? My heart sank as realisation hit me, Holy shit – the coffee. He’s drugged it. Fuck.
I tried to stand but my feet weren’t working. I tried to speak but nothing would come out... and then everything went black.
Harley
I sat there for an hour. Alfie never came back out of the block of apartments.
I shook my head, feeling ten kinds of stupid that I’d believed him when he said he was going to finish with Hessey. Of course he wasn’t about to finish with him to be with me... What the hell did I have to offer him?
I started the car. He’d clearly decided to remain with the fucker...
I put my indicator on and was about to pull out of the parking space I was in when my instincts started to bother me again. What if he just hadn’t been able to come back out...?
I made a call to the station. “Harley?” Frannie’s tinny voice came through the walkie-talkie. “What can I do for you?”
“Is there anyone available to sit and observe a block of apartments for me?”
I could hear the clicks of her mouse as she checked the rotas. “Denny and Blaine can come over – blues and twos or silent?”
“Silent,” I said, “And uh, un-marked if at all possible.”
Ten minutes later, Denny and Blaine pulled into the space behind my car. I got out and went over to them.
“Hey, Harley.” Blaine grinned at me, “What’s going on?”
I shrugged, “Maybe nothing – but I’ve just got a feeling.”
They exchanged a glance. Everyone at the station understood that when I got a feeling, it was usually something to be concerned about.
I nodded to the building that Alfie was in – somewhere. My stomach turned over at the thought, reaffirming my suspicions that all was not well. “Some high-flyer called Lionel Hessey owns pretty much all of the top floor of that apartment block.”
Denny raised an eyebrow. “Okay,” He said, obviously wondering where I was going with this.
I nodded, “He’s apparently a trader in luxury goods and he exports and imports regularly.”
Blaine immediately narrowed his eyes, “Oh, yeah?” he asked, “Interesting – maybe we should involve Customs and Excise.”
I nodded, “Yeah probably, but not right now. Anyway, this guy I know has got himself involved with him somehow and he went in there half an hour ago to break things off but he hasn’t come back out and I’m beginning to get worried.”
Denny frowned, “So this is, uh, kind of personal?” he asked.
I stared at him, challenging him to argue with me, “Yes.” I bit off, “It’s very personal but I still think it’s worth our time and effort if he’s being abused by Hessey. I’ll take the rap for it if you’re worried about trouble. I always have done before.”
Blaine nodded, shooting a scowl towards Denny, “No worries, mate.’ He said, “So you just want us to watch and wait?”
I nodded, “I’ll be right back – I just need to check on something.”
They got back in their car and I knew I could trust them to watch the building for anything unusual. Denny and Blaine were the best partners I’d ever worked with – totally in tune with each other, they were more like a couple than any other couple I’d ever met.
I headed back over to Studs and Steel. I needed to talk to everyone that had been involved with Alfie over the last couple of months while I’d not been around.
Thankfully, the guys were all friends with each other and hung out there pretty much all day as well as all night.
I spoke to Simon and Buzz first.
Buzz looked at me gravely, “I said, didn’t I?” he said to me, “He’s in over his head, mate – we have to get him back out of there.”
I nodded, “I know that,” I said, “I’ve just got to make sure it’s all above board and within the law – or we’ll just make things worse all round.”
Simon frowned, “So what do we do, then?” he asked, “Just wait for him to end up dead?”
My heart stuttered. Living in a world that didn’t include sweet little Alfie wasn’t one I wanted to even contemplate. “No.” I said, “But we have to be sure he’s being held against his will.”
Simon nodded, “I’ll call him then. I’ll make out I need him to cover my shift tonight.”
I nodded. Simon put it on speaker-phone. It rang twice and then it was picked up, “Hello?”
I looked across the table to Simon. That was Lionel’s voice.
“Hi, Alfie,” Simon started.
“Alfie can’t get to the phone right now,” he said, “He’s a little tied up.” He chuckled as he spoke.
Simon stared at me in horror, “Well, uh, okay – can you ask him to call me back as soon as he can – I need him to cover my shift tonight.”
“Oh, no. He
won’t be able to do that – he’s very busy.” Hessey cut the call.
Simon, Buzz and I all looked at each other in horror, “Okay,” said Simon, “That’s enough for me.”
I nodded, “Me too.” I said, “Quite enough.” Something had to be done to get him back out of there – and something had to be done quick...
Chapter 28 – Rather be dead...
Alfie
I woke up. My arse felt like it was on fire and I was really uncomfortable – like I’d been working out really hard all day the day before. I felt almost like I had flu...
What the hell was the matter with me? I tried to remember what day it was... Where had I been? Fuck, what time was it?
I blinked and looked around the room. It was dark so I wasn’t all that sure if it was day or night. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could quite clearly see that there were blackout blinds up at the window and it was light around the edges. Still day then... or maybe it was the next day – I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t at home, I couldn’t be at Lionel’s either because I swear there weren’t any rooms in his apartment like this. My eyes filled with tears. I was lost. I didn’t recognise the place at all. Fuck. Where the hell was I?
I racked my brains to try to work out what had happened last night. I could have sworn I’d been working... That’s right – I had been – and Harley had come to the club. My heart leapt as I realised that had actually been real and not just a really beautiful dream. I really had gone home with Harley and we’d had a beautiful night just sleeping next to each other and then this morning... Was it really only this morning? It was so weird. Everything seemed to be mixed up and dreamlike... I couldn’t remember anything properly...
I’d definitely decided that I was going to break it off with Lionel and I swear I remembered saying it to him... So what the hell had happened after that? Did I change my mind...? Surely not.
I remembered drinking coffee with him – something I still didn’t like to drink, but I really couldn’t remember anything beyond that. So that was obviously where I still was but where was Lionel? Did we sleep together? Did I let him have sex with me? Was that why I was so horribly uncomfortable now?
A horrible feeling of déjà vu came over me... This wasn’t the first time something similar to this had happened – only I’d woken up feeling pretty normal last time – and I’d been in a room I could escape from. I got up gingerly from the bed and limped across to the room to the window. I looked out. Shit. There was no way I was getting out of that window. I was at least ten storeys up...
With the light coming in from the window I was able to look around the room. My heart started to beat wildly in my chest as I realised what I was looking at. It was more of a film studio than a bedroom. There was a camera in the corner. Oh my God... Shame enveloped me as the realisation of what had gone down in here washed over me. I’d been raped – and the whole thing had been caught on camera. It could be all over the internet by now, being watched by all the sorts of people that got off on that sort of thing. I wanted to throw up. I needed to have a shower. I needed to wash those disgusting men off me. I really had to get out of here...
I turned away from the window and stumbled to my knees, Jesus... what the hell had they done to me?
As I lay there on the floor, trying to work out how to get up, the door started to open.
“Alfie?” Lionel asked, frowning at me. Oh thank God. Lionel will get me out of here...
“Lionel.” I breathed, “Oh, thank God you’re here...”
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, looking at me with nothing but contempt on his face, “Get yourself back on the bed like a good little boy – I’ve got a couple more friends that want to get acquainted with you...”
Chapter 29 – Rescue mission...
Harley
We were sitting, planning how we were going to get into the building without raising the alarm. It had been two days since Alfie had gone into Hessey’s flat and never come back out. Two days of utter hell for me – and God only knew what he was going through...
“Surely you can get some sort of special dispensation to get in there?” Buzz looked at me in surprise.
I shrugged, “Unfortunately we have absolutely no proof that Lionel Hessey is committing any crimes.”
Buzz blinked, “But what about Alfie’s bruises?” he asked indignantly, “Or the drugs?”
I shrugged, “Like you said – he could have got the bruises from anywhere and the same goes for the drugs. I’ll grant you that I think his boyfriend is a controlling, abusive, manipulating prick but that isn’t actually something I can arrest him for. We need more on him.” I sighed, the frustration of the whole situation beginning to make me antsy.
River poled up at that point, “What’s going on here, guys?” he said with a smile, “And where’s Alfie? Is he still off? What the hell’s happened to him recently?”
We all looked at each other. Simon pulled River down onto the sofa next to him, “Have to noticed anything different about our Alfie recently?” he asked.
River frowned and rubbed his neck, “To be honest I’ve been a little pre-occupied with Jodie just recently, since we’ve uh, you know, become an item – I’ve seen him about but not really to talk to – why? What’s up with him?”
Buzz looked at him gravely, “He’s fucking missing, dude.”
River’s jaw dropped, “Fuck.” He said, “Since when?”
I felt a little embarrassed to confess that it had only been since Sunday morning but once I’d explained the circumstances, River was concerned for his safety too, “That’s not right – and that weirdo warned me and Seth off him a few weeks ago too – I didn’t really think about it at the time, other than thinking he was just a bit jealous but when you put it all together...”
Fuck. “What did he say to you?” I demanded.
Seth had just come on duty for the lunchtime rush and he came over to see what was going on. River looked up at him, “Hey, Seth,” he said, “What did Hessey say to us the other week when we were trying to get a group of us together to go and see that movie Jodie wanted to see?”
Seth rolled his eyes, “Oh, God, yeah – total freak. He said something along the lines of being able to arrange our disappearance – it was fucking chilling the way he said it, too.”
I swallowed. Fuck. Lionel was a total head-case...
“And you didn’t think to advise Alfie he was dating a psychopath?” I asked a little nastily.
They both had the good grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry, Harley.” River said, “Like I said, I’ve been pretty distracted with Jodie recently and you know – everyone had something to say about that. I just felt it better to mind my own...” he looked at the rest of the guys who all looked uncomfortable.
“Well, there’s no point in crying over spilled milk.” I muttered, “Let’s work out what we’re gonna do to get him back here.”
I called one of the other senior officers that might be able to help me. He’d been undercover on numerous operations and I really needed his input this time. “Tate?”
“Harley?” he sounded surprised to be hearing from me.
“Uh, yeah – I’m working with Kody at the Studs and Steel nightclub...”
I explained everything that had happened, leaving only the tentative relationship details out. Let’s face it, we’d kissed a few times and we’d had a bit of a fumble – it was hardly relevant and then I paused, waiting for his insight.
Tate was silent for a minute, “Are you and Alfie in a relationship with each other?” he asked.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath, “Kind of.” I admitted, “As in – we totally would have been if I hadn’t have been seconded to Newcastle.” I didn’t mean to sound bitter about it but I’d never wanted to go – and now Alfie was in danger and I felt that it was all my fault for leaving...
He clicked his tongue, “You know that the chief isn’t gonna be thrilled that we’re throwing all of these resources
at rescuing a guy that you fancy, don’t you?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and nodded, “Uh, yeah – I do know that, Tate but I really think it’s bigger than that. I’ve got this awful feeling about this guy...”
Tate didn’t answer for another whole minute and by the time he did, my nerves were about frazzled. Alfie could have been beaten to a pulp or even murdered by now with all the waiting around we’d been doing. Blaine had been staking out the apartments around the clock with Denny and two other guys, Colby and Harrison and no one had called me, which meant he hadn’t emerged from the apartments yet. “Fine.” He said, “Count me in – I’ve wanted to get at least something on this guy for a long time. He’s as slippery as a fucking eel though, Harley – so be prepared for disappointment.”
My heart started to beat faster, “what do you know about him?” I asked.
Tate sighed, “People trafficking.” He said, making my heart about stop. “He’s involved somehow – but we just can’t pin it on him. We’ve put others away and the net’s closing in, you might say but we just haven’t been able to catch him in the act. We had no idea he’d been picking up guys again for starters. They’ve always been young men that have come from abroad before and we were onto that – he’s obviously decided to change tack – he’s gone native...”
Oh, God... “Picking up guys?” I asked, horror beginning to flood my mind. Surely not... “What are you on about?”
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