Nah, its aight. Yall go on and do your LAPD thing. We busy with car repair, like you said.
Well, you guys have great night, okay? Keri said with a level of enthusiasm that only Carlos noticed bleeding into mockery. They nodded and headed back to the Corvette as Keri and Ray got in their car.
That could have gone worse, Ray said.
Yeah, I know youre still not a hundred percent from that gunshot wound. I figured I shouldnt get you involved in an altercation with five gang members if I could help it.
Thanks for looking out for your invalid partner, Ray said as he pulled out into the street
Dont mention it, Keri said, ignoring the sarcasm.
So did Edgerton have any luck with the social media stuff?
He did. We need to go to Fox Hills Mall.
Whats there?
Im hoping those girls, Keri said, but Ive got a feeling we arent going to be that lucky.
CHAPTER FOUR
The second Sarah woke up, she felt like she needed to vomit. Her vision was blurry and so was her head. There was a bright light shining down on her and it took a second to realize she was lying on a threadbare mattress in a small, otherwise nearly empty room.
She blinked a couple of times and her eyesight cleared up enough for her to see a small plastic garbage can lying on the floor beside the mattress. She leaned over and pulled it to her, retching into it for a full thirty seconds, ignoring her watery eyes and even more watery nose.
She heard a noise, looked in that direction, and saw that someone had pulled back a black curtain to reveal that she wasnt actually in a small room at all. She was in a cavernous warehouse. As far as the eye could see, there were other mattresses. And on almost all of them were girls her age, all scantily clad or naked.
Some were alone, either sleeping, or more likely passed out. Others were with men, who were having their way with them. Some of the girls struggled, others lay there helplessly, and a few didnt seem to even be conscious while they were being violated. Sarahs mind was foggy but she guessed there were at least twenty girls in the warehouse.
Someone stepped into view. It was Chiqy, the huge guy with the long beard from Deans room. Suddenly, Sarahs head cleared and the observational distance shed felt while taking in her surroundings disappeared. Her heart began to pound and she felt a creeping terror take hold of her.
Where am I? What is this place? Why do I feel so weak?
She tried to sit upright as Chiqy moved closer but her arms collapsed under her and she slumped back onto the mattress. That made Chiqy chuckle.
Dont try to get up, he said, the drugs we gave you make you clumsy. You might fall and break something. And we cant have that. It would be bad for business. Clients prefer that if any bones get broken, theyre the ones doing it.
What did you do to me? she demanded hoarsely, trying to sit up again.
Before she knew what was happening, Chiqy backhanded her across the face, knocking her back onto the mattress and sending an explosion of pain from her cheekbone to her ear. As she gasped for air and tried to regain her equilibrium, he leaned over and whispered in her ear.
You gonna learn, little miss. You dont raise your voice. You dont talk back unless a client wants it. You dont ask questions. Chiqy in charge. You follow my rules, youll be okay. You dont, then not so okay. We clear?
Sarah nodded.
Good. Then listen up cuz here come the rules. First, youre my property. I own you. I may loan you out but never forget who you belong to. You understand?
Sarah, her cheek still throbbing from his slap, nodded meekly. Even as she tried to wrap her head around the situation, she knew that openly challenging Chiqy in her current condition was unwise.
Second, you gonna satisfy my clients needs. You dont gotta love it, although who knows, maybe youll take to it. That dont matter. You do what the client says, no matter what. If you dont, Ill beat you til your insides bleed. I have ways of doing that so you still look pretty for the clients. On the outside, youll look like angel. But on the inside, youll be all pulp. We clear?
Again Sarah nodded. She tried to prop herself up again and squinted in the bright light, hoping to get her bearings. She didnt recognize any of the other girls. Suddenly a cold chill ran up her spine.
Wheres Lanie?
Can you tell me what happened to my friend? she asked in what she hoped wasnt a challenging voice.
Before she knew what was happening, Chiqy had slapped her again, this time on the other cheek. The force of it slammed her down against the mattress hard.
I wasnt done, she heard him say despite her ringing ears. The last rule is you dont speak unless I ask you a question. Like I said, youre gonna learn fast that being uppity doesnt pay around here. You got it?
Sarah nodded, noticing her head throb as she did.
But that question Ill answer, Chiqy said with a cruel smile on his face. He pointed at a mattress about fifteen feet away.
Sarah looked over and saw a man who looked to be in his sixties on top of a girl whose head was slumped to the side. Just then, the man grabbed her chin and lifted her face so he could kiss her.
Sarah nearly gagged again as she realized it was Lanie. She was naked from the waist down and her black tank top was up around her neck, revealing her bra. When the man lost interest in her lips, he let go and her head lolled in Sarahs direction.
She could tell that her friend was conscious, if only barely. Her heavy-lidded eyes were barely slits and she didnt seem to be aware of her surroundings. Her body was limp and she didnt physically react to the things being done to her.
Sarah took it all in but somehow the horror of the moment seemed like it was happening far away, on a distant planet. Maybe it was the drugs. Maybe it was getting hit in the face twice. But she felt numb.
Maybe I should be grateful for that.
She was hard to handle so we had to calm her down a lot, Chiqy said. That could be you. Or if you dont fight so much, we wont have to give you the sleepy shot. Its up to you.
Sarah looked at him and started to answer but then remembered the rules and bit her tongue. Chiqy saw it and smiled.
Good. Youre a quick learner, he said. You can talk.
No sleepy shot, she pleaded.
Okay, well try it clean. But if youstruggle, its the needle for you. Understand?
Sarah nodded. Chiqy, a satisfied smile on his face, nodded back and stepped out, pulling the curtain closed behind him.
Not knowing how long she had, Sarah looked around desperately, trying to take stock of her situation. She was still wearing her jeans and teal top, which suggested nothing had been done to her yet. She checked her pockets for her phone, change purse, and ID but they were all gone. No shock there.
A loud female groan from somewhere nearby snapped her out of her numbness and she felt something approaching panic seep in. She welcomed it as it came with a jolt of adrenaline that sharpened her mind and gave her greater control over her limbs.
Think, Sarah, while you still can. Youve been gone awhile. People are looking for you. There is no way Mom and Dad would wait this long for you to get in touch without calling the cops. If theyre looking for you, you have to give them some kind of clue, something to let them know you were here, in case something happens.