Seduced by the Badge

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  Danni blew a soft sigh. “Can you at least tell me about the doctor?”

  Angel’s eyes widened, her fear suddenly dancing with surprise. “How do you know about...”

  “A mutual friend of ours thought you might be able to tell me about him.”

  A wave of silence swept between them as Angel pondered her comment. The girl’s gaze swung back to the television, a cartoon figure having replaced the young Will Smith. Danni allowed her a moment to sit with her thoughts. She looked worn, like she’d done a marathon after never having run prior. Gone was the vibrancy that had engulfed her spirit when they’d first met. When she played with dolls when she thought no one was looking. Her glow had diminished substantially, the young woman a semblance of who she’d been just weeks earlier when she’d been willing to decry what had happened to someone she considered her friend.

  “You need to leave,” Angel suddenly snapped. “I can’t help you. If they find out...”

  “Please!” Danni begged. “Please, Angel!”

  The two stared at each other as Danni continued to plead her case. “A man we know who worked for Pius kidnapped my sister. I think he was going to take her to the tombs, but she got away. But there was a woman with her who didn’t make it. They found her dead just like they found your friend Crystal. I want to make that stop. I don’t want anyone else to suffer. And whatever you tell me will stay between us. Pius will never find out.”

  “He always finds out.”

  “We will protect you, Angel. And you’ll be able to go back home with your mom and be happy. I swear!”

  “You were nice to me. Sometimes the other girls would be really mean. But not you.” Angel paused as if she were still trying to determine what she should do. She finally blew a heated breath of stale air past her chapped lips. She sat back upright, leaning toward Danni as if what she had to say might be overheard by someone who shouldn’t be privy to the information.

  “He’s not a real doctor. Not like the ones here in the hospital. They just call him the doctor because he fixes all the paperwork. He gets passports and travel documents for the girls and does stuff with the banks for Pius.”

  “Do you know his real name?”

  Angel shook her head. “No. Pius called him by a nickname once, but I can’t remember what it was. But that was like the first time I met him. After that I had to call him Daddy whenever we were together.”

  “How often is this doctor around?”

  “He only comes when they’re getting ready to send someone away. Like right after an auction.”

  “An auction?”

  “Sometimes new girls come in and they get auctioned off to really rich guys. Really rich guys! If they have to leave the country, the doctor will fix their papers. We all thought you were going to be auctioned.”

  “You did?”

  She nodded. “Yeah,” she said, not bothering to give any additional explanation.

  “What else can you tell me about the doctor?”

  “He used to be a police officer, too. I don’t think he is anymore, though. And he’s a really big guy. Like-a-bear big.”

  “If you saw him again, would you know him?”

  Angel nodded. “Yeah. Pius would make me party with him whenever he did a job for him. Sometimes he would talk about when he was a cop. He liked talking about some club he worked for, too. He thought it was funny that he had worked on both sides of the law and no one knew.”

  Danni nodded. “Is there anything else you can tell me about him?”

  Angel lifted her right hand ever so slightly. “He only has two fingers and a thumb. A drug dealer shot him in the hand. That’s why he isn’t a cop anymore. He likes to point it at you like it’s a gun or something. He’s weird.”

  Danni felt the remnants of her breakfast churn in her stomach. Her voice dropped an octave. “Did you ever hear Pius call this doctor person Tank?”

  Angel hesitated, trying to recall what she remembered. “Yeah,” she finally said. “I think that’s what Pius called him once. Oh!” she suddenly exclaimed. “One other thing!”

  “Yes?”

  “He keeps copies. He said it makes him happy to look back on all the lives he impacted and know he did a good deed for all those poor girls. He also said it might be his get-out-of-jail-free card one day if things went left.”

  Danni nodded. “Do you know where he keeps them?”

  Angel said, “There’s a shed behind his house. There are photos, videos, tape recordings and all kinds of stuff under a floorboard.”

  “How do you know all this, Angel? Why did he share so much with you?”

  The little girl smiled. “When you go out on dates, there’s one sure way to make sure you get home safe and sound. You keep your mouth shut and your legs open. Then you collect your money and run. But Ginger always told us that if we keep our mouths shut and listen, men will talk. That it makes them feel important and they always talk about things that will be useful later. He liked to talk.”

  Danni smiled. “Ginger is a smart girl.”

  Angel shrugged her narrow shoulders. “Ginger protected us. She did whatever she could to keep us safe. Even when we didn’t listen to her rules.”

  Danni hugged the girl one last time. “Thank you! You’ve been a big help.”

  “Danni? Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course! Anything.”

  “If you can make Pius go to jail, what’s going to happen to Ginger and the girls?”

  “I hope we can get them back to their families. Or find someplace safe for them.”

  Angel smiled. “Good. That would be good.”

  “Can I ask you one last thing?” Danni queried. “When this goes to trial, will you testify about everything you know?”

  There was a moment of pause as Angel’s eyes shifted back toward the television for a brief moment. Danni waited, understanding the magnitude of her request.

  Angel finally shifted her gaze back. She nodded. “Yeah! Whatever you need if it will help the girls.”

  * * *

  Danni and Angel had talked for another thirty minutes as Danni had explained all that would happen and what would be expected of her. When she exited the room, Armstrong was sitting patiently in the hospital lounge. She was only mildly surprised to see him there, and grateful. He rose from his seat as she approached, and although she wanted to walk into his arms to be held, she resisted the temptation.

  “Did she give you anything?” he asked, his stance all business although something more personal gleamed in his eyes.

  Danni nodded. “We need an arrest warrant and we also need to give her a photo lineup to pick out one of Pius’s associates. One of the team also needs to come down and formally videotape her statement. Her mother will be here so that she has her guardian present.”

  “Did she give up Pius?”

  “No, someone else. Tank. The doorman at your club,” Danni said as she filled him in on what she had just learned.

  Armstrong dropped back down into his seat. Surprise registered across his face. “And you’re sure it’s Tank?”

  “I’m not sure about anything, but how many former cops with two fingers missing, who like to play cowboy with their hands, do you know?” There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone as she slid into the seat beside him.

  * * *

  Something like rage washed over Armstrong’s spirit. He struggled not to let it show, too many eyes watching the two of them as they sat together. He shook his head, muttering between clenched teeth, “I never liked that guy.”

  “But he works for you.”

  “He and my brother were partners when they both started with the police force. There were rumors that he didn’t always play by the right rules, and he’s a notorious womanizer. He lost his hand during a bad drug bust backing up Parker. At the time, giving him a job was the
least I could do.”

  She nodded her understanding. “Let’s pick him up. If Angel identifies him, let’s try to leverage that to get him to tell us what he knows about Pius. And get warrants for his house, the back shed and his car. We don’t want any of this thrown out on a technicality, so let’s make sure we cover everything.”

  “I will pick the son of a bitch up personally. Do you have time to ride with me to the station?”

  Danni stole a quick glance to the clock on the wall. “Not much. I need to meet Carlo back at the café before he closes.”

  “I don’t like that he’s practically holding you hostage, Danni.”

  “It’s not like that. Not really.”

  “Could have fooled me,” he snapped.

  Danni took a deep breath and held it, staring Armstrong in his eyes as he stared back. She was reluctant to tell him about the concerns she had about her host. Although she hadn’t found anything linking Carlo to his brother or grandfather or one shred of evidence that showed him actively involved in their family business, he had begun to worry her.

  There had been a shift in his attitude since she’d taken up residence in his home. Carlo had become demanding and short-tempered with her, and she had enough training to know that she was being groomed for something. She didn’t quite know yet what that something was. Just that she had to pretend and play along. He liked her docile and obedient, and despite her inclination to fight back, she didn’t, allowing him the perception that she was doing as she was told. She knew that if she shared that with Armstrong, it would be a problem between them. An argument that she didn’t have the energy for. Because she needed to stay focused. They had bigger fish to fry, and Carlo acting like an ass wasn’t one of them.

  She blinked, breaking the hold they had on each other. “One problem at a time, Detective,” she said, her voice low. “One problem at a time.”

  * * *

  The ride to the station was quick. And quiet. The conversation between them was minimal. Danni sat in the passenger seat and listened as Armstrong placed the necessary calls to start things rolling. Angel’s statement was the first real break they’d had in the case, and her talking could only get them a step closer to their primary target.

  At the station they confirmed the warrants were signed and put the team in place to execute them. An officer and videographer headed back to the hospital to get Angel’s official statement, and Armstrong suited up to arrest Tank.

  Danni watched as he snapped on his protective vest. “Do you think he’ll be a problem?” she asked.

  “I don’t, but I’m not going to take any unnecessary chances.”

  “Just be careful, please.”

  “We will. The team is tight. We’ll go in and pull him out before anyone realizes what’s going down.” He snapped his holster in place and secured his weapon. “I’m still not comfortable with your going back in unarmed. Once Pius hears about Tank, things could get iffy. You don’t know what Carlo might do if he’s involved.”

  “If he’s involved, and I’m still not sure that he is. I’ll be fine. I need to get into that basement, though.”

  “And you think you can make that happen tonight?”

  “Tonight, or maybe tomorrow. But I’m going to see what’s down there that’s so secretive.”

  Armstrong nodded. “You know the drill. If you need help, we’re right outside your door.”

  Danni smiled. Armstrong took a step toward her, closing the gap between them. Heat rose thick and full between them. His gently clutched her arm, his fingers teasing the bend of her elbow. She inhaled swiftly, his touch warming like the sweetest breeze.

  “Good work today, Detective,” he said softly.

  Danni nodded. “Thank you.”

  With a deep breath, Armstrong leaned and pressed a damp kiss to her forehead. His lips lingered longer than necessary, and then he gently caressed her cheek with his own as he whispered into her ear. “Please, don’t do anything to get yourself hurt. It would break my heart if anything happened to you now.” As he pulled away, their gazes locked and held. Nothing else needing to be said, he turned and exited the room, heading out to do his job.

  * * *

  Danni wasn’t expecting to find Pie at the coffee shop when she arrived. He stood at the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. He and Carlo seemed to be in casual conversation, nothing amiss other than the brother’s presence. She greeted them both cheerily.

  “Hi, Pie! Hey, Carlo!”

  Pie gave her a nod but didn’t bother to speak.

  Carlo winked an eye at her. “Hello, beautiful! How’d that interview go?”

  Danni shrugged, her smile still wide. “Keep your fingers crossed. It’s in the housekeeping department at the hospital, and they pay really, really well.”

  “Northwestern Memorial? You spoke to Donna Daniels?”

  Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Yeah, Northwestern, but I interviewed with a woman named Macy,” she said, not at all surprised that he knew where she’d gone. She wasn’t foolish enough to think that she wasn’t being followed. He’d become overly possessive, and she’d come to trust, with a fair amount of certainty, that one of Pie’s goons was always trailing behind her on his orders, Carlo’s or both. What she’d also become proficient at was losing them when they least expected it. Earlier, at the hospital, slipping into the stairwell, out the front door and back inside had allowed her to lose them somewhere between East Huron Street and Banks Court. It was only when she was certain they’d lost her scent that she’d returned to have her conversation with Angel. Both men now looked stupid, sitting in the back, waiting for their next assignment.

  Carlo nodded, smiling slightly. “Macy?” he repeated.

  Angel reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. “Lila Macy,” she said as she passed it to him. She watched as he read the contents, noting the name and number of the hospital’s human resources department. When he was done, he dropped it into his own pocket, not returning it to her.

  “You ready to head home?” he questioned.

  “Yes, sir,” she answered, her eyes dropping to the floor beneath her feet. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  “You’re a lucky girl, Danni,” Carlo said as he came from behind the counter. “Some girls aren’t as lucky as you to have a roof over your head and someone to take care of you.”

  Danni smiled and nodded. “Thank you,” she said.

  He continued, and as he did, Danni repeated his new mantra in her head, having finally lost count of the number of times she’d heard the admonishment.

  “You need to be grateful, Danni. And you show your appreciation by being dutiful.”

  Danni resisted the urge to roll her eyes, her lashes blinking rapidly instead. “Yes, sir,” she answered.

  “Are you grateful, Danni?” he asked.

  “Yes!”

  “Yes, what?”

  “Yes, sir!”

  “And you know how lucky you are, right?”

  “Yes, sir!”

  Carlo smiled. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her. “That’s my good girl!”

  Good girl, my ass! Danni thought to herself as she smiled back.

  Chapter 17

  Armstrong and two armed officers entered Peace Row, moving swiftly down the narrow corridors to the bright red door. Tank was seated on a black wooden stool, and he lifted his hand in greeting.

  “Hey, boss! I was just about to call you,” he said as he waved his cell phone in the air.

  “What’s up, big man?” Armstrong asked as he moved to his employee’s side, the two officers flanking behind him.

  “Neighbor just called and said there’s a commotion going on at my house. I need to head home to see what’s going on.”

  “That’s going to have to wait, Tank. Right now I need you to come down
to the station.”

  Tank’s face dropped, his happy-go-lucky smile twisting into a downward frown. “What’s this about?”

  “Marshall Bryant, you’re under arrest on the suspicion of sex trafficking, rape of a minor and fraud. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”

  Tank snapped, “I know my rights.”

  “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

  Tank pulled his large body up, tensing as he looked from one man to the other. His jaw was tight, and he clenched hard fists at his sides.

  Armstrong braced himself and shook his head. “Don’t. We have an eyewitness, a victim, and right now we’re executing a search warrant on your property. I imagine we’re going to find a wealth of information hidden away in that shed of yours. Don’t add resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer to the lengthy list of charges already piling up.”

  Suddenly looking more like a small Humvee, Tank seemed to deflate as he slowly turned, pulling his wrists to the small of his back. The officer on Armstrong’s right snapped a pair of metal handcuffs on the man. Armstrong gave his associates a nod, and the duo led Tank out of the building to a waiting police car.

  Armstrong took a moment to pause. Despite his personal dislike for Tank, the man was still a brother, the uniform having bonded them for a lifetime. Tank had also taken a bullet for his brother, and that, too, had bought him a level of loyalty from Armstrong and his family. It burdened him that Tank’s wayward choices had put him in this position. The warrants and arrest had also triggered an Internal Affairs investigation that none of them needed to deal with. His moment of reflection was interrupted by Parker strolling in his direction.

  “Was Marshall Bryant Mirandized?” Parker asked, not even bothering to say hello.

  Armstrong nodded. “Yes, sir, Lieutenant. Everything’s been by the book.”

  “And you trust that this is a good bust?”