by Kay Bigelow
“Oh, okay. But I’ll remember this moment.”
“I’d rather you remember what came before this moment.”
“Trust me, I’ll never ever forget last night,” Leah said as she got out of bed. She planted a kiss on Dani’s cheek as she passed by her.
By the time Leah finished her shower, she was awake. As she stepped out of the drying tube, Dani was standing in the door watching. A mug of coffee sat on the counter waiting for her.
“You’re looking decidedly more chipper than I feel. Why is that?” Leah asked.
“Probably because I’ve been up for an hour and swam laps…and have had two cups of coffee.”
“Ahhh, coffee the elixir of life.” Leah sighed as she took her first sip of coffee. She took the mug into the closet with her. She looked at the clothes hanging in her closet and nothing appealed to her. “Do I have to wear clothes today?”
“No. Wait. Yes, you have to wear clothes today and every day you’re here. I saw how those women were devouring you with their eyes yesterday. Clothes are mandatory for you, preferably turtlenecks and long pants.”
“Uh-huh,” Leah murmured to herself. She chose a pair of navy slacks and a bright red collarless shirt. Her sandals were nowhere to be found in the closet, so she looked for them in the bedroom and found them under the bed.
“It’s time to leave for the big house. You can take your coffee with you because I’m driving.”
Leah’s phone started buzzing. She picked it up off the dresser and thumbed it on. “Samuels.”
“Boss, it’s Stanhope. We have a situation at the jail. Hightail it up here.”
“Be there in a few.”
“What’s going on?” Dani asked.
“There’s a ‘situation’ at the jail. Stanhope told me to ‘hightail’ it up there.”
“Hightail it? What does that mean?”
“I didn’t ask her. I assume it means for us to hurry.”
“Did she say what the problem is?”
“No. Let’s go.”
They didn’t talk on their way back to the big house, and Leah was sure they made it in record time. Dani had the accelerator on the floorboard the entire way. As Dani slowed to make the turn into the parking lot for the jail, Leah tried to get her wind-whipped hair under control. She had expected to see a mob of people in front of the building demanding that Stanhope turn Cooper over to them. But there was no one around. In fact, it was eerily quiet.
Leah got out of the car and took the steps two at a time and charged into the jail office. Stanhope and her team were standing around staring at the door leading into the cells.
“What the phuc is going on?” Leah asked.
Stanhope came over to stand in front of her. “Cooper may be dead,” she said quietly.
Leah was momentarily stunned into silence. Cooper had been their best—and only—lead to get to both the buyers and sellers of the girls. With her dead, so was the case, even though they had vids of what went on in the bungalow. Leah didn’t know whether the vids showed Cooper with any of her buyers. They were back at square one. Leah felt defeated once again that the bad guys had won.
“Wait. What the hell do you mean she ‘may’ be dead? Either she is or isn’t dead.”
“We think she may have taken poison during the night.”
“How the phuc did she get poison?” Leah asked.
“Uh, we’re not sure. Reagan is in there with her.”
“No one leaves this room, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Leah went through the door to the jail cells. Cooper was in the second cell and the cell door stood open. Leah strode down the corridor and stopped at the cell.
“Reagan?”
“Good morning, Leah. I’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is I don’t yet know what she took. The good news is that it didn’t kill her. But if it’s the same poison she gave Natalie, I’ll have to pump her stomach.”
“She’s alive?”
“Yes, but just barely. Oh, more good news. Whatever she took made her throw up over there, which is probably why she’s still alive. And it might help identify what she took.”
“What do we need to do?” Leah asked.
“We need to move her to the clinic. I’ll pump her stomach just in case, and then I need to get her hooked up to oxygen and an IV in order to start cleaning whatever the poison is out of her system.”
“Any clue how the poison was administered?”
“My best guess is that she had it with her when she was brought in.”
“As in a capsule in her cheek like in the flicks?”
“Or carried somewhere else. I’ll know more when we get her to the clinic.”
“Okay. I’ll get Stanhope and her team to move her to your clinic.”
Leah returned to the main room. “Stanhope, Cooper is alive and needs to be moved to the medical clinic. Do not under any circumstances drop the prisoner. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Sojourner, I want you and your team to act as an escort. I know it’s only a few hundred feet, but I want nothing else to happen to our prime suspect.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Stanhope sent one of her team to the clinic to get the hover-stretcher. She was back in under three minutes. They placed Cooper on the stretcher and there were four grunts when they picked it up from the floor.
“Take a pair of cuffs with you. I want her cuffed to the clinic’s bed. I’m not convinced this isn’t some sort of an escape attempt,” Leah told Stanhope. “Have you seen Peony this morning?”
“Not yet.”
“Jardain,” a voice, obviously Camryn’s, yelled from her cell.
Dani looked at Leah who shook her head. No way was a civilian going to talk to one of the suspects before the district attorney did.
Leah pulled out her phone just as Dani’s started to ring. Leah was calling Peony, but there was no answer. When Dani ended her call, she said, “The ship has arrived at the SpacePort. I sent Ryan, our driver, out to pick them up and bring them to Camryn’s office in the big house.”
“Thanks. When did you do that?”
“While you were sleeping,” Dani said with a smile.
“Do you have someone who can go out to the team’s bungalow and find Peony for me?”
“I can send one of the gofers to search for her. Is she the only one missing in action?”
“No. Alex is missing, too.”
“They’re probably doing what I wish I was doing with you,” Dani said with a grin.
“The day is young yet, Dr. Bensington,” Leah said with hope in her voice.
Chapter Twenty-four
“Let’s go meet the district attorney and get this over with. Maybe we’ll get lucky and finish early enough to get dinner and go dancing.”
“Again with the dancing,” Leah murmured.
When they got to the big house, Bette approached them. “Everything’s set in Camryn’s…in the office. If you need anything, just call me.”
“Thank you, Bette,” Dani said with a smile.
Bette smiled and moved quickly away and toward the front desk. Leah and Dani no sooner got settled at the small conference table than they heard a commotion out in the lobby.
“They’re here. Are you ready for this?” Dani asked.
“Not really. And you don’t need to stay, okay?”
Dani nodded as the door to the office slammed open and a woman in a black suit with a skirt ending two inches above her knees, a white shirt, and stilettos came striding in.
What the phuc! Who is this idiot? Did her mother not teach her any manners?
“She appears to be unhappy about something,” Dani murmured.
“You think?” Leah whispered.
Bette came in behind her, and said, “I’m sorry, Dr. Bensington. I told her you’d come out and get her.”
“It’s okay, Bette. You’re not responsible for the rudeness of any guest. Thank you.”
&nbs
p; “Who’s in charge of this mess?”
“Who are you?” Leah asked not leaving her seat.
“District Attorney Linda Fujiyama. I take it you’re Samuels.”
Leah wasn’t liking this woman one iota.
Dani stood and said, “I’m sorry our meeting has been interrupted, Dr. Samuels. Perhaps we can meet again after this business is handled?”
Leah smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Samuels, I don’t have a lot of time. Give me your report now.”
“Fujiyama, you have nothing but time for the next twenty-four hours.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m leaving on the next shuttle off this planet.”
“The next shuttle won’t be leaving until noon tomorrow,” Leah said.
“What? That’s ridiculous! I can’t stay that long.”
“I know you must be a very important woman because of your attitude, but the shuttle is not your personal taxi.”
Dani watched as the two women squared off.
“Surely, someone here can order the shuttle to leave this place ahead of schedule to get me back to my office,” Fujiyama said.
“No. Do you understand why you’re here?”
“Of course I do. Do you?”
“Yes, I do. You’re here to take custody of an accused murderer and human trafficker.”
“That’s correct. How much time can that phucking take?”
“Your prisoner tried to commit suicide last night, and cannot travel today,” Leah said as she noticed another woman step into the office. Must be the ADA.
“What fucking idiot allowed that to happen? You?”
“Excuse me, Veronica. Can we take this down a few notches?”
Veronica? Who the hell is Veronica?
The woman came forward with her hand outstretched. “I’m District Attorney Linda Fujiyama, Ms. Samuels. And you must be Dr. Bensington. And my overbearing colleague is Assistant District Attorney Veronica Garrison. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”
This was no “misunderstanding.” This was choreographed. Garrison outright lied to us. What the phuc?
“Any chance I can get a cup of coffee?” Garrison asked.
“Of course. I believe the carafe behind you is fresh. If not, I believe the dining room is still serving breakfast.”
Fujiyama smiled, knowing Leah had scored one on Garrison.
This shit has to stop right now.
“When can we see the prisoner?” Garrison asked more harshly than she needed to.
“When I’ve had my coffee, Veronica. Leah, tell me how you figured out what was going on here.”
Leah quickly led Fujiyama through the investigation. The DA asked, “Do you have any information on her buyers?”
“No, we didn’t find anything in either her ship or the bungalow she occupied. But we have vids of her in her bungalow that may—or may not—have her meeting with potential clients. I haven’t watched the vids so you’ll have to determine if there are clients on them.”
“Oh, please don’t tell me you searched her property without a search warrant,” Garrison said.
Leah glanced at Garrison and then turned back to Fujiyama. “Really?”
“Veronica, please get us checked in and then we’ll go see our prisoner.”
“But—”
“Now,” Fujiyama said with steel in her voice.
Garrison stormed out of the room.
“I must apologize for my colleague. She’s a bit of a…” Fujiyama started and stopped.
“Is ‘asshole’ the word you’re searching for? It seems we’ve replaced one bully for another,” Dani supplied for her. “I won’t tolerate her berating my guests or my employees. Everyone on the planet is a bit fragile with what has happened here. And we’ve all had enough of bullies.”
“I’ll have a talk with her over lunch. She’ll be on her best behavior,” Fujiyama said. “I’ll be in charge of the interview with Cooper and McDonald myself. I’m not sure who else we might need to interview until you and I have spoken,” Fujiyama said to Leah.
“No one will be able to interview Cooper until the doctor gives her permission,” Leah said.
“I understand,” Fujiyama said.
With the arrival of the district attorney, Leah’s job was done. She hoped. All I want to do is spend the next eleven days being with Dani and letting all this go.
Chapter Twenty-five
“You might want to watch the vids my colleague took of the proceedings. You’ll have a better understanding of exactly what has been happening, apparently for years.”
“I’d like that.”
“We’ll set up a screening at two for you.” Just as soon as I find my colleague.
“Can I speak with the victims now?”
“You can, but keep Garrison away from them. She’s just way too similar to Cooper and will further traumatize them,” Dani said.
“Are you speaking as the owner of the planet or as a psychiatrist?”
“Whichever one will be most effective in keeping her away from those girls.”
“Come with me. I’ll take you to meet the girls,” Leah said as she stood up.
Leah took them out of the big house via the kitchen in order to avoid having to deal with Garrison again. Dani went with them for the same reason.
As they neared the bungalow where the girls were staying, Fujiyama asked, “Who are those women gathered here?”
“They’re guests. They’ve been here off and on all night. One of them said they wanted the girls to know they weren’t alone, and they are sending positive vibes to the girls,” Dani said.
“Just how horrific was it?”
“Worse than anything I’ve seen lately,” Leah said.
Fujiyama stopped and looked at Leah. “You’re the cop from New America, is that correct?”
“Retired cop, formerly of New America.”
Fujiyama didn’t comment on Leah’s description of her current status.
“I’m guessing then you’ve seen your fair share of gut-wrenching crime scenes.”
“More than my fair share,” Leah said.
When they entered the bungalow, there was no noise. Leah’s stomach clinched. She headed for the kitchen when she heard a utensil clank against a plate. When she and Fujiyama entered the kitchen, they found the three girls and three of Stanhope’s team sitting around the kitchen table decorating cupcakes. They all were entirely focused on the task before them. One of Stanhope’s team was so focused, her tongue poked from her mouth like any kid decorating a cupcake.
“Miss Leah,” Tasha yelled as she jumped off the stool she was sitting on and ran to Leah and hugged her. Leah knelt and hugged her back.
Leah looked over Tasha’s head to the other two girls. They were watching closely, but stayed at the table. Maria had a dab of blue icing on her cheek.
“I’d like you to meet Linda Fujiyama,” Leah said. “Will you tell her your names?”
“I’m Tasha,” she said after returning to Maria’s side. The other two girls said nothing.
“That’s Fiona. She’s doing the green icing. And Nicole is in charge of the red icing.”
“Does that mean you’re in charge of the blue icing?” Fujiyama asked.
“Yes, I am,” Tasha said proudly.
“What are you making?” Fujiyama asked.
Tasha looked at her like she was the dumbest adult she’d ever met. “We’re making cupcakes,” Tasha said. “We made chocolate chip cookies last night.”
“How was your pizza?” Leah asked. That got smiles from all three girls, but no one said anything.
“I want to talk to each of you, starting with the oldest one,” Garrison’s harsh voice said loudly behind Leah. The girls seemed to shrivel up. Tasha hid her face in Maria’s shoulder. Maria looked like she wanted to throttle Garrison. The other three adults in the room turned, almost in unison, to face Garrison.
“Get out,” Fujiyama said.
“You brought me here to i
nterview witnesses. I want to do my job and get off this depraved planet.”
“Get out,” Leah said, advancing on Garrison. She’d wanted to hit someone from the moment she walked through the doors of the hidden cottage and saw these girls. Garrison would be a perfect target.
“You can’t order me about,” Garrison said.
“Maybe not, but I can arrest your ass for obstruction of justice,” Leah said. “Now get out of this house.” She heard a childish giggle behind her.
“She said the ‘A’ word,” Tasha said to Maria.
“You can’t arrest me for shit, Samuels. Linda, aren’t you going to do anything about these people?” The way she said “these people” made it clear she thought the women in the room were disgusting, distasteful, and disturbing.
Tasha whispered loudly to Maria, “She said the ‘S’ word. I was told never to say that word.”
“Grownups forget their manners sometimes, Tasha,” Maria said loudly enough for Garrison to hear.
Garrison glowered at Maria, but at least knew better than to say anything to her.
Sojourner Lyre and Lucy Andrews, the largest of the police officers, moved into the room, filling up the remaining space and air in the room.
“Dr. Samuels may not be able to arrest you, but I certainly can and will if you’re not out of this room in thirty seconds….” Sojourner said.
“Linda…” Garrison started to say.
“You’re off this case, Garrison. I won’t have you jeopardizing one of the best chances we’ve got of prosecuting a human trafficking case. So put your dick back in your pants and go wait for me in the main lobby.”
Garrison turned a very dark shade of red, so dark that Leah thought maybe she’d blow a gasket and have a heart attack. “You may be the district attorney now, but you won’t be for long.”
“Lucy, escort Garrison to the lobby and ask Stanhope to put a guard on her,” Sojourner said.
“You all will be sorry.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dani, Leah, Fujiyama, and Sojourner said in unison and smiled. The girls behind them giggled.
The adults moved away from the table where the girls were working and moved into the living room so they wouldn’t hear what the adults were talking about.
“Dr. Bensington, I’d like you to sit in on my interviews with the girls. I’d also appreciate your initial assessment of the damage done to them by Cooper. I want to see the video taken during the search of Cooper’s house.”
