Every Dark Corner (The Cincinnati Series Book 3)

by Karen Rose

  Adam exhaled, the vein in his temple working overtime. ‘I know of her. She’s famous in kiddie porn circles. She was one of the stars of the child circuit,’ he added bitterly. ‘She was filmed for about three years, from age twelve to fifteen.’

  The atmosphere in the room had grown thick with tension. ‘Twelve,’ Kate whispered. ‘God. What happened when she turned fifteen, Adam?’

  Adam shrugged. ‘She disappeared. No more movies. At least that’s the report I read when I was working Personal Crimes. No one in ICAC realized she was local.’

  ‘She’s at least local right now,’ Kendra said. ‘On Saturday I tried to follow her, but she exited the parking lot before I got to my car. She was fast. I ran both sets of plates – hers and the man’s. Hers were stolen and didn’t match the car she was driving. His were registered to a Corey Addison. He’s also local, lives off of East Galbraith and works downtown. I’ve already sent his home address to Dr Fallon.’

  ‘So all this happened last Saturday?’ Troy asked. ‘What happened this morning that prompted your call?’

  ‘She called me,’ Kendra said urgently. ‘But she didn’t know my name. She called the central number yesterday afternoon from a payphone outside of the Kroger in Price Hill. She told the operator that she was doing a project for school and wanted to talk to me – the African-American lady cop who was on duty near Glenway on Saturday. The operator knew something was hinky, so she tried to get more information, but she said the girl was terrified and wouldn’t say any more. The operator tracked me down through my duty schedule and left me a message. It was sitting in my mailbox this morning. I called back right away to ask how to reach the girl, but the girl had told the operator that she didn’t have a phone. She’s supposed to call back from the pay phone as soon as she can. The operator gave the young woman her name, to make sure they connected again and that the girl didn’t get someone else.’

  Meredith studied the group. ‘So, what do we do next?’

  ‘We let her call,’ Zimmerman said. ‘And we put a plain-clothes cop in the parking lot to watch for her.’ He grimaced. ‘I assume we can get a photo of her, but God, I don’t want to visit that site. I don’t want any of us to have to do it.’

  ‘I’ll do it,’ Adam said quietly.

  Meredith shook her head. ‘You don’t have to. Kendra got a photo and cropped it to show only her face.’

  Adam’s shoulders sagged, his relief unmistakable. ‘Thank you, Kendra.’

  ‘You’re welcome,’ Kendra said gruffly. ‘It wasn’t pleasant. I did it on one of the precinct’s computers,’ she added hesitantly. ‘I told my CO why I’d accessed the site. I didn’t want to get written up or investigated by Internal Affairs.’

  Zimmerman frowned. ‘Who’s your CO?’

  ‘Captain Berry.’

  ‘Have you told him about the girl trying to reach you yesterday?’

  ‘No, sir. Not yet. I was about to, but Meredith had mentioned there was a task force working on kiddie pornographers, so I called her first.’

  ‘Don’t tell your captain just yet,’ Zimmerman told her. ‘We may have a leak and I want to guard this information. I’ll tell Detective Kimble’s lieutenant so you’re covered.’

  ‘Okay,’ Kendra said warily. ‘So what else should I do?’

  ‘Go about your duties as you normally do,’ Zimmerman said. ‘If we need you to do anything differently, the order will come directly from Lieutenant Isenberg.’

  ‘Okay,’ she said again, her doubt clear. ‘I don’t want to lose my job, Agent Zimmerman.’

  ‘You won’t. Hopefully we won’t need this veil of secrecy for long. This was nice work, Officer. Thank you.’

  ‘You’re welcome, sir. Is there anything else you need from me?’

  ‘No. You’re dismissed. I’m going to have Dr Fallon text you some more telephone numbers – my direct line as well as those of Isenberg, Kimble, Novak, Troy, and Coppola. If you run into any issues, call one of us as soon as you can.’

  ‘Yes, sir. Thank you.’

  ‘One more thing. If this woman manages to call in from a number other than the Kroger pay phone, does the operator have a way to reach you?’

  ‘Yes, sir. I gave her my cell phone number already.’

  ‘Good. Then have a good day, Officer. Be careful.’

  ‘I always am.’ The phone went dead and Meredith leaned back with a sigh.

  ‘I was going to tell you about this young woman this morning, but when I heard she’d called asking for Kenny . . . It seemed important enough to shanghai your meeting.’

  Zimmerman smiled at her in a fatherly way. ‘You did the right thing. Give me a few minutes to set up surveillance at the Kroger.’

  ‘You need to make it a woman, Agent Zimmerman,’ Meredith cautioned. ‘This young woman will run from a man.’

  ‘I figured that out for myself,’ Zimmerman said, then looked at Kate. ‘Do I know everything you’re going to discuss?’

  Kate nodded. ‘You do.’

  ‘Then you go first. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

  Sixteen

  Cincinnati, Ohio,

  Friday 14 August, 8.55 A.M.

  ‘That should do it,’ he murmured to himself, looking at the neatly stacked piles on his kitchen table. DVDs, check. He’d chosen mostly PG-13 titles, but there were a few R and one NC-17 in the mix. He’d leave them in the stack and let his guests choose. If they chose the R or NC-17 DVDs, it showed that they were willing to break a few rules if given the space.

  Nearly every kid he’d ever groomed chose an R or NC-17. They were curious. Sexuality was a natural, human thing to be curious about.

  Assuming these four would be equally curious, he’d already replaced one of the R movies with a triple-X. He’d introduce that one into their stack while they were taking a break from the movies to have their lunch outside by the pool. Tomorrow was going to be another scorcher and he’d make sure he kept them out in the sun long enough to get good and hot. Then he’d suggest they take a dip.

  Swimsuits, check. He never told the kids to bring one, but always planned for pool play. The suits were a little racy. Just enough to make the girls look sexy and for the boys to notice.

  Like any self-respecting adolescent male needed help with that, he thought with an eye roll.

  If they weren’t aroused after pool play, they would be after having a light snack – which he’d supplement with the party drugs that were the reason the kids kept coming back. And also the reason they’d do anything he asked of them, until they were in too deep and wanted out. That was when they disappeared, resurfacing as the property of a collector who wanted his own little porn star. Or her own, because a surprising number of his customers were women.

  Or if he had no buyers, the quitters were found dead on the street, just another unfortunate overdose case. Either way, they’d live forever on DVD and streaming video.

  He tipped an imaginary hat. Many thanks to Alice’s brother Sean for helping him set up the e-commerce and video streaming on servers located all over the world. Where no one can find me.

  It really was the perfect setup.

  This group tomorrow, however, would be a little trickier. He’d never worked with so many kids at one time before. Always just one or two. But his client had requested a foursome, so that was what he’d deliver. He’d have to watch the kids carefully and see if any of them were uncomfortable to the point of telling their parents.

  Or, more correctly, their parent. Not one of the kids came from a normal home, whatever the hell that was anymore. That one parent, or sister, or grandmother, was the reason they were his to begin with. They had granted him access to the kids in return for drugs. They didn’t know what he wanted access for, of course. He usually convinced them that he was only interested in helping their kids. In opening the
doors that would give them better lives.

  He appealed to the parents’ greed, their addictions, or even to their pathetic belief that they just needed to get through a rough spot at work, or with their abusive boyfriend, or whatever the newest chaos in their lives happened to be. He told them that he’d fill in, providing a strong role model for their kids while they worked out their own life messes.

  He’d do whatever he needed to do, say whatever they needed to hear, so that he could get his hands on their fresh-faced adolescents. Because fresh-faced always brought in more cash. Most of his clients didn’t want to see used, old-before-their-time teenagers on film. They wanted it fresh, fun, spirited. They wanted to believe the kids wanted it too. They wanted the fantasy.

  And so that’s what I give them.

  Unfortunately, this time he’d had to cobble together a foursome that was less polished than usual. School was out and people were on vacation, so the soccer moms from the ’burbs with their secret addictions weren’t around in their normal droves. In another few weeks, he’d have had the pick of the litter. This job had a time limit, though, with a shortened delivery deadline.

  He’d had to pick this foursome from a lower class of addicts and users, harder to do when they’d grown up in trailer parks and projects. But possible. Thanks to the Professor, he knew the addicts who’d sell their kids in a heartbeat for another hit. He’d picked the most functional ones, the ones who still had some semblance of a soul, of optimism for the future of the kids for whom they were responsible. These kids still had a spark of hope. But he had work to do to get them prettied up.

  So . . . Lotions, check. Shampoo, check. Salon stylist . . . not so much. He glanced up at the ceiling. Roxy’s bedroom was just above his head. Roxy had been so good at that, once upon a time. But not anymore.

  He needed to find a new stylist who’d come and go without asking questions. Maybe Mallory could be trained. It was something to consider. But that would take time, and he needed this group shiny. Not necessarily today, but within two weeks. He had two weeks to work a miracle, because his client was only going to be in the country for a short time and wanted to leave with his new acquisitions in hand. And he wanted them enthusiastic.

  No pressure. It just meant he had to work fast. Speed up the timeline.

  And if any of the kids looked like they’d spill the beans about things they’d seen and the ‘funny feeling’ they’d gotten after eating his ‘supplemented snacks’? Well, terrible accidents sometimes happened.

  Not here. Not in my house or on my property. But they happened elsewhere. Car crashes were the most effective, especially when their parent or sister or grandmother was driving under the influence. It was pitifully easy to make this happen with the suburban soccer moms who did all their activities under the influence. Usually cocaine, although meth was shockingly popular. Too many activities, too little time. Oh, and husbands who wanted them to look like they did on their wedding day. Busy soccer moms were the Professor’s bread and butter.

  However, the guardians of his newest foursome weren’t suburban soccer moms. They were simply your garden-variety addicts and would be so much easier to eliminate. It was a wonder they’d lived as long as they had. All he had to do was give the parent, sister, or grandmother a concentrated dose and they’d snort it or shoot it into their veins without his help. He’d make sure the kid took the same drug, even if he had to hold them down to make it happen. Then he’d leave kid and parent in a heap for someone else to find.

  The media might notice and they’d wag their heads sadly. Another overdose. Such a shame. Inner-city issues. Such a shame. So how about those Kardashians?

  And life would go on as if the kid and their parent or sister or grandmother had never existed to begin with. Then he’d choose a new asset. And he would continue making films and fulfilling orders for special clients while he waited for Mallory’s little sister to grow old enough to pick up where Mallory had left off. When she did, he’d be making movie magic once again.

  He’d taken video of her for years, at birthday parties, holidays. Macy had the same sparkle that Mallory had had, and the camera loved her face. She was genuine and beautiful, exactly how Mallory had been at the same age. She’d grow up to look just like Mallory.

  Just like Sunshine Suzie. Nobody had ever sold videos the way Suzie had. Soon he’d be selling like he had before. He’d call Macy ‘Suzie’ and no one would question him. Relieved that Suzie was back, they’d just download and download and download.

  And I’ll make lots of money. But that was still at least three years away. Macy was only nine. Almost ten, he realized, brightening. Her birthday was in a few weeks.

  ‘Mallory!’ he called, smiling when she stumbled into the kitchen, still pale from her morning surprise – the three suitcases that had become JJ’s final resting place. He sometimes needed to remind Mallory who was boss. She couldn’t be allowed to play games with him like she’d done the night before. Couldn’t be allowed to escape into her mind, leaving her body colder than a dead fish.

  That was why she was so successful as Sunshine Suzie. I was able to make her enjoy it. Mallory had simply sparkled. And her fans had seen that joy, that life, and they’d watched and watched and watched her. It was too bad that Mallory had grown too old.

  He studied her face carefully. Her downcast eyes were developing bags. He’d have to give her a Botox injection, stat. She was really aging fast. He found himself hoping that Macy stayed younger-looking longer than her sister had.

  ‘Yes?’ Mallory finally asked. He’d been standing there watching her, waiting for her to meet his eyes.

  ‘Have you gone to the store yet?’

  She swallowed hard. ‘No, not yet.’

  ‘Are you feeling all right, my dear?’ he asked with a mocking smirk.

  Her eyes flickered, but it was enough of a reaction for now. ‘I’m fine. I’ll go to the store after I’ve given Roxy her lunch.’

  ‘Is she going to be up to greeting my guests tomorrow?’

  Mallory gave him a look of shocked disbelief, quickly extinguished. ‘No,’ she said carefully. ‘She’s really sick. Maybe you should check on her.’

  He grimaced. Roxy’s room always smelled like a nursing home. ‘Maybe we should just plan on telling my guests that my wife is visiting her mother.’

  Mallory nodded, her expression flat once again. ‘If that’s what you think we should do.’

  Damn, she was getting good at hiding from him in plain sight. Unacceptable. ‘Did you find my list?’

  ‘Yes, I did.’

  ‘And the picture at the bottom?’

  ‘It was blurry. Hard to tell who it was.’

  He smiled at her. She was lying. ‘Well maybe that’s because little Macy is growing up so fast.’ Mallory blanched and his smile widened. Yes. ‘In fact, she has a birthday coming up, so I’d like you to add a few things to the list.’

  Mallory’s jaw clenched. ‘All right. Like what?’

  ‘Makings for a cake. Maybe some pretty bottles of bubble bath, although they wouldn’t have those at the grocery store. I’ll have to order online. Or better yet, the Kroger out in East Gate is across from one of those home stores. If you go there, you can get the bubble bath afterward. And definitely get a birthday card. I want one that says “For my darling niece”.’

  It had been a stroke of luck, really, that Mallory’s mother had had two daughters. He’d wanted Mallory on sight, but Macy represented power over her. Macy was the one thing on this earth that Mallory loved. A threat to Macy got her immediate attention. And as Macy’s dear uncle and godfather, no one would question him assuming custody of the child if anything ever happened to his sister and brother-in-law.

  He’d made sure that Mallory understood this. Often.

  Mallory’s eyes had narrowed, her nostrils flaring as she breathed much
faster. Much harder. ‘All right,’ she said, her voice strained. ‘I’ll get a card.’

  ‘Oh, and better pick up some more bleach for the guest bath,’ he said, and had the satisfaction of watching her purse her lips against nausea. ‘I may have left a bit of a mess and I wouldn’t want my guests to see it tomorrow.’

  A nod. She’d gone a little green.

  ‘And while you’re at the home store? Pick up another matched set of hard plastic luggage. Get black. It hides all the worst stains.’ He leaned into her, pecking her cheek. Enjoying the feel of cold marble under his lips. She was terrified now. Good. She’d carry out his bidding exactly. ‘Hurry back. We’ll have a nice dinner and watch a movie. Together.’

  Mallory backed out of the room and ran up the stairs like her clothes were on fire. Perfect.

  Cincinnati, Ohio,

  Friday 14 August, 9.10 A.M.

  ‘Wow,’ Decker murmured, still stunned by Kendra’s story. Sunshine Suzie popping up now – and at the Glenway Kroger, no less. A glance around the table showed that he was not alone.

  ‘This is unexpected,’ Kate said. ‘And something of a coincidence.’

  Novak nodded. ‘I thought the same thing. Why is she coming forward now?’

  Decker turned it over in his mind, considering it in context with everything that had happened that week. ‘Maybe because of the media coverage of the traffickers’ arrests. If the Professor is snipping loose ends for McCord’s partner – or if he is McCord’s partner – he’s got to be getting nervous. Maybe she’s coming forward because she feels like someone is going to do something about it. Like when one victim accuses her rapist, other past victims add their voice.’

  ‘That could very well be,’ Meredith said thoughtfully. ‘Or it could be that she’s eighteen now and feels like she’s emancipated from him.’

  ‘Maybe,’ Kate said. She chewed on her lower lip. ‘But I wouldn’t imagine he’d just cut her loose. If this guy is the Professor, he plans. He’s meticulous. His product is the best in the city.’