Rising Up: Finding Me book 1

by J J Harper

  The picture is of Jake outside a motel in the downtown region and he is obviously checking the girl out and smiling at her. The headline is of a girl found dead in the same motel, she's been viciously sexually assaulted and suffocated with a pillow. Police are looking for any witnesses to come forward. The girl was only seventeen years old and was a high school student, her picture shows a pretty girl in a cheerleaders outfit, her parents say that she was a good girl and had never been in any trouble.

  Looking over at Ginny she has tears running like a waterfall down her face. "This is my fault. If I hadn't run out on him and moved here he would never have come over. I know it was him that killed her, he used to push my face into a pillow until I could barely breathe, he said it made his orgasm stronger, more intense as all the muscles in my body went rigid and clamped down harder on him. I need to speak to the detectives. I need to tell them everything now before he does this again."

  "Imogen look at me. This is not your fault, he was going to do this to someone sooner or later anyway. He is a sadist and has no control or remorse. He tried to kill you before so this is just his time bomb about to blow up. The cops are on their way and he's getting desperate now, and is going to make another mistake soon.

  You don't realize how many normal, average looking people I have on my payroll that just go about their normal day to day lives but are looking out for any suspect I show them. He will not be able to get away from us now." Lucas in down on his knees holding Ginny's hands and is talking quietly but firmly, his authority is overriding any doubts she may have.

  Maddie has been making a huge pot of coffee for us and while we wait for the detectives Luc continues to fill us in on the rest of the investigation. The British police have taken all the computers and paperwork from Imogen's father's house and are questioning him at the station. Ginny's face drains of all color and looks like she's about to faint again.

  "Do you think he's got copies of the photographs and the video on them? Oh my God, he's watched it and looked at them. How can these people be my parents?" The anguish in her voice is palpable though out the room, because none of us can answer her because we just don't know.

  A knock on the door snaps us all out of our melancholy and we all start. Jumping up and opening it the two officers, Detective Garcia and Detective Mathews, are stood looking just as miserable as us. "Come in gentlemen, I'm sorry we are meeting again so soon. Have you any more news for us and if so can it please be good, I don't think Imogen can take much more."

  "Good morning Mr. Reynolds, thanks for calling us so quickly, we have some good news and some not so good but can you share what you have first please."

  Taking them through to the dining area Maddie jumps up and offers coffee which is accepted enthusiastically. "Thank you Ms. Stevens I think we are all going to need it." Imogen starts to shake again at this so quickly pulling her onto my lap I hold her tight.

  "It's okay babe, I've got you. Let's just find out what's going on." We all listen while Lucas goes through everything he knows again and see the detectives’ faces when he shows them the photograph from his crew member.

  Imogen then explained what Jake had done to her in the past and it never gets easier to listen to. Maddie has climbed onto Lake's knee and is quietly crying again but for once Ginny seems calm, almost too calm, like she's waiting for the storm. The lead cop looks up and begins to speak. Here it goes.

  "Ms. Banks, may I call you Imogen?" She doesn't speak but slowly nods. "Imogen, the first thing is good news, Mr. Halloran and Mr. Jenkins are both fully cooperating with us and have so far corroborated your statement, and have given us some useful information on Mr. Williams' potential whereabouts. Another positive is that Mr. Cavanagh and Mr. McBride have both been taken into custody in the UK, unfortunately for them, but not for us, is that Mr. Halloran is both of theirs personal lawyer as well, but as far as I know one of the gentlemen is being cooperative but the other isn't."

  "Let me guess Marcus is denying everything, he always runs and hides behind his mother’s skirts when things don't go well for him." She smirks at me. "His mother is some high court judge and he runs to her every time, once it was just for a bloody parking fine."

  "You are a very astute woman, Imogen. Now for the less pleasant news, are you still comfortable with everyone here listening?"

  "I think they pretty much know it all by now, don't you?" She raises her eyebrow at him and I am in complete awe of her, just how amazing is this woman?

  He nods, "As you wish. We were unable to locate your mother at the Radisson but the hotel have been very courteous and allowed us access to their CCTV and to her room. All her belongings are still there but as she has as yet to return there.

  Your father has now been arrested, his computer had images and files relating to yourself as well as other women." Imogen starts to gag at this point and rushes to the sink unable to make it to the bathroom, Maddie follows and takes her to clean up.

  I look to the two men. "While Ginny is gone, she started to explain her relationship with him to me last night and she believes that he will try to kill her when he finds her, and I tend to agree with her. I know you will need another statement from her but I think she needs to have a rape counselor with her when you do.

  She is battling with many of the demons he forced upon her and the biggest one right now is guilt. If she hadn't left then none of this would have happened, she is blaming herself for the girl’s death and for any grief she is causing us and this is just the tip of the iceberg."

  "That will not be a problem, anyway here she is. I hope you are okay Imogen, do you want me to continue or would you rather I discussed it with Mr. Davenport, as your lawyer he can deal with this for you."

  Watching Ginny look up at Lake I can tell that she wants to know when she slightly shakes her head at him. "No, its fine carry on please."

  "Very well, your fathers computers had recordings of other women also being raped and assaulted by Mr. Williams, and some of his, well shall we call them friends? The only one not included was Mr. Jenkins, your father has admitted to finding girls at the college and passing on their details to Mr. Williams, and for this he was paid large amounts of money.

  Your mother I believe ran dance classes, and Mr. Reid, your father, has also admitted that she would pass some of the girls on too. It seems that the girls were only ever used, if that is the right word for what he does, for one time. Sometimes it was a birthday party or celebration, other times it was just because he wanted too. Mr. Davenport has already found some of the girls and we are passing their names over to your police."

  "Surely my father would have the names on some sort of record? He was a meticulous note-taker and list compiler it would drive me mad."

  "Unfortunately, they were only ever mentioned by a single letter and number. The photographs are being analyzed, and missing person files are being checked, they have I believe, found three girls and along with the names Mr. Davenport has it may be as many as eight.

  This trafficking of women and girls has been going on for over ten years, maybe even more. I believe you are ten or eleven years younger than Mr. Williams so we can only presume there were many more before you.

  This means Imogen that you are not at fault or to blame, your parents handed you over to a man they knew to be a violent sadistic man and they are not showing any remorse for it. But on to another seemingly separate subject. I understand you have a brother and he left home at seventeen when you were fourteen or fifteen is that correct?"

  "Yes, Theo. But I haven't seen or heard of him since. I don't know where he is or what he is doing." Imogen looks both men straight in the eye. "I can't believe he would be involved in anything to do with this. He was an intelligent boy with a very high moral standard, the arguments that went on just before he left were horrendous." And it was like seeing a light bulb going on in her head. "He knew. He knew what they were doing. Oh God this makes so much sense." Turning to face me she speaks again. "I think they were ask
ing for names of girls he was at college with, there was one night when he shouted that they were sicko's or something like that he left not long after."

  It's Detective Garcia that speaks next. "Did he or can you remember if he said anything to you before he left? Take your time Imogen please because this is important."

  Her face clouds over as she thinks back all those years and then gasps. "He did. He did say something I thought it was strange at the time. He said. 'Watch your back Ginny because they never will, and I can't. I'm sorry.'

  The next morning he was gone and his name was never mentioned in our house again. I can't believe I forgot that. I wonder where he is now."

  I look up at Lucas and shake my head, she needs to be the one to ask for him to be found, the fact that we already know irrelevant. I haven't made any contact with him so he doesn't know anything about us yet.

  "Do you know where he is Detective?" Ginny is never one to beat about the bush.

  "Actually we do. Your brother contacted us late last night when he saw Mr. Williams face on the news. He lives here in the States now and has done for a long while, he is married and has a young family, and he would like to meet with you but he isn't sure if you would want to.

  It seems a guilty conscience runs through the pair of you, and he feels he is also to blame for what has happened because he never came back for you, or spoke to the authorities about what was happening. Would you like to meet him?"

  Just then Lucas has a phone call and suddenly starts shouting. The detectives' cells also start ringing and all hell breaks loose and all three of them race out of the door. Lucas shouts back. "Lake, Mason shift your asses, Imogen, do not, I repeat DO NOT leave this apartment and do not open the door to anyone. We will call you when we are on our way back. Do you understand me Ginny! Do not leave and do not open the door. You too Maddie!" Then he races off out of the apartment.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  Imogen

  I look over at Maddie. "He must be here, shit Mads! Lock the door quick." I rush to the window to see if I can see anything. "There's loads of police cars down there, come and see. Can you make out anything or anyone down there?" Suddenly I see two policemen leading someone towards a car.

  "Shit Ginny, that's a woman. Do you think it's your mother?" Maddie is glued to the window peering down at the emerging scene. "Look there's Lucas! Who is he talking to, do you recognize them?"

  The color has drained from my face. "That is my mother, she doesn't seem to be cooperating and Lucas seems to be shouting and waving his arms at the cops and her, then she looks around. What is she doing here?" Just then my phone rings. "It's Mason. Hi, what's going on? I can see my mother, what is she doing here? Okay, I'll wait for you to get to the door before I unlock it."

  Turning to face Maddie I tell her. "They're on their way back up. I'm waiting to see them through the spyhole before taking the deadbolt off." A few moments later there is a light knock on the door Maddie quickly moves across the room to get to the door.

  "There's no one there Ginny, what should I do?" Her face looks confused but concerned too.

  "Just leave it!" I can hear the panic rising in my voice.

  "But why would there be a knock and nobody's there." Her hand goes to the lock and starts to turn it.

  "NO! Don't do it, Mason said to wait till we saw him!" But it's too late and the door is quickly pushed open and I watch as Maddie is shoved hard against the wall and falls down hard. My blood freezes in my veins when I hear his voice.

  "Well hello precious. You seemed to have caused me an awful lot of trouble don't you think?" He steps past Maddie as she starts to stir but turns back to give her a swift hard kick in the ribs. "Hurry up bitch we've got to move fast before lover-boy and his sidekicks get here.”

  "No! No! I'm not going with you, you sick fuck!" I start to kick out at him and start throwing some punches at him. I get one good solid one on his chin and his head whips to the side and his lips split spurts blood over him and me.

  Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth and looking down at the blood smeared over his knuckles he grabs me and snarls. "You really shouldn't have fucking done that you whore, you're only making it worse for yourself." I'm dragged across the floor.

  "Worse? How can anything be worse than you finding me? I know you're going to kill me so I'm sorry asswipe I don't see how it can get worse." I'm pulling hard on his wrists trying to break free.

  "Oh believe me precious, the way I plan to kill you has just got a damn sight more painful for you. So stop trying to pull away and be a good girl for once in your useless pathetic life, and shift your skinny arse out of here."

  I'm dragged down the hall and I can hear my cries but they seem so distant I'm sure no one will hear them. We reach the service elevator and he punches a code in and the doors slide open and I'm thrown inside. Cowering from him in the corner I see him take out his phone and start texting someone.

  The doors open in the basement, I've never been down here but there is a large black SUV parked by the doors and the driver’s door opens and a man I've never seen before walks over and throws me over his shoulder and dumps me on the back seat, causing my head to hit the opposite door with a heavy thump and pain shoots down my spine. Jake gets in the driving seat now and the other man climbs in next to me.

  "Do you remember Stefan, Heidi my love? He remembers you he has loved all of your films. Haven't you Stef?"

  The man runs his hands up my legs and starts to pull them open. "Oh yes, especially the last one.”

  I start to kick my legs at him but he just grips them tighter and pulls my jeans off me. "Get your fucking hands off me, you piece of shit!" I manage to spit out at him but he backhands my mouth and blood quickly fills it as my teeth bite into my tongue.

  "Now now, less of that please. I never managed to get a taste of you so I think I'll take one now. What do you think Jake, should I get a taste now?"

  "Take what you want now because when we get to my room she's all mine and you've got a very important film to make to send her lover-boy. I bet he doesn't satisfy you as well as I do Heidi." He laughs and turns his eyes back on the road.

  Stefan pulls at me and rips my legs apart and holds them tight as his face goes between them and he starts licking and biting at me. "She tastes as good as she looks Jake, I'm really going to enjoy this so make sure you take lots of detours to throw any one off our trail."

  He goes back in between my legs and shoulders them further apart his hands reaching up and he starts to jab his fingers hard inside me. "She's fucking tight man I can't wait for her to clamp these muscles over my cock." His other hand reaches down to his jeans and undoes the button, I can hardly hear the zip slide down over my sobs but soon his hand releases his dick and I'm seriously panicking now.

  "No, no please don't do this. Please you're hurting me." His hand has moved from between my legs and is now squeezing my breast painfully, pinching my nipple with his thumb and finger twisting and pulling making me yelp.

  "She likes it rough doesn't she, can you hear all the noises she's making?" He moves up between my legs and roughly rams himself inside me. "Fuck she is so tight I'm not going to last long. His hand comes up and covers my mouth. "Stop crying! You're ruining this for me." He starts to pump harder and harder, I'm so dry inside I can feel the tender walls tearing. Then he grunts twice and I feel him pouring himself inside me, my stomach starts to churn and I start to gag, I know I'm about to throw up.

  His hand pulls away from my mouth and he tucks himself back into his trousers when I lean over and vomit over the floor of the car. Even through all my pain I can't help feeling pleased that I managed to get his shoes and the bottom of his jeans covered. That feeling soon disappears when he slaps me hard. "You bitch! You got that all over me, I'm going to be stinking all day now."

  "Good, I'm glad. Shame I didn't reach your face." I shrink back as his fist comes up.

  "Hey Stefan, pack it in, we're here. I don't want to make anybody suspic
ious. Put her trousers back on her and get her to walk out of the car. Don't let fucking go of her or she'll do a runner." He climbs out and opens my door and stands on my left while the other bastard climbs out and grabs my right arm pulling it tight behind my back, I can feel the strain on my shoulder joint. It never fully recovered from Jake dislocating it a year or so ago, I know it's ready to pop again.

  The door to a seedy motel room opens and I'm pushed in and that final shove was enough for my shoulder to pop, I can't stop my scream of pain. Falling to my knees I try to crawl using my left arm as support but my legs are pulled from under me and I'm dumped on the bed jarring my shoulder again.

  Sweat has broken out all over my body from the pain. But as I pull myself up I get to look around the room and suddenly I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life. There are two cameras set up and the bed has shackles at each corner I can see various large implements that can only cause me pain, I can also see a riding crop and a whip leaning up against the dresser.

  Jake walks towards me, a callous smile on his face and slaps my face. "It’s show time Heidi and I want you to put on your best performance because this is getting streamed straight to your cunt-eating motherfucking boyfriend. Now I think you need to learn your lesson." He picks up the whip and the blows rain down on me.

  Mason

  Lake and I exit the elevator and rush down the hallway but stop when we notice the door is open. Lake looks at me. "What the fuck is the door open for?"

  I rush in and see Maddie sat on the floor, her hair is covered in blood and the cut above eye is still bleeding, clutching her ribs she looks up at me panic-stricken.

  "Shit Maddie what happened? Where's Ginny?" My head is whipping round as I look for her.

  "It's my fault I opened the door, she told me not to but I thought it was you." Her head falls back onto her knees, her hair covering her face as she sobs. "He got her, he took her. I tried to stop her but he was too strong."

  Lake is sat next to her and pulls her to him. "Okay Mads, we'll sort it, we'll find her. Let's get you cleaned up, and then I can see if you need to go to the ER."