by Margaret Kay
Cooper nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Carson. Agent Johnson will accompany you and complete that paperwork.” He motioned to Lambchop.
Ms. Carson’s face lit up as she smiled at Lambchop. “Thank you, please follow me.”
The apartment building Kaliah lived in with her mother was what Kennedy expected, knowing the area. It was the typical two-story structure known as a Dingbat where parking spaces were below the units. The apartments sat atop stilts over the parking overhang. Kaliah’s mother’s dented late model Toyota sat in its spot. She was home.
The two SUVs parked in front of the unit, blocking the Toyota and another vehicle in their spaces. Once again, Sherman and Mother, the drivers, remained with the vehicles. Kaliah had been quiet on the short drive. Kennedy got it. She understood how upsetting and embarrassing this was for the young girl. Plus, it was obvious that Kaliah was loyal to her mother. Her nervousness of confronting her mother about this was evident.
“I don’t think your mom fully understands what those men are planning,” Kennedy said to the girl as they got out of the car. “We’ll make her understand. You will not be going back to that man’s mansion tonight, honey.”
“Mr. Angus said I misunderstood.”
“Stanley Angus is a liar,” Kennedy told her in a strong voice as they mounted the stairs. “Listen to me, Kaliah. No man has the right to put his hands on you, ever, if you don’t want him to. Not for your mother, not for any reason at all.”
Kaliah’s embarrassed gaze landed on Sloan as they reached the landing outside of her unit. “That’s right,” he seconded. “A real man has honor and will never make a girl do anything she doesn’t want to. Don’t ever forget that.”
Cooper had Kaliah’s house keys. He unlocked and opened the door. He motioned Kaliah in. Then he followed, as did the others except for Lambchop, who remained outside the door, on guard.
“What’s going on Kaliah? Who are these people and what are you doing home from school?” Her mother demanded as she made her way out of the kitchen, a damp hand towel thrown over her shoulder. She was dressed in a tight, too small pair of yoga pants that accentuated every bulge and roll, and a loose tank top over it. No one thought these clothes were actually worn to work out in. This woman hadn’t had much exercise in years.
“I’m sorry, Momma,” Kaliah said. “You have to listen to these people. I swear what they will tell you is the truth.”
Kaliah’s mother’s eyes met Kennedy’s. “I know you. You’re another artist that Stan represents.”
“Yes, he did. No longer. I severed my ties with him. I have to tell you what he did last week when he brought your daughter to that Hollywood mansion.”
“Kaliah, why don’t you go to your room and let us talk with your momma?” Sloan interrupted.
Kaliah stood indecisively near the hallway, considering it.
“Yes,” Madison chimed in. “Let us talk with your mom.” She gently guided the girl into the hallway. Once Kaliah’s door was shut, she turned back. “She’s in her room with the door shut.” She pulled her badge. “Madison Miller, FBI. Stanley Angus and the man whose mansion he brought your daughter to, and the three other men who were present, are all under investigation for sex trafficking.”
“Sex trafficking?” Lenora Baker repeated, surprised, or perhaps it was in disbelief.
“Stanley Angus targeted your daughter to be used by those men, sexually,” Kennedy said.
“Stan said you’d lie about what happened,” Lenora told Kennedy. She viewed her with suspicion, sure the information that led to the so-called investigation had been fabricated by this woman.
“Stanley Angus is a piece of shit, lying manipulative rapist. The men he took Kaliah to are a bunch of child molesters. I was there, Lenora. I saw it and I got Kaliah out of that room. I’m the one who took her to the police.”
“Stan said they were interviewing her for a role in a music video. My daughter is beautiful, got a career ahead of her.”
“Yeah, in their own kiddie porn film festival,” Sloan spoke. “These people are dangerous, the sleazy side of the music industry. Trust me, you don’t want your daughter anywhere near them.”
“Fine, I’ll tell Stan no,” Lenora said. “You can go now.”
Kennedy could see the thoughts running through Lenora’s head, evaluating what that move would do to her career. Lenora was not going to tell Stanley Angus no. Kennedy was sickened by it, especially because once, not too long ago, she would have thought the same thing, putting her own career ahead of decency.
“Tell her,” Sloan said to Kennedy.
Kennedy knew she had to be graphic and brutal with the truth to affect Lenora Baker. “Two fifty-year-old men had their hands on your daughter. Do you understand that? One of them had his hand up her shirt, copping a feel. The other had his tongue down her throat. She told them no, but they didn’t stop. They held her in place. Your daughter was about to be raped,” Kennedy said. “Two more sat back, stroking their cocks through their pants, getting excited. All four of them would have had a turn with Kaliah had I not gotten her out of there.”
“You’re lying,” Lenora said. “These men are rich and powerful. They can have sex with any woman they want. They don’t need to rape a girl.”
“That’s exactly why they can get away with raping a fourteen-year-old, because they are rich and powerful,” Madison said.
Lenora Baker glanced between the four strangers in her kitchen.
“Unless you’re in favor of four fifty-year-old white men raping your daughter? And if that’s the case we’ll be having an entirely different conversation with you, beginning with you are under arrest,” Cooper said, in an intimidating cop-voice.
“No, of course not,” Lenora said skittishly.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Madison said. She nodded at Kennedy. “Let the girl know her mother is cooperating, and she’s safe. We’ll handle it out here.”
Kennedy nodded and went into the hall. She knocked on the closed bedroom door and then opened it and went in, closing it behind herself. “Your mom now understands. She’s going to work with the authorities to help get them. What they have been doing to girls is illegal.” She sat on the bed beside Kaliah.
The girl sat cross-legged in the middle of her twin bed. The room was a child’s room, bubble gum pink with stuffed animals on the bed. Kaliah hugged a panda bear in her arms. “Is she mad at me?”
“Oh, honey, no. Of course not.” Kennedy took a seat on her bed. “You did the right thing telling your momma. You need to always stand up for yourself and never let a man touch you if you don’t want him to.”
“It was important to my momma, her music contract. She has a pretty voice.”
“Believe me, I understand. But I am also sure your momma wouldn’t want you to be hurt for her to be able to sing. I know I wouldn’t.”
In the kitchen, Lenora Baker reluctantly took a seat at her small table with the others. Cooper brushed the crumbs from the spot in front of him as he settled in across from her.
Madison looked Lenora square in the eyes. “We need you to call Stanley Angus.” She pulled her phone out and unlocked it. “We have a script for you to follow. Don’t deviate from it too much but go ahead and use some of your own words where appropriate.”
“You know you are killing my career, don’t you?” Lenora moaned.
“And I thought we were saving your daughter,” Madison countered.
“If it’s any consolation, these men will not be in positions of power in the music industry much longer,” Cooper said.
Madison handed her phone to Lenora.
The woman’s face showed outrage as she read the text. “I can’t say this to Stan. He’s going to be really pissed.”
“Good, that’s the goal of it. The FBI has Angus’ phone tapped. We need him to be angry enough to call one of those men he brought your daughter to after he gets off the phone with you. We need to get it on tape and ‘the who’ that he calls will be very enlighteni
ng to know which of those four men has the most power. They are all getting arrested today, Lenora, including Stanley Angus,” Cooper said.
“Oh, Lord have mercy,” Lenora sighed. “He better not come after me.”
“He won’t,” Sloan said. “We’ll have him under surveillance. As long as you and Kaliah stay here until we notify you that they’ve all been arrested, you’ll be safe.”
Lenora nodded nervously.
Cooper took out his phone and dialed his FBI contact. “The mother is onboard. She’s ready to place the call to Angus. Are you ready on your end?”
“Affirmative,” was the one-word response, and then the line went dead.
Cooper sat his phone down. “They’re ready. Put the volume on your phone’s speaker up all the way and we should be able to hear him through the phone. If he asks where Kaliah is right now, you tell him school. Stick with the script and no matter what, do not agree to let him take Kaliah.”
Lenora nodded again. It was apparent to all of them that she was terrified. Sloan had to wonder if she was more afraid of pissing Angus off or losing her music contract. He also wondered if she’d place a second call to Angus after they left the apartment. If she did, they’d know. The FBI also had her phone tapped.
Stanley Angus answered on the third ring. “Hi Lenora. I was just thinking of you.”
Sloan doubted that and so did everyone else in the room, except maybe Lenora Baker.
“I hate to do this, Stan, but Kaliah won’t be able to go to that audition tonight.”
“What?” Stan snapped. “Why not? I went to a lot of trouble to set it up a second time.”
“I talked with Kaliah and told her what you said, that she misunderstood what happened. Stan, she’s refusing to go. She cried this morning before school about it when we talked. I can’t make her go.”
“You’re her mother, of course you can make her do anything you want her to. This is an incredible opportunity for her, Lenora. The doors these men could open for her and you both. They’re not going to be happy about this and it very well could impact your career. You’re just starting out. Certainly, you don’t want to ruin your chances of success before you even get started.” His voice, while mostly pleasant, held a tone of warning.
Sloan saw indecision flash across Lenora’s face. She glanced back at Madison’s phone with the script.
“Stan, she said they touched her, and one kissed her. She’s only fourteen years old for God’s sake!”
“She misinterpreted it. They see her as their granddaughter. They’d never be sexual if that is what you’re implying.”
“It’s what Kaliah is saying and I have to believe my daughter. She won’t go and I will not send her to be raped,” she stated strongly.
“You are making a really big mistake, Lenora! Where is Kaliah right now? Is she home? I’ll be right over!”
“No, of course she is not home. She’s at school.”
“I’ll be there at four this afternoon to talk some sense into you both. This isn’t decided!” His tone was caustic. He ended the call without another word.
Madison took the phone from Lenora. “You did good. And he won’t be here at four. He’ll be arrested before then.”
“We’ll all be back here by three if he isn’t,” Cooper added.
“We’re going to go now. Don’t answer your phone if he calls back. Lie low and keep the doors locked. One of us will be back when it’s all over, after they’re all arrested, and you’re safe,” Madison told her. She gave Lenora her card. “Call me if you need anything.”
Sloan knew they couldn’t promise that. The five men getting arrested depended on what Angus did next, if he called one of the foul-four as they were anticipating. If he waited until after school to come and try to strong arm Lenora into sending her daughter with him, he’d be the only one they’d get.
Sloan went to Kaliah’s door. He knocked once and then opened it. “We’re done here,” he told Kennedy. Then his eyes shifted to the girl. “You and your momma will be fine if you just stay in the house with the door locked. Don’t answer your phone and don’t go anywhere. We’re going to go get those men now.”
“Thank you,” Kaliah said. She hugged Kennedy. “And thank you for what you did and for coming back for me.”
Kennedy held her until Gary prompted her that they had to go.
“Okay, good,” Cooper said. “Notify me of the next sequence of calls.” He brought his phone down from his ear and stopped for the red stoplight. “The tap got what we expected. Angus called Abe Gallway immediately after he hung up on Lenora Baker.” Cooper sat in the driver’s seat. He relieved Sherman of it as soon as they arrived back at the SUVs upon departing the apartment. Sherman was in the other SUV with Mother and Lambchop.
“Abe?” Kennedy questioned. “I would have thought Pete had more power than Abe.”
“Maybe in the music business, but not in the sexual assault business. Gallway was pissed,” Cooper said. “He told Angus in no uncertain terms to get that little girl to him, by any means necessary. Then Angus called John Fairborn, pleading for his help and protection from Gallway. That tells me Fairborn is the second highest ranking scumbag amongst them.”
“Were there any other calls?” Sloan asked.
“Not yet,” Cooper replied. “The FBI will keep track of it and they’re recording every word. Angus actually said the girl accused them of attempted rape and Gallway merely laughed. That won’t play very well with a jury.”
“Do you think Kaliah and her mom are in danger?” Kennedy asked.
“Not till four o’clock. Angus knows he can’t get Kaliah out of school,” Madison answered. “He’ll have to wait until afterschool.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s waiting at the school when it gets out and tries to grab her then,” Kennedy said.
“There will be cops at the school even though Kaliah isn’t there,” Cooper said. The light turned green, and he proceeded through the intersection. The hotel was their destination where Sloan would remain with Kennedy while the remainder of the team would continue to monitor conversations and work with the FBI to execute warrants once enough incriminating evidence was gathered on each. They’d hit them all simultaneously if possible.
Traffic stopped on the entrance ramp to the freeway. Cooper couldn’t see what the problem was up ahead, except that traffic suddenly wasn’t moving. Sloan craned his neck to view the freeway behind them. It was backed up as far as his eyes could see. The traffic in L.A. was one of the many reasons he hated this city. He’d take Kabul over this fucking place. Behind them, at least twenty cars were pulled in tightly against each other’s bumpers. They were hemmed in.
Cooper’s phone rang. “You have an update?” He listened, while still attempting to see what the problem was up ahead. The shoulders were too narrow to even attempt turning around or driving on.
Seeing that Cooper was getting impatient as they’d been sitting there over twenty minutes, Madison dialed her phone and brought it to her ear.
“Ops, go,” Yvette answered.
“Can you tap into CHPs system and figure out why traffic getting on the 101 is stopped at our location. We’re boxed in and haven’t moved in nearly a half hour.”
She heard keys clicking. A few seconds later, Yvette answered. “There’s a multicar crash with injuries one mile up from your location. They have all lanes closed. Emergency equipment is on the scene.”
Madison relayed the information to everyone in the car. Sloan called Lambchop in the other vehicle to advise them as well. “See what you can do to get one lane of traffic moving, beginning with the traffic here on the on-ramp,” she said to Yvette.
“I’ll do what I can,” Yvette said and then disconnected the call.
“Keep Lambchop on the phone,” Cooper said. He listened to the agent on the other end conclude his report. Then he disconnected the call. “Put rest of Delta on speaker.”
Sloan put Lambchop on speaker and had him do the same on his e
nd.
“There have been multiple calls between Gallway, Fairborn, and Donahue. No one has called Lewensky, so we don’t have jack shit on him yet,” Cooper reported. “The three of them have already said enough to incriminate themselves. Gallway even was taped mentioning there was no proof and thank God they got that nosy bitch shut up.”
Bile rose in Kennedy’s throat. Abe was talking about her. “He just confessed to sending those men to kill me.”
“Not iron-clad for court, but enough to question him and the others on. It’s one more statement to get the judge and district attorney to lean towards issuing indictments and arrest warrants.”
