by Riley Walker
“Yeah? Hold on.”
Cash puts his phone on speaker and holds it up between us. “Go ahead, North. We’re listening.”
“Duff just called, they found her car.”
I reach out and grab Cash’s arm holding the phone and ask North, “Is she okay?”
The line is silent for a moment before he responds. “She wasn’t in the car. It’s not far from the police station, on one of the backroads that would lead her downtown.” I hear a deep breath across the line. “The car has been wrecked. It looks like she hit a tree.”
“Send us the address, North. Zoe and I will meet you there.”
Cash hangs up the phone and enters the address into the car’s GPS after North’s text comes through. We let the navigation lead us, both of us too lost in our own thoughts to even attempt to get there on our own. I see the blue flashing lights before I see Alice’s car. What’s left of it, that is.
Cash and I jump out of the car and meet his brothers by a tree that Alice somehow managed to wrap her car around. The car is literally curled around the tree, the driver’s side having taken the brunt of it. I feel my legs about to give out when Cash pulls me closer to him.
“We’ll find her, Zoe.”
I look up to Cash. “What happened? Did she wreck and someone took her to the hospital and not know who to call?”
Before Cash can answer, an older man in a worn suit walks over to us. Tipping his hat to us, he introduces himself as Detective Duff. “Ma’am, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
“Of course not.”
“When is the last time you spoke to Alice?”
“She called me four days ago. In fact, she called before she left the lot at the police station. I believe she had just had a meeting with you about digging up her dad.”
Detective Duff clears his throat. “So, no one has seen or heard from her since?” He scratches the back of his neck.
“Just spit it out, Detective. Did you find something in her car?” I’m beginning to shake, his demeanor setting off alarms in my head.
“We found a rag in the front seat. It smells strong, like ether.”
“Ether?”
Cash’s grip on my shoulder tightens. “Ether, like gas?”
“Yes. I’ve sent it to the lab, but I’m willing to bet that it’s going to come back positive for chloroform.”
I gasp at this information.
“We also found quite a bit of blood in the seat, and the floor. It could have been from the wreck. There’s a lot of glass from the driver’s window and windshield shattering. I’ve sent samples back. We should know within the hour what blood type it is.” He looks away. “You wouldn’t happen to know her blood type, would you?”
“She’s AB positive. I know because we’re the same. We always joked that we really were sisters from another mister.” A sob breaks free when I think of her saying that.
Detective Duff pulls out a baggie from his pocket. “Are either of you familiar with this place?”
In the bag is a red matchbook with gold letters saying ‘Golden Pony’. I shake my head, “I’ve never heard of the Golden Pony. What kind of place is that?”
“It’s a, um, well, it’s a gentleman’s club.”
I blink a few times. “A gentleman’s club? The kind with poles and naked girls?”
Detective turns a bright shade of red when he says, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Alice would never go somewhere like that.”
“She might.” Cash looks down at me. “We know about the ladies at the warehouse, Zoe. What if she went there to try and help someone?”
“That’s not possible. The apartments are completely full. Besides, she wouldn’t do anything like that without me.” I think back over our conversations then stop. Glancing back up, I stare at Cash. “How did you know?” I watch him flinch, but not answer. “Cash, tell me how you knew about the girls.”
“It doesn’t matter…”
“Don’t give me that crap, Cash. Tell me how you knew.” The guilt on his face is all the answer I need. “That’s why you haven’t talked to her since Monday, isn’t it? You found out and, I’d bet everything I have, y’all jumped to conclusions without asking her or hearing her out. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“It wasn’t like that, Zoe.” He pulls me away from listening ears and closer to his brothers. “Why didn’t she tell us about it, Zoe? Why keep the fact that the two of you were selling illegal pot from us?”
“Whoa.” I throw my hands in the air. “It wasn’t like that at all. She didn’t do it for the money. The board members told her, she had a year to make a profit and pull Du-Kane, Inc. out of the red or she’d lose her position. She would lose everything. But you know Alice, she was determined to prove herself and do it in six months.” I look around at the four brothers. “You didn’t know any of this did you? Jesus, you four are idiots. She came up with the idea to sell FLAG for one month, just to try to push the company out of the downward spiral. We had every intention of selling it at PNS after the month was up.” I put my fingers to my temples, trying to repress the headache that is beginning to form. “You didn’t ask her about any of it. You just assumed the worst and accused her of lying and doing something shady, didn’t you? I don’t need an answer, the guilty looks on your faces says it all.”
“Zoe, we didn’t know.”
“No, you sure didn’t know, North. You didn’t know because you didn't ask. I thought y’all would be good for her. I was so wrong about you.”
I walk away and head back to Detective Duff. “Is there any word on the matchbox you found?”
“We know who the owner is.”
“Really? Has he seen Alice?”
“I just sent an officer to go pick him up. Tell me, Zoe, have you ever heard the name Robert Andrews? He’s a pimp that works the downtown area.”
Why does that name sound familiar to me? Oh. My. God. “I know who he is. He’s Sally’s old pimp.”
“Sally? Is she someone important to Alice?”
“They went to school together. We ran into her about a month ago and Alice offered her a new job and a place to live. We just wanted to help her get away from that life. Did he take Alice?”
Detective Duff and I both know how dangerous someone like Robert could be. “We don’t know. If you can give me Sally’s address, I’ll go see her and find out if she may know where he stays.”
“She’s at the apartments. The address is…”
Thirty-Two
Bruised And Broken
My eyes flutter to take in my surroundings. I have to take short breaths, deep ones hurt too much right now. I attempt to take inventory of my new injuries Robert inflicted on me last night. I’m pretty sure a few ribs are broken, my shoulder is definitely dislocated, my left eye is swollen shut, and if my leg isn’t broken from the actual wreck, then it’s a major sprain.
Some of the bruising and cuts are from the wreck. Why anyone would want to chloroform someone while they are driving, I’ll never understand. I knew I was going to hit the tree. I don’t remember the actual wreck, by then I was passed out. I assume it’s why I didn’t have more injuries from it.
Since I woke up, Robert has visited me in this dingy hotel room twice. I’ve been tied to a chair the entire time, except for when he’s allowed one of his girls to come in and let me go to the bathroom. I’m thankful for that small ounce of humanity he’s showing. I would hate to be sitting here in multiple days’ worth of my own pee.
Both times Robert came to see me, it played out the same way. He would yell questions at me. “Where is Sally? Tell me where Sally is. Give her back to me!” Over and over again. I refused to tell him anything and everytime I refused, I was punished. I would rather be beaten than tell him where she is. He acts like she’s a piece of property I stole from him. I’ll die before I let Sally, or any of the other ladies, be hurt by men like Robert again.
The pain is becoming too much for me again, but just before I lose consciousness,
I hear yelling from outside my room. I turn my head to look at the door. I learned the hard way not to attempt to call out for help. That was a painful lesson. The curtain on the window is pulled shut, but I can see light coming in from under the door. A shadow stops right outside, and I hear more talking and yelling. I can’t tell if it’s Robert, but I pray it isn’t. I don’t think I can go another round as his punching bag again so soon. A loud shout makes my bruised and battered body tense up. The door flies open and hits the wall with a bang causing me to flinch. I see a shadow approaching me, but I can’t move because I’m still tied to a chair.
“Get a medic!” a man shouts. “Alice, it’s me Detective Duff. I’m just going to cut these ropes off of you. Okay?”
I nod my head yes and sigh in relief. I feel the ropes falling from my wrists, and then my ankles. As soon as I’m free, I collapse into the detective’s arms. My whole body aches and my head is pounding. He gently lays me out on the floor, and I hear a man rush in and announce that he’s the medic as he begins gently checking my injuries. I feel a prick in my hand before I’m lifted up and onto a stretcher. I grunt out in pain and see Detective Duff lean over, telling me it will be over soon. They begin wheeling me to an ambulance when the detective starts asking me questions.
“Alice, I’m not sure how to ask this, but do you need a rape kit?”
I try to smile, but the pain in my face is too much. “No, detective. That’s the one thing that asshole didn’t do.”
He squeezes my hand. “I’ll come by the hospital later for your statement. In the meantime, I’ll contact your friends and let them know we found you.”
That’s the last thing I hear before the darkness takes over.
I wake up to the sound of beeping and pain radiating throughout my body. When I manage to finally get one eye open, the other one is clearly swollen shut, I look around to see I’m in a hospital room. Memories come flooding back to me, and I begin sobbing uncontrollably.
I feel a hand squeezing mine and Zoe says, “Oh, Al. I was so worried about you.”
I get my sobs under control. “How bad do I look, Zoe? Where’s my Dobey?”
“Well, you have a bunch of bruises, a swollen eye, a concussion, your shoulder is dislocated, a couple of broken ribs, your knee is swollen and your left ankle is broken. In other words, you look like hell, Al. Pure hell.”
I take a minute to let it all sink in. I’m just thankful right now to still be alive.
Zoe continues, “I knew something was wrong when you left Dobey at home. He made a mess, but he’s fine. He just misses his mama.” She runs her hand over my forehead, pushing my hair off of my face. “Ben took him to his house to watch until you get home.”
I’m relieved to know that my baby is being taken care of. The meds must be wearing off because I’m starting to feel the pain again. “Zoe, could you call in the nurse?”
“Of course.” She reaches over and pushes the button beside my head. “Do you need more pain medicine?” I nod my head and instantly regret that decision. Zoe talks to whoever it is that answers her page and assures us that someone is on their way.
A nurse walks in a few moments later and changes out my IV bag. “This will make you sleepy soon. Do you want the guys to come back later?”
I look to Zoe with confusion. “Oh, right. When I couldn’t find you, I drove to their house. They called Detective Duff and immediately began searching for you. They’ve been worried about you, Alice.”
My eyelids are getting heavy and I just want to sleep. “I’m too tired to deal with them right now, Zoe, and I don’t want them to see me like this. Can you send them home?”
“Sure thing, dollface,” she says, and then leaves the room.
When I wake again, I hear a loud sound coming from somewhere in the room. Looking down, I see Zoe’s head laying on my bed, her face towards me. The sound is her snoring. I reach my hand over and attempt to close her mouth. She jumps up, tossing her head around slinging the drool that’s running down from her mouth. I can’t control the giggles that escape.
“Alice? Are you okay? Do you need the nurse? Pain meds?”
“Calm down, Zoe. I just have a cramp in my leg and need to shift around some.”
“Here, let me fluff your pillows.” She jerks the ones currently behind my head and begins to swing them around.
“Zoe! What are you doing?”
The door to my room opens and a different nurse walks in. “Is everything alright? I heard you holler from down the hall.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m so sorry. She offered to fluff my pillows, but I don’t think Zoe quite understands the meaning behind fluff.”
The nurse looks over at my best friend who is currently flapping the pillows around like they are her wings. “Oh my. I see what you mean.” She walks over toward Zoe. “Do you mind if I help? I have years of practice doing this.”
Zoe begrudgingly passes the pillows over, then plops herself back down into the chair. The nurse finishes with them, then helps me lean forward so she can put the pillows behind my head. “There, that’s all better.” She takes my blood pressure and temperature, then checks over my IV. She pats my foot. “Everything looks good. The doctor will be in later this morning. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, thank you. I’m alright for now.”
“Okay, dear.” She heads for the door before stopping. “Oh dear, I almost forgot. There’s a waiting room with four handsome brothers waiting to see you. Would you like me to send them in, now that you’re awake?”
“Have they been here long?”
“They were here when I started my rounds last night.”
I can’t believe they stayed. After everything they said to me the other day, why would they want to see me now?
“Alice, they’ve been here since you were brought in yesterday. I told them to go home, but they refused to until at least one of them saw you. They’re some stubborn men.”
Do I want to see them right now? Yes, I do. “Thank you,” I say to the nurse. “Would you please tell them they can come see me?”
She smiles and nods, closing the door behind her.
I lay my head back and close my eyes for a second. The door opening startles me, and I look up to see four very tired looking Michaelson brothers. Cash came through first, his clothes wrinkled and dark circles under his eyes. He stops when he sees me, and I watch him begin to blink rapidly. He begins to walk over to me, reaching out a hand and runs it softly down my cheek. “I am so damn sorry, Alice.” Before he can speak again, he’s pushed aside by Oren, who looks equally wrinkled and exhausted. Oren leans over and places a sweet kiss on my forehead. “Forgive us, please.” Oren steps away and I see Ridge standing by the door. His nose is flared and both of his hands are fisted so tight I can see them turning white from here. I give him a watery smile that he returns before coming over to me. He gently picks up my hand, turning it over and placing a kiss on my palm. “Never again. We won’t let you go again, Alice. I promise you this.” My bed is now surrounded by three of the four brothers. Somehow I knew he wouldn’t come. I didn’t lie to them, but I didn’t tell them the truth either. I take a moment to look at each brother while I try to formulate the words I need to say to them in my head. A light knock on my door interrupts me. I watch North come in, looking rumpled, but still finding a way to seem together.
“Alice.”
“North.”
His eyes roam over my battered face before continuing down my body. My leg, that is currently in a boot from my broken ankle, is the only thing visible.
“You look like hell.”
I snort. “You still look like an ass.”
I swear I see his lips twitch. The jerk wants to smile but he’s refusing to show any emotion. Yet, he continues walking towards me; instead of coming to my bed, he pulls the chair from the corner and sits down. He looks like he’s about to ask me something when there is another knock on the door. Man this room is getting crowded.
Detec
tive Duff pokes his head in. “Hello, Alice. Can I ask you some questions? We need to get your statement while everything is fresh.”
Zoe turns toward him, and gives him a look that says she’s about to rip his head off. I place my hand on her arm to stop her.
“Of course, Detective. Please come on in.”
He looks around the room. “Maybe privately?”
“Ask your questions, Detective. I have no secrets to keep.” I give North a pointed look. I hope he understands what I’m saying. I don’t want anymore secrets between us.
North stands, offering the Detective his seat. He pulls out a small tape recorder, they still have those things, and begins asking me questions.
“Let’s start with the day you disappeared. What happened after you left my office Monday?”
I close my eyes and think back. “I left your office and called Zoe while I was still in the parking lot. I told her about your idea to exhume my dad. I decided to take the long way home, to clear my head. I was about two miles from the turn off to head home when Robert made himself known. I had no idea he was in the backseat. I remember he said something, I can’t remember what, then put a cloth over my nose and mouth. I saw the tree and I knew we were going to wreck, so I headed for it. I didn’t want to risk hitting someone and I hoped it would stop us with the least amount of damage.”
“Do you remember anything immediately after the wreck?”
I shake my head. “No. I woke up later that night, in the room you found me in. I’ve been there, tied to a chair the whole time. Robert would send in one of his women to take me to the bathroom, but other than that, I wasn’t allowed to leave that chair.”
The doctor said some of your injures didn’t happen in the accident. Can you tell me how you got those, Alice?”
I look around the room. I knew sooner or later that I would have to tell them what happened. “There were two other men besides Robert. They took turns beating on me. Kicking, slapping, a few times they used their fist, and sometimes they would rip at my hair. Everything they did was to leave a mark. None of them touched me in any other way.”
