by Max Winters
“What? This is unbelievable.” Graham brooded twisting his brows in a rage. “Do you have any lead?” He demanded with expectant eyes hoping there was a lead. He hated to see the sadness that stuck in her face. If only he could save her daughter, but everything was all too complicated. The confession of Martin and Lynx was going to be a stepping stone but they had blatantly refused to talk and it was rather frustrating.
“I think Damon has something to do with all this.” She remarked in frustration trying to come up with the best possible hypothesis that could help her be able to apprehend the people behind her daughter’s disappearance. “Have you been able to make him talk? She demanded emitting an angry gaze at Martin who emitted a blank gaze. He and his friend seemed to be making fun of the police force but with the pain she felt inside she was going to plug someone’s eyes out if necessary so as to get the truth.
“Not yet.” He remarked with eyes that indicated he was going to make him talk no matter the cost.
“You better make that guy talk or he would be sorry if anything happens to my child. Not to worry… I am going to make him talk.” She went towards Martin and plunged his heart forcefully into the basin of water pressing it for a longer time than expected and when she released him, Martin was almost dying.
“Yes… yes ... I work for Damon. He is a drug trafficker and you want to know more?” He jeered like a drunkard due to insufficient air. “He is a human trafficker.” At this Elizabeth’s blood rushed down her spine. Her hunch had not only been right but the man was not only a drug dealer but he sold young girls for prostitution. He had a licensed brothel and it all made sense. He was using the brothel as a perfect avenue for his merchandise yet everyone praised him on his excellent services.
Elizabeth spoke with Graham in private. They needed to make Martin talk more. Their attempt to search Damon’s club had been a fiasco. They needed a lead that would make their case very simple. Graham resumed with the questions. He wanted to get the most out of Martin as he was the weaker vessel. Lynx was the diehard type and was willing to lay down his life for his gang.
“How long have you been working with Damon?” Graham demanded sitting in front of Martin with a determined look, probably to induce fear into his veins.
“Is that necessary?” Martin protested.
“Yes…every little detail is important. Now can you answer the damn question?” He yelled.
“Five years.” Martin whispered his face showing signs of regrets. He was going to be in big trouble with Damon but he had already spilled the beans and there was nothing he could do. The cops were hovering about him like hungry wolves and he wondered if he could live to see the next day with all the torture that could follow if he didn’t comply.
“Wow…impressive. That’s such a long time…You will be able to provide us ample information that will help with the case.” He responded. “I must confess at how much you are cooperating in this investigation.” He played a gentle smile mocking that he was able to break his defense mechanism after all his recalcitrance.
“What do you want to know?” He demanded rudely probably upset by the fact that he was obliged to talk to him even when he felt like spanking him.
“That’s what I like about you…you know when to open up.” Graham teased rubbing a lazy hand over Martin’s bushy shin. His beards were overgrown and one couldn’t imagine he ever had time to shave. “Since you asked…I would like to know everything.” He wore a stern countenance once again perhaps indicative of the fact that he meant business. “Where exactly do you store the cocaine and how exactly do you transport these prostitutes out of California?” Graham demanded. He needed to do know how everything was done in La Salsa as Elizabeth had been there on a search warrant but came out without any clue.
According to Martin, some of the girls are usually lured into the upper compartment f the club where they are unknowingly drugged. By midnight they are transferred through an underground route in the basement to a truck stationed in the outskirts of the city where the girls are taken to an inland waterway and transported off the coast of California. The price for each girl was worth $3 million dollars and he sold about twenty five girls every month. He had made a fortune from the deals and no one had ever suspected him as he was working in close collaboration with two members from the police force.
His partner and acolyte was Richard, a former agent. He had helped Damon to organize a flawless business scheme that had kept him in the business for over thirty years without any problems. In the nick of time, agent Phil had suspected Damon’s moves and had approached him about his illegal and sinister business dealings but Damon had offered him a deal that he couldn’t refuse. Just like his boys, agent Phil had sold his soul to Damon. He had decided to act a spy for Damon. He was his informant and as such Damon was always off the clutches of the police whenever incidents of drugs and missing people were reported to the police.
In exchange for his services, Phil always had the services of the prostitutes at his disposal. He and Richard had collaborated and Damon was grateful as he could go about his business without any interference. Richard and Phil worked in close collaboration and Phil always warned Damon whenever their investigations progressed towards his end especially the time agent Steele was issued a search warrant.
Damon however allotted payments to Richard and Phil every week after each consignment was made and they were also free to use the services of the club without depositing a dime. Phil was comfortable with their arrangements as he was unsatisfied with what he earned as a police man. Richard on the other hand had volunteered to be a party in Damon’s grand conspiracy as he had been kicked out of the police force unjustly. A hit man had taken down his wife right before his very eyes but he had sworn to himself to take revenge. He had shot the man dead at the first opportunity that presented itself but his authorities found his behavior unprofessional and he was convicted for several years until a presidential pardon that set him free in the streets. He had made up his mind to work against the police this time around and there was no going back.
Chapter 20
Panic possessed Elizabeth immediately Martin made his confession. Now more than ever, she was certain that her daughter had been abducted by Damon and this ushered fear into her soul. The caller had warned her to stay off the case and before she could say a word the he hung up the call. Elizabeth’s attempt to drop the case proved abortive as Inspector Mark was willing to get to the root of the investigation more than ever.
Graham’s untimely involvement and desire to intervene in agent’s Steele’s daughter’s abduction was perhaps uncalled for. The kidnappers were clear with the instructions. They didn’t want the authorities involved and that was exactly what Graham was doing. Tension rose in the air especially as Elizabeth invited Roderick for the identification of the criminals. According to him, that fateful night when Tessa was killed, he had had a fierce encounter with a huge tug that almost ended his life if not for the help of God.
He had made his narrow escape but he could never forget the face of the one man who had plunged his heart into incredible pain. He had watched the love of his life being shot right before his very eyes but he was helpless. Perhaps he could never forgive himself for having been a coward. He had been too selfish to wrestle with Lynx that night and it was weighing heavy on his conscience. Identifying the culprits however was probably what he owed to his beloved Tessa.
He marched into the gigantic building with the determination, perhaps that which was masked in anger wishing that he was given the opportunity to skin the criminals with his bare hands. His angry stares blocked Lynx’s cynical ones as he declared that he was the one he saw that fateful night. He was a hard wall of muscles with fuming eyes that spelt his disconcertion should his crime be revealed.
Lynx’s gaze dropped probably in fear of what was going to become of him after Roderick’s confession. It was the end of the road for them. Roderick explained that Lynx shot Tessa though he refused to admit his crime. M
artin however had corroborated that Damon had ordered for the execution of Tessa. He had also ordered for the execution of Malcolm in prison. Damon had been infuriated afraid that Malcolm could rat him out to the police and he wasn’t willing to let his multibillion empire crumble.
Malcolm’s swift escape was a big blow to his person but he had sworn on his life that he was going to make him pay. Damon was also responsible for the attempt on Keisha’s life in the hospital. He had Tim on a leash. As usual he had pending debts with Damon and in other to free himself from Damon’s clutches; he had agreed to eliminate Keisha. He had brought her food in her in prison and had poisoned the juice. The timely intervention of the hospital had saved her life. Tim had gone at large probably since Damon was after his life. Having established a nexus between Damon and the killers, Elizabeth was now sure her case was on tract and she braced herself that all was going to be fine.
Mark was impressed with the new development that Elizabeth and Graham had discovered. Shock ran through his veins when Damon’s monstrous alliances were revealed. The man had made himself a God feared and respected by everyone. The law of natural justice was now taking its course. He issued a warrant of arrest for the drug lord at once. Graham had made arrangements with some police men to serve as back up for Elizabeth who had gone to an abandoned warehouse with regards to her daughter’s abduction. She was in so much panic and had left unseen my any of her colleagues. She knew the danger involved in her going alone but she was willing as she was sticking to the rules of the kidnappers.
She drove for forty minutes with a pounding pulse that spelt her desperation. After the passing of her husband, Audrey was her pillar of support. She could give her life just to save her. She parked her car in front of the old warehouse and marched into the open space with calculated steps and eyes that spoke of her fear. Her heart beat drummed in her ears as she searched for a small pistol behind her back pocket.
“Don’t even think about it.” A voice alarmed from behind with a stretched gun pointing in her direction. “Put down your weapon.” The voice commanded. Elizabeth dropped her weapon in fright but she still depended on the bravery typical of the cop that she was.
“Where is my daughter?” She demanded her voice shaking.
“I ask the questions here.” The man yelled pinning a deadly gaze at her. He marched around her and then with a gun placed on her temple.
“This is the end of the road detective … he jeered. “I told you I will get you and here you here you are in the palm of my hand.” He mocked probably in anticipation for the fact that he was going to end her life any moment. Damon had hired the guy to finish off Elizabeth as the man didn’t have Audrey with him. Apparently Damon was with Audrey and he just wanted to distract Elizabeth Steele and her men. Suddenly there was a blast of a gun immediately the assassin was about shooting Elizabeth. Graham shot a gun towards the assassin and it missed him. Immediately the assassin dashed behind the huge containers that imposed themselves in the open space. The policemen in company of Graham spread to the whole area searching every nook and cranny of the warehouse but the criminal vanished into space.
“Spread out.” Graham commanded moving close to agent Steele. She gave him a nod in gratitude for saving her life.
“He got away.” Chris announced with expectant eyes probably for the next order.
“We move to La Salsa right now.” Graham ordered with an indication of the hand. “Are you okay?” He asked agent Steele who was in shock. She hadn’t expected any backup from the police at the time they had arrived but she was immensely thankful otherwise she would have been history.
“Thank you partner.” Agent Steele emitted a forced smile and though it was the very first he had saw in a long while, he was grateful that she could set her pride aside even just for a second and acknowledge that he was willing to do anything for her.
“Just be careful.” He winked excited that he was making the very best impression that was needed to win her over. However he knew it wasn’t over. Audrey needed to be saved and he was going to ensure nothing short of that was going to happen.
“I will.” She nodded a yes and at the impulse of Graham’s inviting gaze she entered into the car and at top speed they were on their way to arrest Damon. Chris and the other heavily armed cops approached La Salsa as the night approached. They rushed into the hall were some clients were drinking and chattering and ignored them completely. Chris headed towards room fitting Martin’s description upstairs which was meant to be Damon’s cabin. He flung the door open and was shocked with the opposition that stood waiting for him. Apparently Damon had seen them from the upper window as he packed his baggage to flee out of the country.
Chris let out a groan as Damon fired a bullet on his left arm alerting the other cops who were searching the other rooms. Graham had sent Chris and the other policemen to arrest Damon but his informants had communicated him with Damon the turnout of events. He was aware that Lynx and Martin had betrayed him and was not willing to serve any jail term. He was a hardened criminal and it would be easier for him to die than to surrender and face public disgrace. Chris screamed as he crashed to the floor while Damon found his way out of the room with a suitcase full of dollars and a long military gun that spelt his every desire to eliminate anyone who stood on his way. He fired at the two police officers who climbed the stairs holding their guns towards him.
Graham and Elizabeth arrived just in time to salvage their perishing soldiers. The few clients who were having a great deal of fun fled for their lives at the outburst of terror. Graham sprang into the building as he heard gun shots that possessed the place. Damon was on rampage and he had even shot and injured two clients who tried to run out of La Salsa. He had become desperate and from all indications the other boys who served him had escaped for their lives.
“Drop down your weapon…I told you I will get you.” Agent Elizabeth approached him in triumphant steps from the right while Graham had fixed his gun directly towards him from the left.
“Give it up Mr. Carlos…its over.” Graham brooded with his gun fixed with the desire to shoot if Damon dared to play smart with him.
“It’s not over until I say so.” Damon boasted fixing his long gun in agent Steele’s direction. He fired the gun but there was no bullet and Elizabeth let out a deep breath of relief.
“Well…well…Mr. Carlos, you leave me with no choice than to force you to come with us.” Graham approached him with handcuffs ready to clip his hands.
“Not on your life…” Damon took to his heels crashing the suitcase that tore open releasing thousands of dollars to his regret and to the cops’ astonishment. At this Damon’s love for money was the prize tagged to his freedom.
“You see what I mean? I must say the love of money is the beginning of all evil.” Graham mocked picking up his hands from the suitcase. His love for money was abounding and sadly the entire courtyard was surrounded by Graham’s men and Damon’s eyes fumed in disappointment masked in a rage that sadly he couldn’t express. It was a pity how the mighty Damon had been crumbled to his knees.
“You will regret this …I promise you.” Damon bragged though anyone could see that his ego was crushed and as the proud peacock he was, he couldn’t allow himself to appear weak, not for the cops, not for anyone.
“I oblige you to remain silent as anything you say will be used against you in the court of law.” Graham advised, avoiding letting himself be enraged by the drowning man who desperately needed someone to plunge to hell with him.
“Like I care…” Damon gloated.
“We’ll see about that…now move it.” Graham ordered dragging the man with a huge wall of muscles into the police car. His refusal to confess was a big blow to Elizabeth. He had admitted that he had Audrey abducted but he refused to say where he had taken the girl. He however was deluded that his contacts in the police were going to help him out of the mess he had plunged into. God help him if he knew what was on his way coming. His gaze grew pale when Phil was
ushered into the same prison cell as him. He had been stripped off his duties as a police and was charged to court for corruption and conspiracy. It was now clear to Damon that he could not rely on Phil but he thanked his stars that he still had Richard.
After absolute torture, Lynx was willing to do what his dreadful boss had refused to reveal. It was a two hours drive and Graham wondered how much debasement the girls had to endure in Damon’s cruel endeavors. Grey and Malcolm had been part of the entourage to save the girls as they too were witnesses to the human trafficking act. Grey had stumbled over a video that Johanna had recorded before the unfortunate incident that had claimed her life. The video was evidence that proved that such degradable inhuman trade actually happened but Graham wanted to catch whoever it was that facilitated Damon’s wickedness red handed.
They arrived at the inland port just in time. This time Mario had decided to transact the shipment himself. Mia had declared that he had masterminded the death of Robert and the police were hoping to get a hold of him. His desire to eliminate Keisha and everyone that posed a threat to the human trafficking group was overwhelming and by his orders one of his men had wiped Robert out without leaving a trace he was Keisha’s companion at the time he desperately wanted Tessa eliminated.
He had hoped to meet Damon himself but shock ran through his veins when Graham announced in a loud tone that the body guards should all drop their weapons. The few body guards who tried to put up a fight where shot legs putting them in groaning choruses while the two main negotiators froze in bewilderment. Not in their wildest imagination did they ever think that their dirty secrets would be brought in the limelight.
“Mother.” A voice called out somewhere in the huge truck that contained girls who were almost lifeless due to drugs. Audrey had been tied with cords. A white handkerchief sealed her mouth but seeing the police arriving at the port forced her to muster the courage from the cloth that stopped her speech to shout at the top of her voice.
