Black Escape

by C. J. Thomas

  Making my way to Echo, I thought about the possibility of Mint being exposed. How it would effectively bring us all our own meetings before a grand jury. And I thought about the toxicology report I had no control over. But, mostly, I just worried for Kendra’s safety.

  Turning my head, I glanced toward the city skyline.

  Lights flickered against the pitch-black heat of the night.

  She was out there somewhere and it destroyed me not knowing where exactly Madam had taken her. But I hoped that I was right about it being Echo.

  Soon, I pulled into the nightclub’s parking lot and glanced around. There were a dozen or so cars parked sporadically beneath the street lamps that flickered in and out of light. After circling around, I parked and strode to the entrance.

  A shiver worked its way over my nape.

  The building was unusually dark. Quiet. And when I was met with a locked door, I turned around, unable to make sense of why it was closed.

  I faced the parking lot with my hands on my hips.

  Stone knew to target Echo, but how? And was it to get my attention or Madam’s?

  I had been here before. Knew it was where Madam sent her girls when clients requested more fantasy filled nights. The tools and private rooms were there, all patiently waiting inside for their next victim to arrive.

  My jaw locked and I began walking.

  Edging the building, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling my shoulders tighten with guilt. A part of me convinced myself that I’d indirectly made this place feel safe when it was actually inhabited by monsters.

  The wind kicked up and a storm was blowing in off the coast. Off in the distance, sirens wailed between the concrete jungled walls. Tipping my head to the sky, the skies were pitch black and ominous—the perfect reflection of the mood I was in.

  “Where are you, Kendra?” I whispered to myself.

  It was possible Stone knew something about this place that I didn’t.

  I walked.

  I listened.

  And my thoughts churned.

  My desperation to find Bella grew with each minute that ticked by. As my feet dragged over the concrete slabs, I thought about the images of Maria’s bruised and battered body that had landed on my desk. The next step, my mind jumped to Tonya and the day I saw the city’s crime unit collecting and marking evidence before the coroner collected her body and wheeled it away.

  Suddenly, I stopped.

  Bringing my hand over my mouth, my mind played tricks on me.

  Lying in front of me was Kendra’s lifeless body. A black pool of blood spilling from behind her skull. With widening eyes, my heart pounded against my ribs as I gasped for air.

  Turning my head, I closed my eyes and pulled my feet back to earth.

  I breathed life back into my limbs, and when I peeled my gummy lids open, I glanced back to where my imagination had got the best of me—

  The sight was gone.

  But the nightmare remained as vivid as the image I’d just conjured up.

  Jogging back to my car, I knew it was time to knock on Madam’s door and steal my girl back.

  8

  Kendra

  My sleepy eyes fluttered open when the mattress dipped.

  Her white-gloved hands brushed my bangs off my brow and I startled awake. “My dear, Kendra, good morning.” Madam’s cherry red lips smiled.

  Propping myself up on one bent elbow, my wide eyes darted around the room trying to place where I was, how I’d ended up here. Suddenly, I remembered Oscar taking me here—to his place.

  Madam caught my chin and locked her eyes on me. “Darling, don’t worry. You’re safe.”

  I fell back onto the pillow and pulled the crisp white sheets over my naked body. Squeezing my thighs together, my head pounded with vague memories of what happened last night. Scrambling to put the pieces back together, I remembered arriving to the restaurant and calling Drake. I could recall the meal we ate, the conversation we had. Everything was clear until we came back here.

  “Oscar is gone.” Madam ironed her gloved hand over my bare shoulder.

  My stomach flipped. I felt ashamed for possibly allowing Oscar to sleep with me. And when I remembered what he said to me just before I blacked out, I wanted to cry. Oscar got what he promised, and I was the fool who let it happen. He and Madam were in control and, because I was already a victim of abuse, it somehow made it okay. Because victims like me were already damaged and lost and without a voice others were willing to listen to.

  “Sweetie, I know how it must feel to not be with Kelly.” Madam continued to run her fingers through my hair. “To give your heart away only to spread your legs for another man.”

  I rolled to my side, turning my back to Madam and tucking myself into the fetal position.

  Closing my eyes, I fought off the tremors threatening to rock my body into an uncontrollable fit of quakes. I couldn’t remember if I’d slept with Oscar or not. It was entirely possible Madam was only toying with my mind—like she so often did. But she was convincing in her argument and I knew I’d drank far too much last night to not question what I did and did not do.

  “That was why I warned you—warned all my girls—not to get attached.” Madam’s tone warmed, as if she wanted me to believe she had an ounce of sympathy inside of her. “Because there will always be more dates that follow the last.”

  Knitting my brows, my head throbbed and my mind was foggy enough to make me believe Oscar had possibly drugged me. Though it could have also been a trigger reaction that caused me to forget. He knew what it would take, what he had to say to ensure that it would happen. And it didn’t escape me in thinking that Madam could have coached him on how to do it, too.

  Flopping back over, I locked my eyes with Madam’s. “You set me up with Oscar.”

  She quirked a brow. “Are you surprised?”

  My heart hammered as I imagined lashing out and scratching my claws across her powdered face. Instead, I kept my shameful body hidden beneath the covers.

  “Honey, without Kelly,” she paused, “without your parents by your side, and without an inheritance to support yourself, you have nothing left to live for.”

  A darkness fell over me and the pulse in my wrist throbbed hard enough for it to be a reminder of how easily it would be to end this misery myself.

  “Consider Oscar a welcoming companion who has cared about you from the moment he first laid eyes on you.”

  Lashing forward, I growled, “You did this. You set me up from the beginning.”

  Madam’s lips spread into a knowing grin. “Kendra, baby, you did this to yourself.”

  Each breath was harder than the last. I took a minute to stare into her beady eyes, knowing there was a truth to her statement that I couldn’t hide. I elected to walk into her office. Made the decision to have Jerome inspect my goods. And I okayed the date cards, graciously accepting the earnings deposited into my bank account weekly. But still, this had gone too far. “I’m sorry I gave your money away. How many times do I have to apologize before you’ll forgive me?”

  Madam turned her head as if in thought. A second later, she tipped forward and took my cell phone off the nightstand. Feeling my body heat, I was surprised to see Oscar had left it behind after taking it from me last night. I watched Madam’s thumbs swipe over the screen a couple times before her eyes lit up. “Would you look at that?”

  I breathed heavily as I watched her raise the phone and point the camera in my direction.

  “Smile.” She tugged the sheet down off my chest and snapped a quick photo.

  “What are you doing?” I quickly covered myself up, reaching for the phone.

  She pulled back, stood, and turned her back. I could tell by the way her arms were cradled by her sides that she was busy writing a text message. A second later, I heard my phone chime with a sending confirmation.

  “Did you send that photo to someone?” My words rolled off my tongue in rapid fire. “Who did you send that to?”

 
Madam continued to stare at the screen. Cocking her head to the side, she said, “Appears your mother has been trying to contact you. What do you think that is about?”

  My blood ran hot. “Did you send that image to my mom?”

  Opening her purse, she dropped my cell inside and snapped it shut. Floating across the room to the dresser, she found the promise ring Kelly had given me. “It’s your attitude. Your resistance to authority and the trouble you have caused me that has brought you to where you are today, my sweet Kendra.” She looked over her shoulder, met my gaze, and held up the ring. “It’s better you two get over each other ASAP. Do you understand?”

  “How about you just let me go?”

  Madam guffawed. “Honestly, I’m deciding if I even need you anymore.”

  I sat further up, holding my breath in hopes that Madam might actually end my contract and set me free.

  She turned back around and placed the ring where she’d found it. “Your uncle is proving more useful to me than you ever have.”

  My eyes fell to the sheets.

  “And, besides, now that Kelly has given up on you,” she paused to send my mind frantically scrambling to hang on to what little confidence I still had, “what good are you?”

  Feeling my sense of worth diminish with each second that ticked by, I felt completely helpless to control anything my future held.

  Turning on a heel, Madam clacked her high heels back to the bed. “Even Oscar said you were a dud in bed.” Her mouth pinched. “Which means you’re not even the asset I thought I once could count on.”

  “Then void my contract.” My chest heaved.

  Madam smirked. “No wonder Kelly couldn’t make you obedient. You lose all your spunk the moment your clothes come off.” She snickered.

  “Fuck you,” I breathed. It was hard not to listen because, truth be told, I had no idea whether or not I was a good fuck.

  Madam hurried to the closet door and ripped a dress off the hanger. Strolling back to me, she tossed it on the bed. “C’mon, get ready.”

  My eyes darted to the black sheath dress. “Where are we going?”

  “Jerome is waiting outside.”

  I stared at the dress with thoughts of my own funeral playing out inside of my head.

  “Snap to it.” Madam clapped her hands. “We are running out of time.”

  I gave her a look of disbelief.

  Her brow sharpened. “I have more work lined up for you.”

  9

  Kelly

  Madam’s office was as desolate and dark as Echo.

  The same feelings that something wasn’t right stirred inside of me. The building was completely locked down and there weren’t any signs of either Madam or Jerome.

  I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel and unholstered my weapon, wondering where Madam could have Kendra hidden. Picking up my cell, I caved and finally messaged Kendra.

  If it’s too much, just say the word.

  My heart beat with hope that she would respond with our safe word—Angel. At least then I would know she was in as much danger as I thought possible and that she needed whatever was happening to her to stop.

  I sat with the engine off for several minutes with no response. The time was approaching 1:30AM when I decided to head to Kendra’s apartment. Running out of options, I was at a loss of where she could be. That kept my stomach unsettled.

  No matter how hard I pushed away my earlier thoughts of Kendra’s dead body lying in her own pool of blood, it circled back again and again without warning.

  I felt my eyelids droop with exhaustion and my once adrenaline-fueled blood slow to a more relaxing pace. When I arrived to Kendra’s apartment, it, too, was locked down for the night. Kendra’s lights were off and I had no choice but to sit in my car and wait.

  Leaning my seat back, I drifted off to sleep.

  What seemed to be only minutes proved to be hours. And when I was jostled awake by the sound of someone slamming on their car horn, I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and caught sight of Mr. Anderson in the lobby.

  Hurrying inside, he greeted me with a warm smile. “Mr. Black, how are you?”

  “Have you seen, Kendra?”

  “Not today.” He brought his hands up and perched his fingers on the desk. “But I only arrived for my morning shift minutes ago.”

  My brows slanted. “What about last night?”

  He shook his head. “Is everything okay?”

  I glanced toward the elevators. “I’m afraid I can’t get a hold of her.”

  He nodded and frowned. “I’ll be sure to tell her that you stopped by when I see her.”

  “Any chance you would allow me access to her floor?”

  “I’ve already made that mistake.” His gaze fell to his desk. “I’m sorry.” Then he lifted his eyes and checked the time. “But I can put a quick call in if you’d like?”

  “That would be great,” I nodded.

  Mr. Anderson picked up the phone and I listened to it ring until clicking over to voicemail.

  “I’m sorry. There was no answer.”

  “If you see her, tell her to call me.” I thanked the old man and stiff-armed the glass doors as I exited the building. It was like Kendra and Madam had disappeared without a trace. Left me scrambling to put the pieces together with little to go on. With each stop coming up empty, the guilt of letting her get away from me in the first place chiseled away at my heart. I had broken my promise—the commitment I swore to Bella I would never allow to happen. The truth of that broke me.

  With a tight chest, I walked back to my car thinking where to go next. I was running out of options. Ideas were slim. Checking my phone, my texts were zero.

  Then I was reminded of Alex Grace.

  Hitting the call button, I listened to the line ring before a small voice answered. “Hello.”

  “Alex. It’s Kelly.”

  There was some shuffling on the other end and after a few seconds of silence she said, “It’s not good, is it?”

  “Why do you think I’m calling?” my gravelly voice asked.

  “It’s about Kendra.”

  “Have you seen her?”

  “Shit, I knew it.”

  I sat up in my seat and furrowed my brow. “What do you know?”

  Alex told me about the last conversation she’d had with Kendra. She mentioned how Kendra needed her to look into whether or not Madam’s business interests were true and to confirm she was fooled into laundering Madam’s drug money for her. “She wasn’t herself, Kelly. I could hear it in her voice. I told her to get out.”

  I swallowed the stone lodged in my throat. At a loss for words, I kept hearing myself say, It’s too late. She’s gone. But I had to remain strong.

  “I had a bad feeling about this.” Alex sighed.

  I asked if she knew who Kendra’s date might have been, where she might have been taken. Alex’s guess was as good as mine. “Don’t panic. I’ll figure this out.”

  “You’re a good man, Kelly.” But before I could hang up, she said, “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “Nash hasn’t been himself, either. I don’t know what’s going on. He’s not opening up to me, but I know it has something to do with these murders the city is trying to blame Sylvia for—”

  “Nash cares about you.”

  “I know.”

  “Then be there for him.” I ended our call and headed to the office.

  My thoughts swirled around Nash’s nervous behavior, Wes’s persistent worrying, and how Kendra confirmed what Madam was using her money for only moments before she went missing. It all added up to a shit storm heading straight for us.

  Giselle’s parking space was empty when I pulled up to our office building. I stepped out with lethargic muscles and a tired mind. Walking up the front steps, I pinched the front door key between my fingers with my head hanging low. Oblivious to my surroundings I was surprised to hear my name being called.

  “Mr. Black. Can I h
ave word?” I turned to find two men in dark suits strolling to the bottom of the steps. Flashing me his detective badge, the man pulled his sunglasses off his eyes and said, “Would you mind opening up your jacket?”

  My brows drew together. “What’s this about?”

  The detective in the back settled his hand on his holstered gun. “Are you carrying a weapon right now, Mr. Black?”

  “I have a permit for it.”

  “Then keep your hands where we can see them and don’t make any sudden moves.” The first detective cautiously climbed the stairs. “Where were you yesterday between one and three PM?”

  “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”

  “We’re investigating a shooting that occurred at a church on the north side of town and we have reason to believe that you were there.”

  Glancing between them, I felt confident enough to tell them the truth. “Let’s talk inside,” I said. They agreed and followed me into my office.

  Sitting behind my desk, I told them everything that happened. Explained the dispute I’d had with Madam. An accidental shot was fired but hit the dirt, missing me by mere inches. No shots were fired back. There wasn’t any reason to skirt the truth—minus the small blip of it being an accident. In fact, I welcomed their surprise visit, hoping they might be able to help me find Kendra.

  “And you didn’t want to report this?”

  “Why do you think I’m working early?”

  The detectives took my statement and left, promising to follow up with any new development as their case progressed. But there was something about their timing that didn’t sit well with me.

  “What was that about?” Giselle stepped into my office with her tote still slung over her shoulder.

  I glanced to the two coffees and paper-bagged breakfast she held in her hands. My stomach grumbled, suddenly reminding me of my long night of searching. I hadn’t eaten in hours and needed a quick refueling.

  “Have you found Oscar?” I asked, hoping to avoid having to tell Giselle that Jerome shot at me.