Come Find Me

by Casper Valentine

  "I grew up there. I want to know," Nate said.

  "We go over to that house and bang on the fucker's door, until he finally answers. What a skinny, and dirty-looking bastard he was. Smelled like he hadn't had a bath in weeks. We demand to see the kid. He tells us there's no kid inside and starts to shut the door in our faces. Your dad stuck a boot out and blocked it. I grabbed his arm and pulled him out. We didn't want to stick around and play twenty questions, so I cracked him upside the head with my pistol. We go into the house, it's disgusting and smells like cat piss. We search around, find nothing, and your dad points at the door leading to the basement. This is where it gets bad."

  "Go on," Nate said, tipping back his shot of Jameson.

  "As soon as he opened the door you could smell shit. We had to cover our noses just to go down the steps. I was leading the way, and as soon as I rounded a corner at the bottom, I stopped dead in my tracks. Under a dim lightbulb was that little boy, locked in a cage. A tiny cage, just big enough for him to be able to sit upright. That little fella, still in nothing but underwear, just stared at us with these beady little eyes. He was filthy, and his hair was matted to his head. We had to go back upstairs and get the key from that fucker. That's when your father slit his throat."

  "My God. What happened after that?"

  "We opened the cage and at first the little boy didn't want to come out. He was scared of us, and just made these weird noises, like little whimpers. He never did say anything we could understand. When he finally let me pick him up, we took him to my truck and drove him to the closest firehouse. We dropped him off, then we went back and got rid of the body."

  "Got rid of the body?" Nate questioned.

  "Wrapped him in a tarp and drove out to the Lost Bridge. Threw the son of a bitch over."

  "Did you guys check his ID?" Nate asked.

  Kessler shook his head. "We just wanted to get rid of his body. We didn’t waste any time."

  Nate couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Damn! When I was a kid, I probably rode my bike past that house countless times while that boy was locked up down there. Everyone talked about the house on Fifth Street, but it seemed like rumors and hearsay. I think that's how everyone felt. It's probably why nobody investigated anything."

  "Wait a minute, Nate. Did you say Fifth Street?" Kessler asked, looking over at Nate, furrowing his brows.

  "Yeah, Fifth."

  Kessler shook his head. "This house was on Seventh, near the Kemper Road end."

  "That can't be right," Nate said.

  "I'll never forget. I remember it like it was yesterday. The house was on the left, it was the third one from the end of the road," Kessler said, reaching for his drink.

  "Shit, we were at the wrong house," Nate said.

  "What?" Kessler asked.

  Nate cleared his throat. "My friend Jeff and me. We wanted to catch a glimpse of Junk Man. The whole time, we were ridding our bikes past the wrong house. You have any idea what happened to the little boy?"

  Kessler shook his head. "No idea. I guess he'd be a few years younger than you now."

  Nate's thoughts were swirling, and his heart was pounding. "Thanks for telling me about this, Kessler. You’ve given me a lot. It was good talking to you," Nate said, and swallowed the rest of his beer.

  "You too. Come see me anytime."

  Nate rushed out of the bar, praying they would search the newly discovered house, and find Ruby and Nina.

  When he got to his truck, he phoned Rosales. "Did Sarge get Animal to talk?" he asked when she answered.

  "I'm sorry, Nate. He didn't get to him in time. William, or Animal, which is a more fitting name, posted bail and they had to cut him loose. He was gone before we got back to the precinct yesterday."

  "Fuck! You have to be kidding me? Why didn’t anyone call me?" Nate screamed as he started his truck and drove away.

  “Sarge said not to. He said he had a plan.”

  “I have new info.”

  "We will get him again. What do you have?" Rosales asked.

  "I'm heading back to the office. I need you to check into something."

  "Sure, you have a new lead?"

  "Yes. I talked to the old friend of my father’s. Turns out the house we got the samples from, isn't the right house."

  "What? I don't understand."

  "Long story, but there's another house in Highpoint I need you to check on. Use Google Maps and find a house on Seventh Street. It's on the left, three houses from Kemper Street. Find out who owns it and tell Sarge to plan for a search. I’m certain it's where Ruby and Nina are being held."

  "I'm on it," Rosales said, and Nate could hear her typing, over the line.

  "Warrant or no warrant, tell Sarge we're going into the house."

  "You got it, Nate."

  Nate disconnected the call, crossed the railroad tracks, and slammed the gas pedal to the floor. The words come find me were playing in his head again, louder than ever.

  •••

  Animal stood over the grimy mattress on the floor, watching Ruby and Nina sleep. They were so beautiful they nearly took his breath away. He placed a bucket of soapy water on the floor and knelt. "Time to get cleaned up, play dolls," he whispered.

  It was only hours since the last injection, and both girls were out cold. Wearing only dirty underwear, they were wrapped in each other's arms for warmth.

  Animal dipped a sponge in the soapy water, then ran it gently over Nina's thigh. He began thinking back to the first girl his father brought to him, when he was just a young boy. He remembered how soft and smooth her dark skin was.

  THIRTY

  September 20, 1997

  He heard the latch on his cage open, then he heard his father's voice. "I brought you a play doll."

  He opened his eyes and blinked a few times, until they adjusted to the light bulb overhead.

  The dark-skinned woman sat on the floor, in front of his cage. She looked at the dog dish next to her and cringed. It was half full of a mushy brown substance.

  "You didn't eat all of your food, you little animal. Why didn't you eat, Billy?" his father asked.

  Billy turned his head and leaned away, praying his father wouldn't hit him.

  "Play with the little animal until I get back," his father said, as he turned and headed toward the stairs.

  The dark-skinned woman stuck her hand in the cage. "It's OK, little guy, you can come out."

  Billy took her hand, and a few moments later he crawled out.

  She rubbed his matted hair. "Billy, that's a cute name."

  The boy shook his head.

  "You must be freezing in nothing but a pair of underwear."

  The boy made some grunting noises.

  "It's OK, Billy."

  The boy shook his head. "Animal," he whispered.

  "Let me warm you up," the dark-skinned woman said, and tried to put an arm around the boy.

  He leaned away and tensed up.

  "I'm not going to hurt you. How about I sing you a song."

  The boy's muscles relaxed—her voice was soothing.

  She started singing. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

  Billy finally allowed her to put an arm around him.

  The dark-skinned woman continued the song. "Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."

  Billy lay down beside her and placed his head in her lap. He rubbed her leg and was amazed by how smooth her skin was. He listened to her soothing voice, until he drifted into a peaceful sleep.

  A half hour later, Billy woke up, when he heard the slap.

  "I told you to play with the little animal, not watch him sleep," his father screamed, and grabbed a handful of the dark-skinned woman's hair.

  Billy crawled back into his cage, as his father gave the woman another slap, and pulled her upright.

  "I'm sorry, I'll be good. Just give me the drugs," she begged.

  "I have what you need," Billy's father said, as he pulled a capped syringe from his pock
et.

  The woman stuck out her arm. "Please give it to me now."

  "You know what to do," Billy's father said, pointing to the stairs. He bent down and fastened the lock on Billy's cage.

  THIRTY-ONE

  October 19, 2015

  Rosales was pacing by her desk; she couldn't wait to tell Nate what she had discovered. They were close to piecing it all together.

  Rosales wanted Nate to find his sister alive, more than anything. She was surprised by how much her feelings were growing for Nate. He wasn't her type, and she swore she'd never date a fellow officer.

  Rosales sat down when she finally spotted Nate coming her way. "Nate, you're not going to believe this. The house on Seventh Street has a listed owner that is none other than Dorothy Jenkins."

  Nate raised his brows. "We need to check into Animal's place."

  "Already did. Owned by Dorothy Jenkins."

  "Shit! Where's Sarge and Scarecrow? We need to hit that house."

  Rosales leaned forward. "There's more. I found another one on First Street—it still has Dorothy Jenkins listed as an owner."

  "I know who she is. Let's find Sarge and I'll explain," Nate said.

  Rosales followed Nate down the hall, toward the task force bunker. "What the hell did you find out? How does she tie into this?"

  "She's Animal's grandmother."

  "What?"

  "Animal's father was Junk Man. My dad actually killed the sick fuck."

  "You're losing me, Nate."

  "I'll explain, to everyone, on the way," Nate said as they stepped into the bunker, interrupting Sarge and Scarecrow's conversation.

  Sarge stood up from his desk chair. "Rosales told us we need to check a house on Seventh."

  "And possibly another one on First. I'll fill you guys in on the way."

  Scarecrow showed his Chiclet teeth. "I already have someone watching Animal. That fucker isn't going anywhere without us knowing about it."

  "Where's he at now?" Rosales asked.

  "He's back at the store," Scarecrow told her.

  "Perfect time to hit the houses," Nate said, as he led the group out of the room.

  "So, Conejito told us these houses belong to a dead woman named Dorothy Jenkins. How does all this fit together?" Sarge asked.

  The team followed Sarge to the black van. Sarge jumped in the driver’s seat, Scarecrow the passenger, while Nate and Rosales hopped into the back. On the way to Highpoint, Nate told the group about his father killing Junk Man, and finding the boy locked in a cage.

  Sarge looked at Nate through the rearview mirror. "Jesus, that boy, it's him?"

  Nate nodded. "It all seems to fit."

  Rosales put a hand on Nate's knee. "No wonder he turned into such a monster."

  "Sounds like the apple didn't fall far from the tree," Scarecrow added from the passenger seat.

  Sarge pulled in front of the house on Seventh Street. "It looks abandoned."

  "So did the one Animal was living in," Scarecrow added.

  The crew got out of the van and made their way toward the single-story dwelling, with Sarge leading the way.

  "This is the place, I can feel it," Nate said, while drawing his weapon.

  Scarecrow and Rosales drew their sidearms, and Sarge busted down the door.

  Nate pushed by Sarge and entered first. The room was empty, and dirt and dust littered the carpet and drapes. "The basement," Nate said, pointing to a door.

  "You guys go on down. I'll make sure it's clear up here," Sarge said.

  Nate led the way down the steps; a beam of light from a flashlight he held under his handgun illuminated the stairs. When Nate caught a whiff of urine, he sped up the pace.

  "Be careful," Rosales whispered as Nate reached the bottom floor, and shined his flashlight around the corner.

  "Jesus, it's Nina," Nate said as his light illuminated a small woman lying motionless on the filthy mattress, in the corner of the basement.

  Rosales rushed toward the woman, and Scarecrow shined his light around the rest of the dark basement.

  Rosales crouched next to the mattress and put her fingers to the woman's neck. "She's got a pulse."

  Sarge rounded the corner and shined his light on the scene. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph."

  Scarecrow dug a phone out of his coat pocket. "I'll call for a medic unit."

  Nate leaned over Rosales' shoulder. "Nina, if you can hear us, we're going to get you out of here."

  Rosales pulled out her cell phone. "Hold on, Nate, I don't think this is Nina," she said, pulling up a Facebook profile. "Look, it's not her," she said, showing Nina's picture to Nate.

  Sarge shook his head. "Who knows how many women this sicko has abducted."

  Nate stood upright. "I need to get to the other house."

  "You guys go. I'll stay with her until the medics arrive," Rosales said.

  Sarge led the way to the steps. "Scarecrow, call whoever you have watching Animal's shop and tell them to make an arrest."

  Scarecrow followed Sarge and Nate up the steps. "You got it," he said, and made the call.

  •••

  Sarge was heading across Highpoint, toward First Street, when Scarecrow's cell went off.

  "How the hell did that happen?" Scarecrow screamed into the phone.

  "What's going on?" Nate asked from the backseat.

  Scarecrow disconnected the call. "That was Officer Flint Boyle. Somehow Animal gave him the slip. Must have made off through a back door."

  "You gotta be kidding me," Sarge said, blowing through a stop sign. He grabbed the transmitter from the dashboard-mounted radio. "Badge two-twenty-nine. We need backup and medic units to seven-zero-four, First Street, in Highpoint."

  The radio squelched. "Copy that, dispatching available units."

  Sarge pulled to the curb in front of the house, and Nate already had his hand on the van door. As soon as they came to a halt, he flung it open.

  The sun had set and it was getting dark, so Scarecrow shined a flashlight on the front door as Nate ran toward it. Nate gave the door a kick, before Sarge pushed him away and knocked it down with a heavy blow from his battering ram.

  Nate brushed past Sarge and ran inside. He flung open the first door that looked like it could lead to a basement.

  Sarge and Scarecrow followed him down a set of stairs. The third step squeaked, and they heard a scream. Nate's heart pounded as he rushed down the stairs, the beam from his flashlight leading the way. He reached the cold, damp basement, and there they were. Nina was on the filthy mattress, sitting upright, her head pressed against the concrete wall. Ruby was bound to a chair. Animal was standing behind her, holding a handful of her matted dreadlocks; he had a large hunting knife in his other hand.

  Sarge had him lined up in the sights of his 9mm. "Drop the knife or I'll put you down, you sick fuck," he yelled.

  Animal laughed like a high-pitched hyena, then curled his upper lip. "I'm gonna slit her throat first."

  As he brought the knife around Ruby's head, she managed to dig deep, and muster enough energy to lean to the side, with enough force to tip the chair over.

  Ruby slammed to the ground, and Sarge squeezed off two rounds. Both bullets tore into Animal's chest cavity. He hit the ground as the blasts echoed off the basement walls.

  Ruby blinked her glossed-over eyes and looked up at Nate. "I knew you'd find me," she whispered.

  Nate rushed to Ruby and started freeing her from the restraints. "Tell the medics to get down here, now," he shouted.

  Scarecrow bent down next to Nina. "Medics are on the way. It's over now."

  Nina managed to lift her head, and moan.

  Nate had Ruby's arms and legs free. He brushed his hand softly against her cheek. "You're safe now," he whispered.

  Sarge put a hand on Nate's back. "She's going to be OK."

  Nate wrapped his arms around Ruby's frail body. "Thank God you're alive."

  Ruby looked into Nate's eyes. "Keith?"

  Nate smiled. "We'v
e been taking good care of him. He's fine."

  A group of medics were making their way over with stretchers. Nate stepped out of the way to give them room. They administered IVs, loaded the women, and carried them out.

  Once outside, Sarge and Scarecrow started helping uniformed officers secure the scene, while Nate stayed by Ruby's side.

  Nate was watching the medics move Ruby into an ambulance when he heard Rosales' voice.

  "Nate, is she OK?" Rosales asked, jogging toward him.

  Nate turned her way. "She's alive."

  Rosales got to Nate and put an arm around his waist. "She's tough. She'll get through this."

  "I know," Nate said as he looked at Ruby and gave her a wave before they closed the ambulance door.

  When the medic unit drove away, Nate turned to Rosales and brushed back her hair. She smiled, and Nate softly kissed her lips.

  THIRTY-TWO

  October 21, 2015

  Nate got out of his truck when he spotted Boniva coming through the hospital exit doors. "Really, Care Bear pajamas?" Nate said, reaching out for a hug.

  Boniva wrapped her arms around him. "All I have is what Boyd brought me."

  "I would have brought you some things, if you would have called," Nate said, as he opened the passenger door for Boniva.

  "I know how busy you've been, and I didn't want to bother you anymore. You made it clear I was enough trouble. I can't wait to see Ruby."

  Nate shut the door after Boniva climbed in. He got behind the wheel and started the truck. "They're moving her from the hospital straight into a drug treatment facility."

  "I can't believe that sicko was keeping her drugged up."

  Nate pulled away from the hospital. "He was a messed-up person."

  "I could see it in his eyes that night at the club. Thank God you got there when you did, or I would have been another victim," Boniva said.

  "Is Boyd home? Can I take you there?" Nate asked.

  Boniva looked at Nate and smiled. "I'd like to spend some time with you."

  "I'm sorry, I really can't right now. The task force needs to make sure there’s enough dirt to bring down the Armenians and the Bandido Motorcycle Club. We have an operation going down soon."