Fourth Fight

by Mary Abshire

  Emily took step after step, up and down her small cell. One way or another, she’d find a way to get them out. With or without outside help, she’d free the girls or die trying.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Towel hanging around the back of his neck and cell phone in hand, Andrew entered the home through the patio. Lights had been left on in the empty kitchen. He heard only silence and the slosh of his wet feet in his shoes as he passed through to reach the hall. He had a good idea where to find Christopher since he’d been given a tour of the house once. The man had a huge room with an office attached. Andrew would start his search there and then explore the rest of the home until he found the demon.

  The patter of footsteps grew louder as Andrew reached the staircase. Andrew climbed a few stairs. Matt reached a landing and stopped.

  “There’s been a change of plans,” Andrew said.

  Matt blocked him from going up. He held a shaky hand up. “Was that real?”

  “What?”

  “That … that shadow. I was watching from one of the bedroom windows.” He lowered his arm.

  Andrew tore off the bandage, leaving the wet pieces on the steps. The tattoo had disappeared since he’d destroyed his target. He held up his forearm to Matt. “Remember when I showed you her name and address the other day?”

  “Christ Almighty,” he whispered as he took a step back.

  “I wasn’t lying to you. Now, where’s Christopher?”

  Matt took a deep breath. “He’s uh … in his room.”

  “I can’t wait any longer to find Emily. I’m tired of the lies and the games. Whether or not he tells me where she is, I’m going to kill him. And if Sherri is around—”

  “Hold that thought. I have an idea. Follow me,” Matt said before he jogged up the stairs.

  Matt led him to the top and then down a hall. Andrew recalled Christopher’s room being in the opposite direction, but he didn’t stop to ask. The man seemed to have a plan, so he’d give him a chance to share it.

  Andrew followed Matt into a bedroom. A queen-size bed took up most of the space. It backed up to a window overlooking the back yard and pool. Matt walked around the mattress to reach the closet. He opened the door, lifted a black case from the bottom, and then set it on the bed.

  “Nobody uses this room except Don or myself. We crash here sometimes if we’re too tired to go to the house,” he said as he moved the dial on the case to align four digits.

  “What’s your plan?” Andrew removed the towel from around his neck. He set it on the bed along with his phone.

  The two locks snapped. Matt lifted the lid. Two handguns with clips were inside a foam casing.

  Matt removed a pair of gloves from the lining of the lid. “Put these on. They should fit well enough.”

  Andrew took the gloves from him. While he slid them on his hands, Matt removed another set from the pouch. He began tugging them on too.

  “These guns are untraceable. The serial numbers have been scratched out.” Matt gave one of the weapons and a clip to Andrew. “You can use it to kill Christopher, but shoot him in the mouth or under his chin. Make it look like a suicide. I can type up a note on his computer. He drowned his daughter and then shot himself.”

  “I have to shoot him in the mouth or under his chin?”

  “Too much speculation will be raised if you shoot him in the stomach or somewhere else.” Matt handed him the clip.

  “Why are you wearing gloves if I’m killing Christopher?”

  “Sherri is with him. Someone has to watch her while you kill the demon.”

  Andrew watched as Matt lifted the other gun, and then slid the clip inside the handle. The man had pulled through for Andrew in a way he’d never expected. For the first time since Emily left, a touch of happiness broke through his anger.

  “Thank you, Matt. For believing and helping me.”

  “If I’d known what was going on, I would’ve stopped it. I’m so sorry—”

  “I know you didn’t know. You have a white aura.”

  Matt’s brows crinkled. “What does that mean?”

  Andrew pushed the clip into the gun. “It means you’re innocent. You’re going to heaven. So whatever you do, don’t shoot Sherri.”

  “What if she comes at me with a weapon?”

  “Then I think you’re safe to use your own. I don’t know all the rules, but since you killed others in the line of duty, then I’m guessing it’s safe to kill in self-defense.”

  He shook his head. “This is too fucking strange. Nobody will believe me if I told them everything.”

  “I know the feeling.” Andrew lowered the gun to his side. “Take me to Christopher.”

  Matt took the lead again, out of the room and down the hall. Andrew’s shoes continued to make the squishing noise, though not as loudly.

  Matt paused at the end of the hall. “Before we do this, I want to let you know that I checked out some transactions and bank accounts. Turns out Troy was right. Christopher has an overseas account and has been getting some big deposits, all of them are within thirty days of a concert.”

  “That’s good, but it doesn’t help Emily or the girls with her now. Were any of the transactions close to the time of Annie’s shows?”

  “No, none were, but what I found further proves he’s been selling the women.”

  The evidence would help others see how bad Annie and Christopher were, but if the movement of funds didn’t occur close enough to the concerts, Andrew doubted Troy could pin down a current location to find the women within a matter of hours.

  “Any word from Don?” Andrew asked.

  “No, but I think Sherri has spoken to him.”

  “Then let’s find out.”

  Andrew looked around the corner. A large oil painting hung on the wall facing Christopher’s door. Andrew took slow steps toward his bedroom, keeping the noise from his shoes at a minimum. His heart was thudding by the time he reached the door. Leaning close, he listened for sounds. He heard nothing but silence.

  When Matt touched the handle, Andrew lifted his gun. He slid the safety off before giving a nod. Matt twisted the knob and then shoved the door wide open.

  The scene Andrew walked into took him by surprised. A naked Sherri sat on top of Christopher in his large bed. His hands were holding her hips while she ground into him. Andrew would’ve laughed if he hadn’t been so full of hate and rage.

  Christopher’s gaze shot to Andrew. He pushed Sherri off and to the side. She crawled away while he rolled over and reached for his nightstand.

  “Don’t do it!” Andrew yelled, pointing the gun at him. “I will shoot you before you open that drawer.” He moved closer until he was two feet from Christopher.

  “What the fuck?” Sherri screeched, standing near the far side of the bed.

  She gathered the sheet to cover her body, leaving Christopher’s erection fully exposed.

  “Don’t move,” Matt told her.

  “What the fuck are you doing, Matt?” Sherri asked.

  Christopher’s gaze remained on Andrew. “What do you want?”

  “You know what I want—Emily and the girls,” Andrew said. “Where are they?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” Christopher said.

  Andrew moved closer and aimed the gun near his head. “I know what you’ve been doing. I’m tired of your games.”

  “You have no idea who you’re fucking with,” Christopher sneered.

  “I know all about your sex slave trade going on. And I have evidence. So tell me where I can find my wife,” Andrew said, arms steady with his finger on the trigger.

  “There is no evidence,” Christopher said.

  “Yes, there is,” Matt said.

  Christopher’s gaze shot to him and then back to Andrew. “Good luck finding your wife.”

  “Annie is dead and I’m ready to send you to hell with her,” Andrew spat.

  “I dare you,” Christopher said.

  Andrew rushed forward and shoved
the gun under Christopher’s chin. The man was fast and tried to grasp hold of the gun. Andrew pulled the trigger, ending Christopher’s effort. The loud pop stung his ears. Blood splattered on the bedframe and wall. Christopher’s face was such a grotesque mess Andrew nearly vomited.

  “No!” Sherri screamed. She put her leg on the bed as if she were going to crawl toward Christopher.

  Matt grabbed her arm and pulled her away. “Stay back.”

  “You killed him! You fucking killed him!”

  Matt grabbed her hair and shoved the gun at her temple. “Get a good look at him, because it could be you.”

  Andrew stood near the bed, breathing heavy. He hadn’t intended to kill him so fast, but his frustration had taken over. The demon played games just as his evil daughter had. Odds were Christopher never would’ve told Andrew where to find Emily.

  He set the gun on the bed before he started removing the gloves. A dark mass sat up from Christopher’s body. As if the demon knew what Andrew planned to do, it turned away from Andrew. He dropped one glove and reached over the body for the black fog. His fingers brushed through it. The shadow burst into tiny bits of dust. The evil remains of Christopher evaporated in the air or within seconds of landing on the bed.

  Sherri gasped repeatedly. “What was that? What the fuck was that?”

  Andrew walked around the bed. He stopped a few feet from her. “That was a demon I sent to hell. Are you ready to join him?”

  “No, no, please…” she said.

  Matt let go of her hair. He took a few steps back, but kept his weapon aimed at her.

  “Tell us where to find his wife and the girls,” Matt said. “Tell us, and you can walk out of here alive. But you have to keep your mouth shut about all of this. You saw nothing. You know nothing.”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. “You’d let me go?”

  “Only if you give your word you never saw anything. I won’t turn you into the police. But I am keeping copies of all his records. In case you change your mind one day and say something, I’ll go to the police with all the evidence,” Matt said.

  Andrew hated the idea of letting her live. He wanted her dead for her involvement, but he couldn’t end her life since she wasn’t a demon. He prayed she would meet her death sooner rather than later and would pay for her crimes in the afterlife.

  She met Andrew’s gaze. “Will you let me go?”

  “Only if you tell me exactly where to find my wife and the girls she’s with,” Andrew said.

  She sniffled and wiped her face while she used her other hand to hold the sheet in front of her body. “She’s in an area outside of Ejido Erendira in Mexico.”

  “Where is this Ejido Erendira?” Andrew asked.

  Troy hadn’t mentioned the town. In fact, Troy had told him he was staying in a shit hole south of Ensenada, Mexico.

  “It’s about a four-hour drive from San Diego. There’s no airport. It’s a small Mexican town,” she said.

  “Where is she exactly?” Andrew pressed.

  “I don’t know. Somewhere away from the central part of the town,” she said.

  “Who’s holding her? Are they drug dealers?” Matt asked.

  “They deal in anything that makes them money,” she said.

  “Is the town by the ocean or further in land?” Matt asked.

  “By the ocean,” she said.

  “Is Don still there?” Andrew asked.

  “No, he left a few hours ago. He’s coming back here,” she said.

  The two men looked at each other. Fear shot through Andrew as he wondered why Don would return so soon.

  “Is my wife still there? Is she alive? Are they all alive?” Andrew asked in a rush.

  “Yes. They’re still there. They hold them for about a week before a buyer takes them.”

  Andrew ran his hand over his head as he ambled in the large room. “I have to go.” He stopped and faced Matt. “I have to leave and meet Troy.”

  “I can finish up here and catch up to you. Besides, someone needs to handle Don,” Matt said.

  Andrew balled his hands at his sides. His idea of taking care of Don was to kill the man, but again, he couldn’t. And he refused to waste any time beating the man to the brink of death when he needed to free Emily and the other women.

  “Will you be okay?” Andrew asked Matt.

  “What time is Don due back?” Matt asked Sherri.

  “Late in the morning,” she said.

  Matt looked at Andrew. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got plenty of time.”

  The idea of leaving him alone bothered Andrew, but in his list of priorities, this one sat lower. If Matt said he could handle everything, then Andrew believed him.

  Andrew approached him. “I can’t thank you enough for your help.”

  “Call me when you get there. I’ll send word you’re on the way. My friends should be there by the time you arrive. Hopefully I can meet up with you in less than twenty-four hours.”

  “You’re a good man, Matt.” Andrew looked at Sherri. “I hope I never see you again. If I do, don’t expect me to be friendly.”

  Sherri’s brows furrowed. “What are you?”

  “Remember our deal, Sherri?” Matt said.

  Frowning, she nodded.

  “I’ll send word after I get there,” Andrew said as he backed away.

  “Travel light. They check everything in and out of the country,” Matt said.

  Andrew removed the last glove on his way out of the room and then tossed it behind him. His heart raced with excitement. He had a location for Emily. As soon as he’d get his phone, he’d send word to Troy so he could search the area. If all went well, perhaps Troy and Matt’s friends would find her by the time Andrew arrived in Mexico. And maybe in the next twenty-four hours, he’d get to hold the woman he yearned for.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Emily opened her heavy eyelids when she heard snaps from the front door. Back straight against the wall and bare legs stretched out in front of her, she was in the most comfortable position possible with the least amount of pain. She’d dozed off shortly after a guard had taken Jenny away.

  Two guards entered the room, one of them escorting Jenny. The Hispanic with his hand on her pushed her into her cage. Jenny kept her head down as she ran to the corner near Emily. She fell to her knees, facing the wall, and leaned against the bars. The guard locked her door while the other one spoke in Spanish. Together, they left the room.

  Emily rubbed the back of her hand on Jenny’s shirt. She couldn’t reach with her other hand since it would pull her wounds open. Jenny turned around, brought her legs up, and leaned as close as she could toward Emily. Tears flowed from Jenny’s eyes.

  Emily slid her hand between the bars, palm side up. “Give me your hand.”

  Jenny obeyed and Emily squeezed it, hoping her touch would offer some comfort.

  “Be strong,” Emily said.

  “Get me out of here. Please,” Jenny said.

  “I will,” Emily said confidently. “We will get through this.”

  “I hate them,” Jenny said as she sniffled. “I hope they all die.”

  Anger was good. It helped keep the spirit alive.

  “Hold onto that feeling. You’ll need it to get out of here,” Emily said.

  Cheryl and Emily were the only ones left. Emily knew they’d come for her at some point.

  “What’s your favorite food?” Emily asked, hoping to get her mind on something different.

  Jenny wiped her hand under her nose. “Uh … Italian.”

  “Mine too. I love lasagna and soft breadsticks.”

  “I love fresh bread with a little bit of garlic.”

  “Yeah, I can almost smell and taste the garlic bread now.”

  Jenny lifted her head. “And vegetable lasagna is the best.”

  “Do you have a favorite place to eat Italian food?”

  Jenny rambled a bit, telling Emily about a restaurant and the dishes she’d enjoyed. When Jenny had said all
she could, she inhaled in a shaky breath.

  “You should get some rest,” Emily said.

  Jenny’s lips quivered and her eyes filled with tears.

  Emily clinched her hand. “Hey, we’re in this together. I’m here with you. Don’t let them tear you down.”

  Jenny wiped her cheeks and nodded.

  “I promise, I’m not going to leave you or the others,” Emily added.

  “Thank you,” Jenny said, gripping Emily’s hand.

  Jenny closed her eyes and leaned her head on Emily’s shoulder. The woman’s anguish crushed Emily’s heart. Emily swallowed the lump crawling up her throat. She wished she could take the girl’s misery away. If only she’d stopped all of them from getting into the van, then none of them would’ve had to go through such horror.

  Guilt weighed heavy on her thoughts. She couldn’t change the past, so she focused on changing the future. She had faith she could save the girls, but she had to be ready when the time came to make an escape, which meant she needed to get some rest too.

  Emily closed her eyes and recalled the happy moments with Andrew. As memories played in her head, she began to doze off.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Andrew yawned as he sped along the most boring road in the world. Miles and miles of dry land stretched between small Mexican towns. He’d been driving in the Jeep for five hours since he’d left Borrego Springs. After he’d said goodbye to Matt, he’d called Troy and had updated him with Emily’s location. Before Andrew had left, he’d changed into shorts and a t-shirt, wrapped bandages on his arm since he had no idea when a new tattoo would appear, and grabbed his and Emily’s credentials along with all the cash he could find. It had taken him almost two hours to reach the border. From there, he’d stopped only a few times for gas, water, and snacks to eat while he drove. Adrenaline had kept him awake until the sun rose.

  Gripping the wheel, he spotted a sign up ahead. He focused his attention on it. The writing came into view as the car drew nearer. Ejido Erendira was thirty miles away.