3 The Chain of Lies

by Debra Burroughs

  The FBI had raided the Jade Thai Spa, rounding up the girls and the customers. Ellis assured Emily they would all be sorted out and the girls would be held and looked at closely to determine if they had been forced into prostitution.

  The SWAT team had surrounded and stormed the house, finding three of the four people who had shown up as hot spots on the infra-red heat sensor. The upstairs was being torn apart, Ellis had reported, trying to find the fourth, hoping it was Molly.

  “She must be stuck in some hidden spot, Emily,” Ellis said. “The scanner shows there’s another heat source in the house, in an immobile and reclining position. I just hope it’s the person you’re searching for.”

  “We’re about a block away. Where are you, Ellis?” Emily glanced over at Peter, meeting his gaze.

  “I’m in the van and we’re headed that direction, but still probably twenty minutes out.”

  “This is Colin. I’m just a few blocks away.”

  “Let me ask Maliwan if she knows anything.” Emily peered upward, into the rearview mirror, and asked the girl about any hiding places in the house.

  “Are you talking to the man in your ear, too?” the girl asked.

  “Yes, how did you know?”

  “Mr. Peter.”

  “Do you know about any hiding places in the house?”

  “Bonus Room, there is small door to storage area,” Maliwan replied.

  “Did you get that, Tony?”

  “The men have been all over that room.”

  “Behind big dresser,” Maliwan clarified.

  “Tony, ask them if they moved the big dresser. Our young friend says there is a small door behind the dresser. Molly’s got to be there. I’m pulling up to the house now.”

  “Hold on, let me ask.”

  Emily, Peter, and Maliwan jumped out of the car and the girl stuck close to Emily as she and Peter marched to the front lawn of the house. Two SWAT members faced them from the porch and would not let anyone enter.

  Ellis could be heard asking Decker what was happening, then he came back to Emily. “They’re doing it, they’re doing it. They’ve found the door.”

  “They found the door,” Emily whispered to Maliwan. The two stood frozen, grasping each other’s hand. Peter stepped closer to the porch to get a better view with the camera.

  “Opening, opening, shining flashlight,” Ellis continued. “She’s there! Emily, did you hear me? She’s there!”

  “Oh, my God!” Emily gasped.

  “What is it?” the girl asked anxiously.

  “They found her. They found Molly.” Emily could no longer contain her tears and a few broke free and trickled down her cheeks. She turned to the girl and threw her arms around her in her excitement.

  Emily drew in a deep breath to calm herself. Releasing her hold on the girl, they turned and stared expectantly at the front door, waiting for the men to bring Molly out. Emily noticed one of the officers stationed on the porch was communicating with someone on his radio.

  “Tony, what’s happening?” Emily asked.

  “They’re calling for an ambulance, from what I can overhear.” The special agent repeated what he was picking up on the radio. “She was found in the crawl space, lying on a pile of blankets, she’s unresponsive, probably drugged.”

  Emily spun around at the sound of a siren blaring from an emergency vehicle, growing louder as it approached. “Peter! The ambulance!” she called out, pointing toward the flashing red lights in the distance, the scream of the siren intensifying as it moved closer.

  She’s going to be okay. She has to be. Oh, God, please let her be okay.

  A uniformed officer moved one of the patrol cars crowding the residential street, to make room for the ambulance. Two young men in stiff white shirts and navy blue pants sprang from the vehicle and sprinted to the rear, pulling a gurney out of the back door.

  “Make way!” one of the officers ordered. His hands furiously directed them, and the small crowd that had gathered on the lawn moved aside.

  The paramedics bolted up the few stairs and disappeared, with the gurney, into the house.

  Emily willed herself not to cry. This was not the time or the place to break down. It was a time to be strong for Molly and for Camille.

  Oh, my gosh—Camille. Should I call her?

  It was all she could do to hold it together. If she had to explain the situation to Camille right now, she knew she’d lose it. But Camille and Jonathan had a right to know.

  She dug her phone out of her pocket and stared at it, wondering what she should do, what she would say.

  “Emily!”

  Over the din of chatter from the crowd, she heard her name called. She turned toward the sound and saw Colin sprinting toward her from the street.

  “Colin!” She yelled and waved him over.

  “Ow! Some of us still have earpieces in, Emily,” Ellis scolded.

  “Sorry.” She grimaced.

  Colin rushed to her and pulled her into his arms. “Did they find Molly? I saw the ambulance. Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, they found her. They’re bringing her out, but she’s unconscious so they’re rushing her to the hospital. Didn’t you hear about it in your earpiece?”

  “No, I took it out when I left the hotel. I had to deal with the madam and her thug.”

  “Why is it taking so long?”

  “Be patient, Emily. Let them work.”

  “Well, Maliwan has been keeping me company while we wait to see Molly.”

  Colin released his hold and stepped aside, keeping one arm protectively around her waist. “Maliwan, hello.” He offered her a friendly smile.

  The girl gave him a small, guarded smile in return.

  “You were very brave back at the hotel.”

  “Yes, you were,” Emily added.

  “I need you to be brave a little while longer. I’ve asked one of the female officers to take you to the police station.”

  Maliwan’s dark eyes grew wide and the fear that had begun to drain from them was instantly refilling.

  “No, no, you don’t have to be afraid,” Emily said, in an effort to console her.

  “We need to do some paperwork, you know, get your story,” Colin explained slowly. “Then you’ll be staying at a women’s shelter in town. They’ll take care of you for the next few days until we can sort this thing out.”

  “Shelter?” Maliwan repeated.

  “Yes, it’s a safe place to sleep with plenty of food to eat. They’ll take care of you there.” Emily wasn’t sure the girl understood all of what she and Colin had just said, but she nodded compliantly.

  “It will be okay, Maliwan. Those bad people can’t hurt you anymore.”

  She nodded again. A smile began to bloom on her face. It was clear that she understood that.

  “Here comes the officer now.” Colin motioned her over with the rotation of his hand. “Officer Sanchez, this is Maliwan…I’m sorry, what is your last name?”

  “Willapana.”

  “Sanchez, this is Maliwan Willapana. Could you please escort the young lady down to the police station and take her statement? Sherry Howard from City Lights will be picking her and the other girls up when you’re done.”

  “Yes, sir. Right this way, Miss Willapana.” Officer Sanchez gestured toward her cruiser. “What a pretty name.”

  The girl hugged Emily quickly before leaving. “Thank you.”

  She waved at Emily and Colin as she went with the police woman. Emily didn’t want to take her eyes off of her until she was safely seated in the squad car.

  “Emily, have you called Camille and Jonathan yet?”

  “Just about to,” she replied, turning her gaze from the car back to Colin. “I hope I don’t break down and blubber my way through it.” With the emotional roller coaster she had been on all day, she could sense her tears bubbling very near the surface again.

  “Why don’t you let me do it?” Before she could give him an answer, Colin whipped out his phone and vent
ured beyond the driveway for some quiet space.

  Emily observed him as he put the phone to his ear, grateful he took the initiative to handle it for her. She imagined his words to her friends and their relieved, yet horrified reaction. Maybe she should have gone and told them in person, but then she might miss their bringing Molly out. Her boots felt nailed to the ground. She had to stay.

  Colin made his way back through the crowd until he returned to Emily’s side. “They’re on their way. Fortunately, they’re only a few blocks away. Maggie’s coming, too.”

  “Emily!” A female voice shouted from the street.

  Emily turned to see who had called her name and spotted Isabel cutting through the swelling crowd.

  “I got here as fast as I could.” Isabel squeezed Emily warmly. “I heard they found Molly.”

  “They should be bringing her out shortly.” Emily’s voice trembled. “She’s unconscious, Is.”

  Isabel rested a comforting hand on Emily’s arm. “She’s a strong girl, Em, a lot like you. We’ll see her through this.”

  Emily nodded and lowered her eyes. “I feel somehow responsible.”

  “Why on earth would you say that?” Colin asked.

  “She and I talked about this house and what might be going on here. I should have known she was too young to discuss this kind of thing. Me and my big mouth. If I hadn’t—”

  “This is not your fault,” Colin insisted. “Tell her, Isabel.”

  “He’s right. This is not your fault. These people were committing crimes against young girls, and Molly must have tried to do something about it. She’s a courageous girl to try to take these people on.”

  “I hope Camille and Jonathan see it that way.”

  “You hope we see what that way?” Camille and Jonathan walked up behind Emily and the small cluster of friends.

  Emily looked their way, her mind racing for a good answer. No words would come, a hug would have to do. Emily reached out and pulled Camille into a firm embrace, which Camille returned. Isabel stepped up and softly patted Camille’s back, glancing over at Maggie, who had joined the group.

  “They’ll be bringing Molly out any minute,” Colin remarked. “Like I told you on the phone, she’s unconscious, but alive.”

  “I don’t understand,” Jonathan said through clenched teeth, staring at Colin, “why was she in this house in the first place?”

  “We’ll sort it all out when Molly regains consciousness,” Isabel replied.

  “If I hadn’t ordered her out of the room yesterday, none of this would have happened,” Camille cried, dabbing her eyes and wiping her nose with tissue.

  “Don’t blame yourself, Cam,” Maggie said.

  “If you want to blame anyone, blame the criminals that abducted her.” Isabel stroked Camille’s shoulder.

  “Where’s Peter?” Jonathan asked, glancing around the yard.

  “Up there by the door.” Emily pointed to him standing at the foot of the porch. “He’s videotaping them bringing Molly out.”

  Maggie looked confused. “Videotapin’? But he doesn’t—”

  “Look! Here they come!” Isabel shouted over the chaotic roar from the crowd on the lawn.

  “Step aside, make way,” one of the officers commanded.

  The crowd parted as the paramedics brought the gurney out the front door and down the few steps to the walkway.

  “Stop!” Camille hollered, running up to the gurney.

  “Step back, ma’am,” the officer ordered, sticking his hand out to block her.

  “That’s my daughter!”

  “Hold up, fellas,” the policeman requested, dropping his hand.

  Camille bent over her daughter and stroked her matted red hair. “You’re going to be okay, Molly, sweetie. Daddy and I are here for you.”

  Jonathan stepped to the gurney as well, his eyes glistening, wiping his sleeve across his face, while Peter stood at the foot of the metal contraption, continuing to tape.

  “Ma’am?” One of the paramedics lightly touched Camille’s arm. “We need to get her to the hospital. “Would one of you like to ride with her?”

  “You go, honey,” Jonathan suggested. “I’ll bring the car. We’ll need it later.”

  Camille nodded appreciatively. Her hand remained fixed on Molly’s shoulder as she stayed beside the gurney, keeping up with the paramedics as they rushed to the ambulance.

  “I’ll be right behind you!” Jonathan called after her.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have one of us drive you, Jon?” Colin asked.

  “That’s probably best. Peter, can you drive me?” Jonathan’s voice was noticeably shaking.

  “Absolutely. Let’s go.”

  “I wanna come too,” Maggie said. “Camille’s gonna need me at the hospital.”

  “The rest of us will get there as soon as we can.” Emily set her hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “We all want to be there for you and Camille.”

  “Okay, let’s roll.” As Peter walked away with Jonathan and Maggie, he pulled his high-tech glasses off and he turned them around to face toward himself. “This is Peter MacKenzie signing off. You got that, Ellis?”

  “Loud and clear.”

  CHAPTER 20

  It was almost midnight when Colin and Emily made it to the hospital. The visitors area was overrun with their close circle, waiting for any news about Molly. Tests had been run, vitals monitored, but nothing yet to report except that she had still not woken up.

  Alex came strolling down the hallway with a box full of coffees.

  “Thank you, hon.” Isabel took a cup from her husband.

  “Anyone else?” He set the box down on the coffee table. “I made sure there are packets of sugar and creamer in there, too.”

  The doctor pushed through the heavy swinging doors. “Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne?”

  “That’s us.” Camille and Jonathan bolted from the chairs and rushed over to the doctor.

  “I’m Dr. Reed. Your daughter has not gained consciousness yet, but she seems to be resting comfortably. If you’d like to come in and see her for a few minutes, that’d be all right.”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Can any of the rest of us see her, too?” Emily asked.

  “For now, let’s just take her folks in.”

  Camille and Jonathan clasped hands and followed the physician.

  Watching her friends hurry away, Emily was unable to shake the feeling that she was partly responsible for their daughter lying in that hospital bed. She wrapped her arms around herself in a self-comforting gesture.

  Colin must have sensed her need because he placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her in. Responsively, she wrapped her arms about his lean torso and laid her cheek against his chest. Clinging to each other, he gently kissed the top of her head as they stood in contemplative silence.

  “Emily?” Isabel softly laid a hand on her friend’s arm.

  Emily raised her head and extended her hand to Isabel, who took hold of it.

  “Alex told me that when he went to the cafeteria for the coffees he saw Delia down there.”

  “Why would she be here? Especially this late?” Emily looked up at Colin.

  “Remember I told you Jerry Banderas was in the hospital,” Isabel replied. “I’m guessing it has something to do with him. I wonder if he took a turn for the worse.”

  “Can you check on him?” Emily asked.

  “I’m not family, but maybe I can play the FBI card and wrangle some details out of the nurse.”

  ~*~

  Isabel took the elevator to the fourth floor. An older, heavy-set African-American nurse was reviewing papers on her desk when Isabel strode up to the counter.

  “Good evening, ma’am.”

  The woman peered at Isabel over the top of the glasses sitting low on her broad nose. “Hello, may I help you?”

  “I’d like to check on Jerry Banderas. Would it be possible for me to see him?”

  “Sorry, no.” She shook
her head. “It’s way past visiting hours, dear, and I’m quite certain he’s asleep. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.” She returned her gaze to the papers on the desk in front of her.

  “Can you at least tell me how he’s doing?”

  “Are you family?” she asked, not bothering to look up.

  “No, but—”

  The woman raised her eyes and peered at her again over her rims. “I’m sorry, but I can’t give out that information if you’re not family.”

  Isabel slapped her FBI badge down on the raised counter a little harder than she intended, causing the woman to jump in her seat.

  “Sorry, ma’am, but this is important. I’m with the FBI and I need to question him regarding a case.” It may not have been an FBI case, but it was an open police case.

  The hefty nurse stood to her feet, placed her hands on her desk and leaned forward, staring into Isabel’s face. “That kind of bullying might work on other people, young lady, but it doesn’t fly with me. You either come back tomorrow during normal visiting hours or you bring me a warrant.”

  “Can you at least tell me if his daughter was here earlier?” Isabel toned down her attitude.

  “Like I said, warrant.”

  Isabel backed away from the nurse’s station, clipping her badge back onto her belt. “I’ll see you in the morning, then.” She headed to the elevator and pushed the button, keeping one eye on the nurse. While waiting for the doors to open, she noticed the nurse was called away to one of the rooms in the opposite direction from Jerry’s room. Once she was out of sight, Isabel snuck down to Jerry’s room. “Stop me now, Nurse Krachit.”

  Finding room four twelve, Isabel slowly pushed open the door. The room was dark except for the dim nightlight plugged into one of the walls.

  “Jerry,” Isabel whispered, walking nearer to his bed. “Are you awake?”

  He did not respond.

  “Jerry,” she tried again. He moaned something indiscernible. She hoped in a half-asleep state that he might be unguarded and candid with her. She walked to the side of his bed and gently shook his shoulder. “Jerry.”

  “Go away, nurse. Let me sleep,” He mumbled and shrugged one shoulder, his eyes still closed.

  “Jerry, it’s Isabel. Wake up. I need to talk to you.”