Visions Of The Past

by Elizabeth Mahood

  “What about my customers? Who will run this place? I’m an old woman.” She protested. Cade’s deputies met him on the sidewalk.

  “No cyanide sir. We searched the entire place plus her apartment.” His deputy reported. Cade nodded.

  “Ok. Take her to the station and put her in holding.” Cade stated. The deputy looked uneasy about arresting an elderly woman but Cade gave him his best “you better not question me” look and the deputy nodded. Cade’s phone lit up.

  “Masterson.” He answered.

  “Hey, it’s Agent Hardy. We got a hit on Brody’s car. It’s out at the query.” Hardy said. Cade felt his stomach turn.

  “The query? Ok, I have one place I have to go first and then I’ll join you out there. Send me the coordinates for the meet up.” Cade stated and then hung up. He drove a few blocks until he pulled up in front of the Rainbow House Shelter. Cade walked up to the front door and rang the bell. It was 4 pm and he was sure Mrs. Beemer would still be there. Her minion answered the speaker.

  “Yes.” She said in a clipped tone.

  “I need to speak with Mrs. Beemer.” Cade stated, not being as nice this time.

  “You can’t get in here without a warrant.” She said with arrogance. Cade held up a piece of paper to the camera. He heard the door buzz and click as he was allowed access. Once inside, he moved through the door towards the back and the woman tried to stop him.

  “Out of my way or I will arrest you.” Cade said. The woman had the good sense to back down. He moved towards the back of the shelter to find Mrs. Beemer heading towards him. Apparently, her minion had warned her that he was there.

  “You can’t just come barging into my shelter. I don’t care if you have a warrant or not. I have families and women to protect. She put her hand up like she was going to stop him and he pushed passed her.

  “Mrs. Beemer, I have a warrant to search this entire shelter and take anyone into custody that I feel is a suspect in a crime.” Cade stated turning around and facing her. She put her hand on her hips.

  “And just what kind of crime do you think has been committed here?” She asked trying to sound authoritative.

  “Trafficking.” Cade said. He left that word hanging in the air and watched her pale.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. We help people who have been abused or have nowhere else to go.” She said trying to sound confident but failing.

  “That’s not all you do here is it. You know what girls are here, you gain their confidence and promise them a better life. Then, you send them off to be sex slaves.” Cade said with disgust. She flinched and pushed passed him towards her office.

  “You don’t know what you are talking about Sheriff. I help people.” She said angrily. She started packing up a purse and grabbing her coat.

  “I’m taking you into the station.” Cade stated, stepping forward with a fresh pair of handcuffs.

  “For what, what evidence do you have. You can’t just arrest me on false charges.” She said backing away from him.

  “All the girls we found in that mass grave with your daughter, came through this shelter then all of a sudden disappeared. I hear you are in the business of helping young girls disappear, like Allison Ridley.” He said. She stopped moving and her eyes flicked to his.

  “Helen told you. That bitch. You don’t understand.” Mrs. Beemer protested and for once Cade saw real fear.

  “Help me understand because right now, you are our lead suspect and will go to jail if you don’t start telling me what’s going on.” Cade said. He watched her close her eyes and swallow. She nodded and he closed the door.

  “My daughter, she was loose, I know she was with several boys at the school but one of them had captured her heart. She told me she was in love with him and wanted to run away. Then she got raped and Bruce I…we wanted to wash our hands of her. Then she found out she was pregnant and wanted to keep the baby. We were against it. She was raped and had no idea who the father was, or at least that’s what she told us. She had the baby and one night I get a call from Pastor Ridley telling me that she had gone to the church to confess and be absolved of her sins. We told him to handle it anyway he wanted and we wanted nothing to do with her. The next morning, we found the baby on our door step and Leslie never came back.” She said flatly. Cade felt his heart in his throat. Had Thomas Ridley killed Leslie? All the evidence was starting to point that way but he had help.

  “What happened to Allison Ridley?” Cade asked. Mrs. Beemer ran a hand over her face and then looked at Cade.

  “Helen called me and asked if I knew how to help young ladies disappear from an abusive parent. When she told me who it was, I felt like it was my chance to get back at him for sending our daughter away and leaving us with a granddaughter. I…I love my granddaughter and don’t ever want to see her harmed but it ruined our lives. It was the gossip of the town for years.” Mrs. Beemer stated. Cade shook his head.

  “Yeah, I can see that being a real hardship, I mean your daughter was raped. How dare she want to make better choices for herself like raise her child with a person she loved. Mrs. Beemer, the person she was in love with was Alex Ridley, Allison and Nora’s brother.” Cade said. He wanted to tell her about Pastor Ridley but he didn’t want to tip his hand. “What happened to Allision?” He asked again.

  “Two gentlemen showed up here and got the list of the new girls to be transported and I added Elinora to the list. It wasn’t supposed to be Allison; I truly was going to help her escape because Thomas Ridley is a monster. He abused his kids.” She said, trying to look harsh.

  “Why her?” Cade asked. “Why Nora?” He said, trying not to think about how scared she probably was at that very moment.

  “I knew she was a problem; I knew that no one would miss her. Allison was sweet and kind, Elinore was weird and had the same damn visions that her grandmother had. I couldn’t afford for her to find out what was going on. They weren’t supposed to take both girls. I don’t know how Elinora got away. Probably those damn visions.” She said. Ellie’s visions had saved her that night. It had allowed her time to get away and for Cade to find her climbing out of that hole. Cade handed her the warrant.

  “I have permission from the judge to search these premises. Make it easy on yourself and on me and tell me if you have cyanide on the property. Just so you know, that warrant also includes your house and car so if you lie to me, I will find it.” Cade stated. She swallowed.

  “I…that is, we have some at home. We had mice a few years ago and Bruce bought some to kill them off.” She was pale and shaking. “Why?” Cade moved forward once again with the handcuffs.

  “Mrs. Kathrine Beemer, you are under arrest for the murder of Mrs. Greta Ridley, conspiracy to traffic and kidnapping of Elinora and Allison Ridley.” Cade continued to tell read her rights and slapped on the handcuffs. As he escorted her through the shelter, she told her minion at the front to call her lawyer. The minion glared at him as he walked passed.

  “If you have any knowledge of what has transpired here, you might want a lawyer as well.” Cade stated. He watched the woman pale and sit back down in her seat. Just as he was about to get her to his squad car, his phone lit up.

  “Masterson.” Cade said.

  “Hey, it’s Agent Hardy, sending you the coordinates now.” Cade reached in and grabbed his mic.

  “Dispatch this is the Sheriff.” He said and then waited. He placed Mrs. Beemer in the car who was seething.

  “Go ahead Sheriff.”

  “I need a squad car at the Rainbow House Shelter asap. I have a suspect that needs transported.” He stated. A few seconds later the radio crackled.

  “Sheriff, we have Eric on the way. ETA 5 min. Out.” The dispatch operator stated.

  “Roger.”

  A few minutes later, Deputy Eric Walters rolled up and took possession of Mrs. Beemer.

  “Put her in lock up with her buddy. They can chit chat about how they are going to get out of this mess.” Cade stated mo
ving around to the other side of his car.

  “I’m coming baby, just hold on.” Cade stated as he drove towards the query.

  Chapter 32

  Ellie’s lip was swollen and before Brody had taken her out of her room, he had slugged her in the eye causing her eye to swell shut. She hoped Brody was really on her side because otherwise she had just let him punch her around for his pleasure. He had seemed uncomfortable doing it but he had also seemed like an asshole when she had first met him. They walked down the corridor towards a large set of double doors and then stopped.

  “Ok, don’t forget, you hate me. I am your worst nightmare. If we don’t pull this off, we are both dead. Don’t be surprised at who you see in this room tonight. You might know a lot of them. I want you to look surprised and as caught off guard as you can be. Got it?” He asked. She nodded and swallowed hard. Her heart was beating out of her chest and she felt extremely exposed with no bra and no underwear. He opened the door and shoved her through so hard she landed on the ground. When she looked up, she was in a large carpeted room with a long wooden table in front of her. Several people sat at the table including her father who looked, upset, concerned, surprised perhaps. Bruce Beemer was also sitting at the table along with Deputy Chief Rogers, who looked wasted and along the wall, Darius Taylor and Jeff England stood with their arms crossed, both with smirks on their faces.

  “Where is your boss?” Brody asked in a menacing voice. Bruce nodded towards Ellie.

  “This little one has been a problem for a long time. Good job finally reigning her in.” He said licking his lips. He got up and moved around the table towards her. “She is a little old, but I’m sure she will appeal to someone.” He stopped in front of her as she glared up at him from her knees. He pulled back and slapped her hard, throwing her to the ground in pain.

  “You won’t fetch any kind of price if she’s bruised and beaten.” She heard her father say. Bruce laughed.

  “That’s ironic coming from you Pastor Ridley. I heard what kind of punishments you like to hand out to your daughter.” He reached down and lifted her bruised and now bleeding face towards him. He moved her face back and forth. “Looks like our new friend here has already had to teach her a lesson.” He stood abruptly and moved back behind the table. “I want to see the goods before I let the boss know we are ready. The buyers will be here in an hour so I want her cleaned up before that.” He sat back down and nodded towards Brody. Brody moved in front of her gave her a grim look, then reached out and pulled her camisole down exposing her breasts. Her breath caught then she tried to cover herself up. Brody shoved her hands aside and moved her in front of the group of men. She turned and spit on him and Brody back handed her. Everyone laughed except her father who had looked away. God she was getting tired of being punched.

  “Not interested in what your daughter has to offer Pastor? You liked what you saw in my daughter well enough, so did your son.” Bruce said cryptically. Ellie felt Brody pull her arms behind her back to push her breasts out. She saw Darius and Jeff lick their lips. Darius pushed off the wall and moved in front of her. He reached out to touch her breast but Brody slapped his hand.

  “Don’t touch the goods. You are not a buyer.” Brody stated. Darius sent Brody a chilling look.

  “You touch me again and I’ll fucking rip your heart out.” He said. Brody huffed.

  “Not likely. You all have seen enough. I brought you what you wanted, now I want to meet the boss. My counterparts are eager to get involved in your trade. I don’t report to them unless I meet your superior.” He stated. Bruce looked Ellie up and down.

  “I want to see the rest.” Bruce stated.

  “You molested your daughter didn’t you.” Ellie said. She had remained quiet this whole time. She couldn’t keep quiet anymore. Bruce glared at her.

  “Shut your mouth whore. You don’t speak to me. Brody, you better keep your girl in check or I’ll have the good Pastor here teach her a lesson. She probably hasn’t had a good beating since she left home.” Bruce stated. The rest of the men laughed. Ellie felt something in her mind, her father. She felt fear, anger and…love? That wasn’t possible. Her father had never shown anything but hatred and contempt for her since she could remember. She felt the warmth again and flicked her eyes his way. It wasn’t possible. Bruce shook his head.

  “Brody, skirt now!!!” Bruce said. Ellie felt Brody tense but then his hands were on her hips. She was shaking.

  “STOP.” Her father said, standing. “Enough.” He turned to look at Bruce. “I think you have seen enough. You got her, now leave her for the customer.” He said. Bruce stood and faced her father.

  “You don’t make the rules here Pastor. We own you and you know it. One wrong move and the Sheriff will know exactly what you did and so will the entire town of Badger Falls. You had your wife committed just so no one would find out your big bad secret. You will keep doing your job and breaking those lovely girls and let us handle your daughters.” Bruce stated. Ellie had caught what he said and so had her father.

  “Daughters? You have Allison?” Her father said breathlessly. Bruce paled and Ellie realized he had just made a mistake. Brody must have caught it as well because he loosened his grip.

  “I’m done. I’m taking her back to her room for punishment for spitting on me and then I will bring her back when the boss gets here and not a minute sooner. Anyone tries to touch her, they die.” He stated.

  “Where is my sister?” Ellie screamed. Brody slapped a hand over her mouth, grabbed her shirt off the floor and pulled her out of the room. He didn’t let go until they reached her prison and he flung her inside. He tossed her shirt at her and scowled.

  “What the fuck Nora, I told you to keep your mouth shut. Are you trying to get killed?” He said running his hands through his hair. “You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into.” Ellie drew her shirt on and started pacing.

  “Then why don’t you enlighten me because from what I can see, Bruce Beemer runs some kind of a trafficking ring and has had my father working for him and they have had my sister the whole time.” She stated, shaking from head to toe.

  “He isn’t in charge. He is the muscle; they have rooms here in the query for the girls but they don’t stay long. I don’t know where your sister is but they are expecting a shipment of girls tonight and you are the top prize. The boss will be here tonight and this was my last chance to get them to trust me. They have some secret on pretty much everyone in the room and they do their bidding in order to stay out of jail.” Brody stated. Ellie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Badger Falls was a small town in the middle of Wisconsin. How could something like this happen? She would expect it somewhere like Seattle, Milwaukee or Chicago, not the heart of America.

  “We need to get out of her, I need to talk to Cade.” Ellie said on a sob. Brody shook his head.

  “No, we can’t involve him, not yet. I need to get the information and give it to my boss so we can move on this. It’s much bigger than just here. The girls are brought in, moved out. The buyers use the girls to buy guns and drugs in bigger areas and then money is used to buy more girls. It’s a huge problem and Badger Falls? It is the epicenter of the syndicate.” Brody stated. He stopped to look at her.

  “I’m sorry I had to hit you, good show spitting on me though.” He said. She sat on the bed and put her head in her hands.

  “I left Seattle to get away from this kind of shit and here I am, about to be sold off to the highest bidder.” Ellie stated then looked up at Brody. “So, what now?” She asked. Brody sat down next to her.

  “Now, the buyers will come in and bid on what girls they want, those they don’t…” He said ending his sentence. She swallowed.

  “They kill.” She finished for him. She thought about that night she was taken. Those girls were set to be sold off and the girls in the grave had not been chosen. Her sister.

  “They have my sister. She’s alive.” Ellie said. Brody nodded.

  “I guess so.
I caught that too but that was a mistake. Your father rattled him.” Brody stated. Ellie shook her head.

  “I don’t know why. My father hates me. I don’t know why he decided to protect me this time.” Ellie said with a scoff.

  “You are still his daughter. No one would want to see their daughter in that way unless they are sick bastards.” Brody stated. Ellie thought of Bruce’s statement.

  “He was molesting his step daughter, that’s why she was so promiscuous with the younger boys at the school. I wonder if his wife knows?” Ellie stated. Brody stood and turned around looking at his watch.

  “Right now, we have a show to put on. You have to act as though I roughed you up and taught you a lesson. I really don’t want to hit you again. Can you act defeated and broken? I know that isn’t you but you will get yourself killed if you fight back. The submissive girls get bids, not the smart mouths. They get dead.” Brody stated, crossing his arms. Ellie took a deep breath.

  “What do you need me to do?”

  Chapter 33

  Cade pulled up behind Agent Hardy’s car and got out. He donned his bullet proof vest and ensured he had enough ammunition and an extra weapon that he slid in his ankle holster. He walked up to a group of FBI agents, Badger Falls Police Department and several of his deputies.

  “What’s going on?” Cade asked as Agent Hardy turned to face him.

  “We have multiple vehicles entering the facility, none of which have anything to do with the rock query. Men in business suits entering the main office then not coming out including Chief Deputy Rogers.” Hardy stated looking pointedly at Cade. He understood and he felt hurt that he had once trusted Hank to have his back.

  “Any sign of Brody or Ellie?” Cade asked. Agent Hardy shook his head.

  “His car is here but no sign of either of them.” Hardy stated. Cade sighed. He needed Ellie, he needed her energy and strength. He had been running on pure adrenalin the last few hours and he didn’t know how much more he could handle. He had no choice if he was going to find her.