Visions Of The Past

by Elizabeth Mahood

  “So, what exactly is happening here?” Cade asked. Agent Hardy pulled him aside.

  “We think there is a sale going on tonight.” Hardy stated. Cade eyed him curiously.

  “Are we talking human sale, as in trafficking?” Cade asked, feeling nauseous. Hardy nodded.

  “We got intel from an informant that a big prize was being offered and the highest bidders would be here. If we are lucky, we can catch them in the act.” Hardy stated. His phone pinged and he looked at his incoming text. “Shit, our spotter just saw a van coming up the county road with what looked like a load of females. He couldn’t tell how many from his position but it looked like it was full. It should be in range any minute.” Hardy stated. They all turned to see a van moving towards the back entrance to the main building of the query. Agent Hardy handed Cade a pair of binoculars and as he peered through them the van doors opened and several men with guns ushered young girls out of the van and into the building. The doors closed and the driver left and the thugs followed the girls inside.

  “What the fuck is going on in there?” Cade said. He handed the binoculars back to Agent Hardy.

  “We are going to wait for the Boss to arrive and then we go. If we don’t, those girls will disappear and we will never find them.” Hardy stated. Cade nodded and felt fear thinking about Ellie being inside. He knew she could handle herself, but who knew what kind of situation she was in or if she was even alive. No, he couldn’t think that way and besides, he could still feel her. He felt her life force. He thought about that for a moment and excused himself back to his car. He slid inside and pretended to be on his radio but instead he closed his eyes.

  “Ellie, I don’t know if you can hear me like this and I feel like I’m on one of Megan’s weird science fiction movies but, if you can feel me, send me a sign that you are ok. Please Ellie. I love you honey and I’m here.” He said, feeling wetness in his eyes. He wanted to hold her, kiss her soft lips, feel her lovely skin and smell her flowery shampoo in her hair. He started feel foolish when he felt warmth spread through him, a flash of Ellie’s smile and her energy bounced around in his head like a bullet. He felt his heart beat faster and closed his eyes.

  “That’s my girl. I got you.” He took another breath and got back out of his car. Once back with the task force team, he took his position next to Agent Hardy and waited.

  ✽✽✽

  Ellie sat in her prison and waited for Brody to come back. He had showed her a few things to help her be as submissive as possible but she was one of the least submissive people she knew. She spoke her mind and told it like it was. The only person she had ever been submissive to was Cade. Brody told her to act like he was a bossy boyfriend but Cade wasn’t bossy. Demanding in the bedroom, yes but she liked that. Protective, absolutely but never mean or authoritative with her. She thought about what he was going through and if he was searching for her. Of course he was, he wouldn’t stop until he found her. A sudden energy burst hit her like a brick and she felt like she was going to faint. She had been pacing and stopped to lean against the wall with her hand. Cade. He was here. She could feel him, but where? He was worried about her; something was happening and he was scared.

  “I love you Cade. Please be careful. These people aren’t playing around. I’m ok. I trust you.” She said out loud. She heard footsteps outside her door and took a deep breath. Time for the show. Brody opened the door without knocking and grabbed her arm.

  “Let’s go.” He said loudly. When they stepped outside of her room, Darius was with Brody walking along the same corridor they had walked before. She hung her head and walked along as though she could barely stand.

  “What’s wrong with her? She’s awfully quiet.” Darius stated with a smirk.

  “I had to teach her who was boss. She knows now!!” Brody stated in an impassive tone. Ellie rolled her eyes but remained submissive.

  “Why do you get to fuck her and we can’t? You aren’t special.” Darius stated, shoving past her knocking her into Brody. As he passed, he rubbed his hands over her bottom. Brody pulled her flush to him.

  “Who said I fucked her, I just said I taught her to know who is boss. What did I say about touching her?” He thrust Ellie aside and pulled a gun on Darius, backing him up against the wall. The barrel of his gun was pushed up against Darius’s head and the man was visibly shaking. “Touch her again and I will blow your fucking head off. You got it? I am going to fetch a great price for her ass and I don’t want it touched by some piece of shit low life. You hear me?” Brody stated. Ellie kept her head down and silently thanked Brody for the protection. She decided she never wanted Brody on her bad side ever again. He pulled his gun back, put it back in his holster, grabbed her arm and started leading back down the corridor. Darius followed behind them but didn’t say another word. This time when they stopped her turned her to him, lifted her chin to look at him and pinned her against the door.

  “You fuck this up for me and I will let him have you.” Brody stated, nodding his head towards Darius. She swallowed hard, nodded and turned her eyes back down like he had taught her. “Good girl. Let’s go.” He said, pushing through the door. When they entered, there was a line of other females standing in front of her and she saw them turn around to look at her. They were all in their teens, skinny, wearing barely anything and all glaring at her. Why were they mad at her? Brody pushed her forward and around the girls to stand in front of them. Ellie resisted the urge to look up to see if her father was still in the room, instead, she used her mind.

  “Daddy, if you are still in the room, thank you for saving me earlier.” She thought. She heard a door open and close and everything went silent. “Do what you are told for once Elinora, I can only do so much.” She heard in her mind. Her father had opened his mind to her enough to lecture her but he was warning her. She would heed his warning unless she saw a way to escape. She would get out of here to see Cade again.

  “Gentlemen.” Said a female voice. The voice sounded familiar but she couldn’t put a face with the voice. “I see we have our prize as the first bid of the night. Let me see your face.” She said. Brody nudged her and Ellie brought her head up to look into the eyes of…Edith Dingle? The secretary at the high school? “Surprised? Didn’t expect a lowly secretary to be in charge of one of the largest sex trafficking rings in the United States? Who would suspect the elderly kind Mrs. Dingle?” She said, eyes cold and menacing.

  “Why?” Ellie said. Brody moved in front of her and slapped her across the face.

  “Eyes down, mouth shut bitch. You talk when I tell you to and don’t ask questions.” Brody said on a growl. Ellie pulled herself back up to a standing position.

  “Yes…yes sir.” She said, anger emanating through her. When she got out of this, she was going to punch Brody right in the face. He moved back behind her.

  “She needs a little training but she’s gold. Her body is exquisite and she does everything.” Brody stated. Ellie hated him talking about her that way but she knew it was an act.

  “You have done well; you have tamed the good Pastor’s daughter when he couldn’t manage to beat her spirit out of her. Her sister was much easier to train.” Mrs. Dingle stated. A side door opened and Ellie heard footsteps and then a gasp. Ellie raised her head enough to see a woman walk through the door with several gentlemen in tow but had stopped when she caught sight of Ellie. It was Allison.

  “Allie.” She whispered. Brody grabbed her hair and pulled it back making her cry out. Allison moved to walk forward but then stopped, looked towards the group at the table and bowed her head.

  “The buyers are here madame.” She said. She gave one quick glance to Ellie then scooted out the door and disappeared. Ellie couldn’t breathe. Her sister was alive.

  “Gentlemen, this is Elinora Ridley, FBI profiler, doctor of Psychology and home town girl. Take a look and see if she is what you like, touch, feel, and then make a bid. Mr. Brody. Thank you for bringing us the prize. Your money will be in your account once
the sale is complete. You will be contacted for your next assignment.” She said, basically dismissing him. Brody didn’t move.

  “I have trained her madame. I would like to put in a bid as well.” He said softly. Mrs. Dingle watched him.

  “The help is not authorized to mingle with the merchandise, but I can put you in contact with one of my associates that could find you someone even better and younger.” She said. Darius was next to him smiling.

  “This way, sir.” He said glaring at Brody. Brody turned her to him, pulled her close as if hugging her.

  “Hold tight. I’m bringing in the cavalry.” He whispered. He pulled back and shoved her face sideways.

  “It’s been nice sweetheart. Good luck with them and do as you are told. It will go much easier for you.” He turned and walked out. Ellie felt her heart beating out of her chest. She turned back around to face the group.

  “You can have me, do what you want, let my sister go.” Ellie begged. She looked to her father who looked just as surprised as she was that his daughter had been in the hands of his so-called friends this whole time. Mrs. Dingle laughed.

  “She is one of us now. She has nothing waiting for her on the outside and after all, no man will want her now after she’s had so many. Especially that dirty savage Beartree.” Mrs. Dingle said with a look of disgust on her face. “Gentlemen.” The men in suits moved forward and Darius came up behind her and tugged her shirt and skirt off of her leaving her bare in front of the entire room. She closed her eyes and men in suits approached her, touched her skin, felt her breasts and turned her face from one side to the next. She wanted to throw up, she felt dirty and disgusted. The last man finished his inspection and then stepped back into the line with the others. Mrs. Dingle smiled.

  “let the bidding begin.” Ellie was in big trouble.

  ✽✽✽

  Cade saw a man emerge from the back side of the query building. It was Brody.

  “Agent Hardy.” Cade said quietly.

  “I see him. Let me handle this.” He said moving quietly down the road. Cade watched as Brody pulled out his phone. Cade’s phone lit up.

  “What the fuck did you do to my girl.” Cade stated as he answered.

  “I can explain later but you all better get in there. I know you are here, so take the building. They are about to sell her off to the highest bidder. I tried to stay but they kicked me out.” Brody stated. He watched Hardy approach Brody and the two stepped over to Brody’s car. He saw them arguing and then a signal from Hardy made Cade move.

  The rest of the tact team followed until they got to the edge of the building.

  “Sit rep.” Cade said to Hardy to joined him with Brody.

  “Brody has been under cover trying to work this trafficking ring for a year. I guess I wasn’t informed which I will deal with ASAC about later but, right now, we have to get inside.” Hardy stated.

  “Who is in there?” Cade asked.

  “The leader is Edith Dingle. You know her?” Brody asked. Cade shook his head.

  “The school secretary. I can’t believe it. Who else?” Cade asked still reeling from the fact that the sweet old Mrs. Dingle was the madame of the trafficking ring.

  “Your Chief Deputy, Pastor Ridley, Bruce Beemer and Jeff England. Darius Taylor is a minion and several other men mingling around the basement with weapons. Another thing Cade, Nora’s sister is working with them. Maybe not by choice but she brought the men in who are buying the ladies.” He stated.

  “What the fuck? She must be brainwashed then.” Cade stated. “Anything else we need to know?” Cade asked.

  “I…so I was playing a role. The role of delivery boy of a high-priced commodity. I had to make it look real for both of our sake.” Brody stated, looking extremely uncomfortable. Cade moved forward and grabbed Brody by the collar.

  “What the fuck did you do, did you put your hands on my girl?” Cade asked. Agent Hardy stepped in between.

  “Enough, he can explain later.” Hardy stated. Brody shook off Cade’s hands but continued to look apologetic.

  “Look she agreed. It was the only way to keep us both alive. They don’t keep the ones who are disobedient, but we don’t have a lot of time. They were bidding on her when I was kicked out of the room.” Brody stated. They all geared up and headed for the back door, Brody in the front. Hardy stopped them with a hand in the air.

  “Cade, get your girl, tact team, get the other girls and the buyers, Agents, you are responsible for apprehending the suspects, all of them. Everyone is guilty until we can interrogate all of them.” Hardy stated.

  They moved inside and headed down a cement corridor. There were rooms on each side and Cade wondered if this was where they kept the girls who obeyed until they were shipped off. The tact team started opening and closing doors and whispers could be heard through the head pieces of the tact team telling the girls it was ok and they were here to be rescued. A hallway led to the left and Brody put up a hand.

  “That’s where the men who came to buy the girls came from and Nora’s sister. There must be more rooms and another entrance.” He stated. A few of the FBI agents broke off and headed that direction while Cade, Brody and Hardy stopped at the double doors. Hardy held up his hand to wait.

  “Sold, to the gentleman in the blue suit. You may claim your prize.” Said a woman’s voice from the other side. Cade wasn’t waiting any longer.

  “COPS!!!” Someone yelled. Cade saw a line of young girls scatter and another woman standing in front of a long table in only a flimsy skirt and no top. He rushed forward but saw a man grab her by the arm and tug her out the side door.

  “ELLIE!!” He yelled. He watched her head swing towards him and her eyes widened.

  “CADE!!” She screamed as she disappeared around the corner. He pushed people aside and at the moment didn’t give a shit about arrests or sorting out the girls The FEDS could worry about that. His concern at the moment was Ellie.

  He moved into the hallway and a woman stepped out of a room. She had dark raven hair and had Ellie’s eyes.

  “Go after my sister. That bastard has her and he does not have good intentions.” The woman said

  “You must be Allison. Go find Agent Hardy. I will get your sister.” Cade stated. She nodded and then Cade followed the corridor and found himself outside. He heard a scream and headed into the woods.

  “I’m coming baby.”

  Chapter 34

  Darius drug Ellie through the woods by the arm. She could feel the bruising as he dug his fingers into her skin. He had his gun plunged into her side as they walked through the snow. She could feel the freezing temperatures numbing her skin as they walked.

  “Why me Darius? I was just a little girl.” Ellie said with a sob. Darius laughed.

  “Leslie Cooper was a slut. We had a good thing going until your brother decided to play the hero when she found out she was pregnant. She turned him down and your brother ran off like a coward. After that she didn’t want to have anything to do with us and one night after she had the baby, she went to the church to talk to your father about finding Alex and changing her mind. Pastor Ridley wasn’t in the office and we decided to teach that bitch a lesson once and for all. You came to the door and was standing there watching as we took her over and over. Jeff, he always did like it a little rough and wrapped a cloth around her neck and the bitch choked to death. Your father came in, screamed at you to go home and then he prayed with us, took Leslie and we dumped her in that grave with all the other bitches who wouldn’t comply.” Darius monologued like he was proud of what he had done. Ellie didn’t hear much anymore. Her mind started to drift and the fog started to cover her eyes. She was about to go into a vision and she couldn’t stop it. She heard Darius scream.

  “Get the fuck up. What the fuck is wrong with you?” Then she was back in that church.

  “No need for all of you to ruin your futures over this girl and her disobedience. You will have to work off your debts but it will stay right here, Pasto
r, parishioner confidentiality.” Ellie felt herself peeking through the crack of the door. Suddenly she was in the forest watching them through Leslie into a deep pit on top of other girls. “Your next” She heard a voice say. She turned around and Darius was pushing her to the ground.

  “I will have my way with you and then I will dump you in there where you belong.” He stated, shoving his knee between her legs and holding her arms above her head. Ellie spit in his face.

  “Fuck you Darius. You are just a fucking pawn in my father’s games.” Ellie stated vehemently. Darius pulled back and back handed her making her see stars. Brody had barely hit her and it had stung, but Darius had used his full force and she felt her lip split. He ripped her shirt and her breasts were exposed since she had been braless in the trafficking room.

  “I have been waiting for this for years. You should never have come back. Thanks to you, Blain is dead.” He back handed her again and her eye felt like it instantly was swelling. He leaned down and put a breast in his mouth and she thrust and moved beneath him to try and get away.

  “NOOOO!!” She screamed. He slapped a hand over her mouth holding both of her arms with one hand. Terror ripped through her as the memory of what Terrance had done started flooding back into her mind. She couldn’t breathe, tears spilled down her face. A branch snapped behind them and it made Darius loosen his grip just enough for her to dislodge him. She bolted into the trees but a few steps in, she tripped and rolled down into a massive hole. She felt her ribs break and she was pretty sure she had a concussion. She looked up and saw Darius standing at the top of the hole.

  “Fuck it, you aren’t worth it.” He said. Suddenly, dirt started flying down on top of her and she started to panic. It was just like her vision. She tried to scramble up but her ribs hurt and she felt dizzy. She felt back to the bottom and the dirt started getting into her mouth.

  “FREEZE.” She heard. A gun went off and then another. Ellie tried to push the dirt off of her and crawl towards the side of the hole. The next thing she saw was Cade’s face at the top with his hand stretched out.