Chapter 38
“Man, these are some fancy threads.” Moran smoothed a hand down the sleeve of his suit jacket. “I still can’t believe that tailor worked so fast.”
“Gotta dress the part to fool the Powells and their goons.” Max strapped a Rolex to his wrist. “It helped that I’d already bought three suits from him. He was more than willing to work overtime to make two more for you and Dean.”
Sam handed an in-ear earpiece to Moran. “We’ll be on comms the entire time.”
“So long as they haven’t scrambled communications.” Dean took an earpiece and put it in his ear.
“Hopefully, they still think they’re flying under the radar.” Sam handed the last one to Max. “You each have a camera, though, so at least we’ll have footage of the event Moran can use in court later.” They’d opted for some small tie-tack cameras with a built in micro-SD backup. It would transmit real-time video as well as record it on the card in case the signal was cut.
Moran adjusted his tie tack, straightening it. “Poppy said she doesn’t think they scan for bugs, and that the men use their phones throughout the auction. It’s only weapons they look for. We should be good.”
“Are we ready?” Dean tugged on his jacket. Straightening it over his broad shoulders.
“I think so.” Audra glanced at Jessica. “Are you picking up signals from all of their equipment?”
Dorset nodded. “Yep. We’re good.” She closed her laptop. “Let’s roll.”
They left their hotel through a side entrance and piled into Max’s rented SUV. They’d left the utility truck parked around the corner from the warehouse. Max would drop Sam, Audra, and Jessica off there, then continue to the auction site with Dean and Dominick. Another FBI surveillance van and several undercover state trooper units were waiting in the area, ready to swoop in to make arrests once their team had all the evidence needed to shut down the ring. Moran had done his best to limit who knew about the plan to people he trusted.
The drive to the van was a short one. In minutes, they were installed inside. Jessica hooked up the camera and audio feeds to her monitors, and they each took a seat in front of one.
“Here we go,” Sam muttered as Max pulled up to the gate. Mentally, he crossed his fingers and toes that the invitation Asher stole from their system would hold up.
Max flashed his phone screen at the guard.
The man took the phone and glanced at it, then peered into the car. “Who are your friends? This invitation is for you.”
“No one said I couldn’t bring my buddies. We all have certain… tastes, shall we say? And deep pockets. Your bosses won’t be disappointed that I brought them.”
The guard studied them once more, then handed the phone back. He stepped back and waved at someone out of view. Max rolled up the window and drove through.
“Bleck,” Max said. “I feel dirty having uttered those words.”
“Yeah, well, we’re about to feel even dirtier.” Dean took off his seatbelt as Max pulled up to the entrance.
Putting the car in park, they all got out. Max handed the keys to a valet and approached the door. Another guard scanned them for weapons, then waved them in. They entered into a long hallway that had been constructed with heavy black cloth and metal poles. Fairy lights lined the corridor, leading them down to the lounge Poppy mentioned. Inside, men in expensive suits milled around, sipping cocktails and champagne. Women in barely there dresses wandered the room with trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Sam heard Audra gasp as they saw one of the guests snake a hand under one of the server’s skirts and palm her butt. The woman let out a tinkling giggle, but the pinched expression on her face told him what she really thought of the move. He couldn’t help but wonder how many of these women were stolen ones whom Simon and Geoffrey “rescued” for their own gain.
“Split up and mingle,” Moran said. “Get as many faces on camera as you can.” He lifted a glass from one of the server’s trays and walked away.
Max and Dean did the same.
“Good evening, Mr. von Ribbentrop.”
Sam leaned forward as a man approached Max.
“Hello.”
The man extended a hand. “I’m Geoffrey Powell.”
Max shook his hand. “Hi. Heinrich. You can call me Rich.”
Sam snorted. Leave it to Max to find a way around a false name he didn’t like.
“Thanks for the last-minute invitation. Our latest business trip was grueling. The next one doesn’t look like it’ll be much better. It’ll be nice to have a way to unwind right on hand.”
“Yes, my guards told me you brought a couple of friends along. For future reference, we don’t normally allow that sort of thing without advance notice. Security protocol. You understand?”
“Of course. My apologies. I appreciate that you let them in this time.”
“Yes, well, I did my due diligence on you. You have deep pockets, so I’m expecting you to bid often and well.”
“I pay for quality merchandise, Mr. Powell.”
“We have that, I assure you.”
“I don’t suppose you’d let me take a peek, would you? Since I missed the preview night?”
Geoffrey tipped his head. “I suppose we could do that. Gather your friends and meet me by the bar.” He walked away.
“Yuck,” Max muttered.
“Yuck, indeed,” Jessica said.
“I do not want to watch this.” Audra pressed her fingers to her eyes, then blinked several times. “Human trafficking was not what I signed up for with this op. Liam’s never been in the flesh trade, from what our intel said.”
“I guess he’s branching out,” Jessica replied.
“I still haven’t seen anyone I recognize.”
“The night’s still young.” Sam shifted in his seat. “It doesn’t look like everyone is there yet.”
“No. It’s cocktail hour.” Audra wrinkled her nose, disgust dripping off her words.
Max walked up to Dean and poked him in the shoulder. “Come on.” He led him away, and together, they found Dominick.
“What are we doing?” Moran asked.
“Geoffrey offered us a tour of the merchandise.”
“Great,” Dean grumbled.
“Quit your bitching, Bernard. It gives us a lay of the land for the raid,” Max said.
“I’m going to kill Asher when we get back.”
“I’ll help you.”
They reached the bar, where Geoffrey was waiting.
The older man smiled. “Introduce me to your friends.”
“Of course. This is Bernie and Manny.”
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Geoffrey. This way.” He turned and led them through a door in the wall behind the bar.
The music and chatter from the party faded as they entered the darkened warehouse.
“Excuse the mess. We run a legitimate business out of here as well. Have to keep up the front to keep the cops away.” Geoffrey chuckled. “Though a few well-placed bribes help with that as well.”
Jessica shook her head. “So many people are going down. I can’t wait.”
“So you have a fairly sophisticated operation, then?” Max asked. “Your location leaves something to be desired, but your refreshments and entertainment are nice. Tell me, are your servers part of the sale?”
Geoffrey tipped his head, glancing back as he stopped at a door. “I’m sure we could come to an arrangement.” He produced a set of keys from his pocket and inserted one into the lock. Before he turned the handle, he looked at them. “This is strictly a look-only preview. You cannot test the merchandise before purchase. And all the ladies are dressed for the auction, so please don’t ask them to disrobe. I think you will find their outfits satisfactory, though. We try to put their best assets on display. My fiancée has a keen eye for fashion and what looks good on the female form.” He pushed the door open.
“Oh my God.” Audra covered her mouth as the image on their screens changed.
Sam clenched his teeth, disgust churning in his gut at what he saw. The men had stepped into a room that was about thirty-by-thirty in size. A prison cell took up most of it, leaving only a six-foot strip along the front, outside of the bars. Inside the cage, dozens of women sat huddled in groups, staring at them with wide eyes.
“All of you on your feet.” Geoffrey motioned for them to stand. “Line up.”
With a sluggishness born of being drugged, the women got up and did as he asked.
“Oh my.” Jessica squinted at the screen. “Some of them look really young.”
“They do, yeah.” Sam pushed the button on the panel in front of him that would let him talk to Max. “Max, tell him you like the young ones. Let’s see how young they go.” They could be looking at heftier charges if some of the girls were underage.
“You’ve got some nice girls. I prefer young ones. Like that one, maybe.” He pointed at a young, dark-haired girl in a pink dress. “Virgins, preferably.”
“Many of our clientele are the same way, though not all of our girls are virgins. Sometimes, there’s something to be said for a woman with experience.”
“That’s true. I have one of those at home, though, so I’m really on the lookout for a young, nubile little thing.”
Geoffrey nodded. “I understand that. My fiancée is a tigress in bed, but sometimes you just need that virgin under you to feel like a man.”
Sam felt bile work up his throat.
“The one you pointed at is a good choice. She’s sixteen.” Geoffrey walked down the line and pointed out several more who were between sixteen and nineteen. “We don’t tend to deal in girls younger than sixteen. It gets too messy. The authorities look harder for the younger ones.”
“I’m going to nail his arse to the wall and make sure he ends up with a group of murderers who hate pedophiles.” Audra shook her head.
“I’ll help you,” Jessica said.
The four men spent a few more minutes discussing the women, then Geoffrey led them back to the party. It was more crowded now.
“Aud, you see anyone you recognize now?” Sam kept his eyes on the screen, cataloguing new faces.
“I’m looking. So far no—wait.” She tipped her head, then reached for the panel to talk to Dean, whose camera she monitored. “Dean. The guy in the silver suit and blue tie. Get closer.”
Dean walked toward one of the servers holding an hors d’oeuvres tray who was in the man’s path.
“Shit.” Audra leaned in. “That’s Donny.”