Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
Pratt continued the staring contest with Jace who glared at her for several moments. When Catori stood up to pull Jace’s hand to get his attention, she knew that she had won that argument.
“What do you suggest detective?” Catori asked, sighing heavily in defeat.
“Right now, we have another teammate who is looking at the location where the girls are picked up and dropped off every day for school. She has two men with her who are the best as hunting. Viper used to be a Marine Raider and Jacko is a former SDPD SWAT. They know what they are doing. I would like to see your home and their rooms. Getting a sense of the girls and their personalities helps us get into their heads. While you know them best, there are things that they will hide from their parents, even their momma and especially their big brothers.” Pratt advised Catori, softening her tone with the woman.
“Once we are done here, especially after we talk with the other parents out there, we’re going to the school to talk with them to see how they were in school. I know your girls aren’t the only ones missing. We will be doing the same with all the ones who will allow us to help them.” York advised the room.
“Which one of the two girls went missing first?” Hank asked, looking at Pratt and York first before focusing on Jace and Catori.
“Aiyannei went missing about seven months ago. Enola was one of the newest girls missing as of this week.” Warcloud turned to look at Hank.
“Aside from talking to the school and the families, what else has been done? Search parties?” Raso asked, looking up from one of the folders in her hands. “What about friends? Have you talked to them? Checked electronics?”
“We talked to several people that were known associates of all the girls. Enola was an outgoing girl who always had a smile for everyone no matter who they were. She said hi to everyone who came in her path.” Warcloud smiled as he thought of the young girl.
“Did she have specific friends who she hung out with? Did sleepovers with?” Pratt asked as she looked over to Catori for the answer.
“She had one she was close with. She didn’t come to the house because Iyei didn’t like a lot of people around the house. They would talk on the phone now and then or she would go to their house usually if there was a sleepover.”
“Our father…” Jace started to say until he stopped and looked up at Warcloud and Catori for several seconds. “Sorry, Iyei, wasn’t much for kids. Growing up he didn’t want us running around. Friends weren’t allowed in the house unless he approved of their parents, which was very rare.”
“Do you think he could have done something to the girls?” York flat out asked Jace, looking for his reaction.
“No. Iyei is many things, but I don’t see him hurting my sisters.”
“Even if he knew he would be protected by his father and your grandfather?” York pressed on, knowing she was hitting a nerve.
“No. Because he knew grandfather had plans for the girls. He knew the men that grandfather was talking about marriages for Aiyannei and Enola when they were of age. He wouldn’t do anything to upset Grandfather. Those marriage deals were worth a lot of money for the reservation.”
“Forcing someone to marry is illegal. I don’t care who you are or where you are. That’s human trafficking itself. You say your father wouldn’t do it, yet he did it with you. And now you’re allowing him to do it with your daughters. I have yet to hear him talk about a marriage for your son,” Pratt glared at Jace and Catori with the thought.
“He was going to,” Catori admitted softly. “My father knows the truth around my children’s parentage. I told him if he forced Jace to marry one of his prospects then I would warn Warcloud and everyone else of his dealings outside of the reservation.”
“Mom! Why would you do that?” Jace asked in shock as he whirled on his mother.
“Because you deserve a life of your own. A wife of your choice. not someone your grandfather chooses and controls. Your children would not be yours to raise. He would have control of that. It’s one thing that he forced me to marry Iyei. I was forced to let him raise you, but I will not condemn you to the life he demands we live.” Catori stood strong against her son.
“What are you talking about? Grandfather said you wanted to marry Iyei, but Warcloud was jealous of Iyei and tricked you into his bed!” Jace admitted glaring at Warcloud.
“No! I couldn’t stand Iyei. He was rude, a womanizer even in high school. He was abusive, verbally and physically. I loved Hosa. He talked to me. Not down to me. He encouraged me to chase my dream of art. Iyei laughed at me, poured the paint over me then beat me. It didn’t matter if I wanted to do it or not, I was forced. He would bring women to the house and make me cook dinner for them and serve them and watch as he fucked them. Hosa would never do that. That is not what a man does to the woman he loves. Iyei never loved me. I was a possession to him that he was forced to marry because our father’s demanded it. That’s it!” Catori informed her son as she glared at him.
“I didn’t know!” Jace admitted to his mother, sinking down into the chair beside him.
“I never allowed you to see it. I never wanted you and your sisters to see that side of him. I wanted you kids to have as decent a life as possible away from the drama that was our marriage,” Catori admitted to Jace as she placed her hand on his arm.
“That’s why you slept in the living room at night, isn’t it?” Jace looked at his mother putting the pieces together.
“Yes. But it was also to protect you and your sisters in case he changed his mind want wanted to include you in his tirades.”