23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
“All right, shut up and let’s hear what Gunner found,” Dragon called Church to order. Torrent was ready to hear what was going on. The longer Jasmine was in the Boneyard, the more uneasy he grew.
“First off, we sent the tracker from the backup to Cecilia’s apartment in St. Louis two days ago when the guys picked up her stuff.
They did it during the night and bought off the super of her building.
For a little cash, he was willing to look the other way.
He also wiped the tapes so there isn’t any record of our guys being there.
The guys placed two small motion-activated cameras in the apartment, but they have not been tripped yet.
Now, before I go on, I want to make sure that Torrent isn’t going to shoot or maim the messenger,” Gunner paused, his eyes locked on Torrent.
“Depends on what you say,” Torrent grumbled.
Even though he and Cecilia had become closer, his anger toward Useless and Horse’s Ass, even though the latter was dead, continued to grow. He needed to do something so that his girls would be safe.
Mammoth and Cauldron switched seats with the smaller guys who had been beside him. Not that any of their crew was small, but Mammoth and Cauldron were massive.
“Go on, Gunner. Torrent will stay in his seat until you’re done,” Dragon instructed.
Torrent rolled his eyes and motioned to Gunner to continue. What a big baby.
“I know we did our normal check on Jasmine, just like we do with all the Whispers, and nothing popped then,” Gunner noted.
“What popped now?” Mav asked.
“Jasmine and Judith are related—second cousins—but there’s more.
When I started researching Judith and Linny, I couldn’t find out who Linny’s father is.
I did, however, find a rape charge regarding Judith that coincides with Linny being born nine months later, but it was dismissed,” Gunner revealed.
“Fuck! Does that make Judith a victim or an accomplice?” Fury barked.
“Couldn’t she be both?” Mammoth questioned.
“Help me do the math. Useless and Horse’s Ass are in their forties, but Useless didn’t take over as Police Chief until eight years ago when his dad was killed on a traffic stop on a dirt road.
Linny is ten and a half, which means we’re looking at something that happened about eleven and a half years ago or thereabouts.
Are we thinking Useless is the dad?” Bravo calculated.
“Eleven and a half years ago, neither one of them was here. Their dad was the Police Chief, with two officers who reported to him. It was before the Demise Police Department took over for some of the other small towns. The boys weren’t with the department when their dad died.
They came back, hired on, and were working with the other two officers.
The two other officers were killed when a meth house blew outside of town, killing them and the inhabitants,” Cauldron said.
“Yeah, that so doesn’t sound suspicious, does it?” Deacon scoffed.
“Are we suggesting like father, like son? Is Linny Useless’ half-sister?” Mav pressed.
“It’s possible. I don’t think we’ll know more until we can get some answers from Jasmine,” Dragon said.
“And when is that?” Torrent growled.
“Guru from the Honey Creek Badgers is going to help us. She’s quite the interrogator, according to her President. She’ll be here soon,” Dragon replied.
“How is she going to get away from her job at the police station?” Torrent asked.
Dragon chuckled. “Apparently, Useless may be a tool, but he gets a little green when menstruation is mentioned. Abby told him about her horrible cramps and how she bled through her uniform. He told her to go home and come back when she felt better. Ashe took one of the trucks to wash out and will transport her back in it.”
Torrent didn’t care what it took; he needed answers to keep his family safe. Right now, he wanted to burn down the police department building with Useless locked in a cell.
The door opened and Abby walked in, carrying a large bag over her shoulder. Ashe had brought her directly to the Boneyard. Jasmine was in a soundproof room down the hall.
“How do you want to do this? Am I leading this, or will you want to ask questions too?” Abby asked.
Torrent worried that Abby—or Guru, as her President called her—would be able to do what was needed. She was short, about five-foot-two, maybe. She had thick thighs, but he guessed she didn’t weigh over one-fifty. She didn’t inspire fear.
“Your President said it would be more effective if we let you lead,” Dragon replied.
“It will. If I’m not getting what you need, point out another weapon you think I should use, and I’ll walk over to find out what you want asked,” Abby instructed, nodding toward the door.
Torrent followed Dragon and Abby. Once they were all in the room, Abby put her bag on the table to the side.
“If you think I’ll be so grateful you brought a woman in that I’ll talk, you’re delusional,” Jasmine taunted.
Abby brought over an electric razor and stood in front of Jasmine.
“I don’t want your gratitude. I want answers—easy or hard way doesn’t matter to me. I’m here regardless,” Abby said, in what Torrent could only describe as a voice devoid of anything. It wasn’t the calm voice Abby had used talking with them. It was hollow and sent shivers down Torrent’s back.
“Fuck you,” Jasmine snapped.
“Not into girls, but remember, you can stop this at any time,” Abby countered, walking behind her. Abby grabbed a hunk of hair, pulling it up, and used the razor to cut off Jasmine’s long hair until it was chin length.
“Want to talk yet?” Abby asked, pausing.
“Never, bitch,” Jasmine hissed.
Abby walked around and shaved off Jasmine’s eyebrows, then shaved off strips of her hair until there was only stubble on her head. Abby walked away and came back with a mirror, turning it toward Jasmine.
Jasmine’s eyes widened.
“See her. She’s a stupid cunt because I’m offering her help. Tell me what I want to know, and I’ll help you get away from the Grave Prowlers MC,” Abby reasoned.
“They’re in the room. How can you help?” Jasmine whimpered, sniffing.
Jasmine had always been vain about her looks, and with two small things, Abby had made her look like a victim.
“Dragon, doesn’t our agreement state that I can leave with Jasmine at any time?” Abby asked.
“It does. You get her to answer the questions, and you can get her safe from us,” Dragon confirmed.
Torrent had never thought Jasmine was very smart, and he was positive that Jasmine wasn’t smart enough to figure out that getting away from the Grave Prowlers MC didn’t mean she’d be free.
“What do you want to know?” Jasmine relented.
“First off, who all are you related to?” Abby asked.
“Judith is my second cousin. My parents are dead.”
“Who wanted you watching the club members?” Abby pressed.
“Horace and Eustace Fink threatened me that if I didn’t give them information about the Grave Prowlers, they’d send me away to work as a sex slave,” Jasmine confessed.
“It seems like you were the victim here,” Abby soothed, walking closer and putting her hand on Jasmine’s shoulder. If he didn’t know better, he’d think Abby cared about Jasmine.
“I am. I am,” Jasmine implored.
“Who is Linny’s father?” Abby asked.
Jasmine jerked back as much as she could in the chair.
“I can’t say,” Jasmine choked out.
“Hmm, ‘can’t’ or ‘won’t’ gets the same results.
I want to be on your side, Jasmine, but if you aren’t truthful with me, then I have to assume that you’re not a victim but an accomplice.
Now, let’s try this again. Remember, honesty means I can keep you safe from these guys behind me that want you dead. Who is Linny’s father?” Abby repeated.
“Someone Eustace’s dad brought by Judith’s house. He was from New Mexico, and Eustace wanted to do business with him. They raped Judith. Either could be the father,” Jasmine blurted.
Abby stood up and walked around behind Jasmine, placing her hands on Jasmine’s shoulders.
“What was the man from New Mexico’s name?” Abby asked.
“Bastian Barreto,” Jasmine said.
“Good job, Jasmine. You do seem like the victim, but what about Leslie Sikes?” Abby countered.
Jasmine’s eyes widened.
“Leslie who?” Jasmine stammered.
“Aww, Jasmine, and we were doing so well. Why did you choose to lie to me?” Abby murmured, standing up and reaching into her bag, taking out large needle-nose pliers.
“I didn’t lie,” Jasmine insisted, her voice shaking.
“Leslie disappeared three years ago along with another friend. Both girls were last seen with you. Do you want to amend your answer?” Abby challenged, bringing the pliers close to Jasmine’s face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jasmine replied.
“Okay, maybe you need incentive. Teeth, nipples, tongue, or fingernails?” Abby offered.
Her voice, devoid of all emotion and cold, was seriously freaking Torrent out, but he could see why she’d been so successful in her previous career as an FBI agent.
“What?” Jasmine gasped, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Which would you like me to rip off or out with these pliers? Teeth, nipples, tongue, or fingernails?” Abby pressed.
Jasmine tried to hide her breasts by pulling her arms tight to her body, but she was strapped to the chair. The action only squished her breasts together.
“None!” Jasmine screeched.
“The price of staying alive is either answering my questions or paying with body parts. Those are the rules. I’m sure Eustace and Horace had rules for you too.
Was Leslie and her friend a rule you had to follow?
Find friends to move into their distribution network to keep your safety for a while? ” Abby demanded.
Jasmine nodded quickly.
“What was the rule?” Abby prompted.
“Two every other month,” Jasmine said, gritting her teeth.
“What did you get if you followed the rule?” Abby asked.
“A thousand dollars for each, and I was safe from being sent away for another two months,” Jasmine muttered softly, looking down at the floor.
Torrent wanted to know about when they couldn’t reach Cecilia and Sally at the funeral home.
“What about that big saw I saw?” Torrent interjected.
“Oh, what did you have in mind?” Abby asked, walking close to Torrent.
Torrent whispered what he wanted to know. Abby nodded and walked over to her bag, pulling out a huge saw. She slowly walked back to Jasmine, twirling the saw around.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve cut off body parts with the saw. It’s messy and slow, but effective,” Abby remarked, crouching down to eye level with Jasmine.
“Hmm, where should I start? Are you right- or left-handed?” Abby mused.
“What? Why?” Jasmine screeched, trying to lean away from Abby, though there wasn’t anywhere she could go.
“If you don’t answer my next question honestly, I’m going to cut off one of your hands. I was going to decide whether it would be the one you write with or not, depending on how much you pissed me off with your lack of answering,” Abby threatened.
“No, no, no! I’ll answer anything,” Jasmine begged.
“Do you have a way to shut off signals at the funeral home?” Abby asked.
Jasmine nodded quickly. “Eustace gave me three different jammers to set up so I could shut down communications when needed. One at the funeral home, one at the shop, and one in the clubhouse,” Jasmine babbled.
“Tell him where exactly they are located and how big they are,” Abby ordered, running the dull side of the saw blade down Jasmine’s arm as she spilled the information to Maverick, who immediately left the room.
Abby continued asking questions—some that Torrent could see related to the Grave Prowlers and others that he assumed dealt with the Honey Creek Badgers MC’s quest.
“One last question, then I’ll get you away from the Grave Prowlers MC, and you’ll be safe,” Abby promised, her voice warming. Jasmine seemed to believe her and was nodding her head.
“Cecilia was rescued from a cabin in the woods. How many different cabins do Eustace and Horace have, and are there bodies buried up there?” Abby asked.
“You promise you’ll get me away from the Grave Prowlers and safe if I share,” Jasmine whispered.
“Of course, honey,” Abby cooed.
Jasmine nodded. “There are four cabins that I know of. I know there are bodies buried behind at least one because they made me dig one of the graves.”
“Thank you, Jasmine. You’ve been a good girl. I’m going to go outside with Dragon so we can talk about your release,” Abby concluded, walking out the door with the guys following.
Torrent closed and locked the door, following Abby and Dragon down the hall. Abby shuddered when she stopped.
“I’m glad I didn’t eat before coming, or I’d be puking. That woman is not a victim as far as I’m concerned,” Abby stated.
Maverick walked back down the stairs into the main room, holding out three different devices.
“Do I need to go upstairs for cell service? I need to ask Mace something before I can offer a solution," Abby asked.
Dragon nodded, and Abby walked upstairs.
“Four cabins?” Torrent grunted.
“Yeah, and are there women still there waiting to be moved to the next location? How the hell do we find them? The woods are deep and a lot of places are hidden,” Mav pointed out.
Abby walked back down the stairs.
“I told Mace what we found out. He and I both think it leans toward Eustace being a part of the group we’re hunting.
The name she said is who my sister was prosecuting when she was killed.
He’d like Jasmine sent with us. We’ll keep her in Time Out, squeezing out as much information from her until the time she’s no longer useful,” Abby revealed.
“Time Out?” Mav echoed.
Abby chuckled. “One of our members who has kids thought Time Out was the perfect name for our holding cells where we get information from people regarding their involvement. Plus, let’s face it, it sounds like we’re discussing a kid misbehaving,” Abby said.
Torrent chuckled along with the guys. That was funny and almost lightened the air if he wasn’t going crazy knowing how many cabins Useless had.
“There’s a club Mace knows who has their own helicopter. He could contact them about seeing if they could come up when you’re ready to hunt down those cabins and possibly help find them quicker,” Abby suggested.
“I’d appreciate that. I think I need a little time to think through the information you found out. Is your club still good with taking Jasmine to Time Out?” Dragon replied, chuckling at the term.
“Yes. They’ll be here tonight. I can give you their number so you can coordinate,” Abby promised.
“Thank you, darlin’. I appreciate it. We don’t hurt women and children despite that woman needing it,” Dragon said.
“That’s okay. Sometimes the psychological fear comes better if they’re threatened by a woman. Can your guy give me a ride back after I grab my tools?” Abby asked.
“Sure can, and thank you for your help,” Dragon smiled, holding out his hand. Abby shook it, nodded, and headed down the hall.
“We calling Church or thinking this through overnight?” Torrent asked.
“I vote for thinking it through,” Mav tossed out.
Dragon nodded. “Agreed.”