I’d seen a lot of shit in my days of prosecuting some of the worst criminals in the city, but I wasn’t prepared for the sight of anyone being used as a punching bag. One eye was swollen shut, a cut on her cheek. Her bruises were starting to turn yellow. What the hell had the girl been through?
Somehow, Denise was able to offer a smile. “You can’t stop them.”
Them. “Who are you talking about?”
“The Privileged.”
I glanced at Jackie, her nod indicating she had been completely briefed on what Denise was trying to tell me. If this was an ordinary case of abuse, I’d already have the details in my hands. I had a feeling Jackie didn’t believe there was enough evidence, yet felt the case was important enough to bring to my attention.
Or that a potential scandal was involved.
“Who are the Privileged?”
“I don’t know their names but they’re powerful. And rich.” Denise had a faraway look in her eyes.
“How were you involved with them?”
She raked her hand though her hair, studying me the same way Jackie had always done. To see if I could be trusted. “Modeling. That’s what I thought. I was chosen. You have no idea how excited I was. I thought it was my big break.”
“And it wasn’t.”
“No. They lured me in like so many others.”
“What do these Privileged people do?” I tried to keep my voice soft and my tone comforting. She was fidgeting, scratching her wrists. They were chafed. Fuck. The bastards had shackled her. My anger was already increasing.
“They steal girls and make them… We had to…” She burst into tears and I took the opportunity to glance at Jackie.
In her eyes was the same level of fury I felt.
“Take your time. Just tell me what you can. That way I can do everything in my power to bring them to condemnation.”
“They’re too powerful. You don’t understand. They have a secret club. Private membership.” Tears slipped past her lashes, her voice barely a whisper. But I heard every word.
“How do you know all this?”
“I listen. I pay attention. I… I was auctioned, bought by some asshole, but I fought them. I couldn’t do it.”
“Do you have any idea where this club is located?”
“No. I was brought there in a van with several other girls. We were all wearing blindfolds.” The poor girl continued rocking back and forth, making it difficult to keep from reacting. The last thing Denise needed was anyone, especially a man acting in any way intimidating.
“Does this club have a name that maybe you overheard or a window you looked out of? Maybe you noticed something outside.”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m sorry. It was all black. Every room. There are so many girls there. Even one looking for her sister. God, she volunteered to be a player so she could save her sister.”
I could easily tell Denise was close to succumbing to paralyzing fear, her answers disjointed. Hell, I couldn’t blame her.
Sighing, I realized why Jackie had brought her to me. She knew enough about the organization that she hoped Denise’s testimony would expose the group’s atrocities. Not at this point. “You were trying to help the girls.”
“Yes.”
“That makes you a hero.”
My compliment garnered me another slight smile.
“What happens at this club?”
She wiped tears from her eyes, finally looking directly into mine. “They sell the girls to the highest bidder.”
