Justice Incarnate (20 page)

"Where does the ferry go?"

Engineer shrugged. "I just drive the train."

"The ETA?"

He blinked, then understood she wanted the estimated time of arrival. "Oh, about another hour. This ol' girl's dependable, but slow."

"Fair enough." She'd have to hustle. "If anyone calls for your pal back there, tell them he's sick. It'll be true enough if he comes around too soon."

With that, she snatched the keys from the guard's belt and began putting her plan into action. She began to think Brian's wisdom was the better part of valor when she couldn't get Cleveland to answer his phone. She checked the time. Forty-five minutes to single-handedly save about forty women with a plan B.

And what was plan B?

It started the same as plan A: first free and then rally the prisoners. But it needed a different ending without Cleveland to back her up at the docks.

She moved into the first car behind the engine. As she released the women from their shackles, she asked questions, but received only exhausted, wounded stares. If they'd been drugged, she didn't see obvious evidence. No needle tracks, glassy eyes or hypo-spray patterns.

She pushed open the second car to find conditions the same.

Her reassurances earned no reaction from the captives, but the silence spoke volumes about their lack of confidence in her and themselves. None bore Albertson's mark, but several willowy blondes wore braided sterling armbands in an infinity pattern.

"Take those off. I'll keep them for evidence." Slowly, they obeyed. "Where are you from?" she asked the waif nearest the door. But the pale shadow of a woman merely shook her head.

Jaden mentally crossed her fingers that car three would give the forming plan B a chance. She stuck the key in each binding presented, wondering how to rally the downtrodden troops into decisive action.

A firm hand touched her shoulder. "Ms. Michaels?"

Jaden looked up, straight into the distorted face of Maria. The woman had a black eye, a brutal handprint on her neck, and a lopsided, mile-wide smile.

"It's good to see you." She embraced Jaden with remarkable calm.

"I'm glad you're okay. I thought–well by now–"

"The worst. I know. When the guy snagged me, I was certain you were right behind him, ready to pounce. I'm glad I never gave up on you."

Jaden noticed their conversation had sparked other women to begin talking. So far, she didn't recognize any voices from attacks she'd been linked to. The knowledge gave her no comfort.

"I–we had to prioritize. A young girl was also at risk that night."

Maria waved it off. "No explanation needed. How can I help you?"

"Sit them down and let them know we're going to escape. I'm going for water, and then we'll work out the details."

Jaden turned back toward the engine when a dark, nagging question demanded an answer. "Have you seen any deaths?"

Maria nodded soberly.

"What happened to the bodies?"

"The woman who died in my cell was hauled away by a guard. He muttered something about ballast or filler. It sounded like nautical talk to me."

Jaden nodded. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"We've all been tested one way or another. Not all of us have been sexually assaulted. But the guards kept track of who was naturally blonde."

"Yeah. They're all one car back." Jaden paused to think. "I got the feeling he was capturing women with a specific look. Besides young," she finished.

Her mind raced over possibilities and concerns as she wove her way back through the first two cars of prisoners. What riddle did this train solve? And what new questions did it raise?

Albertson had women kidnapped from Chicago and brought to Gary, only to head back to Chicago for a ferry to who knows where. But where were the younger victims? Where were the innocent girls whose weeping haunted her every quiet moment?

She struggled to keep her balance as she relived the engineer's comments. A 'routine' transfer of this sort could only mean slave trade.

She fumed at her obtuse ignorance. Albertson had been supplying the black market slave auctions from docks in her own back yard. And she'd been so distracted by day to day assaults she'd missed the bigger picture. She swore viciously.

How many women had been sold into slavery because of her failure to accomplish her mission?

Just one was one too many. She would not allow these thirty-eight to join them.

Jaden steeled herself for the pending battle.

* * *

Brian let the guards haul him roughly into a huge office and dump him into a chair. With one eye swollen shut, the lack of depth perception created an interesting challenge to his observation skills. He shifted, and received a painful reminder of the billy club cracking his ribs. These guards didn't smile on visitors.

He focused his good eye on the man by the door. "Got an ice pack around here?"

"We got nothin' for trespassers."

It didn't seem likely the Judge would hire help like this personally. That gave Brian hope that the man he'd held up as a mentor for most of his life might still be worthy. Anyone could use an infinity symbol. Albertson didn't have sole rights to it.

To distract his body from the pain, he let his eye rove. Dark wood furnishings gleamed under brass fixtures. The lavish civilization was an obscene contrast to the torture chamber downstairs, but that wasn't what made his stomach pitch. No, that sickening feeling rolled over him when he spotted a burgundy leather cigar box embossed with an infinity symbol.

Anyone could use an infinity symbol.

The denial sounded foolish even in his head.

He reached out, willing it to be illusion, but his hand was shoved away before he made contact.

"Keep yer mitts off," the guard rumbled.

Brian nodded, unable to take his eye from the gift he'd presented to Judge Albertson when he'd graduated from the police academy.

On the off chance the Judge was being manipulated, Brian asked, "What is this place?"

The guard snickered. "A finishing school for the less fortunate."

If only. "Run by?"

"Shut yer trap. Ye'll know what the boss-man wants yeh to know soon enough."

Brian used the silence to review his options. Damned few. Fight or flight were the only answers his brain provided.

The guard drew a genuine Cuban cigar from the humidor on the credenza and made a show of lighting it for his half-blind prisoner. The flame jumped and flashed off a unique ring on the man's right index finger.

"Nice ring," Brian said.

"Gotta earn it, son. Yeh wan' in?"

"Maybe."

"Turn over the girl and I'll put in a good word." The guard came to hover over Brian who fought not to gag on the stench of bad breath. "An' don't waste my time playin' coy. I've been lookin' for that dame. I mean to find her."

The guard pressed a button on a remote and the paneling slid away to reveal more monitors. The feed was live from various cameras around the mill.

Brian knew somewhere, someone else watched him.

"The girl, huh? Then we're on the same team. Albertson wanted her delivered. Seems I held up my end, but you'll have a devil of a time explaining how you chased her away." His reward was miniscule, but satisfying, when the guard pinched his thumb in the hinge of the old fashioned lighter.

"You 'bout had me, son. But we don' know no Albertson. Better just come on clean."

"Fine. I followed her here."

"Film says otherwise." He pressed more buttons. "Lookie here. Y'all showed up together."

"Her idea. I'm just playing the devoted boyfriend."

"Fancy yerself some undercover hot shot do yeh?"

Brian bristled, calculating the effort required to fight his way out of the mill. Stamina or skill wasn't the issue. Time was. So far, none of the monitors showed anything about Jaden. Concern threatened to derail his concentration. When did it get personal? Sex, or near sex, was one thing. But when did she start to matter on this deep level? Unfortunately, he thought he knew.

"Well, boy, what'll it be?"

"Huh?"

"Better listen when I speak, son."

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Jackson, leave the boy alone."

Brian whirled at the sound of the rotund Judge and regretted the move immediately.

"Go get some ice." With an imperial wave, the Judge sent the hick packing. "Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but loyal to a fault."

Brian caught the tone-setting statement and hoped to keep this battle to words only. At least until he had the answers. "Some finishing school you've got here," he began, accepting the single ice pack. He applied it to his face to shield any telltale expressions from the Judge.

Albertson laughed heartily and settled into the chair behind his desk. "Ah, you can't believe everything you hear. Or see." He paused. "This little venture caters to an eclectic clientele, Brian."

"A clientele you feel the need to satisfy?"

"Now, now. Don't go judging the man on the bench."

"You've commended my judgment in the past."

"True enough." He steepled thick fingers under multiple chins. "But we both know how this town works. How the wheels of power must be greased. Believe me, no one comes to real harm here."

Then where? Brian shut his good eye. "You're the real power in this town."

"From your lips to God's ears." A chuckle rumbled from the barreled chest. "It pays to know the weaknesses of men."

"Which are?"

The chair creaked in protest and the judge shifted forward. "In your case. The underdog."

Brian opened his eye, met the narrow gaze of the judge and decided he resembled the dark side of Buddha. "I believe innocent until proven guilty."

"Yes, yes." The flabby face relaxed. "But you're a sucker for a sob story. I blame your mother, really." He flipped off the monitors. "That girl you're with in the film? That's the Michaels woman. She's not what she seems."

"Not a security specialist?"

"Watch your tone. I sentenced her to house arrest."

"Her house no longer exists."

To his credit, the Judge put on an effective look of surprise, and then softened it to relief. "Until recently I thought you no longer existed. It's good to see you alive and well."

"Thanks."

"The services for the officer lost at the museum are this afternoon."

Brian hadn't known. And wondered where this new prickly path would lead.

"Tragic, tragic." Jowls swayed as Albertson shook his head in pity. "Responding to the museum call, right?"

"Yes."

"The Michaels woman was there."

"Yes."

"She can't be trusted. Whatever lies she's told you, she can't be trusted. She's a thief. And a stalker. She'll do anything to discredit me."

"Why is that?" Brian set the melting ice aside to stare at the infinity ring on Albertson's finger.

"She's a fanatic. Claims I don't respect women. Don't protect them. For heaven's sake, I don't write the laws, I just uphold them."

"Interpret them."

"Naturally. It's the job. If women would just make an attempt to understand and respect their men. All these false accusations are a detriment to society."

"Juiced men can cause a great deal of damage."

"So can a woman. The juicing is essential to maintain our military superiority and peace."

"Peace?" Brian stood and came closer to rest his palms on the desk to scan the papers there. "In the world maybe, but not in our homes."

"She's gotten to you," Albertson accused.

"No. I'm just playing devil's advocate. You told me never to juice myself. Why?" He pushed back, ignoring the ache in his ribs and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"You were perfect as is. The supplement was not."

"But it's been in use since–"

"You didn't need it, strong and big as you are. And you were never headed to the combat zones anyway."

The message was clear: he should be grateful. Gratitude breeds loyalty. Time to pay the toll. And lie like a dog. "I'm thankful for your protection and support all these years. I'd like to think I've shown it."

"You have, son, you have." But his smile lacked the usual warmth. "How'd you get tangled with this fanatical woman?"

"Pure chance. I recognized her on the street. Knowing you were interested in her activity the other night I endeared myself to her to find out more."

The Judge gave a knowing little snort. "Endeared. I like that one. So what have you learned?"

"What you already know." He shrugged. "She's a fanatic about your 'archaic' decisions and vehemently opposed to juicing."

"How did that bring you here?"

"She heard some tests had been done out here and wanted to explore. Naturally, I couldn't let her come alone."