Chapter 108 CSU

Chapter 108 CSU
“First thing tomorrow, I’m calling my contractor to come in and tear down that room.”
His words surprised me. I tilted my head back to look at him. The angle was awkward, but I didn’t want to sit up. “Why?”
Now he looked surprised. “You were assaulted in that room. Almost raped and murdered. Why would I want to keep it?”
I gave him a half-smile. “But I also have some good memories in there too.” I did shift this time, moving so that I was leaning on my side rather than back. It was easier to look at him then. And touch him. I put my hand on his chest. “Or have you forgotten?”
Gavin put his hand on the back of my neck and pulled me towards him for a kiss. When his tongue teased at my lips, I opened my mouth eagerly. My hand slid down his abdomen, feeling those strong muscles tighten under my touch.
He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against mine. “I remember every detail of that night and the next morning. I couldn’t believe I could feel that way again.”
A thrill went through me. “Besides,” I added. “What’s a sex club without a private room?”
His expression sobered. “That’s another thing. I think I should turn it into a regular club.”
I understood what he was thinking along those lines. Howard had used the club as a front for his sex-trafficking business. Keeping it as it was just seemed wrong somehow, but I had an idea. “There are tons of regular clubs in Manhattan. Why don’t you just tweak it a bit?” He raised an eyebrow in question. “How about a burlesque club for both men and women? A place where singles and couples could come together.”
“That’s a possibility,” he said slowly.
“Maybe I could even help you run it.” I grinned. “And maybe you should keep that room upstairs for just two very exclusive members.”
He blinked, as if my suggestion startled him.
“After all,” I teased. “What better place to introduce me to all of those pleasures you’ve told me that your world holds.”
He kissed me again, his hand sliding up my thigh and under his shirt. I’d forgotten that I wasn’t wearing anything under it. The heat of his palm as it ran over my ass reminded me. It was tempting to lose myself in the kiss, to let my body respond to his touch the way it wanted to, but a comment he’d made earlier had wormed its way back into my mind and I needed an answer. Reluctantly, I broke the kiss.
“Back in the room,” I started. He tensed. “You said you’d found information on the missing women.”
“I did.” Now he just looked confused.
“Do you remember anything about a girl named Patricia Vinarisky?” I almost didn’t want to ask. It seemed like too much to hope for, to find her. “Do you remember if she was still alive?”
Gavin thought for a moment. “There were so many names, I can’t remember if she was one of them. But the files are all in the office.” He handed me his keycard. “Go look. I’ll keep an eye on Howard.”
I took the keycard, kissed Gavin’s cheek, and ran up to the office. The files were easy enough to find. He’d left them in a stack on the desk. I shuffled through them, my anger towards Howard returning as I saw just how many lives he’d ruined. Halfway down, I found it. I opened it eagerly, hoping to find a statement that she was alive, but that information wasn’t in there. What was in the file was confirmation that Patricia had been delivered to the mansion of a rich sheik in Saudi Arabia over a year and a half ago. That was a long time, but I had to believe that she was alive. If she had half the fortitude of her father, she would have survived.
We’d be giving the files to the authorities, but I couldn’t make Mr. Vinarisky wait any longer, not when I had something. I knew that the DA’s office would be pissed if they found out I did this, but after what I’d just been through, a couple of angry lawyers just didn’t seem that scary.
I picked up the phone, then realized that I didn’t have the number. The computer was on, so it didn’t take long to do a quick search and find it. Frank answered on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Vinarisky? I don’t know if you remember me, but my name’s Carrie Summers.”
“You were that lawyer who called looking for my daughter.” His voice immediately hardened. “I still don’t know where she is.”
“I do.” I blurted out the words, hoping he wouldn’t hang up before he heard them.
Silence, then: “Say that again.”
“I know where your daughter is, Mr. Vinarisky.” I could hear the wail of sirens and knew I didn’t have much time. “She’s just outside of Medina in Saudi Arabia. She was sold to a local millionaire twenty months ago. I don’t know any more than that. The authorities will have this information in just a few minutes, but she’s not the only one.”
“Wait – wait, what are you talking about?”
I didn’t blame him for sounding so blindsided, but I couldn’t take the time to explain. I told him the name of the man who had bought Patricia and added, “I’m sorry I don’t have anything else, but I couldn’t not tell you.”
“Where are you getting all this from?”
I didn’t answer his question or wait for a thank you. I didn’t have the time. I hung up and picked up the stack of files. As an officer of the court – or at least an almost one – I knew that I should leave the files here for CSU to find, but I couldn’t, in all good conscience, make these women and their families wait one minute longer than necessary. I took the files downstairs, arriving at Gavin’s side just as the first officers entered.