Mia's Journey: An Erotic Thriller (25 page)

“Thus, what is of supreme importance in war

is to attack the enemy’s strategy.”

Sun Tzu

Chapter 69

Daddy took the freeway North, getting off at the Martin Luther King exit, then drove deep into the ghetto.

He knew the police would be looking for the van very soon and he had to ditch it. He wiped his prints off everything, then moved toward the back of the van and turned on the overhead light. There were all kinds of goodies back here.

Obviously, the federal dollars were flowing into the local police departments. Some of the audio/video surveillance equipment was top of the line. Not as good as military tech, but better than the commercial variety.

The van also had weapons and night-vision equipment. He stuffed a knapsack full of everything he thought he would need and climbed out the back. He left the keys in the ignition.

“Yo Pops! I think you forgot yo ride.” One of the toughs on the corner said to him as he passed.

“It’s a gas hog. You can have it. Keys are in the ignition.”

“No shit? You just gonna leave it?”

“I’m just going to leave it.”

“Is it hot?”

“What do you think?” Daddy smiled. “But there are some goodies in the back you might like.”

Daddy walked around the corner where there was a Seven-Eleven store and called a cab from a payphone. There were more gang bangers here, stumbling in and out of the store. Some gave him the stink-eye, most left him alone.

The cab came, an Indian driver, not looking too enthused to be in this part of town. He rolled down the passenger window.

“You call a cab?”

“Yes, I did.”

The cabbie looked him up and down, still not sure if he wanted a fare from this section of the city.

“Where you going?”

“West side.”

“Where on the West side?”

“Just get on the freeway and go west, I’ll tell you where.”

“Okay, get in.”

Daddy got in the backseat and the cabbie hit the meter.

“I don’t see many white faces in this neighborhood. You should be careful.”

“It’s all in your attitude. Most people don’t want problems.”

“If you don’t mind me saying so, you look pretty bad. You want me to drop you at a hospital?”

“No, it looks worse than it is. I just need to get home.”

They drove in silence. Daddy’s familiar town seemed almost alien to him. He had to look at it in a different way. He had to look upon all things, and people, as potential threats, and how he would deal with them if they became one.

The scary part was, how easily he could slide back into his old life. His life before he had a child. He missed his son terribly. Nevertheless, he was also glad he wasn’t here and a part of this.

“Okay, exit here at Jordan Creek, turn right, then turn left on University Ave. Then right on 156
th.
St. After that, go north.”

The cabbie silently followed directions.

“I’m going to need you to circle this block, and circle the blocks on either side of it, okay?”

“What am I getting myself into?”

“Absolutely nothing. I’m just not sure about the number.”

“Or the street where you live?”

“Right.”

The one thing Daddy knew was that they were down one surveillance van. But there were no vans of any kind on the street. Nor was anyone parked in cars, or out and about. Not even dog walkers, or joggers.

“You can let me out at the corner.” Daddy rounded the fare up to the nearest twenty dollars and gave the whole thing to the cabbie. “Thanks, it’s appreciated.” Daddy got out of the cab.

Daddy had gotten out of the cab a few blocks from his house and did a walking reconnaissance over the area. Checking the backs of the houses facing his.

Still nothing. No internal alarms going off. He felt no eyes. It very well could be if Prescott was paying for the surveillance, he didn’t want to watch two empty houses, on the off chance he might turn up.

Of course, that didn’t mean for a second that the house hadn’t been rigged with internal devices. They could have silent alarms rigged to motion detectors. But that was just a chance he was going to have to take. There was no way to know until he got inside, in which case it would be too late anyway. He cut through the backyard of a neighbor. He could hear a dog barking inside a house, but paid it no attention and came to his back door. He still had a key, so there was no reason to break in.

He checked the door for wires and saw none. He made a quick check with a flashlight inside the house, but saw no motion detectors installed. So he opened the door and let himself in.

The familiar smell of his own house enveloped him as soon as he stepped inside. It reminded him, once again, of his son and all the good times they had had there. He made a beeline for the basement door and his office. The sooner he got away from the upstairs, the better.

Once downstairs and underground he felt better about turning on the light. It looked like nothing had been touched, or disturbed. Was it possible they completely ignored his house once they had a location on his other apartment? He went to the gun safe and opened that. All his firearms were also still there. What a stroke of good fortune. But that didn’t mean for a minute that luck would hold.

One of the first things they should do now that he was on the run was come back here and see if anything would point to where he went.

It also meant he couldn’t check his email, or use his computer, or his credit cards, or access any money from his bank accounts. He was going to need to use one of his identities and dive deep underground.

He was going to need a plan.

“Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.”

Jerry Garcia

Chapter 70

“Momma, why have you put up with William’s abuse all these years?”

Since their last showdown, both Prescotts having enough to attend to, largely left Mia alone in a locked bedroom. Her meals were brought to her. This time, Momma Prescott came and let her know that “the men” wanted to see her downstairs in the study. She was still covering up a black eye and half of her face was swollen. Mia looked at Momma Prescott and asked the question she had always wanted to ask.

Momma looked at Mia with sympathy in her eyes.

“Why did you?” she asked Mia right back.

“I never had a man treat me any differently. From the time I was a child on. I thought all men behaved this way. Then I learned, it is only the sick ones that do,” said Mia.

“But you found a place to go. You found a person who loves you. How did that work out? They came and dragged you back, didn’t they?”

“Did you ever try to leave?”

“And go where, child? There is nowhere in this town I could go. I have no relatives out of state, and even if I did, my family was the same as yours, they wouldn’t care. They would have just beaten me some more and sent me back. I have no money of my own. William keeps it all. So where would I have gone?”

“Did you ever think about stopping William?”

“Of course. Like you, I used to dream about it. Take revenge. So many times. But I just don’t have the courage. Besides, it is probably what I deserve anyway.”

“No one deserves the way he treats you.”

“He was not always like this, you know. In the beginning, he was very sweet.”

“Now he is a monster. And he made his son into a monster. The son watched the father. Jeffery saw the way he treated you, and that power fed the monster in him.”

“They will kill you if you fight them.”

“One thing my Daddy taught me Momma, and that’s my REAL Daddy, not the one I was born to. It is better to die fighting, than live as a slave in pain.”

“Then, I fear, your life will be short.”

“That may be, but at least it is a life I freely choose for myself. They didn’t choose it for me,” said Mia quietly.

Mia dressed quietly as her and Momma talked about the things they usually talked about. Jeffery’s upcoming election, and how proud she’d be of her son. When Mia was ready, she was led downstairs and into the study. It was midday, so both men were sober.

Both men eyed her as she walked in. Elder Prescott looked at her with sexual longing. He still wanted to whip her some more for her earlier insolence. Jeffery looked at her with loathing.

He would never touch her tenderly ever again. Not that he did that much anyway. His look said she was now unclean, and not to be touched. Of course, that didn’t mean she couldn’t be used for sport when the urge hit.

“Mia, Mia, please come in,” said Elder Prescott.

“You look lovely, dear,” Jeffery choked out.

Mia said nothing. She looked at them with no expression at all.

“Well, then, enough of the pleasantries, I guess,” continued William Prescott. “As you know, you have a function within this family, and we just wanted to make sure you were up to it.”

“That function would be to be beaten, and sexually abused?”

“If that is what we desire of you, Mia, yes. Of course, we don’t have to take that road. We can put it all behind us. Start with a clean slate. What do you say?”

“What is it you want me to do?”

“That’s much better, Mia. We want you to renounce this whole ‘Daddy’ business, make this divorce business go away, testify that he kidnapped, rape and beat you, and stand at Jeffery’s side as the loyal, devoted wife when he is elected mayor.”

Mia just looked at them. Daddy was right once again. Through their weakness, she now had the power. She saw clearly they couldn’t move forward without her. She also saw she could crush them both.

“I would much rather watch Daddy as he destroys you.”

“You really think that is going to happen?”

“I know it is,” said Mia, her faith in Daddy unshakable.

“Then let me show you something Mia.”

Jeffery spun the laptop around so Mia could watch it. She could see Daddy hanging by his hands in the middle of the screen. The camera was mounted in back of him, so she could only see his back, but there was no doubt it was him.

She watched as one gang banger after another came up to him and hit him with baseball bats.

“Oh, here, Mia, let me slow it down for you. It’s much better in slow motion.” Jeffery adjusted the speed of the film.

It was even more horrible to watch in slow motion. She could see the blows impact on his body. It was like she could almost hear the bones break. The gang bangers looked like they were playing some twisted game of baseball.

All of a sudden, they stopped and looked at the door, then hurried out. Daddy was left hanging there. She could see his body still swinging from side to side, from the blows.

Jeffery fast forwarded the film, then stopped. After a while, another man came in, pulled his pants down around his ankles, and she had to watch his violation of him also in slow motion.

“He’s receiving electro-shock therapy,” both men snickered. “Yes, your ‘Daddy’ is quite the man taking it up the ass like a little faggot. He seems to enjoy it, don’t you think so Jeff?”

“Oh, no doubt. I hear once they take it up the ass, they never really like going back to pussy.”

Mia watched in horror as a man did unspeakable things to Daddy, then the man left. Jeffery fast forwarded the film again, this time to when Flynn entered the room. Flynn talked to Daddy awhile, then advanced towards him with the jumper cables.

Jeffery stopped it there.

“Seen enough, Mia? Or would you like to see his execution too?”

Mia was horrified beyond words at what she had just seen.

“What do you mean ‘his execution’?”

“I mean exactly that. He’s dead, Mia. He’s not coming for you. No one is going to save you. So here are your choices; one, you can agree to do what we ask and your life will continue much the same as it has. Of course, Jeffery has a lot of anger to work out towards you so it probably won’t be pleasant, but let’s face it, you deserve it.”

“What’s the second option?”

“We kill your baby, first so that you know it was we who destroyed you, then the police find your body with that of your ‘Daddy’. It will appear that he killed you, then committed suicide.”

“Don’t get the impression that you arouse my anger. You see, one can only be angry with those he respects.”

Richard M. Nixon

Chapter 71

Mia could feel rage crawling up her spine.

It was the most intense feeling she had ever had, even compared to all the good things she had gotten from Daddy. She had just watched the video.

Both men were standing there smugly. Looking at her, waiting to see what she would do. They were so used to holding all the high cards, and giving everyone else the orts and leavings from their table.

If Daddy was dead, she’d know it. They were so closely connected to each other, he would have reached out to her.

She knew he would. Sometimes she could feel him all around her, even here. He wouldn’t leave her. She felt, even now, he was coming for her.

“You fucking assholes!” Mia’s arms were trembling as she leaned on the desk.

“I’m sorry. I must not have heard you correctly. Can you repeat that?” Jeffery’s smug smile was oozing self-satisfaction.

“I’m going to fucking kill you.”

“I don’t think so, dear. You see now, that you’re alone. You have no hope here.” Jeffery stood from behind the desk and leaned on it, his face coming just inches from her face.

“Don’t spit your lies at me. I’m different from the scared teenager that was forced to suck your cock. If Daddy was dead, you would have shown me. You just want me scared, and feeling defeated. It’s not going to work, you piece of shit.”

“Listen up, little girl.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “I don’t give a fuck if you believe it or not, but your Daddy is dead. He begged for his life just before we slit his throat.”

Mia stood up straight as a smile lifted her lips.

“Now I know you are full of shit. My Daddy would never beg for his life, ever. Especially from a coward like you.”

Mia saw just a bit of worry flicker in Jeffery’s eyes. That was all she needed to see. She grabbed the laptop from the desk, that had featured Daddy’s torture, and flung it towards her husband. He just barely ducked in time and the computer hit the wall. It made a loud cracking sound as pieces went flying.

“What the fu-”

Before he could finish, Mia crawled up onto the desk and jumped towards him. They both came down hard on the floor with Mia on top. She took all her rage and tried to put it into her arms as she swung repeatedly. Her small fists continually striking Jeffery in the face. One good hit had blood gushing from his nose.

Just like Daddy had told her, her husband was a coward. He tried to cover his face with his arms. Where was the man that took so much pleasure in hitting his wife? He could hit a defenseless girl but he couldn’t fight a strong woman.

Mia was having so much fun punching her husband that she had momentarily forgotten that they weren’t alone in the office. She was quickly reminded as something hard struck the side of her head. Pain exploded through her as she was knocked off Jeffery.

Laying on her side, Mia writhed in pain. She moaned softly as she lifted her hand to her head. When she pulled it down, it was covered in blood. She looked up with blurry vision to see Elder Prescott standing over her with a large object in his hand.

She couldn’t make out what it was, but it came down hard on her again, another shot to her head. Bright flashes erupted before her eyes. The pain instantly made her feel like she was going to vomit. Mia didn’t see the next one coming. This time it hit her right in the stomach.

Mia screamed out and curled into a ball. More pain ripped through her. Her first thought was her baby. Her second thought was to escape or fight. In an instant, an image of Daddy’s beaten body flashed into her mind and she had her answer. As she sensed the next blow coming, Mia rolled out of the way. She heard William swear loudly as the object hit the floor and he lost control of it.

She took this opportunity to get to her feet. Her vision was still slightly blurred and her legs wobbled. Mia felt the blood running down the sides of her face.

After a few seconds, she turned her focus back to her husband. He was now kneeling, holding his nose as blood dripped from his hand.

Mia took the two steps to reach him and kicked as hard as she could. Her foot landed solidly on Jeffery’s chin. His arms flew into the air as he was knocked onto his back.

Mia was satisfied with the loud cries of pain that was spilling from him. Again, this distracted her from the other attacker.

Something like a cord came from behind and wrapped around Mia’s neck. It was pulled tighter and Mia couldn’t take in her next breath. William yanked on it harder and Mia fell against his chest. She couldn’t get any air, her vision started to become spotty.

“I can’t wait to watch you die.” The older man whispered in Mia’s ear.

Mia had one more image of Daddy flash in her mind before everything went black, and she felt her whole body go limp.

“That little bitch broke my nose!” said Jeffery, wheezing through his mouth.

“Don’t be a pussy. It’s not broken. If it was it would be lying over on its side. You’re going to have two nice shiners though. You better get an excuse ready to explain them.”

Jeffery was still cupping his face in his hands, blood streaming through his fingers. He looked up at his father, then down at Mia lying at his feet.

“When the time comes, I get to kill her.”

“Well, I think you at least deserve that much,” said his father.