Never Look Back (20 page)

"You're right, Rob Hanson should be here in a few minutes," Felicia said eyeing the clock. "I feel bad that he will be mourning Dana's loss."

Rob and his lawyer arrived at their office. Kerry cringed when she heard the squeaky shoes.

They all took their seats.

Stanley rolled up his sleeves and loosened his tie. "Rob believes there's more than just the pornography business." He gestured for Rob to continue.

Dehydrated looking, Rob relayed about the photos he discovered. "I believe this is a crime of human trafficking, and I'm positive Dana isn't dead."

The agents listened intently while Rob continued to provide information.

"We need to investigate further. Why would Michael Downey have a photo of Stacy Kestav?" Kerry asked

Felicia swayed her hands. "You need to leave the investigating to us, Rob. Take a break. You just got out of jail. You need to lie low."

Rob growled. "I
need
to see Dana, I know she's coming home. She's not dead and there was no accident. Why the fuck can't you believe that! She has to know that I never stopped searching for her."

Agent Wayne appeased him. "Please, Mr. Hanson. From now on, let us do the rest. We'll notify you of any updates."

***

The bus screeched its tires to a full stop. Hiding in a hooded top and sweats, Dana stepped off the bus. She drew in the cool, fresh Alaskan air and bowed her head as she marched down the street. It would take her a half hour to get to the motel, but the walk would give her time to strategize her next step. What would she do once she met Michael Downey?

She didn't doubt that U.S. Marshall Collins and Adams would soon figure out where she is..
This is judgment day. This has to end now.

Her strides lengthened as thoughts of Gio flashed through Dana's mind. How could she be so naive? She had trusted him and saw a bright future together. But she hardly knew Gio, and he seemed that he could buy anything he wanted. He had power. And with power came ego, and ego could lead to destruction. Yet, she never anticipated he needed that for his
ego
.

Her thoughts shifted to her best friend, Rob. Was he looking for her? Did he actually believe the news that she saw this morning about her car accident? She knew the feelings he had for Rob were not as intense as what she felt for Gio. Why did she have to let herself go?

***

Vladimir closed the curtain of his house and spread his numerous passports on the table. He was tired of living a double life. No more Gio Amorosi, Michael Downey, and the rest of his aliases. It was time he told the Feds the truth, that he was Vladimir Marcovic. Enough is enough. All he longed for was to have a normal family, now that he had met Dana.

He prepared all the information he needed to give to the Feds and sat on his desk. Vladimir hoped his instructions to Courtney were clear and all he needed to do was wait. Eyeing the calendar, he grinned. Today was the first day of August—the month Dana planned to kill him.

After meeting with the FBI agents, Rob stepped in the cab and joined Courtney."What's so important that you couldn't tell me over the phone?"

Courtney gave the cab instructions then turned to toward Rob "There's so much to tell you."

"So,
tell
me."

She passed Rob her iPhone where a long email was displayed.

Using his fingers, Rob zoomed the screen and read.

Dear Courtney,

What I'm about to tell you might come as a shock to you. My real name is not Gio Amorosi. I've used many aliases over the years, but I only have one name and that's Vladimir Marcovic. I'm not proud of my disguise and for the things I've done, but I'm here to make it right.

You see, Courtney, it was no accident why we met. I came to your store to meet your manager, Abigail Madison, who also carries an alias. Abigail Madison is actually Dana Simmons−yes, Dana Simmons the supermodel. Dana and I share one thing in common—a father. Her biological dad is my adoptive father. My father was the leader of the Russian mob, which still exists now since he passed the business to me. Dana's mother was my father's mistress, but she left him when she saw that he was involved in human trafficking.

I'm ashamed of all the filthy things our family has done, but I stuck it out to honor my father's last request. He asked me to find Dana's mother and his daughter Dana. His last words were to protect them. Anger and guilt have consumed me since I promised him that I will find them, so instead of protecting them, I planned to kill them both.

I was this close to killing Dana, but my heart got the better part of me. She's a beautiful woman inside and out, and as fate would have it, I fell in love with her. With Dana, all I saw was beauty and I was oblivious to the cruel world around us. I thought I could run away from it all and take her with me, but being tied to the mob, they're now after me. Dana doesn't know yet that Gio and Vladimir are the same person. She has set out to kill me.

Since I want to make this right, show this letter to Rob Hanson. I know he hasn't stopped searching for Dana and will cooperate with you. You need to take Dana's mother to Dana's apartment in Manhattan right away. I know Dana will be waiting for her. I will text you the address from a separate number.

I hope you do this for me, Courtney, and I thank you for everything.

Vladimir

Taking a deep breath, Rob turned to Courtney. "I don't know what to say. I can't believe this. This man is responsible for everything. His family destroyed Dana's life."

"I know, but we don't have time to think if of that now. We have to do this quick."

The cab screeched to a curb in front of a tall glass building, and Courtney handed the cabbie folded bills as they stepped out.

"Now, here's the drill." She wrapped her arm around Rob's. "You're my husband, and we wanted to try something new in the bedroom."

"Okay, Aileen Williams," he said to play along as they entered the building and approached the elevator.

Courtney pressed the button and straightened her skirt. "Let me fix your tie, Josh."

The elevator opened, and they walked through the front desk.

A man greeted them. "How can I help you?"

Twirling her hair, Courtney approached him while Rob stayed behind, studying the murals on the wall. "Hi, I'm Aileen and, um, my husband and I are having trouble in the bedroom lately," she whispered."And I was wondering if…" She covered her face with her hand. "If we can get a woman who can spice things up. You know, that type of thing."

The man beamed. "Oh, I hear you. I think our ladies will know what to do."

"Really?" Courtney grinned with excitement. "We need somebody younger than me, probably with dark hair." She mumbled, "He's tired of blonds."

The man nodded and picked up a folder. "Would you like to look at the selection?"

"Sure." Courtney took the folder and turned to Rob. "Honey, help me choose."

The man cleared his throat. "Would you like any of our themed rooms? We have everything from Cinderella to safari or water themes."

"Hmm, that's interesting," Rob said. "Do you have a room closer to the ground?" He eyed Courtney. "I have fear of heights."

"But of course." The man smiled. "That would be the under the sea theme."

"Cool," Rob said.

"Why don't you have a seat while you choose. Would you like a drink while you wait?"

Collapsing on the couch, Rob loosened his tie. "How about you send champagne to our room and make sure it's chilled."

"Very well. Let me excuse myself."

Courtney waited until he was out of earshot to whisper, "Okay, while I stay in the room, you get Marcy. When they bring in the girl, I'll say you're in the bathroom." She hands him a key. "There's a black Honda Civic at the back of the building. It's tinted. Just give me a missed call once you've escaped, and I'll make one quick phone call to the FBI."

He tucked the key into his pocket. "You're sure you'll be okay?"

She squeezed his hand. "Don't worry about me. I can tell them you chickened out."

"Thank you." He paused. "And to think I always pass by this building and never anticipated this."

Courtney cleared her throat as the man arrived.

"Champagne has been sent to your room. Here are two keys. Have you made your selection?"

"Yes." Courtney rose from the couch and pointed to their choice. "We both agreed that she looks like a doll."

"Good pick. I'll bring her right upstairs in, say, five minutes?"

"We'll be waiting." Courtney winked then held Rob's hand as they strode down the hallway. "Take my purse with you. I have two wigs and sunglasses. The password for the lock is three-one-three. Get the hell out of here. Hurry."

Rob nodded and fled to the elevator.

***

Lying down in bed, Marcy closed her eyes. With Stacy gone, she had nobody to talked too. Days were a routine, and her hope dwindled.
Will I ever see my daughter again?

Just then, she heard the door unlock.

A tall man she never saw before stepped inside. With dark hair, he wore a suit and carried a woman's purse.

"Marcy Simmons, I'm a friend of your daughter. There's no time to explain." He opened the purse and tossed her a wig and sunglasses while he put on his. "You need to come with me."

She flinched. "How sure am I you're telling me the truth?"

"Let me explain in the car. Let's go." The world was spinning fast and Marcy couldn't process what was going on.

U.S. Marshall Collins and Adams stepped out of the car. FBI agents Wayne and Raymond greeted them outside the building with their team.

"Thanks for cooperating with us on this matter," U.S. Marshall Collins said. "We still haven't found Dana."

"We have your back," Kerry said. "And we won't leave until we find her."

"As you know, the agent who handled Anton Marcovic's case has been trying to catch the mob for ages," Kerry chimed in. "Each time we raid a warehouse filled with teenage Russian prostitutes, another one opens. They've been very good at covering their tracks."

"I know," U.S. Marshall Adams said. "Their family is scattered all over the state. They have blended in to look like normal businessmen with legitimate companies to cover up their illegal business."

"So, what is the protocol?" Felicia raised her eyebrows. "Even if we invade this building, and catch them, what makes us believe they don't have counterparts in other states? This is a never-ending goose chase."

U.S. Marshall Adams removed a folder from his bag and handed it to Felicia. "Constantine, Vladimir's cousin, who seems to be the notorious one. And there's six other cousins who take orders from both Vladimir and Constantine."

"What about their wives and kids?" Kerry asked. "They could also be involved."

"We're going to target the leaders and hope to bring down the business."

"That doesn't erase the human trafficking problem that goes on every day," Felicia said, averting her gaze to the building.

"You're right, but like you, we are here to protect the innocent from the wicked. Each time you solve a crime or put the bad guys away, you get to appreciate your job more and sleep peacefully at night knowing you made a difference," U.S. Marshall Collins said.

"So are we ready?" Kerry asked.

The FBI agents, U.S. Marshalls, and their teams barged in the building wearing their bullet-proof vests and carrying their weapons. A number of them marched down the stairs to the basement while the rest took the elevator to the third floor.

For the first time in his life, Kerry felt afraid. He couldn't bare the sight of seeing teenage girls suffering. After this case was over, he would take a vacation to visit his daughters.

***

Constantine knocked on room one-hundred, wondering why the couple who requested one of their girls and rented the room for two hours hadn't check out yet.

"Is everything okay?" he called.

No answer.

He unlocked the door, gently opened it, and squinted his eyes in the dark room. "Shit, where are they?"

Turning on the switch, he noticed the room had been untouched. Dashing to the bathroom, he found,
We caught you now
in red lipstick displayed on the mirror.

"Shit." He skipped outside and bumped into four armed men wearing masks.

"Constantine Marcovic, you're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent." They handcuffed him and continued to state his rights.

Cries of outrage from down below overwhelmed him as they pulled him. Men were running out of their rooms naked while the FBI raided the building.

"You need to tell us where the others are."

He didn't say a word.

"Where is Marcy Simmons?"

"She should be in her room, third floor."

"We checked every room and she's not there."

"That's impossible. How could she escape?" He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Vladimir must have done this."