What Next?

Chapter 4

I’m awakened by the sound of movement upstairs. Sounds like the girls are awake. I look at the clock and see its just gone seven. I bring my legs back and flip up onto my feet and go to the kitchen I need a drink. Last nights events still play through my mind. I fill the kettle and put it on when Haley walks into the kitchen, her hair all over the place, eyes barely open and her clothes clinging to her body. “Morning,” she says, “what time did you get back last night? We crashed just after midnight.”

I decide to tell her, “It was after two. The teacher needed some… persuading to come out of retirement.”

“What do you mean ‘persuading’? You didn’t beat him up did you?”

I chuckle, “no. He just didn’t feel he was ready so I showed him he was. If you don’t like him, he wont take the job but he’s a former martial arts teacher for the police. He’ll be able to teach any class you give him.”

She sits down at the table, lost in her thoughts. I make her a cup of coffee and myself chi tea, and put them down at the table. The sound of the shower running alerts me to the fact Sera is awake. Haley breaks the silence between us, “got anything to eat? Breakfast is sort of a big deal to me.” I look in the cupboards and the fridge but cant find any foods for first thing in the morning.

“Sorry but there’s a café down the road, when Sera is ready I’ll take you both out for breakfast, on me.”

A couple of minutes later I hear Sera coming downstairs yelling to Haley. “Did you put a blanket on me when I fell asleep last night?” She comes into the kitchen and spots me immediately. “Oh, never mind.”

Haley just sits there looking confused so I tell her it was me. With that we make our way outside and go to the café for breakfast.

…………………

The girls go in Haley’s car while I take my bike, I don’t want to tell them I’m popping into work. We sit down and place our orders I remain silent while they talk about what to do today. Sera is used to me being quiet but Haley is getting uncomfortable with me just sitting here, so I start to talk “Sera, I’ll prepare your next evolution later. It will be a new style of combat to learn.” I look at Haley now, “do you mind if we use the dojo later? It will be easier me teaching her there.”

“Well Rachel is part owner so I cant see any problem,” she replies, “but please, don’t kill her, I need her as my business partner.”

Sera starts chuckling and Haley just looks confused. Sera lets her in on the joke, “ he doesn’t hurt me when he teaches me. That comes when I mess up.” Haley stays with the confused look till our food arrives.

…………………

After eating and me paying we go our separate ways, they go off and do what they ever they do and I make my way into the city and head straight for the office. I park my bike up and head in the front door.

“Will? I thought you were taking time off?”

I look around and see the owner of the voice. Jennifer, five foot six inches off perfection, long blond hair always in a ponytail, bright blue eyes and perfect smile. I must be the only straight man in the world that doesn’t want to sleep with her. “Hi Jen,” I reply, “yeah I am, just thought I’d see if there were any new special cases come in.”

She flashes me that glowing smile of hers, “So you heard about Carol’s new case then?” the look on my face must have given me away, cause that smile drops, “she’s been given a girl that everybody thinks should be yours.”

I need to find out what’s going on, “is Julie in yet?”

“No.”

“When she gets in let her know I’ll be waiting in her office.”

“Okay, sure. You okay? You look like your going to tear her a new one.”

I get my emotions back under control, “I’m fine. I should have been called if there was a new special case that’s all.” I walk past Jennifer and head straight for Julie’s office. I walk right in and sit down in her chair so I can see the door.

I wait for eight minutes for her to show up. Walking in she seems surprised to see me, “I thought you were on holiday with family problems?” the look in her eyes tells me she knows why I’m here.

I get out of her seat and make my way round to the other side of the desk. She’s in her suit, must be a court day for her. I let her sit down before I ask, “What’s this about a girl that should be given to me?”

She sighs, “your on holiday. Take the time off to recharge, if anyone needs it, its you.”

I don’t buy it, “What are you not telling me? Should I be given this case? Does she qualify as a special case?”

She reaches into the pile of folders on her desk and hands one to me. “Her name is Clare Adams. Fourteen years old, repeat run away from care homes.”

Looking at her I know she’s keeping something from me. “What else. Carol doesn’t handle teenage runaways, we both know that. Why does everyone think I should be on this case?” Her head drops, “Julie?” I open the file and see why. “Her stepfather was grooming her. How many care homes has she run from?”

“She ran from her fourth yesterday.” She replies, “She claims the first two were abusing her.”

“I’m taking her case.” I get up and make my way to the door. Turning back around I say, “I’ve got a new address and phone number, I’ll put them in the system before I leave.” Looking her in the eyes, “I’m still on holiday for another two weeks but if any cases like this come in; call me.” I open the door and walk out, and head for my desk.

Sitting down I put the changes into the system and read Claire’s file. I need to get on this right away, if half of this is as bad as it seems she’s in trouble. Putting the file on my pile I walk out of the office. I need to go see David and Helen.

…………………

I pull up to what once used to be a hotel, but now it’s used as an unofficial care home. I make my way to the front door and ring the doorbell. A group of six teenagers come rushing out in school uniforms, I move aside and head in, closing the door behind me. Standing in the old lobby I listen out for any noises that could tell me where David might be. Hearing sounds from the common room I head there and see him in his recliner. “And I thought you worked from sun up till sundown.”

“Did the kids let you in, or are you in the habit of breaking in to test my defences?” He stands up and walks over to shake my hand. “I assume this isn’t a social call? What do you need?” I have never been able to get anything past him.

“Can we talk in your office? It’s a work issue.”

Without saying a word he leads the way. Once inside his office he sits behind the desk and just looks at me, piercing me with his green eyes. “What do you need to know?” Ive always appreciated his bluntness, “is it about a new case you want me take in?” I remain silent and sit in one of the chairs opposite him. “If you want my help, I need to know with what. Now.”

I sigh, “new special case, I want to bring her here. Its bad, Tiffany bad.”

He sits there silently. I shouldn’t burden him with this. I get up to leave and am at the door before he says anything. “I can’t take her, social services are on my case, apparently I mistreat those in my care.” That’s got my attention.

“How? Only you, Helen and myself know you take in runaways and street kids. I personally keep you of the radar cause you won’t harm anyone. Was it the school? They were told to address me with any concerns.” This is not good. I sit back down in the now vacant chair.

For the first time I’ve known him, he looks old. David has always been there for street kids, keeps them out of the gangs and of the radar of all agencies. As an ex street kid, he clawed his way of the streets. Got himself an education, a very good job that he runs from home and a beautiful wife, not bad for a man turning thirty. “I’m not sure but I’ve got my suspicions.”

“I’ll deal with it. In the mean time this girl. Fourteen, groomed, abused in two homes and run from number four yesterday. Any ideas where she’d go?”

He takes a deep breath. “Word has it, Frank Solomon is back on the scene. This time he’s got protection, Sinclair.” I knew I wasn’t going to like this. “He’s up to his old tricks, prostituting kids for anyone who wants it and can afford it. The client list is pretty high on the food chain.”

“Looks like I’m going to war.” I say.

David stares wide eyed, “Will, you can’t. With you out of the way, who’s going to scare them? We both know they all fear you.”

I get out of the chair and stand up. I didn’t want to bring this to his door, this is my problem. “If I bring her to you, will you take her in? she can’t stay with me, breach of ethics. I need to know she’ll be safe.”

“You know I will” he replies while writing something down on a scrap of paper, “the address. Come out in one piece, this place needs you.”

“It needs your brother.” With that I make my way out the door and get on my bike. I need things from the house, this is going to be a war.

…………………

I get back to the house and change into my uniform. I don’t know what I’m going to be facing so I grab an assortment of handheld weapons. Shuriken, needles, powders and a pair of butterfly knives. I can’t believe I’m doing this again. As I head downstairs I hear a car pulling up, glad I covered up in joggers and a hoody, and see Sera being dropped off. She comes through the front door and stares at me.

“I’m going out for a bit,” I say, “I’ll be back soon.” I hope she believes I’m only going for a run.

“Give me a minute and I’ll get my gear on,” she says, “I’ll come with you. I need the exercise.” Shit.

“You can’t,” I reply, “its not the type of run your used to. I am running a fire course.”

She gives me a suspicious look, I trained her to well. “Where are you really going? Is it another fight club? If you don’t let me tag along I’ll follow you anyway, I’m good enough to compete.”

“In the clubs yes” I say, “but I’m not going to a club. I’m going to work. One of my cases is in trouble and I’m going to sort it out.” I need to stop her now. “You aren’t ready for this.” That one hurt her but I know she’s not ready for this.

“You trained me,” she says, “to take on any challenge. Besides you may need me to watch your back.”

“Okay.” I say, “You can come on these conditions. One, you run when I say no matter what. Two, you do not speak at all. Three, fight only when attacked, and four you don’t speak off it to anyone but me.” She just nods her head in agreement. “back of your wardrobe is a box, put on the outfit inside then cover it up like I have. You have five minutes.” She runs past me upstairs as I countdown the time in my head.

Four minutes later she appears in the same outfit as me. Before we leave I make an anonymous phone call to the police telling them where they can find evidence of illegal fight clubs. We get on my bike and I take us to a car I use for cases like this.

…………………

I pull the car up to the address David gave me. The outside has all the markings of a sleazy sex shop. I look at Sera, “You will see things that will stay with you. Just remember what I told you, don’t speak, fight only WHEN attacked and when I say run, RUN!! Don’t worry about me. Just get out and get away as fast as you can.”

We get out of the car and make our way into the ‘shop’. I turn the sign on the door to closed and lock the door while the greasy guy at the till leers at Sera. “Can I help you with something cutie? Maybe give you a good time with a real man?” God he even sounds greasy. Sera is starting to tense up so I put my left hand on her lower back to calm her.

“I’m here to see Frank,” I say, “I’m an old friend and I heard he was back in town. Wanted to give him this nice present here.” I poke Sera in the back softly so she knows not to do anything. “Got her trained and everything, won’t even speak in my presence.” Good girl Sera, stay with me, don’t start yet.

The grease ball eyes her up and then looks at me. “Frank’s downstairs with a new girl at the minute, but I’ll look after your ‘gift’ for ya.” Stay with me Sera.

“Sorry, she’s not for you. Any of the other boys in yet? Couple of them owe me money.” I’m gonna rip this guys throat out if Sera doesn’t beat me to it.

“Everybody’s downstairs in the dungeon.” Good the info I needed. I let Sera go as he leads the way, I give her a signal to follow my lead. “Doorways through there.” He points to a door just off the counter. I steer Sera towards it and when he’s in range stick a needle in his neck. He blacks out instantly, Sera just looks at me.

We get the joggers and hoody’s off quickly. She’s in the same uniform as me. The only weapons on show are the knives, which she looks at. I warned her this wasn’t something she was ready for. Grabbing a bag from behind the counter I stuff our street clothes into it, “this is your last chance to leave, I want you to but I could do with you watching my back. Go for the knockout in every move, don’t hold back, when it falls apart they’ll look to kill. Welcome to your next evolution.”

“Is it going to be as bad as you think?”

I decide not to lie, “it’s going to be worse than you can imagine. I know his type and he lives to torture people.” I don’t tell her the rest. Class one paedophile, takes pleasure in torturing and humiliating his prey before he savagely rapes and kills them, and does it all with a smile on his face. “First chance you get when it breaks down leave me behind. That’s an order.”

I give her my facemask, I wont need it, and most of these guys probably know me from Sinclair’s clubs. We make our way down the stairs, me leading, and the smell hits us. Blood. I can feel the evil pulsing from every inch of this dungeon. I look back and Sera just give me a look that says she’s staying, I’ve never been more proud of her. We get to the bottom and thankfully there are shadows everywhere. She makes her way towards them without me saying a word, and stays level with me down the corridor. We take three steps in before the first scream rips through the silence.

A door opens six feet away and a man wearing nothing but blood and a smile walks out and spots me. “Nice costume, she’s still alive if you want a piece.” He smirks and just looks at me, “she’s a cute little thing, nice and young,” I feel my blood boil, “takes it like a pro, the little whore. You don’t mind ten year olds do you or do you like them a little older?”

“Older,” I reply.

“Well, I think there’s a couple of early teens in the cages. If you pay a little more you get blood play.” This guy thinks I’m here for sex? That can my work to my advantage, especially the blood play.

“Do you mind if I take a look?” I want to know how badly I’m going to beat this guy.

“Sure.” He leads me in and I leave the door open so Sera can see why I want her to leave. Tied spread eagle to a bed is a little girl, her face has been beaten badly, there are cuts on her stomach and blood trickling out of her vagina. Poor kid, never stood a chance. He slaps her face, “come on slut wake up, we aint done yet. I got a friend wants to watch you at work.” He walks over to her head and points his cock at her face, “suck it bitch.” She doesn’t get the chance. I walk up behind him and slit his throat with one of my knives.

I check here pulse as Sera enters the room. “How’s the girl?” she asks, worry evident in her voice.

“Her pulse is fading.” Frank Solomon, wherever you are, your ass is mine. “It will only get worse from here. I want you to leave now and forget about this place and what you’ve seen.” I wish I could but this poor girl needs justice, the kind that can’t be gotten in a court of law.

Sera takes off the mask so I can see her face, “NO. I know I said I would if you told me to, but I want the guys who brought her here just as much as you do.” Sera if I didn’t already love you, I think I would have just fallen for you.

“Stay in the shadows as long as you can,” I say, “and take these, I’ve got other weapons should I need them.” I hand her my butterfly knives and she puts the mask back on.

We make our way back down the corridor, all the doors are open and there are children tied and chained up everywhere. Frank Solomon, after I kill all your clients, your going to wish you were dead.

I notice a closed door a few feet down from the girl’s ‘tomb’ and open it. The smell of decay hits me like punch in the face. There must be at least twenty bodies in here, all with that last scream on their faces before they died. I should have known about this place, I would have shut it down earlier. I close the door again and speed up my walk to the end of the corridor.

At the door I hear laughing and voices talking. I look at Sera and whisper, “get as many of the victims out as you can. I’m doing this alone.” She steps out of the shadows, removes her mask and kisses me, I kiss her back.

“No matter what happens in there, come back to me. If you’re not out when their free I’m coming in to get you.” I’ve just fallen in love with Sera all over again.

She heads back down the corridor and I open the door and go in. There are ten guys all sitting round a table playing cards and drinking. “Which one of you is Frank Solomon?” I ask, “I was told to report to Frank Solomon about membership.”

They all stare at me like I’ve got two heads when one decides to speak, “the boss aint here right now so fuck off.” They all start laughing, I stand there getting more pissed by the second. “You deaf or somethin? I said fuck off.” They all get up to make me leave. I let my body go on autopilot and quickly put all of them down for the count except one.

“I want to know where Frank Solomon is right now.” I love gang members, I never feel bad for hurting them.

I hear a voice coming from the door behind me, “who are you and what do want with me?” I look around and see a middle aged man in the doorway with his left arm around Sera’s neck. I shouldn’t have left her alone. “You come into my establishment, kill one of my patrons, knock out a member of my staff and disable my guards while letting this piece of trash try to free my workers. Do have some sort of death wish?” he lets Sera go and pushes her at me. I catch her in my arms and can feel her shaking. I sit her down in a chair and focus on the man at the door.

“Who I am is irrelevant,” I say, “what I want is your head on a pike.” I can feel the red mist descending but I hold it off; I want to enjoy beating the shit out of him.

He starts to laugh, “Better than you have tried little boy. People you couldn’t imagine protect me.” He looks past me at Sera. “A little old for my tastes, but the boys you just hurt could find solace in your whore when they come around.”

“They wont be coming around.”

“Oh well, looks like I don’t have to pay them.”

“You wont live long enough to worry about that.” I say as I fold my arms and slide a needle from my wrist. Going for anything else would only set him off. I casually walk towards him and drop into a simple fighting stance.

He starts laughing. “Fine I’ll just beat you to death. Haven’t done this for a while to anyone I didn’t rape first.” He looks past me and blows a kiss at Sera, “when I’m done with your lover boy, I’ll attend to you.”

Sera looks at me and I nod. “When he’s done toying with you, you’ll thank the gods for death.” Thanks Sera, I’m sorry you have to see this.

Frank reaches behind and pulls a hunting knife from his back, stained with dry blood. He wants to play that way, fine, I’ll play. I put the needle back and grab two shuriken from my suit. He starts laughing at me, good, he’s underestimating me. He turns around and closes the door and I throw both shuriken. One hits his hand closing the door and the other hits his other hand, making him drop the knife.

“AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” he screams in pain.

I casually walk over and place a needle in each wrist before pulling out the shuriken and wiping the blood off on his shirt. “The needles will stop the blood flow, don’t wont this to end to quickly.” I should end this but I want him to suffer and with my knowledge of acupuncture, I can keep him going for as long as I want. He aims a punch at my stomach, which I stop and proceed to break his wrist in four places. He screams something incoherent at me while I let his arm go and it hangs at his side. I make my way over to make sure Sera’s okay and see she’s unconscious.

Turning back around I see Frank laughing. “Roofies are such a wonderful drug, you can knockout anyone with them. HA HA HA.” My body just takes over and starts beating him into an unconscious, bloody mess. I go back to Sera and put a needle into her index finger in its specific place. She starts to come to and is groggy. How did I not know he would have the date rape drug after seeing this place?

I walk over and pick up Franks body, and take him to a room with chains hanging form the wall, and lock him into place. I take the needles out of his wrists and wake him up. “I don’t wont you to miss this.” I say when he comes to. Reaching into my suit again I pull out a small clear bag containing a blue powder. “Nasty stuff this. I’m told when mixed with blood it feels like your veins are on fire. It also has a nasty habit of keeping you awake, by shorting out the pain respecters to your brain. Your brain doesn’t think you’re in agony although your body tells you different.” I pour the powder into the holes in his hands and stand back.

“AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” He screams.

I move to side knowing what comes next. He pisses himself first and then shit comes out his other end. I let him suffer for five seconds before grabbing the yellow powder and pouring that into the holes. “This powder negates the blue one. How does that feel?”

I notice Sera walk into the room and see the mess on the floor, “what the fuck did you do to him? What did he give me?” She looks awful, I need to wrap this up and get to her to the hospital.

“Finish getting those that can be saved out, I’m nearly finished with him.” I say. She looks at me with a horrified expression, I’ll make this up to her. She goes off and I turn back round to face Frank, his head hanging low and unable to stand under his own power. Its time to finish this. I go back to the first room and pick his knife up off the floor and head back to him. I spin him around so he’s facing the wall, “this will hurt you a lot more than me,” I say and shove the knife right into his shit hole. As he pulls his head back to scream, I reach around and snap his neck.

Leaving the room I help Sera get out and proceed to torch the building before stealing a parked van nearby and taking everyone to the nearest hospital.

…………………

I knew I would need to answer a lot of questions, bringing twelve children aged between eight and fourteen to the emergency room dressed in jogging bottoms and a hoody. I’m lucky some of the staff know I’m a care worker, but there are still the questions I have to answer to the police. I keep a lot from them and they know it, they’re just glad they don’t have to do the paperwork. I call Julie and she comes in to process the kids and goes through all the procedures.

I check on Sera who is on an I.V drip, just to be safe. “Hey how you holding up?” Not the best thing in the world to say but it brings a smile to her face.

“I’ll be better when I can get this thing out of my arm, I feel fine.” She looks me square in the eyes, “are you okay? I’ve never seen you get that angry before, it scared me.”

“I’ll be fine. But that place… I don’t know, it got to me.”

“Yea, I know what you mean.”

We both allow the silence to take over for a few minutes before Sera break’s it, “I forgot to ask, how are the kids doing? No one is telling me anything, I hope their all okay.”

I smile at her, after everything she saw she can still look for something positive. “Most are malnourished and a couple of the girls are in a bad way but they’ll all recover. With the exception of the violence, welcome to what I do for a living. I have to enter that world every day.”

A nurse comes over and tells Sera she needs to rest so I leave to check on the two that were in surgery. I find the surgeons and they tell me it went well and the physical scarring shouldn’t be permanent. I ask when I can see them and they tell me to come back tomorrow so I head back to Sera’s bedside. If the nurses thought she would rest they have another thing coming.

I pull back the curtain to see her fully dressed in her jogging bottoms and hoody, with the sleeve pulled up so the I.V would still be in place. “I thought you were told to rest.”

She just looks at me and I know I wont win this fight, “I just want to make sure they’re all okay for myself.”

“Okay,” I say, “but then its back to bed. That’s an order that I wont let you out of.”

She nods her head and I lead her down to the children’s ward. We’re lucky they were all able to be in same general ward together. I don’t think they could handle being split up. The ones that are awake are talking with a child psychologist. I take a closer look at the chestnut brown haired woman and nearly faint myself, I should of known that she’d be here. I look at Sera and she’s openly crying, I guess the trauma has finally caught up with her. She makes her way over to the one of the beds and sits down while I go to Claire’s bedside. I look at her and know I should have got there sooner, her face is black and blue, left leg in a cast and she suffered three broken ribs. Frank should have suffered more.

“Okay I officially admit your right.”

I turn around and see Julie standing behind me. This is the first time she has seen why I call them ‘special cases’ and now knows why. “No, I wasn’t.”

Julie pulls up a chair next to me and sits down. “You once told me that we need to care when no one else does, even on the cases that don’t care about themselves. Today you’ve proven me wrong and I am happy to admit that.”

I turn back around to face Claire and all I see is my failure. I should know what Sinclair was up to, who he was protecting and why, but I don’t. “Thanks for coming in, they needed all this to be official and you’re the only one in the office I don’t scare.”

“You actually do scare me,” I look at her face and see she’s smiling, “you show more emotion when working a case like this then at any other time. In all my years I’ve never seen anyone take abuse cases so personally.”

I smile and turn back to look at Claire. “Everyone of these kids are my cases. They’ll be in a safe place receiving psychological care and I’ll give you frequent updates.”

She sighs, “only on one condition.” I look at her, “I know where they are being looked after. I let you get away with a lot but a case like this… I need to know.”

“Fine.” With that I watch as she gets up and makes her way out of the ward.

Looking around everyone is making their way back to bed and a nurse is trying to remove Sera. She walks over to me and sits down next to me in the now vacant chair. I’m looking at Claire again.

“Is this the girl we went in there for?” she asks.

“Yes.” I reply.

“Will she be okay?”

”Physically yes, emotionally, maybe never. She was in a bad way before they took her there. I should of known about it.”

“Sensei, despite what you think, you are only human. We fail sometimes. What matters is you saved those that you could.”

I look at Sera and see the sorrow in her eyes; I think she wishes we could have done more. “Lets get you back to bed.” I escort her back to her bed and leave.