“Don’t play stupid. I heard you through the wall. The bidding. How much for the girl?”
The girl’s eyes went wide. Betrayed. She thought I was another buyer. Another monster.
I pulled out my wallet. Showed them the cash. I’d withdrawn fifteen thousand for my brother’s memorial. Burial costs. Hadn’t spent it all.
“I’ve got ten thousand right here. Cash. No questions.”
They looked at each other. Calculating. Was I a buyer? A cop? Something else?
“Why should we trust you?”
“Because I’m standing here with ten grand cash at 3 AM. Because I ride alone. Because I don’t look like a cop.” I paused. “And because that van’s got no plates. You’re running. Something went wrong. You need cash fast and you need to move faster.”
I was guessing. But their faces told me I was right.
“Where you taking her?”
“Denver,” one said. The others glared at him. He’d said too much.
They hesitated. Ten thousand cash right now versus the risk of driving to Denver with a girl who’d already tried to escape at least once based on the bruises.
“Let’s see the cash.”Continue reading…
