Page 119 of Bad Enough

Sylvan looked up at the digital timer. “Two hours and six minutes.”

She heard a lot of swearing and puffing coming from Medusa’s box. There was the rattling of the handcuffs and then an elongated hiss followed by a squeal and a sudden jerk. Metal jangled against itself.

“I’m out of my cuffs. I’m going to switch boxes with one of the two remaining girls.”

“Won’t he see you?”

“I don’t know. I hope not. I’m hoping he’s taking care of money transfers and shipping details and won’t be paying attention. If he does see me, we’ll know. But I need to try and make sure I get through the pipeline to the destination for one of the women. If I wait to let my own sale go through, I may lose my chance because it allows more time for Lobo and his band of merry men to get here.”

“Medusa, don’t do this!” Sylvan hissed.

“I don’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice. There’s always another way.”

“Stay quiet, Flame. Even if you’re sold, Lobo will still come for you. They likely know I’m gone as well, or will be soon, because Loki and Gil will tell them if they don’t already know. I’m going to place another tracker on the outside of your container. It will give them another avenue to track you.

“But, Flame, this next part is super important. Do whatever you’re told to do. Do whatever it takes to stay alive. Alive and damaged is better than dead. And if you do as you’re told, if you accept it and keep hold of the fact that Lobo will find you, the damage will be less no matter what physically occurs to you.”

“Medusa, no!”

Sylvan heard a cracking noise and what sounded like the tinkling of something small and made of glass breaking. “That was my camera. I don’t have long. Stay alive, Flame.”

The sound of a metal door softly opening and closing could be heard, and then a soft groan and a murmur. Moments later, Sylvan heard the whisper of the door opening again, a whimper, and a shushing sound, followed by a closing door, and then silence. Medusa had effectively switched out one of the girls for herself, then gone to put herself in the other girl’s box.

Another ten minutes passed. A buzzer sounded.

Fifteen minutes passed. Another buzzer.

A short time later, Sylvan heard sounds like squeaky wheels and metal being moved. The sold girls were being relocated. Her stomach turned at the thought.

Hurry, TB!

45

JUNE 23RD

TB

“What have we got?” Waters asked as he rounded up the troops.

Nemo was looking at the tabletop where Flame’s purse contents were strewn about because he’d turned it upside down, dumped everything out, and was pawing through them. His expression looked pained.

TB asked him, “What are you looking for?”

“This is Flame’s purse, right? The one she was carrying the other day when you two flew out of here?”

“Yes, but nothing in there’s going to help us find her.”

“Where’s her phone?”

“She doesn’t carry it in her purse. She carries it on her at all times. Woman actually has a pocket sewn into each one of her outfits…” His voice trailed off.

Nemo looked at him.

“I’m a fucking moron. Midas!” TB bellowed. “Trace her fucking phone. She has it on her.”

“What? How do you know?”

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