Page 75 of Pretty Monsters

"Did I miss something yesterday?" she asks, confused.

"No, Ford is going to ask you himself."

"What will you be doing for a college kid?" Lucien asks.

"He's the same age we are," I remind him.

He shakes his head. "We haven't been our own age for over a decade."

True. A life of endless fighting will age you quickly.

"Ford is opening a women's only facility to teach self defense, and there will be a women's shelter on site. I'm going to teach some defense classes, and do some cyber security. Raven will meet with women and take memberships so they don't have to deal with a man right from the start. That is, if you are willing to do it," I say, realizing I just assumed she'd want to work.

I'm stunned when she stretches up and kisses me. "I'd love to. I also want to teach archery and knife throwing. You never know when ordinary objects are the only thing standing between whether you live or die."

"Knife throwing and archery?" Lucien asks. Clearly, he didn't know about her extracurricular studies at the boarding school.

She shrugs one shoulder. "Just something I learned in school."

I swat her on the rear. "We're headed to the gym in a bit. Go get ready while I go through the strip club's files with your brother."

"Fine, go do nerdy man things," she huffs, then heads to the bathroom.

I wait until she's closed the bedroom door. "I know you want to save those women, but I don't think you going back to work is going to help them. We need to do what we can from a distance."

"We still need money," Lucien points out.

"I told you, I'm going to work at Ford's gym."

"It isn't even open yet, and it'll take a while until there are enough paying clients to give you a salary."

"There's a bar a couple blocks away. Maybe they need a bartender. I've already been in there, it is gritty, but no illegal activity."

Lucien leans back and sighs. "We need to save them. After all the horrible shit we've done, I need to save someone for a change."

"We will," I promise him.

He closes his eyes and nods off for a while, having only slept maybe a couple of hours. Raven settles down to read a book she borrowed from one of the girls.

Left alone, I decide to dig into the files and see if I can find the links we need to break this chain of human trafficking. Saving the women already here is important, but it'll be in vain if they are replaced by new ones. We'd be giving salvation to some while condemning others to be victimized.

After sifting through dozens of coded files I finally get to the top of the pyramid. Martin Gerrick is listed as the owner of Fallen Angel, except, after an exhaustive search I learn he doesn't exist.

Gerrick might not be a real person, but there is a lot of property listed under his name. Most of it is cargo ships and planes, but there are also a couple of casinos and other cash businesses, perfect for laundering money.

"Who are you Martin Gerrick?" I mutter to myself.

"I haven't heard that name for a while," Lucien says, voice rough from sleep.

"According to the research I've done, he doesn't exist. No social security number, no birth certificate, nothing but a bunch of assets."

"That's because Martin Gerrick is a name that has been passed down. It's kind of like the Dread Pirate Roberts from Princess Bride. Someone steps into the role when the previous one retires. No one knows who he is," Lucien explains.

"So, he could be anyone, even your father."

"Pretty much. It's hard to take down a crime lord who doesn't actually exist. Shit, we're fucked."

"You can't go back there, but you need to quit in a way they won't be suspicious."

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