Page 26 of Breakaway

“Honestly, I’m never sure why I’m still alive except I know he likes to play with me like a cat with a mouse.”

Joel snickers. “They messed with the wrong guy last night. Mel is a decorated Army Ranger Intelligence Officer. He called me, and we caught two onsite and one as he ran. Mel has film footage of the break-in. We suspect two of their cronies on the force. They’re being interrogated now. They expected to burn the place down, so they were sloppy and didn’t cover their faces.”

“There are politicians on his payroll, too.”

“I’m aware. Have you ever played with dominos, Caitlyn?” Joel asks.

I shake my head.

“If you line them up in a row, half the width apart then knock one domino down, it often takes them all. I’ll take some over none any day.”

“You’re retired. What can you do?”

“The district attorney is a very good friend and as honest as they come. I would trust her with my own family. I retired two years ago. I still know all the good cops on the force. I know how the system works and who to go to.”

“What do you know about my stepbrother?” I ask.

“Illegal drug sales, gambling, prostitution. I’m sure there’s more.”

I nod. “Sex trafficking. Rape. Rape of minors. Possible pedophile. Murder for hire.”

“Jesus,” Clark wheezes, rubbing a hand over his face.

“Do you have proof?” Joel asks.

I lean my head against the back of the couch and study the ceiling. “Slack learned most of what he does from his dad, my stepfather. That man was an abusive drug addict and all of the above. He got my mom hooked, then pimped her when he needed money. He’d do anything for a buck or fix. He killed for hire.

“Slack learned everything from him. He… thrived on it all.

“Slack raped me on my fourteenth birthday. He said it was my present. Shortly after my sixteenth birthday he bludgeoned our parents. I walked in and saw him standing over them, the bloody hammer in his hand. He tried to say he walked in and found them that way and instinctively picked up the weapon. I knew it was a lie, he was covered in blood spatter. I should have told someone, said something. I should have….”

Turk eases an arm around me. “Babe, you were in shock. Seeing that is not normal. Did you get any counseling?”

“Not really, I was taken to the hospital for shock and kept there for three days. Counselors came in and asked if I wantedto talk, but I couldn’t. Slack was always there. Then he was appointed my guardian. I was required to attend six more sessions, but he always took me.

“When they were over, he told me he owned me and was putting me to work. He set me up with my first john. I saw an out and took it.”

“You propositioned a cop and went to juvie,” Turk says.

I roll my head and look at him. “You know about that?”

“Yes. The officer swore you did it on purpose. That you were afraid.”

“I did. When I got out, I went to foster care. My foster dad was a good guy, he’d served in the military, owned his own auto repair shop, and taught me hockey.

“Slack stayed away from me. I think because he was working bigger deals by then and I was of no use to him.

“I was doing okay. Living in a little studio apartment, making ends meet with small jobs. Trying out for hockey teams when I could.

“But I made a mistake. About nine months ago he put our parents’ home up for sale. I foolishly went to an open house hoping there’d be a picture of my mom I could get. Maybe one of my dad, or baby pictures. I thought I’d be anonymous. But apparently, he saw me walk away. That put me back on his radar.

“Shortly after he approached me at the hockey rink where I practiced. He told me that my dad’s mother was pretty sick and she was looking for me. She wanted to leave her home and what’s left of her money to me as her only living relative. I only remember meeting the woman once or twice. But she remembered me.

“Slack wanted that house. I refused to sign it over to him. That’s when he came up with the bogus prostitute contract. Said that I reneged on the appointment, so I had to pay him back with interest. He said he’d destroy the contract if I’d give him thehouse. It was a forged contract, but he said if it went public no hockey team would ever hire me.”

“He started having me followed. I lost both of my jobs making it hard for me to meet his ridiculous payments. If it wasn’t for Mel, I’d have been on the street. Then I got the hockey offer. I thought I got my break. I’d be making real money and could pay the loan off faster. I didn’t know about Baylor.”

“Did you find a picture of your mom?” Joel asks, understanding in his gaze.

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