Page 30 of Holiday Grief

He’d done it for himself not for her.

For her to go missing and then her sisters, it would bring too much attention to her family, attention that could easily turn to him. She’d gone into hiding, not seen anyone those first few months as she slowly healed from the injuries that had almost stolen her life along with her unborn baby’s. Bobby likely knew if he went after her sisters she would go to the cops and tell them everything.

Selfish.

He was always selfish.

She would never thank him for anything, he’d destroyed her life, her sense of self, her entire identity.

“You think you can hold out now but how long can you really last? Sooner or later, you’ll be on your knees before me performing the job I taught you to do and thanking me for my generosity.”

As the first blow landed directly in her stomach, shoving the air from her lungs, Jasmine knew she would never give Bobby what he wanted.

It was either be rescued or die here in this room.

Those were her only options.

* * * * *

December 16th

4:27 P.M.

“Are we sure this is it?” Adam asked as they pulled up outside what looked like a completely normal and nondescript family home in a decent suburb. The area wasn’t a wealthy one, there were no mansions and fancy cars parked in driveways, but neither was it impoverished. Just your average, middle-class neighborhood.

It certainly didn't look like a house where a pimp held teenage girls prisoner and forced them to prostitute themselves.

According to Karen Hopman, a teenager who had been initially reported as a runaway, but had been proven to have been abducted, this was where she had been brought by the older man she thought was her boyfriend. The teen had told them she hadn't run away, she’d just gone to spend the day with Bobby Johnson, her thirty-five-year-old boyfriend. Only when she got there he had informed her that she was not permitted to leave and that he owned her now.

The girl hadn't understood what he meant or what was going on, and when she’d told him she wasn’t going to prostitute herself and was going home he’d viciously beaten her.

That beating had saved her life.

Even though Bobby had threatened to go after Karen’s little sister and force her into prostitution if she refused, the teenager had reached out for help at the hospital.

If it hadn't been for Karen, he wouldn’t have known who Bobby was or been able to track down the house where the teenager had been taken.

He also wouldn’t have known what Jasmine had been too ashamed to tell him.

That she had also fallen for Bobby’s ruse, only she had heeded the threats to her younger sisters and stayed with the violent pimp for two years. Likely the only thing that eventually allowed her to break free was the fact that she’d wound up pregnant.

Jasmine would have to tell him the specifics, but he could make a guess on how it happened.

“According to what Karen told us this has to be it,” Jessica replied.

“I hope she’s in there,” he said as they both got out of their vehicle. If Bobby hadn't brought her here, he had no idea where to look next. Every second Jasmine was with this violent psychopath was another moment she was being hurt.

Because there was no way this man had waited six years to get his hands on her and hadn't hurt her.

Sending up a quick prayer, Adam and Jessica made their way to the front door. They had no idea if this was where Bobby based his prostitution business or if this was a private home. Karen had only been in the living room and kitchen when she was here, so she wasn’t aware if other girls were also being held prisoner on the premises.

The house was quiet as they entered. According to Karen, there had been no other men here, nor had she seen any others hanging around when she met up with Bobby. They assumed that he ran the show himself, less people to split the money with, but they still carefully cleared each room on the ground floor.

Finding no one, they headed up the stairs.

As soon as they reached the second floor, Adam knew the house wasn’t empty.

Each of the doors up here had a padlock on the outside, and all four of those padlocks were currently locked.

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