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“It’s me,” she said.
The woman started audibly crying. “Nera, where have you been? God, everyone’s so worried! Do you need me to come get you?”
Nera shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “No, nothing like that. I was… kidnapped by a bunch of assholes. But I got away. I went to your cousin for help like you said.”
“Duke? Oh, my God. Is he there so I can thank him?” she asked.
“No, their, ah, club couldn’t keep me. Not sure why. They had another club come get me. I’m with them now. And before you worry, they have been more than accommodating and helpful. They’re going to help me catch these bastards.”
We heard a loud male voice yelling, and Amanda said, “Shit, I have to go, it’s time for inspections and I’ll be in a shitload of trouble if I’m caught on the phone instead of in formation. Is this your new number?”
“Yes,” Nera replied.
“I’ll call you tonight. I have so many questions.”
“Okay, I’d like that,” Nera responded.
“Love you. Bye.” Amanda ended the call.
I handed her back the phone, which she pocketed. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I really do feel better. Thank you for making me do that.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t make you do anything. Just gave you a little nudge is all.”
She launched herself into my chest and I enveloped her in a tight hug. She felt so perfect against me, like her body was molded to fit mine.
“I’m so scared, Shep,” she whispered, her tears staining my white T-shirt.
“I know, larkspur. I know. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
She looked up at me. “I’m scared for the girls who were left behind. How bad were they punished for me and the other two girls leaving? We begged them to come, but they were too scared of getting caught, of being punished.”
“That’s not surprising,” I replied, not alarmed that Nera was that sensitive to be concerned for their wellbeing and wondering what happened to them.
“Where do you think they moved to?” she asked with my arms wrapped around her.
“I don’t know, but the sooner you can get those sketches done, the better. I’ll send them over to the Nighthawks, maybe we can get an ID on at least one.”
“Okay, but I don’t think they’re from around here,” she commented, shaking her head.
“Sit,” I said, leading her to a chair while I sat at mine behind the desk. I glanced at the screen and saw I had a shitload of emails waiting for me but I ignored it. “Why do you say that?”
“One of them had an accent like he was from another country. Don’t ask me which one. The other three, they didn’t speak like they were from the South at all, especially not New Orleans.”
I picked up my cell and dialed Chaos. “My office,” I said after he answered.
I set the phone down. “I want those composite sketches done ASAP if that’s okay with you. Before you start to forget.”
She nodded, and there was a knock on the door.
“Boss,” Chaos said, poking his head in.
“You busy?” I asked, not that I cared because he was going to drop whatever he was doing to help me.
“Nah. You ready for those drawings?” he asked.
“Yeah, go get some paper and whatever other shit you need and come back here.”
