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“You know I love my girls… all of them. Every single one of you is a precious bird to me.” She grabbed my face between her palms. “I won’t let him take you from me. I won’t.” She tucked my hair behind my ear. “You’re special to me, Demi. We’ve just met you, yet it feels like we’ve known you all along.” She smiled at me. “Now, the authorities would like to speak with you, my special hummingbird.” She put her hand in mine, and walked me out of my room.
My nerves were shot as I glanced over my shoulder. “Mrs. Ivory, you don’t have to stay here. You can come with me,” I whispered up at her. She felt warm and everything she ever said seemed genuine. Her husband was clearly a monster, and she was probably trapped here, just like the rest of the people in this estate.
“You’re so silly. Why would I leave our home, Demi? And you’re not going to leave, either,” she said with excitement as we turned to the formal living area.
A police officer in a pale gray uniform was sitting across from Dr. Ivory, who gave me a look that had my entire body ice over.
“Miss Rao?” The officer stood and reached his hand out. “I’m Officer Tate.” He tapped his hat with the other hand.
Nervously, I looked around the room. Conrad was sitting beside his dad, and he leaned down, widening his eyes at me and slowly shaking his head. What did that mean?
“We received a call of distress from you, ma’am.”
Dr. Ivory let out a dry laugh as Officer Tate chewed on a wet toothpick obnoxiously. Tapping my thumbs together, I looked at my feet. This was it. I had to speak for myself but also for the caged girls.
“There’re at least five girls in the Ossis wing in these white… rooms. And one is in Dr. Ivory’s office… you can see her through the glass. They are all being held prisoner.” My words shook as I spoke. It was completely silent, and I felt the heavy gazes locked on me.
“Miss Rao, that’s an awfully intense accusation, and we don’t want to waste taxpayer money, now do we?” the officer sang out in his southern drawl.
“I swear! Please!” I pleaded.
“Okay, well, why don’t we take a look around with you?” Officer Tate looped his fingers into his belt loops and nodded at Dr. Ivory, who smiled at him in a way that had my stomach curl.
“We can all head over together.” Dr. Ivory glanced between Mrs. Ivory and Conrad. Following behind them, I dragged my feet slightly. This was it. Those girls would be freed. I’d leave with this officer, and maybe stop by Raina’s house for a night. I’d start over and find a new place.
Once we got to the Ossis wing, Dr. Ivory swiped the card and waved for Officer Tate and me to go through first.
I didn’t want that creep behind me, but with a police officer beside me, I felt safe enough. I glanced at Conrad, who had a look of worry on his face. Maybe this would be a way to set him and Mrs. Ivory free, too.
“This is the first room I cleaned.” I pointed to the door and it opened slowly. I looked inside the room and looked at the officer. “See!” There she was, the first girl I saw, chained to her bed, wearing a short white gown with her head shaved, eyes closed, and thick headphones over her ears. “There! She’s chained up!” I slapped my hand over my mouth and shook in relief. Part of me thought in some crazy way they’d have removed all the girls… the evidence.
Officer Tate walked into the room and looked all around before turning back again. His forehead creased as he looked directly into my eyes. “Miss Rao, let’s go take a seat.” He rolled his lips together, brushing the scruff scattered against his jaw.
“Wait? You have to unchain her!” I tried to push past him and run inside the room, but he gripped my shoulders and pushed me out of the room before the door slid shut.
“Let go! You have to help her! And there’s more; this whole hallway is full of girls just like her!”
Officer Tate’s nails dug into my upper arm as he dragged me to the formal living area. “Miss Rao, do you have a history of mental illness?” The officer peered at me as he pushed me onto the sofa.
“Mental… illness?” I stammered with my brows lowered. I was appalled by the accusation. “You saw her. She was right there.” I waved my hands wildly, completely flabbergasted.
“Conrad! Conrad, he won’t lie.” I stood and raced over to Conrad, who had his head dropped low.
“Demi, those are empty patient recovery rooms my dad uses for his outpatient clinic. It’s been a long time since we’ve even had a patient,” he said without a hitch.
“No… there was a girl. Let me back in and I’ll shake her. I’ll take the headphones off.” I began shrieking and panicking all at the same time. This couldn’t be happening.
“Dr. Ivory, would you like me to take her somewhere?” Officer Tate began restraining me as I tried to lunge forward.
“No, you know we take care of them,” he said with a grin.
“I know you do, sir. You see, Miss Rao, the Ivory family gives jobs and homes to women like you, who would be dead on the street if it weren’t for their kindness. Our city is a safer, cleaner, and better place thanks to the Ivory family. It’s time you show appreciation to those who are saviors of our otherwise progressive city,” Officer Tate hissed in my ear as his nails dug into my arms.
There was no point attempting to fight this enormous man. My mind was spiraling, and I was exhausted with myself. I crumpled over, loosening my body as if I were a ragdoll. Once I did, he let me go and I sank into the sofa. Was I delirious? Was I losing my mind? Was the Ivory family truly rehabilitating these women? No one was crying or running, but one of the girls did mouth ‘Run’ to me.
Didn’t she?
“Miss Rao, if there is nothing else, then I need to leave now. My wife is at home waiting for me.”
