“Seeing you as you are now is thank you enough,” Layla said.
“Anna has already explained a lot to me.”
“Good.”
“She cannot wait to go upstairs,” Anna laughed.
“It’s something else, that’s for sure.”
“I get the impression you’ve been up there long before Quintus came into your life.”
“Yes. We were asked to help some incredible beings almost a year ago. We got lucky, and were very fortunate indeed to have become their friends,” Denise smiled.
“It is always a pleasant memory,” Layla said.
“Your car is not a car at all is it?”
“It is far more than a car, a gift from our friends.”
They went on to give them a quick version of what they did with and for their friends on the Tyrine.
“It all sounds so utterly fantastic, almost too much to believe, and yet, here we are,” Coventina said.
“We are going to get a lift from Quintus’ friends shortly,” Layla said.
“You’re leaving?” Anna asked.
“Yes. I’m sure my plants need watering, and Layla needs to plow the south 40,” Denise laughed.
“I miss my bib overalls,” Layla grinned.
“We live out in the country, in Southern Illinois. You really must come spend some time there with us,” Denise said.
“Sounds delightful,” Coventina said.
“So, where are you going to meet your dates?” Layla asked.
“Here, in Lucilla’s room.”
“I don’t blame her for wanting to stay here. We will return ourselves one day, it’s all so green and beautiful,” Denise smiled.
“Does Lucilla know how to reach you?”
“Oh yes. They all do, as you will find out soon enough,” Layla said.
“Do me a favor,” Denise said.
“Anything,” Coventina smiled.
“Give this to Lucilla,” she said, handing her a large envelope that was full.
“I will.”
“And these are for Quintus and Odumnus, and each of you,” Layla said, handing Anna four more envelopes filled with one hundred dollar bills.
“I don’t know what we did to deserve the two of you,” Anna said.
“We’d better be going.” Layla said.
“Yes, we don’t want to miss our ride across the Big Pond. You can stay in this room if you like until your dates are ready.”
“Until next time then,” Coventina said.
“Until next time,” Denise smiled.
“Quiet night,” Layla said.
They walked out the door with their bags and quietly closed it behind them.
“It’s just a short ride to our pickup spot,” Layla grinned.
“Make it so, baby.”
“Anna.”
“Yes?”
“Have you ventured out on your own yet, you know, since we were taken?”
“Yes. I think I know what you are feeling, and you must get over it. You will get over it. Took me about twelve hours before I hopped on a plane and flew back to Rome to offer any help I could in finding you.”
Coventina walked over to the window and gazed out at the sun slipping in the west. “I’ve always been attracted to it, ever since I was a child. Sunsets are easy since one is usually awake for them, but I always found it easy to be awake for the sunrise. The beginning and end of a new day.”
“I’m always asleep for the sunrise, that is unless I am just getting in from the night before,” Anna laughed.
“They must be beautiful.”
“What?”
“The stars.”
“I have a feeling you’ll see soon enough.”
The phone rang. It was Lucilla informing them that their dates had arrived.
“We’ve something for you from Denise. What shall I do with it?" Anna said.
“You can drop it off on your way out if you don’t mind.”
“I will.”
“Oh, and Anna.”
“Yes.”
“Have a great time.”
“I have a feeling we will.”
42
Home
Layla awoke to the sound of Denise singing along to Lene Lovich’s ‘Home’ playing on the kitchen boom box. “Mmm, coffee.”
“Home is where the heart is, Home is so remote, Home is just emotion, Sticking in my throat, Let’s go to your place, Let’s go to your place,” Denise sang.
“Is that what I hope it is?”
“Yah, yah, ees breakfast.”
“Not just any breakfast.”
“What breakfast is, really?”
“It is, ham and eggs ala Lithuania.”
“That it is.”
“Refill?” Layla asked, pouring her first cup of coffee of the day.
“Please.”
“We should probably go for some groceries,” Layla said as she washed the dishes.
“Yeah, we probably should,” Denise said, before walking to the living room.
Dishes finished, Layla joined her with a second cup of coffee.
“It’s an amazing likeness,” Layla said, looking at the sculpture of Coventina.
“Yeah.”
“I’d like to go rock climbing today.”
“Really?”
“Yes, nude.”
“Okay.”
“Okay indeed. Lay it on me. Something is bothering you.”
“What? Oh, yeah, I’m concerned.”
“Concerned about?”
“I can’t help wondering if we left too many loose ends in our short trek across the Mediterranean.”
“I did too briefly, but it makes no sense to worry about it now. Besides, no one is there.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Denise’s phone rang. “Hello.”
“Denise, is that you?”
“Judith?”
“Yes. I hope this call finds you well.”
“I’m fine. To what do I owe this call?”
“I received a call from the mother of Coventina in the U.K. She said you and some investigators from Italy were instrumental in miraculously retrieving her and her cousin Anna in Europe.”
“We got real lucky Judith.”
“Lucky? Is that all?”
“It was not very hard to follow the seedy trail of trafficking, especially in Italy.”
“You did so without help from the police?”
“The police in Italy cannot and should not be trusted.”
“We all know of corruption in the ranks,” Judith said.
“It goes much higher than the ranks my dear.”
“How do you know this for certain?”
“You’d have to have been there first hand for me to explain. Here’s a tip though. You are an attractive woman Judith. Never go there snooping around alone.”
“That’s a good tip. Well, I just wanted to call and thank you mainly. It’s all so amazing.”
“You are quite welcome Judith, and thanks.”
“Denise, there is one more thing.”
Here it comes. Denise thought. “Yes.”
“Apparently there was a path of bloody carnage that coincided with your visit. Were you aware of that?”
“Carnage?”
Is she alone? Layla asked.
I seriously doubt it.
“Yes, rather gruesome deaths actually, all apparently traced to the underground sex trades in one way or another.”
“And how did you come by that information?”
There was silence on the other end for a moment.
“It’s been in all the papers and in the media.”
She is definitely not alone, but who? Denise thought.
She sounds like she is under a bit of duress.
“Well if it is true, I guess you could say they got what was coming to them.”
“Yes, I suppose you could. Take care Denise.”
“You do the same Judith.” She hung up the phone.
&n
bsp; “Well?”
“Not a question of if but rather who was there during that call?” Denise said.
“Where are her offices?”
“Washington.”
“Never been to the nation’s capital have you?”
“They’re an hour ahead of us,” Denise frowned.
“I guess groceries is going to have to wait huh?”
“It’s a cinch she already knows everything about us or can if she wanted to find out, which means we must assume those who were there when she called know too.”
“Do we need to pack?”
“No, but I’d like to move the other Mustang somewhere no one can find it.”
“Come on, we’ll save some time if we shower together.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Layla grinned.
43
Offices
After loading their computers and the bust of Coventina into the burgundy Mustang, Denise drove it to a location east of their home in the woods. She placed it in stealth and set the security system to maximum before walking back out to the road where Layla was waiting in the black Mustang.
“What time you got?” Denise asked.
“Just after eleven.”
“Do you think she takes a lunch?”
“Yes, I would imagine so.”
“Okay. Why not get to the region quickly and check out the scenery on the way into town?”
‘Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts.”
“It is going to be hot down here today.”
Layla examined a map and plotted her course. “I have a feeling you are right.”
The Mustang touched down on Highway 66 well outside the city limits of Centreville in Virginia. “Oh look, the NRA Museum,” Layla laughed.
“How comforting.”
“Where to exactly?” Layla asked as they crossed the river in to D.C.
Denise checked the email she had received from Judith. “The website only gives a P.O. Box, but her email has an address. Let’s try that first.”
“That was lucky.”
“Yeah. Make a left at the next intersection. It looks like it’s less than a mile up 24th St. N.W.”
“Yay. Street parking. Prior to coming out of stealth, Layla had changed the appearance of the Mustang to that of a black Ford Taurus.
“Excellent.”
“Are you sure we shouldn’t have called Lucilla?”
“Not yet.”
They changed their appearance before exiting the car. Denise was a male in casual dress, khaki pants and a black button down shirt. Layla a heavy set female about six inches shorter than Denise, wearing a flower patterned summer dress and flat shoes.
“Nice building. All white,” Layla said.
“Come on honey, let’s see if Judith can see us,” Denise said.
They went up to the third floor where the office was located.
“Not a very large place is it honey?” Layla said.
“Obviously it doesn’t matter as they are mainly Internet based.”
“Can I help you?” a young woman at a desk asked.
“We are here to see Judith Raphael,” Denise said.
Good guy voice.
Thanks.
“I’m afraid Judith is not in today. Would you care to leave a message for her, some way for her to contact you?”
“Do you know how we could reach her? Denise said. It is extremely important. Please answer her questions.
“I could take your number and,” the woman started to say.
“Do you have an address for Judith?”
“Yes we do have one on file.”
“Would you be so kind as to jot it down on a piece of paper for us?” Layla said.
“Sure, just a moment.” She went into her computer, found it, copied it to a post it note and handed it to Layla.
“Well, we will try back tomorrow. Do you have a number we can reach you at?” Denise asked.
“Of course,” the woman said, handing her a business card.
“Thank you for all your help.”
“Thank you,” Layla smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
Once out of the building and back in the car, they changed back to their own forms.
“Now it’s time to call Lucilla,” Denise sighed.
“You believe it is that important?” Lucilla asked.
“Yes. I don’t have a good feeling about the conversation we had. We are going to try and find her, but for now at least, I think it is important that you all get out of town, perhaps take advantage of the rooms upstairs.”
“You know best Denise. How is it in Southern Illinois today?”
“Hot, a bit hotter than where we are now.”
“Hang on a moment. Quintus would like to speak with you.”
“Denise.”
“Good evening.”
“I have already made arrangements for a pickup to happen as soon as Odumnus returns with Anna and Coventina.”
“I don’t think you’ll have a hard time convincing her to make the trip upstairs.”
“Neither do I. She has asked about it a few times.”
“Quintus, be careful. Trust no one at this point.”
“Good advice.”
“Oh and Quintus.”
“Yes Denise.”
“Layla was right. You do have a fab accent when speaking English.”
“Thank you,” he laughed.
“Let me speak to Lucilla again please.”
“Yes Denise.”
“Lucilla. Try to keep Anna and Coventina up there with you until you hear back from us. Oh, and no bloodshed unless it is absolutely necessary, like self-defense or the equivalent.”
“I will Denise. Please be careful.”
“We always are.”
44
Judith
“To Fairfax Virginia my dear.”
“Not that long of a haul for her to get to the office.”
“Best to stay on the ground while we are so close to Washington,” Denise said.
“Yeah. They’re probably listening to our conversation somewhere right now,” Layla laughed.
“You’re probably right.”
Denise directed Layla to her home on Roberts Road. Layla slowed the vehicle to a crawl as they came up on her house. “Skid marks. Toppled garbage cans. Car in the open garage. Think we will even find her here?”
“Let’s alter our appearance and check it out. Should I ask the friends upstairs for some shield medallions next time I see them?”
“If you wish but you should be okay if you are with me.”
They pulled into the driveway and got out of the car.
Someone is in there. I just saw the drape move. Denise said.
Affirmative.
Appearing as two blonde women, they walked to the front door and rang the bell.
No one answered.
Could she be in danger, a hostage or worse? Denise asked.
I have a force field around us just in case.
Layla rang the bell again and knocked.
No answer.
“Hmm. Perhaps no one is home.”
Denise heard a car engine.
“Knock again. That car in the garage still has the engine running.”
Layla knocked again, harder this time.
“Ms. Raphael, please answer the door. We are here to help you,” Denise said.
The sound of locks being undone was heard before the door opened slightly.
“I am Ms. Raphael, what do you want?”
Denise recognized her face from the news broadcast that was not sporting a fat lip and a bruise on her forehead.
“You are injured. Do you need medical attention?”
“I, mayb, I don’t know.”
“May we come in?
“Yes.” She walked away from the door very wobbly. Layla supported her and helped her to the couch.
“Who did this to you?”
“Who are you again?” Judith asked.
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“We are friends of Denise. She said she spoke to you earlier today and you seemed to be under duress.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
“Which way is the kitchen,” Layla asked.
“Through there.”
Is anyone still here who did this to you? Denise asked.
“No, I’m here alone.”
Layla returned with a bottle of water and handed it to her. “I’ll go turn off your car and be back with the keys.”
“You called Denise earlier. You were not alone when you did were you?”
“No. Pretty good guess for her over a phone.”
“Would you like us to take you to a hospital?”
“I’m not sure.”
Layla returned with her car keys and laid them on the coffee table.
“That’s a nasty bruise you have on your head, you should get it checked out Judith.”
“I think I am going to be sick.”
Layla reached for a small trashcan next to the table where her computer was and it flew into her hands. “Here, use this.”
“It is settled. You need to be seen for your head injury feeling as you do.”
“I’ll be okay. That made me feel better somehow.”
“Can you describe the men who did this to you?” Denise asked.
“One average height, lean, mean look on his face. The other was a Neanderthal, tall, black hair on both. I think I had a small taste of what they are putting women through.”
“They were not police?”
“No way these guys were police. They found me, how I do not know, but I know it is directly related to a call from the British girls mother.”
“Coventina?”
“Yes, her. They called and said Denise and her friends had miraculously found her and asked if I could take her image off the website. We did, and the next thing I know, these thugs show up at my doorstep early this morning.”
“What did they want from you?” Layla asked.
Judith took another small sip of water. “Information.”
“Information?”
“About those who rescued the two girls and returned them to the U.K.” What did you say your names were?”
“We didn’t yet. I am Dolores and this is Linda.”
“They forced me to call Denise and ask those questions. There really was a path of brutal carnage in Rome and another spot outside Rome where they showed me images of a Crucifixion. A Crucifixion, can you fucking believe that?”
“That is beyond bizarre to say the least,” Layla said.
Remember their appearance, Denise thought. She saw a foggy vision of the two men that paid her a visit.
“Is there any reason we need to warn Denise about them?”
“They took my phone. They have all my contacts, including her number, that of Coventina and her family. I don’t have a good feeling about this. I think they are tied to the death and destruction that took place in Italy and Spain, and they are looking for answers and horrible payback.”