Once they were taken into custody, we got back into Roscoe’s car and continued farther onto the property until we arrived at a set of buildings. Roscoe had already secured a warrant, and he and his men hurried inside.
“What do you think they’re gonna find in there, Pop?” Vegas asked me.
“I’m afraid to even think about it.” I sighed. “I’m hoping it’s not like a damn morgue in there with body parts all over the place.”
Roscoe and his guys came out, looking a little perplexed.
“What did you find?” I asked when he walked over to us.
“Nothing really. Just a whole bunch of storage spaces and enough canned food to feed an army. We’re gonna check out the other building. I’m wondering if what that guy told you was true, because right now, it looks like nothing major.”
“There’s no way Johnny was lying. He was scared shitless, and he couldn’t have made this up,” Vegas said.
“Sheriff, you need to get over here!” a deputy yelled at the top of his lungs.
Roscoe took off toward the second building. A few minutes later, a nurse was brought out. Then came a guy in a chef’s uniform, and another one in a white lab coat. All of them were in handcuffs.
“Guess they found the morgue,” Vegas whispered.
Then, the door opened again, and a line of women were escorted out.
“Oh my God,” I breathed.
“Pop, how many are there?” Vegas asked.
“Looks like at least a hundred.”
A short while later, a few ambulances pulled up, and Roscoe finally emerged and directed the EMTs inside. “There’s a few in the back. They’re hooked up to some kind of IVs.”
“So, Johnny was right?” I asked Roscoe.
“He was. Looks like KD has been providing care for these women and then harvesting whatever folks need. It’s like a hospital and a spa in there at the same time. If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Roscoe said. “I’ve made a call to the FBI. We’ve gotta get them involved, because this shit is way above my damn pay grade.”
“I feel you,” I told him.
My cell phone began ringing, and I took it out of my pocket. “Excuse me. I have to take this.”
“LC, I need you to come home.” It was Chippy.
“Okay, love. We’ll be heading to the plane in the morning.”
“No, LC. Leave now and come straight home.” There was urgency in her voice.
“What’s wrong, Chippy?”
“I can’t answer that question right now, but we’ve been married well over thirty years, and you know me well enough to know that if I tell you to come home immediately, then it must be important,” she said. “Lavernius Duncan, I need you to come home now.”
I didn’t have to give it a second thought. “I’m on my way.”
“Pop, what’s wrong?” Vegas asked.
I turned to Roscoe and said, “I need someone to get me to my jet right now. I’ve gotta get home to my wife.”
Roscoe looked at me for a second, then tossed me his keys. “Leave the door unlocked, and don’t forget to let me know where you park it.”
It was full speed ahead as I drove to the hangar. I had no idea what had my wife so vexed, but I knew I had to find out in a hurry.
Epilogue
“We good?” Vegas asked his son, Nevada.
It was a crisp, sunny fall day, and they were both looking dapper in their Italian leather shoes, expensive slacks, and cashmere overcoats. Standing on a hill in Central Park, they took in the spectacular foliage after lunch, and then a leisurely walk in the park with their better halves. It was amazing to Vegas how much his son had matured in a few short months.
“I think so,” Nevada replied. “What other choice do we have?”
“None, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it.”
“I love you, Dad, just as much as I love being here,” Nevada replied. “I want you both to be happy, and this is the only way.”
“For now,” Vegas replied.
“Happy birthday to you . . .”
They turned to see Marie and Kia walking up the hill, singing. Kia was holding a single cupcake with a candle. She’d been waiting to surprise Nevada for the entire day. And surprise him, she did. He could not help but blush.
“Blow out the candle,” Kia urged.
His happiness was evident from the wide smile that covered his face after he extinguished the candle.
Vegas and Marie walked down the hill to give the couple a few minutes of privacy.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Kia said, removing the candle from the cupcake. “Here. It’s strawberry shortcake, your favorite.”
“I’m glad you came.” Nevada placed a hand on her hip. She began feeding him pieces of cake. “Having you here has made this the best birthday ever. I’m sorry it’s coming to an end.”
“Me too. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too. I wish this date would never end.” He closed the gap between them, but then tensed up when he heard her phone chime an alert.
She frowned at the text message. “Unfortunately, I’ve got a client in an hour.”
“How is old Bob?” Nevada teased.
“He’s good. He put my sister on his company insurance. Otherwise, I’d blow him off.”
“It’s okay. We’ve gotta go soon too.”
“You know, he’s very jealous of you.” She laughed, leaning against Nevada.
“He should be, because I’m getting something he’s not.” He chuckled happily, pulling her into his arms and kissing her.
Kia put her arms around his neck, and her mouth opened slightly to welcome his tongue. They enjoyed the warmth and passion until he finally released her.
“I could kiss you all day,” she sighed with a dreamy look in her eye.
“Tell me about it.”
She kissed him again, sweetly this time, just her lips against his.
“Kia,” Marie called. She had gotten the same text message.
She gave him another quick kiss. “I’ll FaceTime you tonight.”
“You better.”
She walked toward Marie, who kissed Vegas goodbye
