Aimee is horrified by such a tale, but she nods in understanding. “Of course, but first we must keep you hidden and safe. Perhaps we could notify the U.S. Marshalls office. I have heard good things about them. Describe the location and names of those involved.”
“No, they said a Marshall was paid off!” Bronnah replied, squeezing her head as the memories come into focus.
"The Chen are the law here. Above even, the local police. I'm not sure you would find much help from them anyway. Prostitution is a big commodity here, Bronnah. What else can you remember?"
"The woman's name was Rose Killian. They mentioned the Chen. I was chosen for a Mr. Chen. We were to be sent to Brigham City via a train called… Rivers Refrigerated cars. Something about new railcars."
Aimee is shocked silent. “I know that name, the Rivers. It can’t be! Cassie’s husband was a rancher…who was in town talking about railcars! Cassandra Rivers is a friend of mine.” She jumps up excitedly and runs into the next room and returns with a paper to write on.
Glancing at the clock, she sighs in frustration. "They're closed now, but first thing in the morning I will send a telegram to her. She will pass on the information and help us get you to safety. I'm sure of it!"
“Truly? I need to send one to my friend as well. I’m afraid to go to her directly, but I would like to send her a message, so she knows where I am.”
Bronnah dreams of women, running, screaming, and hands reaching for her, begging for help. She sits up and sits near the window to stare out into the dark, busy night.
Chapter 11
Eve knocks on the door at precisely eight a.m. the next morning. After a few moments, she gets no response. Trying the door, she finds it is locked. Digging through her small bag, she frowns as she pulls out her key and opens the door.
The silence is striking. No movement, no noise, nothing. “Rose?” she calls out stepping into the sitting room and closing the door behind her. Eve pulls her pistol and moves to the first bedroom. Both girls are beginning to stir, that’s not good. They should have been given another dose to keep them under control.
Moving to the second room, she shouts when she almost steps on another girl. Diane has fallen from the bed and crawled towards the door. Tears stream down her made-up face and her eyes fly open wide in horror when she recognizes Eve. The other bed is empty.
Surveying the room, she sees Rose on the floor resting in a pool of vomit. Eve rushes to her side and checks her pulse, "Still alive." Lifting her eyelid, she checks the pupils, tiny pinpoints. "Overdose!" She puts her gun away and turns to look at the girl on the floor.
Diane is sobbing now and crawling through the door, desperate to escape. “No, we can’t have that.” She helps Diane sit up and smacks her face to get her to calm down. “Shut up and listen to me. Where is the other girl?” She points the bed.
“I, I don’t know?” Eve sticks a knife under Diane’s chin and pushes as she screeches.
"Are you certain?" Diane nods her head quickly, and the movement causes sharp pain in her head.
“She was gone when I woke up,” she whispered. “Why are you doing this?”
Ignoring the question, she looked down at the sobbing girl. “Damn. Mr. Chen will not be happy about this. One of you will have to replace the other girl. That should buy me some time to find her.” Squatting down she grabs ahold of Diane’s hair and jerks her head back.
“You need to listen to me carefully, open your mouth or I will have to hurt you.” Eve’s dark eyes void of compassion. Diane shakes her head no, pushing back against the door of the room.
Eve slides her knife down her throat and over the top of the girls pushed up breasts. “So pretty, I’d hate to cut you here.” She sticks the point of the knife against the pink flesh and drags it down over the corset and lower. Diane inhales sharply and freezes. “Oh, you are starting to understand now,” Eve said as she trails the sharp knife up the lacy stocking of her leg. “Come on lovely, open up for me.”
Diane is shaking all over, but she feels too sick to fight back. She opens her pink lips and Eve grins. "That's right," releasing the girl's hair, she pulls out a small vial of liquid, "Soon, all of this will be just a nightmare." Two drops hit her tongue, and she gags before Eve releases her.
Thinking quickly, Eve leaves Diane on the floor and opens the door to the hallway. Snapping out orders in Chinese to a young girl.
A few moments later, they arrive. Eve’s helper. “Clean up Mrs. Killian.” Pointing to the other room, “One of you stay with them. When they stir, feed them two drops on their tongue. Don’t bother diluting it.”
Diane is sitting against the door weeping softly when Eve glances over at her. “Someone clean her up. They need to be on the train at noon. Don’t let them out of your sight or you will answer to Mr. Chen personally.”
"How far could one sick, Irish girl, possibly get," she mutters as she enters the elevator. "I will just replace the lost girl, and Mr. Chen will not know. Once I find her, she will be a bonus. Now to choose a replacement."
Later that night, after the girls are on the way to Brigham City, and the second batch has been dealt with, Eve returns to check on Mrs. Killian. “How is she?” She asks the young girl.
“Not good, she is
