Chapter 32

A Hero Lies In You

"Our only ray of hope!!!!.

Yes her brother! He's always around. He'd know it better." Edwin was hopeful for the first time since he received the dreaded phone call "But he is unwell. He is physically challenged." he gasped.

"We can get the sketches of the kidnappers done by her brother with the help of which we can trace them" Ben said expectantly for the first time.

Edwin rushed into the small room inside which was clean, spick and span with single bed neatly kept with old but washed covers unlike the first room which was messed up probably by the kidnappers but unfortunately her brother was missing.

"He is no where to be seen." Edwin was disappointed

"We checked the washrooms and the floors where there were no traces of forcibly dragging the wheelchair."

"Lets check with the neighbors," Ben stated "But we have to be careful. We cannot disclose the actual matter to them."

After knocking three to four doors they finally found Iris's brother being nursed by Martha their neighbor 'I have no clue where Iris was." Martha their neighbor stated "I was only to nurse him for couple of days. I get paid."

"Does that mean that Iris went for this deal with her consent and Stella was unnecessarily dragged for no reason." Edwin worded out, his voice filled with rage.

"she's not that kind of girl" Ben said bit gruffly.

"I am sorry" Edwin was ashamed of his negative thoughts. "Iris had promised that she'd leave this field forever, she cannot do this..."

"We need to talk" Ben interrupted Edwin

They went to the small cemented kind of porch outside her house where he managed to keep two chairs where they sat for interrogation stuff.

His first question itself was so disturbing

"Where did you meet Iris for first time?" Ben asked

"How do you know Iris?" a sudden question left Edwin's mouth.

It had been eating him since they met.

"It is quite strange that you reached Iris's place without any directions." Edwin stated "I was curious to know about it and am worn out by the fact that two important girls of my life are missing and I can do nothing absolutely nothing about it."

"You are being interrogated; not me." Ben gave a warning glare "Get back to business."

"But who the f##king hell are you and how the hell do you know Iris. I want the answer first?" Edwin insisted firmly and agitatedly.

What was frustrating Edwin was the procedure followed by this cop's damn department about only investigations and not actions.

"Well then if you are not ready to cooperate let me cut it short. Umm...". he hesitated initially but then thought of continuing so he narrated "I am Ben, an undercover cop and working on human trafficking and drug dealing cases. Our department knew that she was a call girl and was easily vulnerable so we picked her to get to the sources and reach the head of the crime."

"But her call girl" Edwin could feel his tongue rolling at the mention of word call girl for Iris but he continued, "name was Rosie"

"I joined her college," Ben explained, "managed to get in her class, befriended her, tried to get close to her to know all about the facts of her pim...ps, her cll..ien..ts and fr..iends too. I used to follow her most of the times in the nights too to get any of the possible clues." It was a regular task for an undercover agent yet Ben felt guilty about it "It was then I realized that you two meet very often and may be you were the master mind behind the entire human trafficking thing and may be the other multinational business of yours is just a cover... but with those pretends and friendship with Iris I did not realize...."

He stopped in his words not believing in himself so Edwin smiled for the first time in the day "you did not realize that you fell for her?"

Edwin felt genuinely happy for Iris that she got someone to love her even after knowing about her profession.

"That's not possible. I cannot fall in love with her." Ben shouted, his eyes not matching up with his dialect.

But this was enough to infuriate Edwin "Because she is a prostitute"

"No for me she is only a link to my work and also I have a.... never mind.. Now would you please stop digging into my life and answer to my questions so that we can help both Iris and your wife." He said in the accent of a qualified and honest inspector which Edwin couldn't challenge

"I am all in for that but please make it fast." Edwin said desperately.

Ben: When and where did you meet Iris?

Edwin: About couple of months ago in a hotel.

Ben: In a hotel? [He raised an eyebrow]

Edwin : It was an accident. I was drunk and she thought I was looking for...

Ben: So it wasn't about nightstand.

Edwin: [Banging his fist on the handle of plastic chair] I am not that kind of person. I love my wife. I never even knew her name. I was introduced by her when I woke up as Rosie. And we didn't even spend that damn night f##.....

Ben: "So you are not professionally linked with Rosie?"

Edwin: Not until now.

Ben: Until now.[suspicion in his eyes]

Edwin: I wanted her to join some reputed job other than hers. So I kind of thought of helping her by hiring her into one of my projects. My wife was also supposed to be a part of it.

[This added a positive glint in Bne'seyes but he again changed into his professional poise]

Ben: Did she discuss anything about her work?

Edwin: Never other than the fact that she did not do it by choice.

Ben: Did you ever notice anything suspicious.

Edwin: Sick yes! Suspicion Never.

She's a normal girl like others whenever she is with me. You can never judge her profession when she is with her friends or father.... Wait ..wait I remember there was this guy I don't know his name but he is huge and intimidating. I saw him hurt her at the hospital once and he sounded bad news.

Ben: Can you get his sketch done?

Edwin: It was dark then but I can try.

Ben immediately sent him to one of the departments to get the sketch done and started working on his other links too.

Sometimes he'd call or check into the details.

Edwin did not see him take a breath of relaxation like his other assistants did once in a while joking with each other sharing how one of them purposely soils the toilet seat peeing on the cover so that his wife has to let him take a bath first, other one added that he tires his wife having $ex in the morning so that she sleeps a little longer to let him have a peaceful time under the shower in the restroom without any knocking on the restroom door.

Only if they knew how blessed they are with their spouses on their sides when they wake up in the morning. How righteous the saying is 'the one with the deficit knows better.'

Edwin was fiddling with his phone trying to think of any number, any dam number that he could locate to find Stella or Iris but all in vain for Stella had left her phone switched off in her car and Iris's phone was lying broken in the room.

"Her phone had so many contacts in her inbox that it was difficult to pick up the right or the suspected link to her kidnapping." Ben stated "Also its an old feature phone."

Edwin was seated tapping his toes on the floor out of anxiety

''''''''''''''

The three girls were getting restless with passage of time, Stella was getting more miserable as she heard another girl's misfortune where she was picked up from her way home from school, been raped and then sent here.

"The girl is physically worn out had lost her mental stability." Stella was shocked "She wanted to die at a tender age of 15. She knows that her father who is her only guardian is a drunker so there is no chance that he would search for her leaving her in the melancholy of the fate." The milky white face of Stella was stained with tears as talked about the unfortunate girl.

Lizzie turned into a rebel. "I am not going to sit and watch this. I am going to fight for each of us, at least try" she said with fire in her words.

She was about to get up and do something stupid like gather everybody and ask them to fight for their escape.

Iris however managed to convince "stop being a fool and think wisely about your acts."

"We can text Edwin about our location and he'll surely help." Stella said considerately. "He's got enough contacts that would help to get to us."

"But we all have deposited our mobiles to them as per security measures as acclaimed by them" Lizzie said.

"Security my foot. Mother f###.. bloody son of a bit..." Iris stopped her trail of cursing words looking at shocked Stella

"Only people having mobile here are the guards who are watching and feeding us" Lizzie said.

"We'll put all the available prerogatives together and chalked a plan." Stella was being very thoughtful.

Lizzie removed her white off shoulder shirt she was wearing leaving on her an only red strappy top which barely covered her boobs. She then picked a small scissors from her vanity and cut off the jeans that she was wearing transforming it into a short shorts.

She opened her golden blonde hair pulling it on one side and put on some make up highlighting her soft lips with blood red lipstick with a kiss of gloss.

She tiptoed towards the gate and knocked with her knuckles. The voice was too low to be heard from the noise of the girls talking to each other making it difficult to reach on the other side.

She then used her palm to knock loudly and wildly. After three to four attempts they could hear the screeching of the metal as it rubbed against the uneven floor to open.

From a very small opening a guy of about 5'9 feet entered looking at her suspiciously and bit of agony but sooner as his eyes fell on her bulging chest, the pupils in his eyes started dancing.

He raked his eyes at her from top to bottom and as his eyes reached her bare long legs. His pupils almost popped out from the socket of his eyes.

Lizzie trailed her fingers from his jaw to his chest digging her pink painted nails into his chest. Then...

"Gomez" a voice called him "Who the f##k is troubling with that bang on the door?"

"A hot and sex.." he licked his lips and now addressed Lizzie "yes sweetheart' he said ignoring his team mates as he stepped closer to her trying to touch each and every part of his body to hers.

"Its like" Lizzie fluttered her eyelashes sticking closer to him rubbing her knees to his manhood "I am missing my mom... can I have your phone. I need to talk to her."

"Phone.. you are not allowed to use." He said pressing his erect^ to her inner thighs.

Lizzie hid her disgusted feeling with her pretended seductive smile, something prostitutes are used to do and said as she held his palm in her hands pressing them according to a man's liking and pouted "please one phone call"

"I cant" the guy called Gomez said disapprovingly and Lizzie faked anger and left her grip on him immediately saying "I thought you'd help" and made a puppy dog face broadening her chest to give him a better view of her assets. But he did not budge.

Lizzie pursed her lips in accordance to the failure of her plan and was about to turn back when he held her from her wrist.

"Okay one call" the guy finally agreed. "but let me dial the number. I'll talk first."

Iris had her heart in the mouth scared that Lizzie was working in a daring plan.

He removed the mobile from his pocket and asked for the number.

Now how could she call her mom and what would she talk?

Exactly as planned Stella started vomiting to distract the guy.

Iris escorted Stella to the door when Lizzie took the mobile in her hands.

"Listen this chick is not doing well. She needs to use the rest room" Iris told and then Stella went throwing up the breakfast she had had in the morning.

They made her drink excessive amount of water after that as planned so that they could make the entire stuff look natural.

Disgusted the Gomez guy directed them towards the washroom which was left from the door but unfortunately immediately he grabbed the mobile from Lizzie not letting her call Edwin.

They went to the washroom as planned and if the route was clear Iris let Stella run from the place but there were almost seven to eight guards who had their eyes fixated on them while they went inside.

Escaping with a run now was out of question especially when they had guards glued to them.

Even the washroom had one small ventilator with an exhaust fan but no windows so this too was not the right thing to be done.

Dishearten they made back to the hall kind of place where they all were occupied.

When they returned they found Lizzie sobbing on the phone.

"Love you mom. Tell dad I am sorry." and was crying bitterly.

They could asses that since the guy might have insisted to get her call done, she might have actually called her parents and since this was the first call after she'd left her house, she was emotionally beheld.

She returned back to them soggy and upset for the second plan of escape was again a major failure' Instead that Gomez fellow hinted "Same place after all the girls are asleep," he licked her mouth "I need my payback" he winked at her clearly expecting his manly satisfaction.

Lizzie could do nothing but wink back at him seductively in affirmation.

With tear filled and blotchy eyes Lizzie walked towards them sad and depressed for they too were sitting with hung faces in anticipation to the conclusion of no way out.

The night was getting longer with no sleep in their dready eyes for all their hopes were ruined.

Iris tried to keep Stella sane by talking to her. She was an amazing person with soft heartedness for every one.

She would get touched by each and every girl around and mentioned her biggest worry and desire "I want to rescue each and every girl from the place safely."

Iris kept her busy gossiping about her childhood tales "me and my sibling were adventurous enough to sneak into our neighborhoods" Stella pretended to be entertained though she was restless "and paint faces of sleeping aunts, and even crack pots of our favorite candies and marshmallows using the same sauces to gel up the hair of sleeping beauties."

"I was the only child and don't know how fun it is to have a sibling" Stella was loosening up and was bit better.

"I will tell you more" Iris wanted to keep her distracted "We were a naughty pair of siblings indulging in some menace or other like whooping air from the four wheeler vehicle of uncle who did not let us play base ball on the play ground because the ball hit his window twice landing on the cup of coffee he was sipping once burning his main part which was no longer useful for he was too old for it."

"how were you in your childhood?" Iris asked

She shared "I was a quite and naïve child being the only child" Stella shared "my parents were overprotective and my mom always styled my hair with two plates."

"That would have looked cute on you" Iris commented.

"No" Stella denied, " I had big glasses for which I was frequently bullied by the children. So I concentrated on her performance in academics and other activities earning good grades and proving my worth."

"That must have been rough" Iris commented

"Not really" Stella stated "Gradually when I grew up my spectacles were replaced by cosmetic lenses but what actually added to my beauty and confidence was when Edwin came to her life like a prince charming."

"How was it with Edwin?" Iris couldn't help but ask dreamily.

She had heard Edwin's part of the story. She wanted to learn hers

"Our first time," Stella bit her lip "I thought was one night stand because I couldn't believe that a guy like Edwin would ever be sincerely and longingly interested in her."

"you are joking right?" Iris was shocked "he was head over heels over you then"

"You know?" Stella was surprised but looked unaffected that a whore knew about her love story.

"all Edwin talks about is you" Iris looked at her toes feeling guilty "but I would love to hear your side of the story too.

Stella smiled, this conversation was really helping her "I had vowed that I'd at least try and convince him to stay for I too had fallen for him from the day I met him at the registration counter at the sports meet" she narrated giggling "even when I was on a steady affair with one of the guys from my college."

No wonder he is so sweet any girl would fall for him like me........' Iris kept her thought to herself

Lizzie was very troubled after the little talk with her mother.

"Are you okay Lizzie" Stella asked "I talked to my mom after a long time" she choked "I am now feeling guilty of the step taken." She took a deep sigh "I wish I could rewind life and relive the times with my parents and never ever run away from my house."

"You will see them soon" Stella tried to console her"

"I feel so selfish" she sobbed "that little ambition of mine is making me pay. I so badly want to go back to them and if possible apologize on bended knees."

"Do that " Stella probed "your parents would shout or yell but in the end they'll hug you, kiss you, forgive you and welcome you back to the family."

"You think so?" Lizzie wiped her tears

"Affirmative" Stella said with so much confidence that anyone could believe it.

"For the moment all that I desire is" Lizzie had hope dwindling in her eyes "to go to mom and hide in her laps and you know what then my mom would pat on my shoulders, it would erase all the pain away."

Stella patted on her shoulders and Lizzie relaxed at the touch closing her eyes for the moment..

"I never knew before that little encounter with mom how much I was missing them," Lizzie said "I am missing the comfort of her room, the warmth of the walls" Stella continued rubbing her back as Lizzie spoke eyes closed and hope burning in her heart " and doors which propounded to be my sweet home," you know the loving caress of my mom was always enough to fade away the roughness life has offered to me for my own stupid decisions."

Lizzie rose suddenly to where they were seated on the floor with carpets and said "I am fighting for my freedom. I am going to them and would force them to let me free. I would ask them bluntly to terminate the contract between me and Brent" she said indecisively for she knew that she was taking a foul step.

They were disturbed in the small conversation when two girls from the group started shrieking and yanking each other breaking into a fight between them.

Few more girls joined in the fight grabbing everybody's attention.

The fight started with an argument over something like using her sanitary stuff which aggravated to use of foul language followed by physical blows as the blonde female was scratching the face of the brunette who in turn was pulling the blonde's hair to get even.

Few more girls joined in both using verbal acquisitions and also using physical blows against each other.

With the loud noise and panic all the guards entered the arena and worked together on the girls pulling them apart from each other and make peace to solve their problem.

Three girls looked at each other with a twinkle.

Iris and Lizzie shared glances cooking up a new plan in their heads.......

"But our first priority is to inform Edwin. If the message reaches him, he is capable of getting enough help to rescue all of us." Iris suggested.

"How the heck is that possible?" Stella presented her doubts.

"I very well know how that is possible. You guys simply be alert and follow me." Lizzie suggested "I'll drop Gomez's mobile and you do the rest and just in time you leave it there with deleted message so that we don't get caught. Remember don't call. Send a message. They'll trace the number." Lizzie said as she courageously stood from where she was seated and went on do her heroic deed.

"What are you going to do?" Stella asked nervousness engraved with worry.

"Don't ask you wouldn't like it." Lizzie answered Stella then looking at Iris with her determined looks.

Iris winked at her giving her the assurance.......