The three of them had chatted, making small talk about living inFloridaand how nice it was to be aboard theMotherShipinstead, where it wasn’t hot and humid all the time and there was free health care and child care.Theyoung bride had been pregnant but just barely showing—a tiny bump in her lower abdomen where she rested her hand lovingly as she spoke.
Once they touched down at theTampaHKRbuilding theKindredpilot had to speak to his superior soCassieand his wife—her name wasMiranda, but she went byMiri—had decided to go across the street where there was a downtown street fair going on.
It was at least an hour before her daughter was due to be there, soCassiehad linked arms withMiriand the two of them had strolled up and down the street, looking at all the different arts and crafts and delicious foods for sale.
“Oh, cotton candy—they have cotton candy!”Mirihad exclaimed, pointing to a stall about half a block down.“Andlook—they made it into those huge multicolored flowers!I’vealways wanted to try one of those.”
Cassie laughed.
“Well,I’mnot standing in the way of a pregnant lady’s cravings—let’s go get some,” she suggested.
The two of them started towards the stall selling the cotton candy flowers, but before they were even halfway there, two men stepped out in front of them.
“Hey, pretty lady—where you going?”one of them askedMiri.Theywere both dressed in tight jeans and dirty t-shirts andCassiedidn’t like the look of them one bit.
“It’s none of your business where we’re going,” she said briskly.“Nowif you’ll excuse us…”Andkeeping hold ofMiri’sarm, she had pointedly tried to step around the two men.
But this only made them laugh—an ugly, guttural sound that raised the fine hairs at the back ofCassie’sneck.Ifshe’d had any doubt before, it was gone now—these men were up to no good.Shelooked around the street fair, but they were between stalls and no one seemed to be paying any attention.Therewas no help to be found.
“I asked you a question,” the first man said.Hehad long, greasy black hair which hung limply over his forehead.“Whereare you going?”
“And what’s your name, sweet thing?”the other one said, speaking toMiri.
The young bride was shy and frightened—her cheeks turned a dull red as she blushed and looked down, trying not to meet the men’s eyes.
“Her name and our destination arenotyour business,”Cassiesaid again, firmly.“Nowplease let us pass or you’re going to be sorry.”
“What are you, her mom?”the first man sneered.
“Yeah, we don’t mean any harm—we just want to talk to her,” the other man said.“Infact, why don’t all of us go for a walk and talk some,” he added.“Wegot a van with plenty of room—both of you can come.”
“I don’t know—Idon’t like the mouthy one,” the first one grumbled.“She’stoo old.”
“Naw, she’s fine—she’s still pretty even if she’s a little past her prime,” the other told him.“She’sgot big tits and them child-bearing hips—lots of guys like that.Comeon, ladies—come with us,” he added and tookMiriby the arm.“You’regonna make a lot of new friends.”
In a flash,Cassierealized what was happening.Thesemen were human traffickers and they were trying to take the two of them away to sell them!
Their brazenness surprised her somewhat—she’d heard of women getting snatched from parking lots and mall food courts, but she’d never thought predators like these two would attempt to snatch victims right in the middle of a crowded street fair.
Butwasit crowded?Ithad been when they first arrived but they’d walked a little way from the main hustle and bustle of the fair and the crowds had thinned considerably.Infact, she didn’t see anyone around but an old woman who looked to be in her eighties minding a booth where she apparently sold hand knitted blankets.Shewasn’t even paying attention to them—she was peering myopically at her phone and she had the volume turned up as though she couldn’t quite hear it.
Shit!Cassiethought.Theywere in trouble.Still, she wasn’t going without a fight.
“You’d better leave us alone or you’ll be sorry!”she snapped at the man who was tugging onMiri’sarm.
Miri, poor girl, wasn’t saying a word but tears were filling her big brown eyes and rolling down her flushed cheeks.Shewas trembling so hardCassiecould feel it where their arms were still linked together.
“Oh yeah?Howyou gonna make us sorry?”the first man demanded, glaring at her.
“I won’t, but her husband will.”Cassienodded at the weepingMiri.“He’saBeastKindredand she’s carrying his baby.Youdon’t think he’ll tear you limb-from-limb for daring to touch his wife and child?”
This seemed to worry the first man with the greasy hair, but the second one only remarked,
“Holy shit—she’s pregnant?”as he tugged harder atMiri’sarm.“That’sa fucking bonus!”he added to the first man.“Igot a client who’ll pay double for her.”
“I don’t know, man—didn’t you hear her?She’sgot aKindredhusband,” the first man protested.
“Fuck that—she’s lying,” the second one—who had a big pimple in the middle of his eyebrows snarled.“Comeon—let’s get ‘em to the van.”Andhe pulled so hard thatMiri’sarm came loose fromCassie’sand she went stumbling to her knees on the sidewalk.
