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That has my head snapping to look at her profile. “Her mother sold her?” I grit through clenched teeth.
“Sold them both. They were obviously being held at some kind of holding house before they would have been sold on. That would be my presumption, would you agree? I’m sure you’ve seen this type of thing before?”
It throws me for a second that she’s asking for my opinion. My professionalcop’sopinion. “That’s what I would assume, yes.” I have this horrible thought wriggling in the back of my brain that I can’t ignore, and I swallow hard before asking my next question. “Could this be one of your operations?”
Her whole body turns to face me, her face twisted in disgust and anger holding her muscles taught. “Let me make this abundantly clear, detective. If I find that someone has been selling human beings, let alone children, in my territory, they won’t live to see another sunrise once I find them.”
My eyes find her lips as she spits the words at me. “I want to help. I want to find who’s responsible.”
She steps toward me until we’re flush, tilting her face so she can look me in the eye. “Will you be willing to do what’s necessary,cop? When we find them?”
It’s instinctual when I grip her hip and lean down slightly so my face is only an inch from hers. “I’ll watch them take their last breath,rainha.”
She licks her lips and a weird urge to fucking kiss her again washes over me.Inappropriate, Campos. The sound of Mabel sucking in a pained gasp through her teeth and a whimper from the sleeping child pulls us apart and bring our attention back to the girls.
“Maybe?” Keeley says, waking again.
“It’s okay Kee. The lady is just checking my foot, she’s going to make us all better.”
There’s a knock on the door and Annika opens it, letting in Guinevere holding a tray laden with glasses of milk and sandwiches piled high on two plates. “Here you are, my loves. Get some food in you.”
Both the girls grab at the sandwiches like wild animals, stuffing them in their mouths and taking large swigs of milk before swallowing their food down. The doctor watches them in horror.
“Steady,” Guinevere warns. “You don’t want to make yourselves sick.”
“When did you last eat?” Annika asks.
Mabel shrugs. “Found half a burger in the trash a couple days ago.”
“That’s it.” The doctor stand sand stomps her way over to us, looking angry. “What have these children been subjected to? I feel I should tell you that I will be reporting this to the local authorities.”
Annika raises a brow at the woman, stepping forward to tower over her. “My associate advised you of the compensation for attending tonight?”
“Yes,” the doctor says, losing some of her bravado.
“So, I assume you understand that it covers your timeandyour discretion. You’re here to cater to the medical needs of those two girls, not to ask questions. You’ll do what you need to do here, then you will leave and forget ever having been here.And if you ever feel it appropriate to threaten me again, know that I will have no qualms about pushing your car into the river with you still in the trunk.”
The doctor gulps, losing all her fire and wilting in Annika’s overbearing presence. “The ankle isn’t broken, but the bone is likely bruised. She needs rest and to keep it elevated. I don’t think there’s anything else wrong with either of them beside the obvious malnutrition and dehydration. But Mabel wouldn’t let me physically examine the younger one.”
Annika nods. “You may leave but you’ll come back if I require you to.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the doctor says to the ground, shuffling back out of the room as there’s another knock. I open the door to find Lee standing there with a pile of clothes. I take them from him and point toward the retreating doctor.
“See her off the property please. No need to say anything but wouldn’t hurt to remind her of where she’s leaving.”
Lee smirks with mischief. “Got it.”
When I turn back into the room, Annika looks at me with amusement. “How quickly you stoop to our level, detective.”
“Just adjusting to my role, my queen.” I bow slightly and that almost smile plays on her pretty lips again, making my heart skip. She loses it as quickly as appeared and turns to the girls.
“You’re staying here until I know what to do with you,” she tells them.
“We should call the police,” I say without really thinking.
“No!” Mabel’s eyes go wide, pleading. “No, please don’t call the police.Please. They will contact our mother. Even if they don’t send us back to her, she’ll know and she’ll tellthemand they’ll come looking for us. Please don’t call the police, please.Please.” The desperation in her voice tears me in two.
“Mabel.” Annika holds her hands up to halt her rambling. “I swear, we won’t be calling the police. You do not need to beafraid here. I promise that I won’t allow you or your sister to be put at risk of going back.” She glances over her shoulder at me. “Sometimes Harvey opens his mouth without engaging his brain.”
