Bradley - Justice Delivered

JANUARY 2010

J ASMINE EASED OUT of her cell-like room and down the dimly lit hallway. Two light raps on another bedroom door brought no response, and she turned the knob and slipped inside.

Moonlight filtered into the darkened room through narrow slats on the window. Labored breathing coming from the bed sent her heart spiraling to the floor. It was almost time to go, and Lily was still in bed. She eased closer, noticing that the thin blanket shook.

Its me, Jasmine, she whispered. You have to get dressed.

Lily didnt respond. If she wasnt ready when Blade came to get them, there would be consequences. Jasmine touched her shoulder, feeling the tremor in the girls body. And the heat. Her hot skin made Jasmine wince.

C-cant...

She knelt beside the bed and smoothed the girls hot brow. She was pretty sure from the way her friend had been coughing that she had pneumonia.

Lilys eyes fluttered open, and she turned toward the only window in the small room. Its dark already?

Yeah, but dont worrymaybe they wont make you go tonight. Even as she said the words, Jasmine knew they would. And if Lily didnt bring in her thousand dollars, Blade would beat her or worse.

I-I have t-to. C-cant go in the H-hole again.

The Hole was why Lily was sick. A week ago shed had a toothache and begged off hitting the streets. And for two days hed shut her up in a tiny room in the basement of the house where they lived. With no lights and only the bare floor to sleep on, shed come out of it disoriented and feverish.

Youre too sick to get out of bed. Jasmine swallowed and lifted her chin. Ill tell Blade Ill see your clients tonight too.

They wont let you, Lily said. She tried to sit up and fell back on the bed. Tears dropped from the corners of her eyes. She tried to take a deep breath and fell into a fit of coughing. When she got her breath, she slipped a bracelet from her arm and pressed it into Jasmines hand. Im not going to make it, Jaz.

Jasmine clenched the thin chain in her hands as if holding on tightly would make Lily well. She didnt know what shed do if Lily died. You have to make it.

Im so c-cold. She squeezed Jasmines hand. Jaz, you... have to... forgive...

Lily, dont ask me to do that. These men dont deserve forgiveness! she whispered fiercely. Someone had given Lily a Bible, and after she started reading it, shed changed.

None of us deserve forgiveness... and its for... you. If you dont forgive... it will eat you alive.

She didnt have to ask if Lily had forgiven Blade or the one responsible for her being sold into prostitution. Peace showed on her face. Jasmine gripped the bracelet tighter. Her anger at Austin King and Blade was all she had to hold on to, and she wasnt letting it go.

Lily closed her eyes briefly. She tried to breathe deeper and triggered a spasm of coughing. When she got her breath, she turned, and her eyes pierced Jasmine.

You have to find a way to get out of here. Find those women.

Last night four women from some shelter had brought coffee and doughnuts to the girls on the street. Shed ignored them, but Lily had talked to one of the ladies. Jasmine shook her head. I cant leave you like this. I have to get medicine and bring it to you.

No... Lilys chest barely moved. Cant breathe. Her feverish eyes locked on to Jasmines. Promise.

Jasmine wanted to promise, but after the modeling agent sold her to Blade, shed tried to get away. Escaped three times. She rubbed the scar inside her forearm. The first time, a cop found her and took her back to Blade. He branded her with his initials and beat her until half her ribs were broken. The next time he locked her in a closet for a week. The last time, hed beaten her and locked her in her room for three weeks with nothing but moldy bread and very little water. She never tried again.

They both jerked as Blades voice thundered from the front of the house, ordering the women to assemble for the ride into town.

Those women... Lilys breathing grew shallower. They... will... help.

Jasmine couldnt think about trying to escape again. They may not be there. Blade will probably drop us off in a different part of the city, she said, looking toward the door when he shouted her name. Maybe if she told him how sick Lily was, hed get help for her.

She turned to tell Lily shed be right back and her heart stilled.

Lily was dead.

EARLY APRIL 2012

At a coffee shop near Nashville, Carly Smith typed Lia Morgan into the Facebook search engine, then chose Tennessees second largest city for where to search. It had been ten years since shed seen her sister, and she was probably married by now. Still, there couldnt be too many Lias in Memphis.

She hesitated with her finger poised over the enter key and closed her eyes. It had taken two years after she escaped Blade to get the courage to look for her sister. Two years and a name change. What if Lia wanted nothing to do with Carly? She wouldnt blame her. The feeling of worthlessness she struggled with daily washed over her. The psychiatrist she saw every two weeks had told her it would take time to put her past behind her, but Carly didnt believe shed ever be free of her fear and shame. Opening her eyes, she pushed aside her hesitation and tapped enter.

While she waited, Carly fingered the gold bracelet around her wrist. Chains looped together with a locket dangling in the middle. Shed had an artist draw Lilys likeness for the inside of the locket. Lily. She would never have stood for Carlys self-pity.

She straightened her shoulders as only one Lia Morgan popped up on her screen. Carly studied the small image. The woman in the photo had shorter hair than she remembered... but it was definitely her sister. She clicked on the name, and Lias Facebook page opened.

Oh, wow . Evidently her sister was a freelance photographer. That shouldnt surprise Carly, not the way Lia had always gone around with a camera in her hand. She studied the page. Portraits, sports, events, crime scenesLia covered it all. And based on all the awards shed received, she was good. A phone number for her studio was listed on the sidebar, and Carly put the number in her phone.

Should she call her? She wished her friend Jamie was hereshed know what to do. Her fingers hovered over the call button. What if Lia hung up when she told her who she was? Lia was bound to be angry with her for just dropping out of her life. Carly pressed her dry lips into a thin line. No. She couldnt do it. Not today. But she saved the number and slipped her phone in her pocket.