Chapter 04
Aboard the MV Mairangi Bay
Somewhere in the Atlantic
June 2011
JJ and Seaver were half dragged, half carried into the ship, kicking and screaming the entire way. But the men carrying them didn't care. With crude efficiency they bound their hands and pulled them straight up over their heads, tying them off, leaving them balanced on their toes. "Let us go!" Seaver screamed.
In reply JJ felt a huge hand cup her jaw and dig into the joint. When it forced her mouth to open a large ball was stuffed into it and then buckled behind her head. She looked over at Seaver only to find that her friend was getting the same treatment. Great.
And then the leader came over and ripped their shirts open.
JJ winced as buttons rattled off into the corner. Hopefully he wouldn't go any further. She'd expected this, had been expecting it for some time, you saw it so much in this job. But it was all new for Seaver; her eyes were so wide you could drown in them. Poor kid would likely quit the Bureau after this and she couldn't blame her.
Thankfully the leader did not continue. He barked some orders at the guards and then left. Two armed men remained, standing there and ogling them while they hung. And hung. And hung. They hung until JJ's arms went past pain to numbness, and the ache in her jaw brought tears to her eyes.
Finally, what seemed like hours later, the leader came back. He was chuckling as he came, brought the smell of good alcohol and expensive, tasteful cologne with him. "You see." He said to the man who came with him. "FBI. Matched set."
"Dear god." The man with him was wearing a very well tailored suit, his tie loose and his collar open. He was here for the fun, relaxed and enjoying the company. He sounded British, looked it as he stepped closer to look them over. "Mmmm." He purred with appreciation as he lifted the edge of JJ's shirt to admire the swell of her breasts in her bra underneath. "Aren't they lovely?" American FBI? You're sure?"
"Of course." The leader came over and pawed into JJ's pocket, pulling out her badge and handing it over. Did the same with Seaver, who twisted and kicked. "Still strong these ones."
"That they are. Oof!" The Brit fell back laughing as Seaver managed to land a glancing blow on his thigh. "That one's got all the fire. Well they are certainly worth the asking price. I'll take both."
"Excellent! Excellent! We drink to the deal!" The leader was in fine spirits now. "Come! Come!" With a final smile from the...the...buyer they went back out the way they came.
That was when it hit JJ. They had been sold. Been sold as slaves to some complete and utter stranger who would do whatever he wanted to them. She looked over at Seaver, saw the raw terror in the other woman's eyes and knew it was mirrored in her own. But she had to be strong; technically she was the more senior agent, although that felt laughable right about now.
More men came in. They were taken down and JJ felt tears come to her eyes as the blood rushed back into her arms. Their wrists were pinned behind them, then the world went dark as a hood was pulled over her head. JJ felt herself being pulled and led through the ship, stumbling along until they went through one more door and they were outside again. This time the ocean wind hit them with no protection, cutting through open shirts to bare skin like a knife. She was led somewhere then pushed to crouch and go in, almost crawl in to this small space where she had to lie down. She felt someone crawling in, recognized Seaver's shampoo, and held still as her friend stretched out next to her. She heard a door close, taking the fresh air and sound of the sea with it, and then there was nothing.
She had no clue how long it was before the helo's engine started and they lifted into the air.
A powerful sense memory came to her then. She had been lying in bed one lazy Sunday morning and Henry had come running in and jumped on the bed with the paper in hand. Just as she sat up to grab him and tickle Will had come in with breakfast in bed and word that it was snowing hard. They'd cozied up in their warm bedroom, all snuggled together, and read the paper to each other and stories for Henry and had the best, sweetest time.
And now she might never see them again.
She couldn't stop the tears that ran down her face in the darkness as they flew off into the night.