Chapter 10

Atherton's Mansion

It was quiet as the sun finally disappeared. Mal's crew was already in place. Simon stayed close to Mal as they waited for Jayne to give the go ahead. They anticipated two alarms to disarm with the paranoid state Atherton had seemed to be in after the last visit. Atherton had left quickly twenty minutes before, dressed perfectly for the ball. Mal had simply taken a deep breath and tried to concentrate on their part in the job.

"Two alarms deactivated," Jayne said over the headset, "All quiet like even."

"Don't jinx us yet," Mal said sternly, "We're going in. Meet you once we've cleared our section."

Jayne and Zoe checked rooms as they went through the East side of the mansion's main floor. Guards were knocked out and tied up. None of them even saw them coming. Mal did the same in the lesser used West side of the mansion with Simon in tow. They all met at the top of the basement steps. Zoe nodded as she took her post to watch the steps. Mal, Jayne, and Simon quietly descended into the basement. The steps came to a huge room that looked like a high class prison. Each section along the outer walls of the room were barred with a single locked door. Beds were covered in silk and the women were all in extravagant dresses. All but one. An older woman dressed in a maid's outfit sat on the floor inside the cell nearest the steps. She was breathing hard and holding her side.

"Monty's sister," Mal said quietly.

They rushed over to her as quiet as they could be. The other women had noticed them, but hadn't uttered a peep. They simply stood stiffly and slowly walked to the doors to better watch them.

"Hey old gal," Mal said as he reached through the bars to gently shake her shoulder.

She painfully turned to Mal and smiled, "Knew ya were comin soon. Got busted tryin to help one of the girls he was beatin on. Key is digitally coded. Hoped ya came prepared for that."

Jayne smirked and pulled a small data pad out of a pocket on his left leg. He hooked it to the expensive looking locking mechanism and a few moments later it hissed open. As Mal helped her to her feet, Jayne systematically unlocked every lock on the cages as Simon looked for Lara.

"Thats all of them," Jayne stated as he tucked away his data pad.

"She's not here," Simon whispered.

Mal looked over at Simon and raised a brow while shouldering the weight of Monty's sister leaning heavily against him.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Lara isn't here Captain," Simon said sadly shaking his head, "She must be in another cage."

"What ur lady look like?" asked a dainty black woman with heavy makeup on her face.

"Lara has a purple rose tattoo on her shoulder," Simon said, "We were told she was here with all of you."

"The Pixie?" the girl asked, "Guy who keeps us took her to some ball tonight. Said he had some point to drive home."

Mal, Jayne, and Simon looked at each other with grim expressions.

"Can't anythin go right for once?" Mal asked as he motioned for the girls to follow them, "At least we'll get you ladies to safe harbor."

They all nodded with relief and followed close behind Simon. Seventeen women in all once they found Lara. How could one man steal so many, keep so many.

"On our way up," Mal said into the headset.

"Copy that Cap," Zoe said as she listened for any complications.

They made their way out the West side entrance and back to Serenity. While Simon saw to their general health and injuries, Mal changed into a suit he'd sworn to never wear to a ball again. As he headed towards the cargo bay doors, Simon stopped him.

"Captain," Simon said.

"Ain't nothin you can say thats gonna stop me Doc," Mal said as he started to walk out.

"I'm not trying to stop you," Simon seethed, "I want you to stop this bastard."

Mal stopped suddenly and walked the few steps back to Simon, "You never talk like that Doc. What did you find?"

Anger flooded Simon's eyes as he clenched his jaw.

"It's a miracle they were able to walk themselves out of the mansion," Simon said, "Bruises, lacerations, burn marks... one has a sprained ankle, and Monty's sister was stabbed and left for dead. Two have broken arms and all of them have evidence of repetitive rape, except Monty's sister."

Mal's anger soon mirrored Simon's as he continued, "If he did this to Lara and tries to hurt my sister... I will find new uses for my medical tools, Captain. He won't die quickly."

"You see to their hurts Doc," Mal ground out, "I'll see to the killin."

As Mal walked out the ship, he heard Jayne warn him that the mansion job had been too easy. He nodded that he'd heard as he continued to his destination.