Chapter Eighteen
Miranda looked around. "Where would you take a group of little girls?"
Mick watched her looked around. "I don't know. But you're assuming they're alive.
"I have too." Miranda looked up at him again. "It could have been Zoe."
Shuddering, Mick pulled her up. "We can't learn anything else from here, Miranda."
Miranda nodded, sliding her sunglasses on. "Drive down by the old factory park, will you, please?" They walked back to the car.
The car roared to life. "Why?" Mick pulled out onto the pleasant street.
"I just have a feeling."
"Your feelings are dangerous," Mick joked. Miranda gave his shoulder a playful swat.
The drive was quiet. Mick was glad it was nearly sunset. The sun was taking a toll on him. He parked outside the abandoned factory. Miranda climbed out.
"Where are you going?" Mick called, chasing after her as she went down a narrow path between two buildings.
"Do you smell that?" Miranda asked.
"What?" Mick nearly asked but then stopped. He took a deep whiff. "Fresh blood."
Miranda nodded. She found the door. It was locked. "Pick it or smash it in?"
"I'd like to pick it, we don't know what's on the other side or whether or not it would want to hurt us," Mick knelt, pulling out his tools.
Looking up, Miranda said, "I'll be right back." She leapt.
Mick would have demanded she stay there but he didn't get a chance. He finished with the lock and leaned against the wall, waiting.
Miranda landed on the roof, quietly. She crept the window. After a quick wipe down, she saw inside. A dog run was in the center of the room. Inside was clearly a large group of little girls. Three men could also be seen. Clearly thugs. They were playing some game about three feet from the cage.
Some of the girls were crying, while others appeared to be sleeping, and other just shivered. One of girls must have said something because one of the men appeared to yell something and kick the cage.
Her temper rising, Miranda jumped back down to Mick. He didn't need to ask if they had found them. The look of fury was evidence of that. He opened the door, allowing her to go in. She rushed in silently. He followed her, shutting the door silently.
They crept towards the group, not letting themselves be heard or seen.
"When are the buyers coming?" one of the men asked.
"Some time tonight," another responded.
"They demanded the girls be delivered after dark," the third said.
"Any idea why they want them?" the first asked.
"Not our job to ask that," the second responded, sharply. "We just collect them."
Miranda jerked as thought to get them but Mick held her down. "Wait," he said.
"For what?" Miranda growled.
"I'll lead them out," Mick said. "You get the girls out of here."
"Where do I take them?" Miranda asked.
"Just get them away from here and hide them." Mick leaned forward, kissing her lips. "Call the police when you can."
Miranda nodded, kissing him back. "Be careful."
"You too," Mick crept away.
Miranda waited. She didn't have to sit there long, before Mick caused a big noise. Miranda couldn't put her finger on the cause and prayed he hadn't damaged the car. She watched as the three men stood, looking at each other.
"What was that?" One asked.
"I don't know," another responded.
"Go check it out," the third growled.
"You go," the first snapped.
"We'll all go," the second said. "They're not going anywhere."
Miranda waited till the three had trooped out of the room before she bolted for the cage. The girls seemed shocked to see her. "Come on, we're getting you out of here."
The girls stood, shaking those who had been asleep. "Katie's got a broken leg," one of the little girls said, pointing to a tiny little Asian girl in the corner.
Miranda stepped into the cage, scooping the girl up. "We need to move." The crowd of little girls followed Miranda as she lead them out a second door on the far side of the building. Debating, she decided it would be safe to get the girls into the woods. They would have less chance of being found. It was twilight, which would help keep them from being seen.
In total the group was about a dozen. It was a bit more than the papers had said. She wondered where the extra girls had come from. Once they were in the woods, safely hidden, Miranda set Katie down and brought the group together. She instructed them to stay close.
Pulling out her phone, she dialed the police.
"I wouldn't do that, Miranda," a voice said, she whipped around as someone hit her phone. It flew through the air and was caught by one of the three men standing behind her.
News - I have recently started a prequel for this series. Not sure when it'll be done. I figure I'll start posting it then. Keep an eye out for it.