Page 160 of Tyler's Rule
The Marchant-Smythes were a huge reveal, their role answering so many questions. They were detailed as being linchpins in the family, not only deeply involved in the trafficking with ex-staff coming forward, but also with their investments into the trusted companies, the mystery ‘P Marchant’ now revealed from Austin’s data files. Along with several others from the extended family who’d worked with them, they’d be punished as deserved.
It didn’t stop there. Two police officers who’d taken bribes were charged, quickly followed by Mark Bigelow, the top brass Lovelyn’s dad had complained about, for suspected corruption.
One story satisfied my heart. Denise was dragged through the mud, her husband shown walking into the police station, appearing a lot healthier than a stay in the skeleton crew’s bunker should’ve allowed.
Allegations on who were the buyers of the trafficked women flew everywhere. Girls in the warehouse swapped stories about clients they’d had who’d been implicated.
From the watch party we’d established in Cassie’s apartment, I slipped away to read a message.
I’d asked the detective for the contact details of Bella, the woman whose cousin died on theEden.I’d messaged her, and now she’d replied.
I raised my gaze to Tyler. “She agreed to meet. Can you come with me if we go now?”
Together, we took a short drive down the harbour to a quiet bar in a hotel.
Bella stood at our approach. She was in her late twenties and had red eyes, I guessed from the weight of all that had happened today.
She ran her cautious gaze all over me. “Dixie. Thank you for coming.”
“It’s only right.”
“All I wanted was this. Someone to listen. To care.”
I smiled, sat, and asked her about Tia. I heard all about her life, not an altogether happy one, and how she’d ended up being sold. A boyfriend had done it, the bastard. I saw her pictures. How close the two women had been.
Bella came to life when talking about Tia. It was like she was still in the room, with Bella talking to her, not about her.
It made me think about Mila, and how, if we’d known each other then, she would’ve looked for me after I’d been kicked out.
Then she asked for my stories. I got the curiosity. I was the sex worker who’d taken over an industry. I didn’t mind sharing. I’d wanted this, as a minimum to remove the criticism of Mila as the company’s figurehead, but mainly so Bella felt heard. That her loss wasn’t ignored.
When we’d finished, I asked Bella a question. “My sister and I are going to change Marchant Haulage forever, and scrapping the Eden is our first act, once the police give it back. I’d like to create a memorial to the women who died. We’ll put it right there on the harbourside. Would you come back to help us unveil it?”
Bella sobbed then agreed.
Later in the evening, a new headline came, sourced from an article written by her. WHEN WOMEN LEAD THE WAY.
It was a hint at a new beginning. One I could get behind.
Back at the warehouse, with darkness having fallen, Tyler led me into our apartment and locked the door. He paced to the window, checked the street far below, then came back.
“You’re so fucking brave.”
“I don’t think I am. I only did what I had to do.” I watched him. “Something you’re familiar with, no?”
“Sit down, doll.”
I did.
Tyler stopped in front of me. “Shade’s back. He brought Johnston to the boathouse for me.”
I shivered. The crew took prisoners to the bunker when they wanted to keep them and the boathouse when they intended to execute them. Deadwater River carried the body parts out to sea. “Are you going to handle him?”
He nodded, something wild and dangerous in his eyes. That same look he’d worn when we were nothing more than two strangers, passing each other by.
“After he killed them, and the bodies were removed, I was alone. I was sent to a care home, but not for long. I got abducted from outside of it. A van pulled up, driven by a woman, the door slid open, and a man snatched me inside.”
I held very still.
