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His words sparked es, and it finally clicked Before, I’d wondered what kind of operation would use a fleet of trucks, warehouses, and a landing strip I’d guessed s the obvious choice, but between our trip to the zona, what I’d learned about the flesh pipeline on the Internet, and what Booke had said about the prisoners, the truth coalesced for me
"That’s it"
"What is?" Chance crept toward the corrugated steel structure, only half listening to me
"The connection Southern Sanitation is a front for IBC, right? Importaciones Bonitas Corporación?" I shook ust "Pretty I woaze kindled with realization "They’re trafficking wo to what I read about the sex trade, Mexico is often the first point of entry from the East Sometimes the victims remain there, where they’re put to work in an Asian theoda in Boys Town "Then they ship the women in fro it aloud sent a cold shiver of horror through me "That’s where the fleet of trucks comes in And if they’re ar--"
"And the landing strip," Chance finished
"I’d guess the warlock procures for thearded ed and shipped in crates like animals He takes care of the ones who don’t make it That’s how he conjures those shadows at will How else could he kill so o undetected?"
I wasn’t positive I had the whole picture yet, but that was ht," he said "You must be Maybe my mother stumbled onto it? Maybe one of the women she used to treat in the zona came to her with inforut instinct said no It was soht play a part, but the story didn’t end there Why else would Min have gone with her captors willingly? But I couldn’t even guess
"Do you have a bolt cutter?" I asked as we came up to the padlocked door
Chance had packed a arage last night, going through the remnants of Chuch’s former life I definitely liked his current dishevelment more than the coifed perfection he had sported ere together Between the black leather bag and the weapons on his back, he ilante killer Was I irredeeh h
"I think so"
Chance cut the lock and we stepped inside, paused on the threshold to let our eyes adjust to the di around near the back Someone who needed help? Instinctively I started that way
As we sprinted for the far corner, a screauish and then fell silent I didn’t knohether we’d set off a fail-safe that executed the prisoners in the event of an unauthorized entry or if Ferguson had triggered a trap somewhere
Either way, it didn’t matter
"We’re too late," I whispered
The shadows rose
Out, Out, of This Daar pulsed with a pale, unwholesoh to house a plane, but right now it contained only row after row of crates containing the bodies of dead woh, careful enough
But I couldn’t letthose lines We hadn’t kidnapped theuilt, drink Irish whiskey, and brood overIf I didn’t, then the people ultiet off scot-free
I should be renade that wouldn’t do shit against these things Southern chicks who couldn’t reht ht back Like these poor women, like Maris, like Lenny Maybe I hadn’t been born to the task or even chosen for it by Powers That Be, but I wouldn’t back down A need for justice drove me on
That was the reason I’d accepted Chance’s terms, left my quiet life, and climbed on this roller coaster in the first place Back then I just wanted the people who killed my mother to account for their criirls to pay as well
S into spectral fornized their altered states, ruby red eyes fixing on us with the hungry, envious rage only dead things feel for the living Guns and grenades wouldn’t work against creatures of pure will and darkness
And we’d sent God’s Flashlight off to break soo another way As they closed on us, I backed off Their proximity chilled the air, so that I saw h Tendrils snaked toward us, tasting us I could al in anticipation
They flowed between us and the door, circling with slow but inexorable intent Shit I wished I could call Booke, but it was down to Chance and ether
"Ideas?"
Chance shook his head "I’m fresh out of holy water We shouldn’t have split up"
"How thick are the walls?"