Chapter Text
In an attempt to focus on the stack of papers in front of him, Tim Bradford tapped a pencil on his desk. Since Lucy hadn't returned home the night before, he made a self-promise not to worry about her. Lucy had gone camping in the Northern California Redwoods with Tamara, Genny, and Celina. According to Lucy's text message, they were expected to return late that evening or, at the latest, early the following morning. He even checked her location on his phone, but as usual, it showed she was out of service; her icon was grey, just like Tamara's. He even checked Genny’s location, but her’s was grey out as well, saying it was in ‘power saving mode’.
It was now noon the following day.
Ever since Caleb took Lucy and she nearly died, Tim found himself in a constant state of panic when it came to Lucy and her communication skills.
After clicking his pencil a few more times, he picked up his phone to text Lucy for the fifth time when Angela Lopez poked her head into his office.
“Tim! Sergeant Grey just called us to the bullpen. It seems serious, let’s move.”
Tim recognized the tone in Angela's voice and immediately stood up from his desk to follow her to the center of the station. He glanced over at Sergeant Grey, who was standing on the first set of stairs leading to the second floor.
“Something has developed that needs our full attention. All non-crucial cases are to be set aside. We just received this message from Trinidad's dispatch.” Grey nodded to Officer Simmons, and a familiar voice echoed through the bullpen.
"9-1-1, what is your emergency?"
"This is Officer Celena Juaraz of the LAPD, badge number 53397! My friends and I were attacked by unknown masked assailants on the California coast near the intersection of Highway 101 and Mill Creek! Two of my friends, Officer Lucy Chen of the LAPD and California resident Tamara Collins, were taken captive. Gennifer Bradford and I managed to escape and are currently on foot, heading north toward Ocean Grove Lodge. We are requesting Code 30!"
Tim turned pale, his heart nearly stopping, but he felt a small comfort as Angela took his hand and gently squeezed it.
“Understood, Officer Juaraz. Please turn on your location, and we will dispatch assistance. Can you describe the individuals?” The dispatcher asked.
"From their builds, it was noticeable that all the attackers were male. They were dressed in black, wearing ski masks, and driving a black Dodge Ram with an Oregon license plate number… 95 Tango Juliette 4 Romeo.”
Grey nodded, and Simmons stopped the playback. "Celina and Genny are safe; the Trinidad FD and PD have reached them, and they are currently at Redwood Memorial Hospital."
Tim exhaled a breath he had been holding, relieved that Celina and his sister were safe. But what about Lucy and Tamara?
"I want everyone on this case. We need to find out who was responsible for the attack and locate Officer Chen and Miss Collins. Sergeant Bradford, meet me in my office. Everyone else dismissed."
Sergeant Wade Grey walked into his office, with Tim following closely behind.
"Why did it take so long for us to receive that message from Trinidad’s dispatch?" Tim asked. "We should have gotten it last night!"
"You know why; it's their jurisdiction."
"It involves two of our officers!"
"I know."
"This is unacceptable, sir!"
"I know."
Tim threw his hands up in frustration. "We have to do something!"
“That's why I'm sending you and Lopez up north. Get Juarez and your sister, gather their full statements, and anything else Trinidad will give you. Meanwhile, we will work on obtaining additional witness testimonies. The Trinidad Police Department is being very cooperative, Tim. Make sure to maintain a good relationship with them."
“Yes, sir,” Tim clenched his teeth as he turned to leave.
The people who took Lucy and Tamara… their days were numbered.
Three weeks later
The neon lights of Las Vegas, Nevada, illuminated the dark alleyway of a random street. A drunk, skinny, puny man came scurrying out of a bar, singing Lady Gaga's Poker Face. Just as he was about to round the corner, he felt himself being shoved face-first into a building, his nose smashing against the brick, blood splattering everywhere.
“Ow!”
“Hello, Eddie,” a female voice whispered into his ear. “I heard that you have some information that I need, and for your sake, I hope you cooperate.”
“Ummm, who are you? I don't…” Eddie quickly raised his hand in surrender as he felt a gun pointed at his head.
“The only thing that concerns you right now is these two women,” the woman growled as she handed Eddie a picture of Tamara and Lucy. “Do you know them?”
Eddie looked at the picture, trying to ignore the blood dripping out of his nose and a gun to his head. He looked at the picture for a moment before shaking his head. “No, I don't think I've seen them. But they are kinda cute. Are they single?” Eddie cried out as his face slammed into the wall. If his nose wasn’t broken before, it was now. “Ooowe!!!”
“Let's try again, shall we?” The woman growled as she tapped the photo. “Do you know these women?”
“I… I don't know!!! Umm, wait…” Eddie wiped his bloody nose and looked closer at the picture. “Wait, she looks familiar.” He was pointing to Tamara. “I think she works over at the nightclub Hellsbend. She has shorter hair, though, and it's partly dyed blue.”
“Are you sure?”
“Not 100%, maybe 45%?”
The woman growled. “And the other one?”
“Have no clue, never seen her. If she is friends with the other girl, she might be there. Maybe, probably… hmm, maybe not, now that I am thinking about it.”
The woman was losing her patience. “Explain, before you have something else to worry about besides your nose!”
Eddie gulped and turned slowly so he could see the woman that was threatening him. She was pretty too, but she would be much prettier if she wasn’t pointing a gun at his head. "I've heard a rumor that Hellsbend is a front for black market arms dealing and sex trafficking. There's a chance she might have already been sold."
“And who runs Hellsbend?”
“The mafia, who else?”
“And the police don't do anything about it?”
“Please, lady, this is Las Vegas. The mafia controls the corrupt cops at the LVPD, and believe me, there are many. They don’t call this place Sin City just for the gambling and sex!”
The woman sighed. “Thanks for the info, Eddie. Sorry about your nose,” then she knocked him out.
Just then, a clicking of heels approached the woman. “Good work,” the voice belonged to Angela Lopez. “Looks like we are off to Hellsbend.”
Nyla Harper's eyes slanted as she pulled the trigger to the gun she was holding, neon lights flashing as water squirted out of it. Then she threw it onto the ground next to an unconscious Eddie.
“Let's just hope Sleeping Beauty was right.”
Hellsbend:
From the outside, it looked like your typical Las Vegas Nightclub, complete with colorful lights, valet parking, and the average buff 280 pound bouncer who wouldn’t know how to smile even if he tried. However, once you stepped inside, the atmosphere was exquisite. Neon lights in shades of pink, blue, and purple illuminated the space, while strobe lights pulsed in sync with the heavy bass of the music, featuring remixes of popular hits and EDM tracks.
Cages were suspended above the crowd, some hanging from the ceiling and others built into large marble pillars. A few of the cages rotated slowly, providing spectators with a better view of the exotic dancer inside. The strippers were dressed in sparkling lingerie and high heels; some wore masks, while others were adorned only with body paint.
The dance floor was impressive, featuring LED tiles that lit up with every pulse of the beat. The VIP areas were elevated platforms enclosed by velvet ropes and guarded by bouncers. These areas were behind mirrored glass with plush seating, a personal bar, and a couple of private rooms.
The bar was located at the far end of the entrance to the club, with a long counter that stretched almost from one side to the other. At least five bartenders were busy pouring drinks, while hundreds of bottles of liquor, wine, and beer lined the entire shelving unit behind them. A red and yellow neon sign read "Hellsbend."
Near the bar, there was a door leading to an unknown area that everyone was curious about. Two bouncers stood guard at this door, as only employees and VIP’s were allowed to enter. Rumors circulated that it was the strippers' locker room, a private space for them to escape unwanted attention or to find a moment of peace from the loud environment. Others said it was probably a more erotic place for high paying customers.
Angela Lopez and Nyla Harper walked into the club wearing matching short black dresses and heels.
“Wow, this place brings back memories of a cantina in Mexico City,” Angela smiled. “Loud and obnoxious.”
“Aww, the essence of Las Vegas,” Nyla smiled as she and Angela walked toward the bar. As detectives, they instinctively turned to the bartenders for information. Unfortunately, whether they wanted to hear it or not, bartenders often became the ears for the life stories of their drunken patrons.
“Hello, ladies,” a female bartender greeted the two beautiful women who approached her. “Welcome to Hellsbend. What can I get you?”
"Two scotches, on the rocks,” Angela smiled.
“Coming right up,” the bartender nodded as she maneuvered her hands flawlessly, pouring the drinks. She was a professional. “Are you visiting or locals?”
“Visiting, I’m from Santa Fe,” Angela replied. “Here to spend the husband's paycheck.”
“Born and raised in Salt Lake,” Nyla smiled, taking the glass from the bartender and lifting it to her lips. “I’m here to help my friend spend her husband's paycheck.”
“Nice to meet you!” the bartender laughed. “I’m Abby. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. If you’d like another drink but don’t want to walk back here, look for the waitresses wearing red feather headbands; they will be happy to serve you. You seem respectful, but I must remind you that, per my contract, it’s important to keep your hands to yourself. Our bouncers carry guns, and we take the protection of our girls very seriously.”
Nyla lifted an eyebrow. “Now that's what I'm talking about.” She placed her glass on the counter. “Speaking of the girls, do you happen to know her?” Nyla took out a picture of Tamara, who was bent down next to Kojo. “One of our friends was here last week and said she was amazing, and that we should meet her.”
Abby grabbed the picture and examined it. She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. But there are a lot of girls who work here that I don’t know. Believe it or not, some stay for only a couple of weeks or months before moving on. She might have been here last week, but I don’t remember her.
Nyla looked at Angela. “Oh well, we tried. We can tell Steven the bad news.” She then turned to Abby, "Thank you for your help."
"Not sure I was much help, but you're welcome. Enjoy your night," Abby replied, turning to Angela, "and your husband's paycheck."
Angela and Nyla smiled as they grabbed their drinks and slowly made their way to the edge of the wall, where the loud music pulsed through the room.
“So what now?” Nyla asked. “Surely we can’t just go to every waitress to see if it’s Tamara, right?”
“We have to; this is our only lead. If we find her, there is a chance we'll find Lucy."
Nyla sighed. “Then let’s—” Just then, her eyes widened. “Angela…”
Across the room, a silver cage, with fairy lights twisted between its bars, hung several feet in the air. Inside, a dancer moved rhythmically, but her movements lacked professionalism. Her arms were stiff, and she swayed her hips as if trying to copy the other dancers. She wore a light blue bikini, glitter dusted across her skin, giving her a shimmering appearance. She wore a golden collar that jingled with each movement. Her makeup was heavy, almost as if she were trying to conceal something. She had dark blonde shoulder-length hair with blue dyed tips and tinsel that intertwined with the strands.
Angela and Nyla quickly, but inconspicuously, approached the cage for a closer look, and their eyes widened in shock.
It was Tamara.
Three weeks earlier
“Come on, Aunt Genny,” Tamara smiled as she threw the tent bag in the back end of Celina’s Jeep. “There has to be that one juicy embarrassing story about Tim.”
“Sorry, kiddo, I’ve told you all the stories about Tim last night. I have no more ‘juicy’ details.”
“Ugh, lame! How am I supposed to be a pain in his ass if I don’t have- well, details!”
“If it helps,” Celina chimed in. “Aaron mentioned something about Tim liking the color pink.”
Tamara turned to Celina, who was tightening the last tie-down on the roof rack piled with camping supplies. “What?”
“True,” Lucy nodded. “But if anyone ever found out about that, they would die from the 'Tim Bradford death stare', so tread carefully.”
Tamara let out a squee! “Oh, I am already plotting." Then she paused. “I’m going to have to ask Smitty for a favor.”
“Oh no,” Lucy laughed as Tamara closed the hatch of the Jeep with a big grin on her face.
Lucy smiled as she looked around, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She loved the Redwoods; it was peaceful, refreshing, and tranquil. The girls' trip had been amazing, but now Lucy was ready to return home. She was looking forward to spending some quality sexy time with Tim and then falling asleep in his arms, feeling his embrace wrap around her.
She missed him.
“Should we take the coast down?” Celina asked. “Might take us longer, but the view will be incredible.”
“I’m in,” Tamara said as she jumped into the back seat beside Genny. “It will give me more time to plot what I want to do to Tim.”
“Then let's do it!” Lucy smiled as she climbed into the front passenger seat, with Celina behind the wheel.
Lucy pulled out her phone and sent a quick message to Tim.
Hey, we are just about ready to leave the Redwoods campground. We should be home really late tonight, or early tomorrow morning. Love you. ♥️
Ding.
Alright, be safe, and see you soon. Love you too. ♥️😘
After a few hours of driving, Trinidad, CA came into view.
"Can we please stop somewhere to get food? I'm hungry, and I need to use the bathroom," Tamara said as she set her journal down. The journal contained many drawings and notes about her plan against Tim, including one that involved painting Kojo pink with dog-friendly paint.
“Same,” Genny called out. “I think that last stop for coffee did me in.”
Lucy searched Google Maps and found a nice beach area with food trucks, bathrooms, and a nice boardwalk.
Ten minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot.
“Wow,” Celina said as she leaned forward while parking the Jeep. “No one is here, like it’s a ghost town- err ghost boardwalk.”
“Better for us, I don’t like crowds,” Genny stated as she opened the door. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to pee.”
“Right behind you,” Tamara called as she unhooked her seatbelt and followed Genny to the small building that marked ‘Restrooms’.
Celina looked over at Lucy, who was looking at her phone, then a slight smirk crossed her face. “Are you two sexting? Because if you are, please let me mention that to Tamara.”
"First of all, I'm not sexting Tim, and even if I were, I wouldn't tell you!"
"Uh huh, so what are you doing then?"
"I'm just looking to see if there are any sports shops nearby. I want to get Tim a Rams jersey or something related to the Rams."
"Aww, the Rams," Celina said, nodding. "Tim's true love, with you coming in as a close second, of course."
Lucy laughed. "Of course!" Just then, she jumped a foot in the air as Tamara pounded on the passenger side window. “Damn!”
“Lucy! Are you coming? Let’s go eat!”
“I swear, this kid! You would think she is like twelve rather than twenty,” Lucy sighed, but with a smile on her face.
“Yeah, but she missed out on so much of her childhood having losers as parents. You and Tim really have stepped in to help. You might not have adopted her legally, but you two are the closest to parents that she has.”
“Yeah, I am really proud of her,” Lucy stated as she and Celina got out of the Jeep and then made their way over to the food trucks, where Genny and Tamara were already ordering.
After spending about an hour enjoying lunch and stretching their legs on the beautiful boardwalk that led to the Pacific ocean, the girls made their way back to the parking lot.
"Okay, honestly, what do you think about Barbie pink swim trunks decorated with white rhinestones and the wording 'Copcake' on the back?" Tamara asked as she finished the last bite of her food.
Genny burst out laughing. "I love it! Send me pics!"
As the girls reached the end of the boardwalk, a black Dodge Ram suddenly appeared, blocking their path to the Jeep. The truck's windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible to see inside.
Without hesitation, Lucy and Celina drew their concealed pistols from their jeans, as eight masked men, all dressed in black, jumped out of the truck's bed. They were not armed but wore tactical gear and displayed impressive physical strength. Before Lucy or Celina could fire a shot, the men scattered. One of the assailants grabbed Genny first, easily lifting her despite her struggles.
Seeing the danger, Lucy feared she might accidentally hit Genny if she used her gun, so she charged at the man instead, colliding with him, forcing him to loosen his grip which allowed Genny to escape.
The man then turned his attention to Lucy. His eyes were slightly slanted as he executed a swift spinning kick, knocking the gun from her grasp and pinning her to the ground.
“Run!” Lucy yelled to Tamara and Genny as Celina fired her gun twice, missing once, but hitting another one in the shoulder.
“Celina,” Lucy cried out. “Go! Get them out of here! Call 9-1-1!”
Celina didn’t hesitate as she raced down the boardwalk, noticing two of the men blocking Genny and Tamara’s path.
“Stay behind me,” Genny said as she stood in front of Tamara, but it was no use. One of the men shoved Genny aside and grabbed Tamara by the hair, yanking it.
“No!” Celina cried out. “Tamara!” Celina quickly ran to the man, only to be knocked down by a surprised attack.
“Move!” One of the men ordered as they grabbed Tamara and Genny. However, Celina quickly made a decision. She seized Genny by the ankles and pulled, causing Genny to fall face-first onto the wooden planks of the boardwalk.
“Damn it! We have to go. Leave her!” Yelled one of the attackers as they fled with Tamara over his shoulder, her fists pounding his back.
Genny looked up, her nose and cheek bleeding, and saw Tamara screaming as the men carried her away. Celina quickly stood up and limped as fast as she could back to the parking lot, hoping Lucy was okay. Her heart sank when she spotted Lucy kicking and screaming as she was shoved into the cab of the Dodge Ram.
“Lucy!” Celina yelled just as another truck pulled up. Frantically, she took her phone out of her pocket, snapped a picture of the license plate, and made her way back to Genny, grabbing her hand.
“We need to move, now!” Celina shouted.
“What about Lucy and Tamara?” Genny cried out.
Celina quickly grabbed her phone and dialed.
”9-1-1, what is your emergency?”