Kenneth O'Leary's Story

Somewhere unknown in the dark depths of Solinus City

Kenneth O'Leary sat behind his desk looking at his son who was driving a toy car aimlessly across the desk in a complete world of his own. He smiled at the young boy before looking up at his wife and the man next to her.

"Have you heard anything from Bray yet?"

"No sir, he just vanished into thin air. I can't understand where he's suddenly gone." Joshua replied.

"Surely the cops wouldn't have got him, he's too good for them. He's smart. He almost thinks like a cop." Kenneth replied.

"What if he is a cop?"

"He's been with me for ten years, you think they'd let someone be undercover for that long without pulling him at some point. And he got so involved with selling. Not to mention killing Dom. He isn't a cop. That goes against everything he stands for and he'd be prosecuted for that as much as we would, cop or not. They have rules. He's no cop."

Joshua shrugged.

"Who's a cop, daddy?"

"No one. It's okay." Lena spoke rubbing her son's hair. "Bray was wild, maybe he crossed the line somewhere. You know what he was like, what if he pissed someone else off." Of course, Lena knew different. She knew Bray was alive and well.

"Well, he'll turn up sooner or later and either way we'll get answers from him. Take Devon out for the afternoon. He doesn't need to be in here when business is discussed like this." He spoke before dismissing them both.

He started talking with Joshua, his new lead man, as Lena picked up her son and left the room. Trouble was brewing and she knew that she had too get out of there, and soon. And it was time to call the one man that could organise it.

Brayden Drake.

A wisp of black smoke formed in the room across from Kenneth, rapidly manifesting into a humanoid shape that solidified until it became that of a young woman with dark purple hair. The last trails of the black smoke drifted off of her form as she opened her violet eyes to survey the room. Xyntha Kynvaelatre-Naeve let her gaze rest upon the man behind the desk, piercing in its intensity.

"O'Leary, what's this I'm hearing about one of your confidants being caught up in an investigation in Wing City?" she demanded, striding across the room towards his desk. Xyntha's position in Solinus was like a spider in her web. Officially, she was nothing more than a rich young woman with friends in high places, but in reality there was a lot more to her relationship with the authorities and criminals of the city than merely having their favour.

No, many of them were entirely wrapped around her little finger. With a few well-placed words, she could spell doom for half the city's underworld overnight. The same went for any mayor, police chief or official that overstepped their boundaries. Both a darling of the public eye and a ruthless manipulator behind the scenes, there were few in the city that could cross her without suffering for it.

"I do very much hope that your loose ends aren't going to draw negative attention here. You know how I hate mess in my city."

Kenneth and Joshua turned around at the voice suddenly in his office. He glanced past the known female figure, noting that his wife and son were just leaving them alone. He didn't want them involved in this, despite them knowing things already. He then glanced at the woman, but his expression showed no particular concern.

"From what I've heard, it's a hit and run. He's not linked back here. He hasn't even actually done anything for me. He sold his kid on the black market a couple of years or so back. That had nothing to do with me either, it's just how I found him. I had him working on some project in Wing City. He's not even linked to Solinus. He's never even been here." O'Leary told her.

He sat back, Joshua leaned back against the man's desk, arms folded against his chest as he watched the exchange.

"We're more concerned about Brayden right now. You haven't seen or heard from my main man anywhere have you? I haven't seen him for over a week now, he's just gone MIA. Ten years working for me and he's never gone MIA. So, you haven't heard anything, have you? He's one of my best man, I'd hate to find out he'd pissed the wrong people off and paid for it."

He then looked at Josh. "I'm going to have to send you to Wing City. Do some snooping for me now that Caleb's in the shit. I want to expand there, but without been linked here. I need to know if that's possible at all." He told the other man.

"No, I'm not aware of anyone by that name being in trouble here. I'll ask around after him." Xyntha said, waving a hand, "If he's in this city, I'll turn him up within a few days."

The demoness nodded her head, "And good. Just remember, if by any chance a trail does lead back here and it comes into the public light that there's a trafficking ring operating here, we will no longer be friends. We will never have been friends. You understand what I mean, of course. I will personally see to it that your organisation is wiped off the face of the planet."

She smiled. "I will do what I can to track down your missing man if he's in Solinus, but otherwise you'd better hope you're able to corral him before he gets you into hot water, intentionally or nay."

O'Leary frowned at the veiled threat. He wasn't happy. "I've been here for a while now, when have I ever bought trouble here? Like I said, they can't link Caleb too me. All they know is my name so if Caleb gets in the public eye, they still can't trace him here. The cops haven't found me yet and one drunken idiot won't bring me down."

"Like I said, Caleb has never even come here. He won't be a problem." He reiterated.

"Bray is loyal. He won't get me in hot water. You've met him a few times. He's normally here instead of Josh. He's the best man there is for anything. He's got me out of deep shit more than enough times. I'm just worried that he's been targeted by someone. You don't have to be concerned that he'll bring trouble here. Bray wouldn't."

Once again, O'Leary acknowledged that she was there by looking at her. "Is there anything else you need while you're here. I'm quite a busy man. I've got some people to sell. Got in a family earlier today. I want to get the kids sold as soon as possible, one's a telekinetic. I'm sure that'll get me quite a bit."

"See that he doesn't." Xyntha instructed, nodding her head. "And no, that will be all. I'll leave you to your busy little world of detestable treatment of your fellow man. Just remember, O'Leary, you operate in this city because I tolerate you. I think you are a disgusting example of humanity and will not shed a tear over your deathbed."

The purple-haired girl winked. "It's in your best interests to keep me happy. For now though, goodbye. I'll be in touch."

And then she was gone once more, dissolving in a cloud of smoke that quickly dissipated to nothing.

Somewhere in the dark depths of Solinus City...

Joshua had done himself proud. O'Leary would be really proud of him. This had gone just as he'd planned. O'Leary wanted money, he was going to get so much praise for this. Once they arrived at the destination Joshua had planned, he got out with the men and moved to the back of the van. He briefly checked his victim over before getting into the back of the van.

"You got the pole that end?" He asked one of the men.

"Yeah, you got it that end?"

"Just let me get it unhooked." Josh replied.

Two minutes later, they were holding the pole and carrying their victim still tied to the pole. It was easier that way. They wouldn't struggle and cause trouble.

"O'Leary. I got us a catch. A great catch from Wing City while I was there. She's Avorian or something. Shanthi is her name or something." Josh announced moving into the office.

"You fucking did what?" O'Leary shouted as soon as he lay eyes on the catch. "Do you have any idea how hard it'll be to sell her. People can link her straight back to us. Do you have any fucking idea who she is?" He growled.

"But she'll bring us the big bucks!" Josh frowned.

"Untie her."

"What?"

"I said untie her!"

Sighing, Josh untied her from the pole, removed the blindfold and gag. And let her stand. But he kept a firm hold of her wrist along with the man the other side of her.

There was anger and indignation in Shanthi's eyes as she was untied and she tried to pull her wrists free of the two men on either side of her, but they had a firm grip.

"You will release me at once!" she demanded. "Do you think you can get away with this?!"

Her accent had grown all the thicker with her anger.

"The Matriarch will not stand for this."

"What the fuck am I going to do with her now?" O'Leary shouted.

"Can't we sell her elsewhere? Somewhere she isn't recognised?" Josh frowned.

"Do you know who she is?" O'Leary asked.

"No. Why would I?"

"She's a fucking government official. I can't let her go and I can't fucking sell her."

Okay so Josh was in the shit. He sighed as he looked at the woman and then his boss. "What about selling her on another planet?" He suggested.

"You fucking idiot." O'Leary told him, but that wasn't a bad idea. He looked at Shanthi. He was about to speak, but someone else interrupted.

"Who's that, daddy? And why is she angry?" A young boy asked, having opened the door and standing in the doorway.

"Devon, leave please."

"Why?"

O'Leary frowned but called the boy over, letting him sit on his father's lap. "She's been naughty, and so daddy has to tell her off." He lied easily to the little boy. "What should I do with her?"

"Give her to a new family like you do with all the naughty people. So that she can be good again." He told his father.

Shanthi gaped at the appearance of the child and the apparent normalcy of the situation to the boy.

Her astonishment gave way to her anger though as she again tried to jerk her wrists free of the men holding her.

"I am not some possession to be sold like a common vāśilā!" She was flustered enough that she was stumbling over her words and struggling to recollect the common terms for the words she wanted. "I am Shanthi Hakkar, a Volarian Ambassador, and if you do not release me you will all regret this."

"She speaks other languages. That's always something new families look for. They like their new members to speak other languages because it means they can take them on travels once they're good." The father told his son, obviously he was training the boy, brainwashing him into thinking that this kind of behaviour was correct so that when he was older he could also join the family business.

"Traveling sounds fun. Can I go somewhere with you one day?"

"Maybe when you're older." He answered.

He looked up at Josh. "You're going to find a seller. Off this planet. Somewhere far away highly unlikely to recognise her. Maybe somewhere that doesn't have much interaction with Volarian's." He told the man. "Chain her up in the room. And if she ends up been found, you're a dead man." He warned.

"Yes, sir."

"Will he play with the angels, daddy?"

"No, son. He'll burn in hell." He smirked, running his hand over his son's hair. "Now, take her away." He ordered.

With that, Josh and the other man started to pull her out the room.

"You do not have the right!" Shanthi objected as she struggled more forcefully to free herself before she was pulled from the room.

Once outside the room she turned her ire on the man responsible for her predicament.

"You will rot in a prison for this," she threatened.

Joshua, as punishment for his fuck up, was the one to give Shanthi her relief for the short amounts of time for food and toilet breaks. He noted that she'd stopped eating the day before and today was the same. O'Leary was down his neck, having heard that Wing City were all over the case of the missing Volarian. Just because he had no one out there actively working now, didn't mean that he didn't have spies there telling him what was going on. After all, that's how he found out about Caleb.

"People are looking out for you, Joshua." O'Leary commented. "You know I hate been in the public eye."

"I'm sorry, boss." Joshua mumbled.

"It's a good thing that I have a meeting with a space pirate. I've got her a ride out of here. They can sell her on. I'll be getting a decent sum." He grinned a little.

Joshua breathed a sigh of relief. "What do you need me to do then?"

"Feed her. Go make sure she looks decent. I'm sure the space pirate will want her in a reasonable condition. Take Lena with you. Lena can clean her up."

"Sure boss." Joshua turned to leave.

"And Joshua. Just know you've had a lucky escape here."

"Yes sir."

---

"What did Kenneth want me to do?" Lena frowned, her son close behind.

"He wants you to clean her up. Make her presentable. And try to encourage her to eat." Joshua told his boss' wife.

Lena did not feel comfortable getting involved like this. She hated it. But there was nothing she could do. Soon her and Devon would be out of here though, away from this life.

Joshua opened the door and looked over at the prisoner. "Don't unchain her. Feed her if you can. And just make sure she's clean."

Lena nodded and quietly walked over to the chained girl, Devon quiet behind her. She knelt down once next to the girl. "Hi. My name is Lena and this is my son, Devon. I'm here to wash you. Is that okay? I have some food for you too." She added, dipping the sponge into a bowl of soapy warm water and rinsing it out.

Shanthi looked away as Lena approached her, not caring to entertain this newest effort to get her to eat. She was hungry and the smell of food enticing, but she was a stubborn one.

It wasn't hard though to take note of Lena's discomfort at the situation.

"Let me go," Shanthi told the woman.

Overhead her wrists were rubbed raw and infected from the iron shackles that kept her secured to the wall.

"You're not allowed to be let go." It was Devon that spoke from behind his mother. "Daddy says that you're bad and so need to go to a new home to be taught how to be good."

"Shhh, Dev. It's okay. Just stay quiet please." She didn't take the shackles off but tried her best to get to the cuts that were there and clean them for her. "I can't let you go, I'm afraid." She said quietly.

With that she continued to clean the woman up as best as she could. "They're going to sell you, soon." She said quietly so Josh wouldn't hear her. "You should eat, get your strength up. Maybe you will have a chance to escape there."

Shanthi curled her leg enough to kick the bucket over before looking away again as the warm soapy water spread across the cold floor.

"I will eat when they release me," Shanthi replied stubbornly.

Lena frowned as she saw what Shanthi did, but she couldn't blame the woman. She was kidnapped and been held to be sold. If Lena was in the same position she'd probably be the same.

"I'm sorry that I can't do anything." She said quietly. "But I can't free you."

"Josh! Look what she did!"

"Leave her, Lena. If she's going to be like that, then she can explain to her new owner why she's looking like shit. Maybe he'll treat her like shit because of it." Josh answered.

Lena frowned and looked at Shanthi. "They're not going to let you go. Eat so you have the strength to escape if the opportunity arises." She told the woman before gathering everything and leaving.

---

Josh moved back to O'Leary's office. "Lena cleaned her as best as she could. But the bitch was messing about and knocked everything over."

"Forget it. The pirate will be here soon enough." O'Leary answered.

They were investigating Joshua, according to O'Leary's associates. They had information linking Joshua to the missing Volarian. That had given O'Leary two options. Get rid of Joshua either through handing him in or killing him. Handing him in was too risky of getting the guy talking and linking it back to him. And killing him was just as risky proving that when he was found he'd be linked to a bigger picture than just kidnapping a girl.

That left one option, proving Joshua was innocent. Yes, the van was linked to him. It was his. But he had given the man a plan of action and what was to be said. Josh had the script for when the cops came knocking.

And the next day they did.

It didn't take long for Joshua to open the door to the second rap on his door. The van was nowhere to be seen. He stared at the man on the doorstep of his place and frowned, not recognising him.

"Can I help ya?" He asked.

Pringley looked immediately startled as Joshua opened the door, as if he'd inexplicably forgotten the reason why he'd come here in the first place. After a few moments of open-mouth gaping, he finally found his sense of social direction.

"Uh hi!" he smiled awkwardly, "sorry to uh, bother you this late at night. I'm uh. I'm agent Pringley with the National Police Association." He perked. "Oh! You probably wanna see an ID huh..." He began furiously patting down his jacket. "I know I keep it... somewhere... on my person..." He fidgeted through his pockets before procuring his badge, holding it out for Joshua to see.

"There," he nodded already a bit exasperated, "so uh. Like I said. NPA. Agent. I was wondering if uh." He swallowed the dryness in his throat. "If uh, I could come in for a few minutes? It shouldn't take up too much of your time."

O'Leary made sure everyone was in his van. He had talked to the Kane about changing the location and the fact that making a trip like that would mean more people needed slave wise. But O'Leary could do that. He had a ton of slaves pulled back of the Black Market in Wing City that could also be sold. And it was this that got him thinking about broadening his business over seas, and intergalactic.

Maybe Joshua wasn't so stupid after all. The money would be a lot better. Once everyone were shackled up in the van, including Shanthi, they were off. It was a good hours drive but they'd be there on time. O'Leary was never late. There were three vans. Each van carrying ten squashed slaves. Thirty slaves in total. It was a tight fit in the small van. One of the vans was Joshua's. O'Leary had his own van. Shanthi was in Josh's van. He had someone watching Josh's place and knew he was been talked to.

This made it perfect. The van would be left here, set up so that Josh was in the clear and couldn't possibly of been here and been questioned, and some guy that didn't work for him, that he'd hired for a couple of hours driving it. Someone from Wing City. It was perfect to set up with Josh's story that he'd tell the cops.

When they got there, Kane was already there. O'Leary made sure everyone stayed in their van's while he got out and looked at the men. "So, which one of you is Kane? I hope you ain't been waiting too long for us. Sorry about the change of plans. My son has a party today. I didn't know the wife had planned it at my place until guests started arriving, hence the change of plans." It was a small lie. Josh was the reason for the change of plans.