ADOPTING BEAUTY

Chapter 50 + Operation Dove

By four o'clock the following day I still had not heard back from Detective Walters at the LAPD. I'd left voice and text messages. Larissa had called the FBI in Las Vegas trying to track down Special Agent Kevin Robson. She'd been able to leave a message for him but she too had not heard back. I was not sure I could actually go through with the plan. It was risky but I wanted to get Dove out of her sex slave existence sooner rather than later. Or at least try.

I went ahead and withdrew one thousand dollars in cash from my savings account and put it in an old school backpack. As expected, Camille was more excited than anyone. She'd agree to be our eyes and ears in the hotel lobby and try her best to snap a photo of Dove's pimp. Luckily when I called the hotel at six o'clock, they had a room available to reserve. I asked Camille to use her fake I.D. to make the reservation as none of us were twenty-one. We were all set to go.

God help us, I thought.

I was nervous picking Camille up in my truck. It was the first time Camille and Larissa came face-to-face since the recent turn of events. What made it even more awkward was that now Larissa sat up front and Camille would sit in the backseat of my crew cab. Queen Camille had been dethroned. We had an hour drive to downtown ahead of us, but in truth, we needed the time to finalize our plan.

"Hello lovers," said Camille as she climbed into the back of my truck.

"Are you super mad at me?" Larissa asked Camille, worried.

"No, you're still my girl. Don't worry, that will never change. Know that I'll always have your back in school. But as for your brother slash lover, he's on my shit list."

"For the record," I said. "You're on my shit list too. That said, thank you for doing this."

"You're welcome, Joseph. This has nothing to do with the three of us. Let's get this girl to safety. I spent countless hours searching for her on the dark web, I want to see this through."

"I think you're a softy at heart."

"Maybe I am."

"Okay, let's talk strategy. Camille, you'll check in and scout the lobby."

"Look for other entrances in case they try to avoid the lobby," said Larissa.

"Got it. How did your pimp, Eddie, act in these situations?" asked Camille.

"More often than not we'd use a side entrance but sometimes if we knew the hotel or were in a rush, we'd walk right in through the main lobby. Sometimes I'd wear baggy clothes over my work clothes and strip down in the elevator or somewhere on the floor. Eddie always wanted me clean and sexy when the John opened his door."

"You said that since Dove's getting a grand in cash, her pimp may come up to the room to collect," I said.

"It's highly possible, especially since he doesn't know you. You're a first time John who he doesn't trust yet."

"What do we do if he does show up at the door?"

"Just pay him right away. No small talk. He'll just want the money in hand and leave."

"Where're you gonna be, Larissa?" asked Camille.

"Hiding in the bathroom until Joe's sure the pimp is gone for good."

"So Joe's gonna lose his thousand dollars if the pimp escorts Dove to the room."

"I guess so."

"It's okay," I said. "It's worth it if we get her out."

"How do we get her out of the hotel?" asked Camille.

"The parking garage is in the basement. We brought one of my big hoodies for Dove to wear. We take her down the elevator to the lobby and then it's only about maybe fifty feet to the garage elevators. That's the tricky part. Camille, you'll have to make sure, if you can, that her pimp is nowhere near the elevator banks. Once we get her in the truck, we hide her on the floor of the backseat under beach towels until we drive out of the hotel and get on the freeway."

"That all sounds great and easy, but you know something's gonna go wrong."

"Don't jinx us."

+++++

The moment of truth had arrived. All three of us were nervous but entered the hotel with unwavering conviction. I tried to tell myself the worst case was that I would lose one thousand dollars and Dove would refuse to leave with us. If that happened, at least I knew I tried. I fully understood there was a real chance she may not want to leave her life, whether out of fear or that she didn't know a better life for her existed.

Camille checked in and handed us keycards to the room on the 40th floor. It was almost eight o'clock so we had little over an hour to get situated. The lobby was bustling for a Friday night. The bar was packed and I'm sure there were plenty of real Johns on hand. Larissa followed me to the elevators and up to the room. We did not look back at Camille in the lobby. I had full faith and confidence in Camille. She was the perfect person for the job. The room itself was identical to our room on prom night, except two floors lower. It brought back a few memories of Camille that I cherished. The view of Downtown Los Angeles was impressive. I'd never liked downtown but it looked different that night. More vibrant and alive with all the lights.

Then we waited. Larissa agreed she'd hide in the shower until I came and told her the coast was clear. At about five minutes to nine, Camille sent a text. It was a picture of a guy in his twenties walking with a young girl with dark hair. The guy looked shady, like a wannabe gangster. His face was clearly visible. The girl looked very young and wore stylish but baggy sweats and white sneakers. The girl was looking downward so her face was not recognizable. If those were indeed Dove and her pimp, Camille had done her job. My ex had a sixth sense.

Suddenly, my cellphone blew up. I'd put the number on the sex ad in my contacts as Dove. The word Dove was on my screen identifying the incoming call. I answered after four rings.

"Hello," I said.

"Room number?" a gruff male voice asked.

"4008."

"We're coming up now. Have the money ready."

The man killed the call and my chest started to burn with anxiety. Larissa could see the panic on my face. My nightmare had come true, Dove was minutes away with her pimp in tow. I'd be forced to meet her trafficker face-to-face. I was way out of my element.

"You'll be fine," said Larissa. "Remember, no small talk. Just give him the money like you've done this before."

"Okay," I said trying to breath. "I got this. Get in the bathroom."

"Going. Take deep breaths. It will only take a few minutes and then we'll be alone with her. And no names."

"Got it. Go. Wait, one more thing."

"What?"

"If it goes bad, do not come out into the room. Stay in the bathroom and call 9-1-1. Whatever happens, do not come out."