A Spark of Hope

Chapter Four: 'Safety,' is just a word

All the men, as well as Kelly, had been arrested. The men picked up a huge fight. Tyrone had pulled his Glock out and was firing at the FBI while trying to escape. He was shot and wounded. Kelly's husband was firing with a semi-automatic assault rifle and in the end, took a bullet in the back and died on the scene. Kelly was glad they had finally been found out and was on the floor, hands behind her head when the FBI entered the house.

Carron and the younger girls were driven to the hospital in several ambulances. All the girls were put into one room in the hospital and placed on drips to detox. Their rooms were under guard, and no one was allowed in.

Carron was treated for cracked ribs and given a retroviral as were the other girls. She was authorized to go home after 48 hours of being watched and questioned.

Kelly told the FBI all of Tyrone's secrets about the Syndicate and gave up all the names of the people she knew about. The city was in chaos for months afterward as the police department within the CBD fell apart. A big investigation was underway and many police officials arrested.

The next few months were hell. Carron had to repeatedly tell all she had been through to the detectives and give a description of all the men who were in charge.

She also had to see a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist three times a week which meant repeating and recalling everything all over again. She was so sick of recalling everything and couldn't wait to be left alone by everyone.

The girls' parents had been located and had to go through the same scenario as Carron did, which consisted of hours of being questioned by the FBI and hours of trauma debriefing. Appearing in court was the worst. Tyrone and the others were there, and their intimidating glares got all the girls shivering and shaking with fear. Many of their clients were also arrested and appeared in court as well as the police officers who were part of the Syndicate.

Tyrone and the other men were thrown into prison, with no chances of parole. Tyrone got a life sentence as it came out he had killed a few girls from a drug overdose. The bodies of the girls were found buried in the backyard. It appeared one girl had been beaten to death. Another file was opened for the murders and after many months and months of court hearings of Tyrone claiming it was an accident, the judge ruled against him.

The house was in a posh area of town. It stood big and grand on a very well known street. It had thick high walls and electric fencing around it. No one ever suspected it was a brothel because of its location. Inside the house was a different story. It had been modified to hold up to twenty girls at a time. The prostitutes, who were paid top dollar, were given the best rooms.

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A year after Carron was rescued, court cases over, nightmares not as fresh, bruises gone, body healed; Carron went back to college. No one knew of her past. Her parent's managed to keep the girl's names and faces out of the media's reach. Carron almost felt normal again. She kept mostly to herself and didn't make many friends for fear they would find out. She put all her time and energy into getting her diploma.

Her relationship with her parents after she was rescued was strained. Her mom especially was so repulsed by the things Carron was forced to do, that sometimes she found her mom staring at her through empty eyes. Tears would trickle down her mom's face and many times she would get up and leave the room. There were times when Carron entered the room, and her mother would leave. It was almost as if her mom couldn't stand to be near her anymore. This ripped at Carron's heart. Her dad had reassured her that they loved her no matter what, but she wasn't feeling the love.

One day Carron had enough and grabbed her mom by the arm after she got up to leave, "Mother, please, we need to talk. We cannot go on like this."

"I'm sorry Carron. It's not you, really honey; it's what was done to you. I don't think you understand how bad it is for a mother knowing their child was a prostitute."