Perfect Justice

21.

“GOOD WORK,” BEN SAID as they walked down Maple together. “You got a lot more out of Mary Sue than I did. Despite the fact that you’re”—he lowered his voice to a hush—“a lawyer.”

Belinda laughed. “Mary Sue certainly has been taking an active interest in the affairs of her lodgers. I’m not sure how reliable her information is, though.”

“Why is that?”

“Surely you noticed. Mary Sue is an alcoholic.”

“What? How can you tell?”

“Didn’t have much choice. I smelled her breath. Plus, I saw her tentative stride, her glazed eyes. She’d definitely had a few.”

“That doesn’t necessarily make her an alcoholic.”

“It’s still morning, Ben. No one drinks this time of day unless they need it. And let’s not forget she was at the Bluebell Bar when the big fight occurred. In the afternoon.”

“Perhaps you’re right. Still, she couldn’t have imagined that entire story about the woman who visited Vick.”

“No. Pity we don’t know who the woman was.”

“Agreed. I’ll ask Vick, but I don’t think he’ll tell me.” Ben thought for a moment. “I wonder if any of Vick’s comrades-in-hate would know?”

“It’s possible. Especially if she was a woman they were passing around.”

“That settles it. I’m going to pay the ASP camp a visit.”

“Ben—no!” Belinda reached out and pressed her hand against his shoulder. “Those men are killers. Every one of them.”

“The fact that they belong to a repellent organization doesn’t necessarily make them killers.”

“Ben, believe me. I’ve been tracking these creeps for years. They’ve left a trail of bodies in their wake a mile long. They’re remorseless.”

“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

Belinda shook her head. “You remind me so much of myself it’s scary. You sound just like I did two years ago. Before I learned better.” She turned away and gazed up at the clear blue sky. “You remember John mentioning that ASP came after me, in Birmingham.”

Ben’s eyebrows knitted together. “He said Frank saved you.”

“Eventually, yes. After they’d held me captive over four hours.” Despite the brightness of the sun, her eyes became dark and clouded. “I was leaving Hatewatch late one night, alone. They grabbed me outside my office. Four of them. All wearing hoods. Twisted my arms behind my back, tied a gag so tight it cut my face. They threw me in the back of my car and pinned me down with a boot in my back.”

Instinctively Ben reached out and took her hand.

“After over an hour’s drive we arrived at their secret meeting place. At least fifty of them were there, all hiding beneath hoods. They dragged me to the center of a field—by my hair. Tore big chunks of it out of my scalp. Then they tied me to a wooden cross surrounded by kindling and wrapped a rope around my neck. Made me think they were going to burn me alive. Or hang me. Or both.”

She inhaled deeply. “Then the leader approached me. With a knife.”

Ben squeezed her hand tighter.

“He pressed the knife against my neck, my face. He toyed with me. Of course, it was Grand Dragon Dunagan, but I’ll never be able to prove it. He hooked the knife inside the collar of my blouse …” She looked down at the ground and covered her eyes. “… then cut the blouse off my body. Then he cut loose my skirt. Underclothes, too. Bra, panties. I was tied to that cross, stark naked, clothes dangling from my wrists and around my ankles.”

Ben’s hands trembled. “Did—did they … ?”

“Rape? No, that wasn’t the first item on his agenda. He ran the blade all over my body, threatening me. Fondling me with his knife. Then he put it down and took up a bullwhip.”

“My God! They didn’t—”

“They did. Twenty-five times.” Her eyes began to well up. “I’ve still got the scars to prove it. They might still be beating me if Frank hadn’t shown up with the cops. Although I think they had something else planned for me later.”

Ben took her into his arms and pressed her head against his shoulder.

“The ASPers got away, but at least Frank rescued me before—” Her voice choked. “Before it was too late.”

“And after all that,” he murmured, “you’re still fighting them.”

“More than ever,” she said solemnly. “So you see how dangerous it would be for you to go to that camp.”

Ben embraced her tightly. She didn’t seem uncomfortable, and he certainly wasn’t going to be the one to end it. “Well, at the moment they seem to be my friends.”

“That won’t last long once you start asking the hard questions. Ben, this is not a smart idea.”

“I’m sorry. I have to.”

Belinda gripped his arm. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. I don’t want you to—I—” She stopped, reformulated her sentence. “Ben, don’t do it.”

They looked at one another, their lips barely inches apart. “I don’t have any choice,” Ben said. He stroked her cheek. “But thanks for being concerned. It’s a refreshing change.”