“Are any all connected to Tampa or is it a world-wide connection?” Diesel fished, trying to figure out who Carter really was.
“What the hell?” Swift mumbled out loud, looking at her phone.
“What?” Ian asked concerned.
“One of the officers sent me several photos found at Candy’s place. Is Candy part of the BDSM lifestyle?” Swift looked over at Alpha Squad as she handed them her phone to see the photos.
“Not a full-fledged member. From my understanding, she liked to play with certain aspects but could never handle a real dom. We found out she applied for membership at a couple of the exclusive clubs in San Diego, but her applications were denied because no one would sponsor her.” Pratt looked towards York and Cortez, nodding at them.
“Two of the ‘open door’ clubs kicked her out for harassing one of their doms when he turned her down for a contract after a scene. She wasn’t happy. We did find out the only club she hasn’t been banned from, Charles Manson wouldn’t have been kicked out of.”
“Diesel seriously had to use the Charles Manson idea?” Rameriez mumbled to Raso.
“Well, she didn’t use the Jeffrey Dahmer idea.” Raso reasoned with Rameriez.
“As much as I hate to admit it, she has a point. Hannibal Lector and the lotion on the skin dude could walk in the club, do what they normally do, nothing would get them kicked out of that place. This club has wanna be doms who claim the title to smack women around and cause pain to women. We call it ‘Club Reject’.” Pratt leaned back into her chair, crossing her arms, then tapping her fingers onto the opposite forearm.
Carter chuckled. “Club Reject?”
“The ones that go there can’t get into the exclusive clubs for one reason or another.” Sgt. Brocard clarified their nickname for the club.
“Do they even do memberships at that club?” Swift questioned the team.
“No, it’s an open-door policy. We’ve helped vice with calls there a few times. Even had a few human trafficking cases connected to the club.” Brocard nodded at the rest of her team.
“So, they don’t follow the true meaning of BDSM, safe, sane or consensual,” Ian commented, upset.
“No, we’ve dealt with a lot of nonconsensual cases there. Somehow they always manage to skirt the legalities of the situation.” Rameriez got up and walked over to Diesel and handed her a piece of gum.
“Only two of the five reported rapes associated with Club Reject have successfully been prosecuted. The jagoff who committed the other three has gotten away with it because of his association to the club owner.”
Ian looked at Pratt, waiting for her to finish her sentence. “His association?”
“The jagoff is reportedly the owner’s half-brother.”
“Hmmmm”
“Toss a coin to your Witcher…” Diesel sang off key.
“I will fucking stab you in your eye ball and walk way.”
Highlander laughed at his wife’s threat to Diesel after his hum. He pulled his wife out of her chair toward him, causing her teammates to laugh when she glared at him.
After glaring at Highlander for a few more minutes, Pratt looked over at her team leader. “Forensics and Tampa PD say the place was tossed, how about sending a few of us over there to see what we can find?”
“Our forensic team is one of the best. The men that are there now searching the apartment are very thorough.” Swift defended her department.
“I have no doubt about that, Swift. I’m not doubting your department at all…”
“Head, heart or gut?” Gene interrupted, looking at Pratt intensely.”
Pratt looked at Gene for a moment, as if trying to figure out which one to answer, “I want to say all 3, but something keeps tingling in the back of both my head and my gut that something is in the apartment.”
“Alright, myself, Carter, and Alvarez will go with you and have a look around. Officer Swift, can you please inform whoever is in charge that we are on the way. We want to look around.” Gene addressed Swift, nodding at each person he named.
Brocard stood up, looking over at Pratt. “Cortez, go with Pratt. The two of you have more experience in this kind of stuff. Better yet, York, join them too.”
“I’ll join them too, sergeant.” Highlander stood up, joining his wife, Cortez and York.
