Page 60 of Riptide

“Who is this?” She attempted to back away from him, fear shone in her eyes.

“He’s not here to hurt you. He’s our friend and he’s trying to help us both,” Kaimana told her.

“Just hear us out, Joli. We can help you. Take another sip of champagne. Laugh,” Seth told her.

“I can’t promise anything.” Joli chugged back half a glass. Her hands trembled as she set her drink onto the table.

“We know about all the people you’ve been blackmailing,” Kaimana whispered. “The Feds are onto you. They have evidence. You could go to jail. Now they know you’ve been trafficked and you’re just a pawn, but at this point, you’re culpable. You’re committing crimes. But they want to find the rest of the girls. You know what they do to the younger ones. Please. Just help us and the Feds will help you get out forever.”

“If I don’t bring someone back to the apartment within a few hours, he’s going to come for me. Bad things will happen. Please,” she pleaded.

“Where’s Evan?” Kaimana pressed.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want to go to jail, Joli? Do you want those young girls to get raped? Or do you want to be part of the solution? Help end this cycle. Not just for them, but for you. Please.” Kaimana placed a hand over hers. “You have a chance to escape. A chance for a new life.”

“They’ll kill me.” Her voice trembled as she spoke. “You don’t know what they’re capable of…what they did to Evan—"

“I’ll help you, Joli. You have my word. Just please…tell me where Evan is,” Kaimana begged.

“Waianae,” she whispered, tears brimming her eyes. “There’s a house there that’s kind of remote. I’ve heard Adam talk about it over the phone to others. But I’ve never been there.”

“An address?” Seth asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Is he still alive?” Kaimana pressed.

“I don’t know. It’s been at least a week since I heard Adam talk about him. He said Evan was sick. I don’t know…I mean…I don’t know the conditions of where they’re keeping him. I got the feeling as soon as he was better the interrogations would continue.”

“Jesus,” Seth hissed under his breath.

“They need something from him. I don’t know what kind of secrets he has but they’re worth money.”

“Yeah, they are.” Seth shook his head.

“Please, Joli. I’ve got to get to him. Can you tell me anything else about where I can find him?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Stop. I can’t talk about this here.”

“Please. I know he’s still alive.”

“They’ll get you again, Kaimana,” Joli warned. “You’ll never be seen again. You know what they do to some of the girls. If they escape, they make sure to ship them somewhere far from the US. Someplace they’ll never be able to leave. They’ll never see anyone again. You? They’ll kill you.”

“They’ve already come after me. But this time, we’re gonna take down this whole shithole operation.”

“They have buyers. Many of them. This event is special. Many will come in person.”

“When is it? Where?”

“This weekend. It’s in Hawaiʻi somewhere. That’s all I know.” Joli turned to Kaimana and grabbed her arm. “Please don’t go. They’ll kill you.”

“I won’t let that happen. But I need more information about where Evan is. I’m running out of time. I can’t let them kill him.”

“I’ve gotta go. Adam’s expecting me soon. That’s how this works. On the nights by myself, I bring someone home with me, or I leave. I can’t stay too long. Please.”

“We need to talk,” Kaimana insisted.