Page 29 of Broken Empire
“Yes.”
“They sell people to buyers who want the films, and they launder the money through the art world. The buyers tell them how they want the person to die, and they make it happen and send the videotape to them afterwards.” Ari paused for a second, brows furrowing. “They also run something called ‘red rooms’. They’re spaces where viewers can pay to see someone being tortured. They can pay extra to make requests, too. It’s all live-streamed on the internet.”
I nodded slowly. Ari was telling the truth.
“Why did they hire your organization?” I asked, leaning forward. “What did you do for them?”
Ari looked past me again, eyes flashing with guilt. “We trained and provided men to work for them as handlers and executioners. All up and down the East Coast, from Boston to Miami,” he said. “I’m not sure who they use for the Midwest or West Coast regions. Another syndicate based somewhere around those areas, presumably.”
That made sense. During my initiation, Murray Engler told me that the organization hired other groups to do all the dirty work for them.
“How long did you work for them?” I asked.
“We started in 2014, and they voided our contract after my associates and I were arrested a few weeks ago,” Ari replied bitterly. “I actually have a gut feeling that they had something to do with the arrests, because over the last few years, we’ve had some serious disputes with them over compensation. I got the impression they were looking for a way out of the contract so they could use someone cheaper, and our indictment was an effective way for them to void it.”
I didn’t bother telling him the whole story behind his arrest. It would only complicate things and make him clam up all over again.
“Do you know where they keep the victims before they kill them?” I asked.
Ari rubbed his jaw. “I was never directly involved with that whole sordid process, but from what my men have told me over the years, the people are held in buildings owned by the organization,” he said. “The Kingsford Tower is one of those buildings. I actually got my apartment there at a discounted price because one of the Schöneberg members wanted to sell it, and they knew I was looking for a new pied-à-terre in the city at the time.”
“What about DC?” I asked. “What’s the Kingsford equivalent down there?”
“I’m not sure. I only ever heard about the New York building. Why?”
“I’m ninety-nine percent certain that Shay was taken to DC.”
Ari pressed his lips into a thin line. “Sorry to be blunt, but if they actually have her, then they intend to kill her. They’ve probably found a buyer for her already.”
My stomach lurched. “I know.”
“What makes you think they took her, anyway?” he asked, brows knitting.
“Long story, but trust me—they have her.”
“And you’re sure she’s in DC?”
“Yeah. I saw a video the DC chapter made, and she was somewhere in the background. So I figured they’re probably keeping her down there.”
Ari’s forehead creased. “I hate to tell you this, but the DC chapter is quite notorious amongst all the others, from what I recall.”
“For what?”
“Cruelty. The New York chapters aren’t far behind, though. I heard some truly disgusting things from my men over the years.”
And yet you still sent those men off to work for them,I thought to myself, upper lip curling with derision. “So you have no idea where the DC headquarters are?”
“No. Sorry. It could be any building in that city.”
“Could you find out from any of your men who worked down there?”
“I could try, but it would take some time,” Ari replied. “The feds have put limits on who I can contact, and when.”
“I don’t have time. I’ve already wasted too many days trying to figure all this shit out.”
“I’m sorry. If I knew anything else, I would tell you,” he said, looking me right in the eye. “I know Shay and I don’t have a close relationship—or any sort of relationship, really—but she’s still my blood. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
I took a deep breath and cracked my knuckles. “You’re absolutely sure you don’t know anything about the DC location?”
