Go Away Girls: Vanished: Go Away Girls, #3

By Lenni A.

In the aftermath of the epidemic of the drug 'Flight,' Katherine and Audrey were hoping for things to go back to normal. However, some of Audrey's fellow members of the Temple of the Great Mother have not been in contact and several prostitutes have gone missing from brothels in Trixa. Katherine and her friends work to hunt down the kidnappers and bring the missing people home.

 

This book is the third in a series and it is strongly recommended to read them in order. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lenni A
• Release date: Nov 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223047094

Lenni A.

Lenni is the pen-name for a librarian with a wild imagination. She loves reading, writing, drawing, baking, and not nearly enough hours in the day to do all these things. She has been writing since she can hold a pen and reading since she could hold a book. You can see her full body of work at www.atthequillsmercy.com and check out her blog over at www.literaryloon.com.

Book preview

Chapter One

Despite the compliments she had received for a job well done, Audrey would much rather relax in her apartments than listen to the Temple Triumvirate run through the remaining business of the day. After dealing with the chaos around the drug Flight; Audrey hoped to return to her normal duties of taking petitioners in service to the Great Mother. She resigned herself to the chance of being asked to assist in the efforts to curtail the drug. Not every citizen of Trixa could afford expensive medical care and the healers of the temple were stretched to their limit.

What do you think, Sister Audrey?

Startled, Audrey sat straighter in her seat and looked at her colleague. Apologies, Brother Thomas. My mind was far away.

Brother Thomas smiled and nodded. Understandable. It has been a rough time. It seems some of us have failed to report back in a long while other temples have noticed the same.

Now properly focused, Audrey heard the Triumvirate discussing what should be done. I do hope it is simply a set of misunderstandings or forgetfulness. Audrey sighed. It can be easy to lose track of communications when we are out in the field. People who need us can keep us very busy.

I share your hopes, Sister. Brother Thomas smiled and looked back up to the elders and Triumvirate debating what the next steps should be.

After much circling, it was only decided that contacting the temple leaders for more information would be the most prudent choice. Anything further would be decided when they attained more information.

N ow, you have to be extra careful with the vanilla. Katherine uncapped the tiny glass bottle and handed it to Elvira. It is an expensive and rare ingredient to get. And if you use too much or too little, the flavor will be completely out of balance.

Elvira held the tablespoon and small bottle in steady hands, filling the spoon right to the edge before pouring it into the mixing bowl.

Excellent work, Vi. Katherine stepped back and let Elvira combine the rest of the ingredients herself while she readied the baking sheet.

Ya'll look so cozy. Clara entered the kitchen on wobbling legs, still groggy from her medication, favoring her injured ribs and bruises dotting her dark skin.

Even with the plume of blood-red hair covering her face, Clara could tell Elvira was elated to be in their kitchen and proud to be trusted with Katherine's fancy tools and rare ingredients.

Vi has been a delight. Katherine gave the taller woman a soft pat on the shoulder. You know what to do now. A tablespoon of dough two inches apart I already greased the pan so they don't stick. You remembered to preheat the oven?

Elvira nodded and went to clean the vanilla off of the teaspoon. She dried it before making delicate scoops of the dough and placing them with precision on the baking sheet.

Katherine helped Clara to their dining table. How do you feel? Do you need more medicine?

I just needed to move around. Clara sagged into the chair. I can't be stuck in that damn bed all day.

Katherine did her best not to frown. There was no stopping Clara's stubbornness and she counted her lucky stars her love was wise enough not to push herself further. Elvira is doing an amazing job.

When her stomach growled loudly, Clara tried to hold in a laugh to keep her healing ribs from aching. I'm hungry, Vi. You better be ready. You know how I eat.

If it was even possible, Elvira's smile was even brighter as she filled one baking sheet, and hastily reached for another.

Katherine let them have their moment and went to check on the medicine her lover claimed she didn't need. She checked their little greenhouse for the herbs it was currently legal for her to grow then her personal stores in her lab for the things that were certainly either off-market or deeply illegal.

Damn it all, I need to see Jessica. She muttered, taking out a pen and paper to make a detailed list for the person she sincerely hoped would make this transaction as efficient and financially equitable as possible.

I have to leave for a bit, love. Katherine, dressed in her leather breeches and thick coat. We are running low on the medicine you need and if these baking lessons are going to continue I shall have to do some shopping. She stopped at Clara's side and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Don't you disobey the doctor's orders and overexert yourself. Slipping on her jacket, Katherine gave Elvira a wide grin. And feel free to finish that batch but do try not to eat them all.

No promises. Clara wanted to laugh but it made her chest hurt. They smell great.

Elvira's smile was oozing with pride and she pointed to a large tin with a questioning head tilt.

Frosting isn't necessary but if you insist. I'll add more powdered sugar to the list. Katherine secured her red curls with a hairpin and headed for the door. Along with something to make sure you clean your teeth well.

When the door closed, Clara sighed. I think she's morphing into a den mother.

Elvira nodded and slipped the baking sheets into the oven.

Yeah, Clara took a deep breath, taking in the smell of flour and sugar. I like it, too.

Chapter Two

Holding his breath , Brother Palmer waited until his pursuers passed by his hiding place in a dark corner. He never expected to make it off the ship; far too many crewmembers. There was no way he could overpower them all. But he’d managed to make it to the cargo hold after giving the guy in charge of feeding them a good punch to the gut and making a run for it.

Palmer went from container to container, searching for one with a loose enough top. He could feel his heart pounding faster with each unfortunately well-secured box, cursing some faceless worker’s sense of responsibility. Finally, one of the crates came loose. ‘Looks like some of the crew wanted a little taste.’ He thought, looking at the succulent fruits inside. He unhooked the metal ring around his collar, removed his shirt, and shoved it inside.

‘Shit.’ He heard voices and footsteps growing closer and he used his full bodyweight to push the cover back into place. Palmer didn’t have time to see if it looked untouched as the door opened and a bunch of his captors rushed towards him. His hand reached instinctively for his collapsible staff but he'd been disarmed days ago. He took solace in the few black eyes and split lips he was able to inflict before he was overpowered and dragged out of the cargo hold.

After a short burst of desperate struggling, a beaten and bruised Palmer was finally thrown into his cell. He struggled to breathe as the lock turned and the men who kidnapped him left him behind, bolting