Limited Immunity

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA Saturday Afternoon

Chase Roberts was holding the flier for the Limited Immunity Ranch in his hand as he walked back home. He knew his father would not let him go, but he had to try. His Boy Scout uniform had holes worn in it, but Chase wore it with pride. As he entered the small dark apartment, his father swore and cursed him.

"Little runt, hurry up and shut that door." Mr. Roberts screamed.
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry" Chase said shying away from the drunk man.

Chase went into the kitchen and looked through the bare cupboards and the empty refrigerator looking for something to eat. Finding nothing he went to his cot in the hallway that served as his bedroom. He changed into his sweat pants and sat on his cot, looking at the brochure. He read it over and over again, trying to come up in his mind with a way to get his father to sign the permission slip.

"Little Bastard what are you doing over there?" Mr. Roberts said glaring at his son.
"Reading about a trip the scouts are having." Chase said.
"You can't go. Don't even think about asking." Mr. Roberts shot back.
"There is no cost; the ranch is paying for everything." Chase said almost crying.
"I don't care. You need to do more work. I am out of cigarettes." Mr. Roberts said.
"Dad, no. I told you I don't want to do that anymore." Chase said full out crying now.

Mr. Roberts stood up, and went over to Chase's cot. He grabbed Chase by his arms, lifted him up and punched him repeatedly in the stomach full force.

"You are lucky you need your face to work, you little bastard. Otherwise that would be rearranged." Mr. Roberts said punching Chase one last time.

"I'm calling Rico now. You had better be ready in 10 minutes." Mr. Roberts said to Chase, picking up the phone.

Chase wandered down to the bathroom and took a quick shower. He held his stomach the entire time crying softly from the pain. He dressed into comfortable, decent looking clothes and waited outside for Rico to pick him up.

Rico arrived on time and pulled up outside the apartments in his Ford Expedition. Chase went over and climbed into the backseat and Rico drove away.

They arrived at the large house and Chase climbed out of the truck and went inside. He went to his assigned room, changed into a silk robe and went downstairs and waited in the bar area. There were several other boys about his age all having the same defeated looking expressions. Older men were in the bar area looking at the boys, chatting with some and then talking to Rico.

An older looking gentleman, walked up to Rico and was talking to him and pointing at Chase with a hungry look in his eyes. Rico and the man talked for a few minutes and after what seemed like forever, Rico and the man shook hands and the older man gave Rico a large amount of money.

Rico walked over to Chase, and said "My, boy you just made me 2 grand. Head up to room 6 and wait. Have fun and stay up there after you are done until I get there."

Chase walked to the stairs looking absolutely defeated. Chase knew that room 6 was the "butt room" as the other boys had called it. Chase knew what was coming and got extremely scared. He ran to his locker and got the flier for the ranch and then headed into room 6.


BEAUFORT NORTH CAROLINA Saturday Night: 

The telephone ringing awakened Christian. He groggily answered it. "Hello?"

"Mr. Davis, the voice said on the other line, this is Carl McMannis from Charlotte CSI. We worked together a little while ago."

"Carl, yeah I remember you. Not to be too rude but why in the hell are you calling me at 2 am?"

"Oh I found something that might be of interest to you."

"It is too damned early to be playing games with me, spit it out."

"It seems as though there is a little boy here who is in utter shock, with a flier for your ranch and we can not connect to him. He was involved in a child sex ring and is in total shock. He keeps saying ‘Limited Immunity' over and over. The boy's father has been contacted and was arrested from a tip by the pimp. The child has no mother and will become a ward of the state and go into the process on Monday morning."

"Damn, thanks Carl for the heads up. I will be there as soon as possible; can you keep him out of the system for a few hours until I get there and can at least talk to him?"

"Yeah but I can give you no more than 5 or so. You know how slow us criminalists are."

"I remember. See you soon."

Christian hung up the phone and Marcus immediately asked what was happening. After Christian gave a brief explanation, Marcus headed to the kitchen and Christian showered and dressed. By the time Christian was done in the shower, Marcus had a quick breakfast ready, coffee poured into a thermos, and a small bag packed with the essentials for a three day trip. The men hugged and kissed and Christian headed out the door and on his way to Charlotte.