She was fifteen. She thought she had a boyfriend. What she had was a trafficker. And by the time she understood the difference, her life had changed forever. In this episode of Politics of Justice, we’re diving into Chapters 3–6 of Caged, my Casey Cort legal thriller, and examining how a teenage girl becomes a victim of sex trafficking. Grooming doesn’t always begin with threats or violence. Sometimes it begins with attention. Affection. Someone making a vulnerable girl feel wanted. That’s what makes it so insidious. We’re talking about the manipulation, the exploitation, and the adults who see a child as an opportunity to make money.
And we’re confronting a question that runs throughout Caged: Why are we so quick to judge exploited girls and so slow to hold the people exploiting them accountable?
📖 Caged by Aime Austin | Chapters 3–6
🎙️ Politics of Justice — Where crime fiction meets the realities of the American justice system.
Content warning: This episode discusses the grooming and sex trafficking of a minor.
📚 Caged is available on major ebook platforms, including Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. http://ebooks.buzz/caged
📖 New to the series? Begin with Book 1: Judged http://ebooks.buzz/judged
About Politics of Justice:
Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.
About Aime Austin:
I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.
Find Me Online:
Website: https://aimeaustin.com
Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor
Listen & Subscribe:
This series is also available in audio at A Time to Thrill – wherever you get your podcasts.
Music by John Bartmann https://youtube.com/johnbartmannmusic CC0