She felt him wave the men in the dark suits who’d been in the kitchen with him toward his office.
“Makayla, when this is over we have a lot to discuss.” Pulling her back, he looked deep into her eyes. “There is so much you don’t know, so much I should have told you over the years. But I always feared the worse. Feared you wouldn’t understand. I couldn’t risk you running from me and putting Michael and yourself in danger.”
She buried her head in his shoulder, not wanting to think about all the lies. A part of her feared he didn’t know her deepest darkest secrets and she didn’t want him to. Ever. All she wanted, needed, right then was his strong arms around her. Nicholas home safely and Steven behind bars where he belonged were the only two things that mattered.
Outside the office door, Makayla sat on an antique chair that resembled the one her grandmother had owned with her hands in her lap. She’d picked the piece over the multitude of others in the department store, because it reminded her of all the special times they’d shared after school together when she was a little girl.
Losing her father at such an early age had been difficult for Makayla. Sadly, she really didn’t remember him, except for the few memories pictures brought back and stories her mother had told her. He was a good man. That she did know. No matter what the kids at school said. nine-year-olds could be so cruel with their teasing and name calling. But Nana always knew the perfect things to say to make the hurt go away. She smiled, remembering how Nana placed her rocker in a tiny nook beside the fireplace and called it their private reading and sharing chair. So many tears, and yet the laughter always seemed to surpass the sadness. Makayla tried to replicate those special memories with her boys in this new rocker, but it was never quite right. A crucial piece was missing—Nana.
She’d tried to get Michael to come out of his room earlier. Talk through what he must be feeling right now. But he’d wanted to be alone. The last thing she wanted was for him to think Nicholas’ kidnapping was his fault.
Sitting there in the rocker now with the gloom and doom hovering all around her, she closed her eyes, thought about only precious memories, her Nana’s strength and she could almost feel her grandmother’s presence.
I miss you, Nana.
The male voices in the office rose and fell in an uneven rhythm as a strategy was made for their next plan of action. Ryan asked her to wait outside and it was killing her. Policemen and FBI agents now swarmed every inch of their property. Makayla wanted to stay by his side, to offer her support, but thought it better to do as he asked. At least this time.
Her gut along with the perplexed tones floating in the air on the other side of the door, told her something was off. Something important had gone wrong. She let her lids close and a prayer surfaced. Again, she instinctively knew what she needed to save her son. This time Steven would not win. This time she’d have to trust someone she couldn’t see. Someone he knew absolutely nothing about.
Father, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Take care of Nicholas, comfort him, protect him with your mighty embrace. He is only a child, and your word says you take care of the little ones. Amen
There was a new sense of calm that swept over her. The danger was still very real, but she knew in her heart that Nicholas would be safe. That he would be taken care, delivered peacefully from his captor. She swallowed hard. No matter what the end result, she believed that God’s hands now guided her son’s fate.
The door opened with a jerk and she jumped from the rocker, holding her chest.
“Sorry about that, hun. I need you to see this,” Ryan said.
She followed him into the room where the computer screen now showed pictures of their home. The backyard, the garage, the side with the small koi pond and rose garden and then the front entrance.
There on the screen, dressed in a green and red elf suit, stood a young woman. The girl paced back and forth on the front porch talking to herself for several seconds. Then, with a shaky hand she reached out and rang the doorbell.
Makayla watched spellbound. She’d never seen this girl before, but she’d been in the exact predicament the young girl faced too many times to count. The memories flashed so quickly they stole her next breath. Not too long ago, she had been a young girl doing Steven’s dirty work. She recognized the fear, the hesitation in the girl’s actions. The fact that what she was about to do was wrong couldn’t be driven away or buried within. But the fact of what awaited her if she didn’t do exactly as Steven said was so much more—terrifyingly powerful.
“Makayla, are you all right? You’re as white as a sheet.” Ryan stepped forward to help her stand, but she held him off with both hands in the air.
“No. I must see this. I must follow this through.”
***
Ryan didn’t like what he was seeing. Not at all. Makayla’s face flashed with pain. Her skin turned an eerie white and her eyes looked so dreadfully empty. It was as if the life drained right from her body.
“It’s not her fault, Ryan. Don’t you see? This young girl didn’t have a choice. I didn’t have a choice.” The tears were so close. Makayla clung to the hem of her shirt for comfort.
“You didn’t what? Honey, you’re not making any sense. I know you weren’t involved in any of this.”
“It was me. I destroyed all those innocent children’s lives. I delivered those packages for Steven. I knew, and I didn’t do anything to stop him.” She was sobbing uncontrollably, her words barely audible.
“What children? What packages?” Ryan already knew the horrible details of what Steven’s operation was capable of. But he never in a million years believed she knew the truth, knew what the packages contained. He still couldn’t. His heart wouldn’t let him believe she would hurt someone else’s child.
“S-steven. He made me deliver these pretty, deadly packages to people who had betrayed him and went against his wishes. He made me trick those young children into coming with me.”
“And you knew why?” This time the older man in the room who had been hovering silently in the shadows stepped forward. “Makayla, did you know what Steven was doing?”
She swallowed and he heard it catch at the base of her throat. “Yes. I-I...”
“Stop!” Ryan moved between her and the man like an angry lion. “Don’t say another word, Makayla. You’re not yourself, you don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Ryan, please. I have held onto this for so long. I need to tell someone. I need to tell the truth.”
“No, you don’t. Not now.” Ryan’s heart raced in his chest. His former FBI superior stared him down, mentally scolding him for getting in the way.
“Yes. Now.” She tried to push past him, but he held her back with firm hands resting on her trembling shoulders.
“Let her speak, Ryan. She’s already incriminated herself.” The big man eased himself back a few steps. “She needs to tell us all she knows. Then we can protect her.”
Ryan started to protest further, but the man waved two more agents into the room. “You can stay and listen, or you can leave with these men.” No other option was given. Ryan’s gut rolled. He could do nothing to protect her now. His silent fears were coming full circle.
“Makayla?” He turned to look down at the saddest expression he’d ever seen etched deep within the lines of her beautiful tortured face. Covering her small hand with his, he prepared his heart for the worst.
“The first time, I delivered the packages to the warehouse thinking they were presents for all the homeless children. The gifts were beautiful, neatly wrapped with colorful paper, bows and ribbons. Only after hearing the report of a terrible explosion on the news did I realize I had actually been the one to end those innocent lives.” A single tear trailed down the length of her face and then dropped to the floor. “Steven had needed to get rid of them. Fast. The FBI was too close. That’s what he told me as I stood in our bedroom, six months pregnant with Michael.”
“This man doesn’t deserve to breathe.” Ryan glanced over at the agent who spoke, surprised by his comment.
“Makayla, let’s call a lawyer. Then you can go on.” Ryan’s entire body ached. She was digging herself in deep.
“Ryan, what she tells us now could be the one thing that saves your son. You know very well we don’t have much time. She’s already guilty.”
“I’m guilty of one thing, sir. Loving my son. Steven held him prisoner each and every time he sent me out to do his dirty work. I had to do what he said or never see Michael again. You have to believe me when I tell you, I had no choice.” She was all out crying now.
Ryan squeezed her hand in his. His eyes were closed tight, hot tears searing his eyelids. Thoughts scattered in a million different directions. The first time, she’d been unaware of Steven’s plans. But what about the other times, what about the other lives she may have been able to save?
All those children. She could have called the police. She could have talked to someone.
Yeah, at the cost of what?
Michael’s life?
Even though never proven, Steven had killed his own father and then his mother years later in cold blood. Ryan had no doubt about that from the moment he’d learned of the horrific details. But would he have hurt his only son? He shivered at the sickening thought. Makayla believed he would and that was all that mattered.
A battle was raging inside him. She’d carried out Steven’s orders to save her son’s life. What mother alive wouldn’t have done the same thing?
“I need some air.” Without a word, without even looking at her, he dropped her hand and moved to the doorway. He just needed time to regroup.
***
Makayla hurried after him, her voice broken. “Ryan, I’m so sorry.” She was stopped at the end of the hallway by one of the agents. She’d never felt so alone. It was as if a part of her soul was being torn away. The love of her life was disappointed in her choices. And she didn’t blame him. She didn’t like them either. But Michael, her son. There just weren’t any other alternatives.
“Ryan, please?” One last plea left her lips. Then as his frame disappeared out the front door, her heart broke in two.
“Mrs. Carter?” The FBI agent surveying the video tape with them walked up behind her, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. “I’m Special Agent Harrington. I need you to tell me everything you can about Steven’s businesses, his partners, his dealings overseas. I think you could very well be the missing piece to the puzzle we’ve been searching for all these years.”
She lifted her gaze to meet his. “Yes. I’ll tell you everything, but I have one question.”
“Okay. Fair enough.”
“How long before you find my son?”
“We have an APB out on the girl. She’s a local. We’ll find her soon and I’m certain we’ll be able to get the answers we need.”
“I see. Why do I feel like there is something else you’re not telling me? Has something happened? Do you know something about Nicholas that you’re not telling me? ”
“I assure you, we will be open and honest. Right now, we’re still in the dark but working on a few leads.”
“That doesn’t exactly answer my question.”
“It’s all I can offer you right now, Ms. Carter.” Her heart jolted beneath her ribs. She knew it. They were keeping something from her.
“It’s a good thing you remembered hearing the doorbell. We’d have gotten around to the surveillance video, but you saved some valuable time.”
Makayla barely heard his last words. Her mind was already working on a plan to find Nicholas. If they were going to play the need-to-know-game, she’d be more than happy to throw a few of her own kinks into the mix.
Valuable time. Those words kept echoing inside her head. Just how much time did Nicholas actually have left? Had Steven hurt him? She’d rip his heart out with her bare hands if she got the chance. But to ensure she wouldn’t have to get that close to him, she’d bring protection. Her fingers closed over the cold metal object resting in her purse. Steven wouldn’t get the best of her this time.
“Just follow his instructions and he’ll release Nicholas. You’ll know the minute he is safe. Then and only then do you continue with the plan.”
Agent Harrington kept stressing the last part. And it gave her the creeps. They had no idea who they were dealing with. But she did. The young girl in the elf suit had finally been located. But it was too late. She’d been shot in the head and thrown in the dumpster behind the convenience store a few blocks from the McDuff’s Makayla always took Nicholas and his friends to after his soccer games.
All hope wanted to vanish, but Makayla held onto her prayer. God wouldn’t let her down. She had proof. He’d protected them all these years and now that she’d given the reins over to him, her faith kept her going.
“Do you understand, Makayla?”
“Yes. But where is Ryan?” She hadn’t seen him since admitting to being Steven’s accomplice and it worried her. Was her confession too much for him to take?
Agent Harrington raised a bushy brow and asked again,
“You will follow the plan?”
“Yes.” The plan. Sure, but it might not entirely be the FBI’s plan.