Stealing Grace (26 page)

Alex and Elena went to get the local papers while Roger and Amy went to the realtor’s office, all looking for a spacious place to rent for a while. Alex got their new I.D.’s from the guy with no problems. His and Elena’s new last name would be Brooks, and Roger and Amy’s would be Sullivan.
Elena Brooks...I like it, I guess.
I kind of miss the Smithe already.

They didn’t get a choice on names. The man had to give them whatever was inconspicuous and hadn’t been given out too much at already. Roger called Alex with a house for rent, close to town with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, that he wanted them to come take a look at it. Alex and Elena hopped in the truck and drove right over.

The yard was fenced and had a nice porch with a swing and chairs. The insides were plain and white but furnished with the necessities, it really didn’t matter what it looked like at this point. It was perfect for what they needed, a hideout, and they took it on a three month lease.

While Roger and Alex removed covers from furniture and such, the girls went a couple streets down to get some groceries and household items.

That night they went to go out to dinner, to see what the town had to offer other than festivities. They found a small, hometown restaurant and enjoyed a quiet night. No one talked to them and they talked to no one.

Once they got home, there was a basket of goodies on the porch with a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” note attached.

“That was fast,” Elena said picking it up and setting it inside on the granite countertop. “I’m not trying to be rude but, I’m not ready to trust anyone around here yet. Does anyone mind if I throw these away?”

They all agreed it was probably best, though it was sad for the poor soul who had slaved over the oven for it. It’s the thought that counts, right?

* * *

Roger and Alex made plans to head in the city in the morning with their big story and all the evidence that went with it. Everyone was a little worried about what was about to happen. Alex and Roger’s whole life had been the community. The only friends and family they have ever known. The only way of life they had ever known.

And they were about to turn them all over to the police.

They went to bed early to try and settle nerves for the next day. This is what they had waited for. This would be the test. Would all their hard work and sacrifice had been for nothing?

The next morning, Elena got up early and cooked a big breakfast for everyone of pancakes and sausage. Roger fawned over her cooking, still trying to make up for what he did to her with compliments and even helped her make the coffee. Amy wasn’t feeling great so Elena and Roger worked alone this morning.

“So how many teaspoons of coffee again?” he asked.

“For a full pot, put ten heaping tablespoons.”

“A grown man should really know how to make coffee,” he mused.

“You didn’t know how to make coffee before Amy?”

“Nah, I stopped for breakfast every morning, didn’t cook at home either.”
She tried to stifled a giggle at his confession.

“It’s ok, Roger. You’re making up for it now.”

“I guess.” He started the coffee and looked pleased at getting it going as the sounds of percolating began. He turned to lean on the counter with his hip. “So, tell me about Alex. He had me fooled, you know, and I was his best friend. I never suspected anything was different about him. What was he like we he first, uh, got you?”

“Well...” Elena wondered why Roger was interested. Was he trying to torture himself? “He was quiet. He barely spoke to me for days and slept on the couch. I eventually asked him why he’d brought me there when he apparently wanted nothing to do with me.”

“Hmm. And what he’d say?”

“That I was to be his wife. I was very confused. Then the first day after you and Amy came over for dinner, he explained it all to me.” She looked up and saw it; the look of guilt. “Roger, I forgave you and I meant it.”

“Yes, and I’m grateful but that doesn’t make me any more worthy of it, does it?” he said quietly and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Roger, that’s the good thing about forgiveness. You don’t have to be worthy of it. You just have to be sincere when you say you’re sorry. And I knew you were, without a doubt. You think I’d be in this kitchen with you, alone, if I didn’t completely trust you?”

He smiled gratefully at her but sadly.

“Thanks, Elena. I still don’t think I deserve it, but I’m glad. I’ll spend forever trying to make it up to you, and Amy.”

“I remember you, you know.”

“What?” He looked up, puzzled.

“Amy was the first girl to go. I remember you coming in to get her.”

“Oh.” He swallowed. “Yeah. Even then I thought she was gorgeous. I was born eighteen days before Alex, so I got to go first. I razzed him to no end about that.”

In spite of it all, they both laughed.

“I bet. It’s good for him.”

“Yeah. I’m so glad it all worked out.”

“Me too. And Amy, she’s really happy,” Elena made sure to point out.

He smiled and Elena could see the love all over him.

“I’m happy. She’s an angel.”

“And she loves you.”

“Yeah, but why I’ll never know,” he laughed and shook his head.

“I know why.”

“Why?”

Elena just smiled and walked up to him, giving him a big hug that said it all. She wanted to make sure he knew she completely forgave him.

“Because you’re a good man, that’s why.”

She felt him shake with a chuckle as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Hey, now,” she heard Alex say from behind them and turned to look, “what’s going on in here?”

“Well,” Elena said as she pulled away from Roger, “I found someone who makes better coffee than you.”

“That’s not possible,” Alex said, sidling up to her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Which? That I found someone else or that someone makes better coffee than you?”

“Either one,” he said as he nipped her chin, hearing Roger chuckle behind them.

* * *

Alex was nervous, Elena could tell. He shakily downed two cups of coffee and stared a whole into his pancake.

“Baby,” when he looked she rubbed his arm, “everything is going to be fine. You have worked so hard and gotten so much done on this. Look at everything we’ve accomplished. This won’t fail. Don’t worry about today. It’ll work and it’ll be fine.”

He smiled gratefully at her and a little amused.

“When’d you get so optimistic?”

“I have always been optimistic!” she countered with an act of being offended.

He smiled at her and she heard Roger and Amy chuckle, but she was looking into Alex’s eyes and no where else, so blue and open. She could look right in them and see he loved her, no question. He held her on a pedestal, sure, though the thought made Elena cringe a little. He was protective, fierce about her safety and well being. He was sweet and loving, never holding back his feelings for her. He was always touching her or saying something to her or watching her from across the room.

He still felt some guilt, like he owed her, Elena knew that and those things would have to heal with time. But for now, Elena was important to someone and she’d never had that before. Not really, not completely. And she’d never really loved anyone either, except her grandma. This was new ground for everyone.

He reached across the corner of the table and kissed her the side of her mouth. She went to pull away and he snagged the back of her neck to keep her there for a moment longer.

“Thanks, babe. We’ll be back soon. Stay in the house and take your own advice and don’t worry. We’ll be fine.” He smiled smugly knowing she couldn’t argue now that she’d said all that.

She smiled too and nodded her head.

“I love you. Be careful.”

“Nothing will happen with Roger at my back, he’s too scary looking.” That earned him a glare and a giggle from the other two across the table. “Love you, too.”

* * *

Alex pulled into the parking lot of the city police station an hour away from the girls. They were not thrilled about leaving them there alone but didn’t feel safe bringing them along either. Who knew what would happen today, for all Alex knew they might throw them in jail right this minute. But, just to be safe, Alex bought prepaid cell phones, one for him and one for Elena and made her promise she would call at even the smallest noise if they weren’t aware of who or what it was.

They said their final goodbyes at the truck and Elena had even fought tears, despite her pep talk, at the thought of worrying about him all day, which made him smile smugly at her worrisome for him even sweeter. She had quickly wiped them away and pretended he hadn’t seen but he had and it was one more reason he didn’t deserve her. He didn’t deserve her worry but he’d take it.

Alex had his binder full of the documents that he and Elena had collected these past months, took one last glance at Roger as they exited the truck. With the parking meter running they walked the long sidewalk around the front of the building. The man at the front desk was uniformed and Alex told him he needed to speak to someone about a trafficking operation that he had information on. The guy didn’t even seem interested as he told them gruffly to have a seat, which frustrated them, wondering if this was going to be the infinitive treatment.

Not too long after that, a plump older officer came and got them, leading him to his office. After introductions and shook hands they began there plight.

They spilled about everything; how they were a part of the community but had renounced that life, thinking that honesty was the best policy, and also so there story would be credible. Alex showed him the documents and photos and told him where the town was and how the local law enforcement was held in the community’s pocket and how they had finally escaped with their new wives.

The man, who they learned was the chief of police, leaned back in his chair and jokingly asked Alex what he did for a living. They all laughed a little at his jab of doing all the detective work for him. He also told them this was a little over his head, but that he had a friend at the federal bureau he would call and get him to take a look at it and get back to them.

He was meeting him for lunch that day and advised them not to go to the news because it would just give the community a heads up that they were onto them.

Sure enough, later on that afternoon Alex received a call from the chief. Apparently the FBI had been onto them for years but never able to get a step ahead of the operation, no proof. Not knowing where the girls were going or who they were buying them from.

They had had a lot of unsolved missing persons that had been deemed runaways or abandoners over the years but couldn’t prove anything. He was very interested in talking with all of them about their experience and a little shocked at the events that had transpired, meaning the girls were here with the guys - on their own terms. Elena had expected some criticism about that one.

The agent came over straight away that evening.

“So, I’ve looked over all the documents you gave Chief Parsons. It’s very good work. I’m really interested in hearing your stories about this, particularly you, Alex, since you’re kind of the ring leader here. I’m a little confused actually about...well...a few things actually.” Agent Wright in his navy blue tailored suit tried to be polite but was stumbling for his words.

Alex decided to help him out.

“Why don’t you let me explain everything, then you can ask your questions, which I’m sure you have plenty of, ok?”

All five of them sat around the big kitchen table and listened to Alex tell the story in detail, beginning to end. About how he had ‘bought’ Elena as a means to save her, and about how Elena had heard them talk of ‘stations’ when she was in the van being kidnapped. She and Amy had been taken to station one and then taken to another warehouse in a truck. The girls told him a little bit about their experience but didn’t go into a whole lot of detail. Detective Wright explained to them that they could do that later, when he took their official statements so they’d only have to do it once.

Alex also told him about how he’d planned to take Elena all along and save her that way, that Roger had transformed, about how they planned this for weeks and how they helped the girls escape and finally escaped themselves.

Elena got up in the middle somewhere and served everyone coffee. Agent Wright, lost in a trance listening to Alex, was jolted back to reality with a hand on his shoulder.

“Coffee, Agent Wright?” Elena asked, looking wary that she has startled him.

“Yes. Sorry, sorry,” he said taking the cup and tasting it immediately. “This is great, that you, Mrs. Smithe...uh, Mrs. Brooks, I mean.”

Elena smiled back.

“You’re welcome. You need sugar?”

He declined and sat there looking thoughtfully at the group. He was more than stunned at Alex’s story. He took another swig of his coffee, cleared his throat, then proceeded as everyone was watching him for his reaction and assessment of the situation.

“Wow. Ok...here’s the thing, I know you guys have done well here. I can’t believe it, actually, all the things you have pulled off, and I’m sure that I can help you out but, the state will have to decide whether you two should be put on trial yourselves, and the girls would have to testify as well as you both in the trial against the community members. This could - let me rephrase that - this
will
get very ugly. I just want to make sure that everyone is prepared for what’s coming. Just to clarify, let me tell you a few things that might surprise you. 800,000 people, not just women, are trafficked internationally every year; women, children, boys and girls. Not to demean the circumstances of your situation but most of the other people who are trafficked have a much harder...existence. Most of the women aren’t sold as wives, they are sold as sex slaves,” Elena flinched at the memory of the big long hall where just that was going on, “or prostitutes and most die within four years, either from abuse or STD’s or suicide. Even girls and boys starting as young as nine are sold into that life. Sadly, trafficking is even more lucrative than drug operations these days. We’ve seen houses holding women in sex rings pulling in a quarter of a million dollars a month.”