“Is he alone?” I asked.
“Yeah, I followed his car to the helicopter and from there to the airport. This is out of character. He usually travels with a caravan. That in itself is a clue that he feels safe and comfortable on Elliott’s ranch.”
“He went there because of Ruby. Any chance they know we have her?”
Reid shook his head. “Only if they can trace our flight. It’s well disguised in layers of ownership and shell corps. It’s not like you flew the bird down there.”
“But it’s possible.”
Reid nodded.
“What about the necklace?” I asked. “Or a message?”
Reid shook his head. “Nothing since yesterday afternoon. Regarding evidence of us having Ruby, I would have found it if this were the other way around. No matter what, we have time on our side.”
My head shook. “I won’t be confident until we get Madeline out of there.”
The steel door behind us opened.
“Then let’s go,” Mason said as he walked in dressed in his casual blue jeans and thermal shirt, its long sleeves pushed up to his elbows, revealing his tatted forearms. On his feet were his signature cowboy boots. It was what he’d been wearing at breakfast, only now his hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck.
“You have to stay with Sparrow,” I said.
“I am and so are you.”
Reid grinned. “I’d be there too, but I think it’s better if I keep things monitored here. Besides, we know this place is safe, but I’m not leaving those women upstairs.” His large hand landed on my shoulder. “That includes your daughter, Patrick.”
My head bobbed as I swallowed. “I appreciate this, but I don’t need the cavalry.”
Mason looked up at the screen. “I know the program Elliott’s running. I know how to beat it without him knowing we did. Sparrow called in a favor. We’ve got access to a back entrance. Reid’s watching past videos for a semblance of a schedule on Elliott’s part. Man,” Mason said, “we’ve got a war that needs all of us. It won’t have that until you have Madeline here. Even Sparrow knows that.”
The steel door again moved and Sparrow entered. “Get your asses in gear. The plane is ready and we have men waiting.” He looked to Reid. “Two and a half hours each way?”
“Yes.”
“Tell Stephanie,” Sparrow said, looking at his watch, “I’ll be at the office by 3:15.”
My watch read a little after nine. “Cutting it close.”
Sparrow shrugged. “We’ve got the best men on this. I expect nothing less than perfection.”
“All right, let’s go.”
“And,” Sparrow said as we all headed toward the elevator. “Once we’re on the plane, I’ll fill you in on the manufacturing plant in McKinley Park.”
My gaze narrowed as I tried to recollect. “The one Elliott Inc. built as payback to McFadden?”
“That’s the one.”
Madeline
More than sixteen years ago
The senator’s house was ghostly silent as Andros led me through the hallways. While I’d been blindfolded and couldn’t be sure, I didn’t believe this was the way I’d entered. There were no sounds or scents of a kitchen. The floor beneath my bare feet was made of slate, tiles in differing colors and sizes and the surface didn’t vary. Each room we passed was empty and dim. Only the hallway was filled with light.
I wanted to tell Mr. Ivanov that I needed to use the bathroom. It seemed that would be obvious after as long as I’d been standing, yet I was afraid to speak.
With his hand in the small of my back, over the cape, I silently followed where he led.
Was I a sheep to slaughter?
Or was this man my savior and that of my child’s?
A woman met us near grand lead-glass double doors that I believed led to the outside. Bright lights filtered through the glass, creating a prism that cast colors upon the floor and walls.
“Sir, I can show the girl to the bathroom before your trip.”
Girl.
As soon as she spoke, I recognized her voice. She was the woman who had met the car, tipped the driver, given me a drink of water, and led me to the room. There was no reason to believe this woman was doing anything other than her job. Then again, who willingly participated in the display and sale of human beings?
“Is my car waiting?” Mr. Ivanov asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Look at me, Madeline,” he commanded.
Timidly, I did.
“Do you need what she offers?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take her,” he said to the woman. “I’ll wait.”
As if I were again without sight, the woman reached for my elbow and led me away. Though the aroma wasn’t as strong as it had been, I knew we were approaching the kitchen. As we crossed the threshold, the sight of partially eaten platters of various foods came into view. My empty stomach grumbled, yet I didn’t speak.
Another example of the inequality of lives.
These people’s rubbish would be a feast for the girls in the cell. I stilled, seeing the plates and trays stacked upon one another as workers scraped the contents into large trash bins. Other workers carried the cleared platters toward a sink and what appeared to be an industrial-sized dishwasher.
Large and silver with a big tray along a track, it was similar to one we had at the mission.
“This way, girl,” the woman said, reminding me to keep moving.
Her voice garnered the other workers’ attention.
It was only a moment, yet they all looked my direction and then away, telling me without a word that I was nothing unusual to this household, a young woman who had been displayed and sold.
I recalled the man at Dr. Miller’s office, the one I now knew was Senator McFadden. I recalled Wendy telling him about an impending shipment. He’d commented that he might throw a party.
Had those girls been brought here first?
Had they avoided the likes of the cell where I’d been and instead been sold upon their arrival?
My empty stomach twisted as the concoction created by the scents and thoughts bubbled within.
“In here,” the woman said, opening a door to a small bathroom. “Be quick.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, stepping inside and turning toward her.
Despite this woman’s use of girl in place of my name or even a pronoun, what she did next was the most humane action I’d experienced in months. She shut the door, leaving me alone between the sink and toilet. I hadn’t been alone to take care of personal business since the day I was sold.
Slowly, I turned toward the large mirror over the sink.
The rest of the room disappeared as my reflection came into view.
I hadn’t seen myself since the dressing room in the store when I’d tried on the white dress.
My fingers blanched, gripping the vanity as I tried to stay standing, fearful my growing nausea and weakening legs would land me on the hard floor.
Who was I?
They’d done it or I’d allowed it to happen.
I was no longer the girl I remembered.
I was broken.
Starved, abused, and defeated.