“I’ll go tell the girls you’re feeling better. They’ll be so thrilled. You stay right here.” The woman laughed and Christy frowned. What was she missing? Before she could consider more, three girls ran into the room with squeals of happiness. Each girl was dressed the same, in light blue scrubs. The same ones she wore.
“So glad you’re better. We were all so worried. We’ll get you some good food.” They pulled out some cookies. “We bought this at the store, and we’ve been saving it for you. Your favorites.”
She looked at the packages of lemon and chocolate cookies and no feelings of excitement rushed over her. Her favorite? “Don’t let Nurse Lanora see them, or she’ll take them from you. She’s probably going to try to keep you on some awful diet for a while,” a girl with almost white hair and gray eyes said.
“But don’t worry. We’ll bring you contraband.” This girl was tall and lanky with such black hair, it almost looked purple.
“You probably lost the ten pounds you wanted to lose these past weeks. You’re so lucky,” Gray Eyes said.
She looked down at her body. She’d wanted to lose ten pounds?
“Say something, Ryann. You okay?” Gray Eyes asked.
“Who are you again?” she asked. She truly had no recollection of these girls. Vague shadows flitted through her mind of very different people in her life. People she wanted to be with now.
“You don’t remember? We’re your best friends.” They pointed to pictures around the room, telling her what they did those days together and how much fun they’d had.
“If you were my best friends, if I were home, I’d remember,” she said in a quiet voice, her eyes searching for anything familiar with these girls.
“It’s not your home-home,” the girl with purple hair said, “but it’s your new home. You came here to change your life. We all did.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m here detoxing. Drug addict,” a girl with stringy black hair said.
“I’m here trying to make a better life for myself. Earn money. Just like you,” Gray Eyes said. Her eyes shifted to the other girls and then she lowered her voice. “We were call girls. Stuck.”
Hazy memories started to return. She was not a call girl. That was a role she was playing. Yes, that’s right. She was a spy. It all came flooding back as the third girl spoke.
“I’m here for the money,” purple-haired girl said. “Once I get chosen a couple of times, I’ll have enough to start my own life.”
Chosen for what? Where was she? She kept her questions to herself and let them all chatter on until her soup came and the whole time she ate. Broth and crackers never tasted so good. She was hoping she’d figure out where she was and what they were doing there, but their idle chatter didn’t deliver. They kept calling her Ryann, though. Were the thoughts she had in her head about her past simple fantasies or were they real? The girls talked to her like they were old friends. What was going on?
Then she remembered Carrie. This same thing was most likely happening to her. If she was real, that was. Over and over again as the day went on, the nurse and the girls talked about their past together and why she was there and how lucky she was to be here when she got sick. After eating her lunch, she got so sleepy, she wondered if she’d been drugged again. No matter what she did, she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
She woke when it was dark, and stretched, feeling rested, but a little foggy. Just as she sighed with contentedness, memories of a past that she wanted to believe was real danced across her mind. Uncertainty and panic filled her chest, making her breathe hard and fast. She had to get out of here, but before she did that, she had to find Carrie. Yes. She had to find Carrie and get them both out.
Two nightlights and spare light coming in under the door were the only sources of light in the room. She had slept a long time. She was about to sit up, when she remembered that every time she’d sat up earlier, someone had entered the room. She wondered if there was some trigger on the bed that sent a silent alarm when no weight was on it. She tested her arms, moving them about to see if they felt strong or weak. She did the same with her legs. She was definitely weaker, but she could feel the coiled muscles beneath her skin that were ready to serve her. She’d trained for years and a few weeks could not erase all of it.
She was no fool to believe that she’d be 100% immediately, but if she could give even eighty percent, she would be fine. She took hold of the side table next to the bed and felt the weight of it. It was heavy, but did not match her weight. Did the sensor go off with any difference in weight or only when there was no weight? She had moved around on the bed, and no alarm was triggered with weight redistribution. To be certain, she picked up the side table and waited. No one came. She set it on the bed next to her and then exited the bed at the end of it instead of the side. She stood silent and unmoving, waiting for any sign that someone was coming. When no one did after several minutes, she walked like a cat toward the door.
No one was standing guard in the halls, and she saw no evidence of cameras or alarms around the door or on the floor, so she walked into the hall. It was lined with doors. The one right across from her had a sign hanging on it with the name, Bridget. None of the other girls who’d come to visit her had said her name was Bridget. They called themselves Keely, Jane, and Veronica. She could see in the bare light that each door had a sign on it. She walked down, careful not to make a sound and read the names. All three girls’ names were on one of the three plaques and the last one had the nurse’s name on it.
She silently made her way back to her room. Her door sign was red. The door across from hers also had a red name sign, but all the others were green. Could the red mean that they weren’t safe? Could the green mean that the people inside were ready, they were a go? Or did it mean they were healthy and red meant sick? Could Carrie be behind that door? What about all the other girls from the container? Where were they? Had she truly been in a container or had she simply been sick and delusional?
In a quick rush, she opened the door to Bridget’s room. Two nightlights cast a small amount of light about one foot in all directions, but didn’t give enough light to clearly see the figure in the bed that had just sat up. She had no idea who was in that bed. It could have been anyone. A stranger even. Someone who would yell out in fright at her appearance. She wished she’d thought of that earlier. Instead, she stood in the open doorway and squinted, trying to see, not speaking or moving.
Finally, a familiar voice said, “Hello?”
Carrie. She realized that with the back lighting Carrie wouldn’t be able to see her face, only a dark shape in the doorway. Just like the bodies that came into the container and drugged them. “Carrie?” She whispered and slipped into the room, closing the door behind her. “It’s me, Suzy.”
Carrie gasped and the next moment was sobbing in relief. Christy rushed to the bed and at the last minute, veered away from the side of it and climbed onto it from the end of it. Tears burned her eyes.
Carrie reached for her light, but Christy said, “No. Don’t turn it on. It could tell our captors that you’re awake. I think there are sensors in the floor that alert someone that we’re awake or possibly in the bed. I don’t know. Anyway, I am so glad you’re here. Are you ready to go?”
She didn’t speak, but grabbed hold of Christy. “Oh, Suzy. I thought—I thought I was going crazy. But I’m not. You’re real.”
“Yes. I’m real.” She thought that by finding Carrie, things would suddenly be very real, that her identity would no longer be threatened, but she was wrong. Carrie calling her Suzy was simply another layer of disorientation. She wasn’t Suzy. That was an alias. She was Christy, but no one here would be calling her that. She forced the unease back and tried to focus. She wasn’t and hadn’t been losing her grip on reality. They were being brainwashed. “Have you seen any of the other girls from the container?”
“No. Just three girls who swear we’ve been friends for a long time.”
“Keely, Jane, and Veronica?”
“Yes! They’re visiting you too?”
“Actors, paid to help brainwash us, I think.”
“You know a way out?”
“No, but I will. Hang in there. Play along so that they give us more freedoms. The more they believe we have bought into the lie, the better.”
“But then what?”
“I’m finding us a way out. I better get back. I don’t know their schedules yet.” She needed a lot more information before they could fly the coop. “Be patient and wait for my signal.”
Chapter 18
MARYBETH
Marybeth spent the day on pins and needles, jumping at every little thing. Five days had already passed since Christy had disappeared, and they hadn’t gotten any closer to finding her. She kept telling herself to get a grip, but this was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. The senator had barely been at the house and she was getting frustrated, thinking she would be able to find out more at the Senate. The only thing worse than feeling useless, was the trapped feeling that strangled her every moment. She knew the team was working hard, but it didn’t seem like they were getting anywhere either. They needed a better plan. She was about to call Jeremy in desperation, when he called her to fill her in on what was happening.
“Hey, I thought I’d give you an update. We’ve found some good things. Halluis discovered some public records that showed Alvarez and Miller, seven years ago, started a shipping company. The paperwork was incomplete. The name of the company and everything about it, besides the fact it was a shipping company, was filed incorrectly and much of what was required was redacted or crossed out, even in the electronic version. The only bit of sunshine is that the signatures are still there in all their glory: Senator Miller and Senator Alvarez signed the document. We know now that they own a shipping company and are working together.”
“We have the connection we need linking them. They must have been fighting about that the other day, but if they’re in business together, then why are they always fighting?”
“Maybe they don’t agree on the direction the company is going. Who knows? Anyway, I’m going to be working as a guard for Senator Miller, and Ace is going to watch Alvarez while he’s at the Senate. We’ll gain access to the senator’s offices and look for any mention of the shipping company. Ace is checking online sources when not with Alvarez.”
“Sounds great. I get a few hours off this evening. I’ll head over to the safe house.”
“Perfect.”
She spent the rest of the day with the boys. Who knew if she’d ever be back? Her only comfort was in knowing that Mrs. Alvarez was there, and she was not evil in any way. She’d make sure her children were safe. She wouldn’t let any harm come to them.
It had been five days since Christy had been snatched, and she was nervous they would never find her. Sure, she was a spy and could most definitely not be lumped into the two-day lost rule, but still. That was a long time. If she’d been sold to someone, who knew what they were doing to her? She cringed.
The alarm on her watch went off, and she hugged and kissed the boys before heading downstairs to leave. As she headed for the back door, though, she heard Alvarez’s voice and she couldn’t help but listen in even though every cell in her body wanted to get out of there. She would listen in one last time, for Christy. He shut the office door and she rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a glass. She put it up to the wall in the dining room that connected with the office. Her heart pounded. She would be caught for sure.
“Move her up.” His voice was muffled, but she could still hear the urgency in his voice. “I know how long she’s been there. It’s just going to have to be enough. These clients are paying more than double, and they want results now. I’m not letting them get away. I don’t care if we have to keep her on tranquilizers the whole time; do what you have to do. But we need to get her started now.” He paused for a moment, listening to the other end of the conversation, then continued. “Fine. But we need to start the procedure in no less than two days. You say she’s compliant—that should give you plenty of time.”
His voice grew quieter; he must be moving away from his desk, toward the filing cabinet. He was still talking, but she couldn’t make out individual words.
She gripped the glass harder, trying to press her ear closer to the wall. Her fingers, slick with sweat, slipped off the glass, and it tumbled to the floor. The glass shattered on impact. The tinkling of the shards flying across the floor seemed to go on forever.
Marybeth leapt to her feet, ignoring the sting of her cut palm.
“Alicia? What’s going on?” Mrs. Alvarez stood in the doorway, shock and confusion on her face.
“I—I—”
“You’re white as a sheet. Alicia, honey, are you bleeding?” She crossed the room to Marybeth, examining her hand. A small shard of glass jutted out from Marybeth’s skin.
Something clicked in her brain. A plausible story. “I felt faint. I got a glass of water and came in here to sit down, and things sort of went dark. I’m so sorry about the glass, Mrs. A.”
Mrs. Alvarez tsked. “Don’t worry about the glass. I’ll get the maid to clean it. Let’s just get you bandaged up.” She pulled Marybeth into the kitchen and reached for the first aid kit they kept above the fridge. She pulled out some bandaids and iodine.
Marybeth watched her as she carefully pulled the shard out and worked on cleaning the small wound. Did she know what her husband was doing? She’d always seemed like a good person, but then again so had Senator Alvarez. What if they were in on it together? What were they doing to all those girls? Marybeth fought the urge to pull her hand away.
“There you go. Are you feeling better?” Mrs. Alvarez searched Marybeth’s face. “You have a little more color now. Do you think you’ll be all right to drive home, or should we get you a driver?”
“I’ll be fine…thanks.” She couldn’t stand the thought of being in one of Alvarez’s cars.
She grabbed her purse and with one last glance at the office rushed from the house.
Once she was safely in her car, she dialed Jeremy’s number with trembling fingers. Her palm pulsed with each heartbeat as she counted the rings until he answered.
“Hello?”
“Jeremy—we have a problem.”
Chapter 19
CHRISTY
Christy hadn’t slept well the last two nights and had been so occupied with visitors, that she hadn’t been able to do much about an escape plan. She hadn’t even been able to go visit Carrie, but she’d been much more lucid. Since she’d decided to play along and be Ryann, they must have reduced or removed all the drugs in her food and drink, which was a bonus. Veronica rushed in Christy’s room, followed closely by the other two actors.
“You lucky devil!”
“What?” Christy asked.
“You’ve been chosen.” Their eyes twinkled with excitement. She had no idea what that meant, though. “We have to go to work, but we thought we’d congratulate you before we left.” They hugged her and smiled.
“Wait. What?”
“We don’t have time to explain, but the nice people at your new home will. We can tell you this, though. You’re going to be in House Seven. Congratulations!” And they left, shutting the door behind them and leaving her more than curious and fearful about what was about to happen.
Only minutes later, the nurse came in the room. “Let’s get you ready to move.” She had Christy change into a white linen uniform. Besides the color, she noticed that the tunic was longer and roomier around her middle.
She avoided all of Christy’s pointed questions, just telling her over and over again how much she was going to love her new home and how lucky she was to be moving so quickly. Her head was filled to bursting with questions, but she quickly found out they were not to be answered by this lady.
Before she knew it, she was outside. Hot, humid air hit her full in the face, and she sucked for breath. She put Christy i
n a golf cart and drove her along a tall cinderblock wall. They passed behind many houses and then buildings that looked like businesses rather than houses. She craned her neck to see more and caught glimpses of an inner, grassy courtyard with benches and tables and palm trees.
They drove up a graveled path between two houses, toward the courtyard, and pulled up in front of a blue stucco house with a large front porch. She stopped. Christy glanced around, getting a better view of the courtyard that boasted wandering paths, benches, and tables and chairs. It was totally deserted but well-manicured. They were the only two out there. The home was large and well kept. It looked newly built. All the windows were covered with curtains, and a wooden bench and two rocking chairs sat on the porch. A large, gold seven hung next to the door. There were two more houses to her right. One yellow and one green.
Where was Carrie? Was she being brought here too? Christy wished she’d had a chance to talk to her before she left. But then she realized that being here might give her a better opportunity to get the information she needed to get them out of here. If she could find her again, that was.
The nurse bustled Christy up the stairs and knocked on the door. She was met by a short woman with a round face, brown, flawless skin and deep, dark eyes. She leaned in and hugged Christy.
“Welcome home, Ryann. We are so glad you’re here.” Tiny laugh lines peeked from the sides of her mouth and on the corners of her eyes as she smiled, making her look young and vibrant although she must have been at least fifty.
“Goodbye, Ryann,” Nurse Lanora said and disappeared out the door.
“You must be hungry,” the nurse said. “They never feed you girls before they bring you.” She smiled. “I’m Nurse Winifred.”
“Nice to meet you,” Christy said as she led her from the living room and down a hall.
“You eat and meet your housemates, then I’ll answer the many questions I’m sure you have.”
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