by Mel LeBrun
“A little, but I suppose that comes with being shot.”
He smiled compassionately. “Believe me, I know.” He rubbed her arm and squeezed her hand.
“Where is everyone?”
“Kevin took the girls to a hotel. They'll be back this morning. Jinx, Josh, and Martin went back to our room to get some sleep. Your father hasn't left the waiting room.”
Jessica didn't reply. She wasn't sure how to feel about her father still being there. On one hand, she was glad to see that he cared for her. On the other hand, because he was such a horrible man in her mind, she didn't want him there.
“I have some interesting news,” he said.
“Yeah?”
“Milovich is dead.”
She looked quizzically at him. “How?”
Michael shook his head. “Don't know. Tim said he was found dead and his top three captains are all missing.”
“What about Dmitri?”
“He's fine.”
“Michael.” She looked sternly at him.
He knew what that meant. She was warning him not to lie to her. Not wanting to tell her the truth, he looked away. Knowing he had to, he took a deep breath and looked back at her. “I don't know. Tim is checking.”
She turned away looking concerned and anxious as her eyes welled with tears.
Michael caressed her cheek and held her hand. “Look at me.”
Forcing herself to look into his eyes, the tears finally gave way.
Michael wiped them away. “Dmitri has years of combat experience under his belt. He's probably fine. I didn't mean to upset you.”
She nodded. “I hope he's okay.”
“Me too.”
“Did you tell my father?”
Michael thought it was an odd question for her to ask. “No. Why would I?”
“It's nothing, just he seemed upset when he heard about Milovich.”
He suddenly had an uneasy feeling. “What do you mean? When did he hear about Milovich?”
“After he pushed me in the pool. When we were talking.”
“Jess, you need to tell me exactly what was said.”
The intensity of his tone troubled her. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No sweetheart, just tell me what was said.”
“I mentioned that I had been kidnapped by the Russians a few years ago. He had heard all about what a computer hacker and soldier did to Milovich but hadn't put it together that it was us. He seemed upset when he realized it. He knew our name is Cailen.”
“Is that all that was said?”
“He asked why the authorities hadn't arrested Milovich. I told him that they were trying to uncover who his government contacts were.”
Michael sat back in disbelief. A pit grew in his stomach as he began to suspect Jessica's father was somehow involved in Milovich's sudden demise. If that were true, their lives could become even more complicated than they were already.
“What is it, Michael?”
Not wanting to worry Jessica, he quickly brushed it off. “It's nothing. I'll let him know what happened.” He reached out for her hand and smiled. “Try to rest.”
KEVIN ARRIVED at the hospital at 8:00 a.m. Jinx and Josh volunteered to take Lauren and Emily out for breakfast so he could get there early. Jessica was awake when he arrived. Michael excused himself as Kevin took a seat next to her. He walked up to Jeff in the waiting room and stood directly in front of him.
“I need to talk to you outside.”
Jeff sighed. “What is it now?”
Michael repeated himself slowly and emphatically. Jeff huffed and stood up. Remembering what happened last time Michael said he wanted to talk to him, Jeff kept his distance.
Once clear of the hospital Michael turned to him. “I know you killed Milovich.”
“I assure you, I have no idea what you're talking about,” Jeff replied casually.
Michael smirked. “I wasn't asking if you did it. I know you did. My question is, did you do it to protect Jessica or your contacts in the Russian government?”
Jeff looked him in the eye. “Where are you getting these ideas from?”
“You know my background,” he asserted. “Jess tells you that we're hiding from Milovich and that the authorities are trying to uncover government agents on his payroll, and then he turns up dead? I'm no dummy.”
“Why does it matter who killed him? Now you can live a normal life with my daughter. Give her the children she wants to have.”
Michael looked at him disgusted. “We can't have a normal life. You think Milovich's boss has forgotten about what happened? We'll never be safe.”
“Milovich didn't have a boss.”
“What are you talking about? Tolenka Plushenko is head of the mafia. Milovich worked under him.”
“Tolenka has been dead for three years,” Jeff informed him. “Milovich killed him. He let everyone believe Tolenka was still in charge, but he ran the organization.”
“How in the world would you know that?” Michael asked. “When not even the CIA is aware of that.”
Jeff shrugged. “I hear things.”
“Bull.”
“What do you want me to say, Michael? Are you upset he's dead?”
“I want to know who can reach out and lop off the head of a Russian mafia without fear of reprisal.”
“How should I know? Although from what I hear, they are too disorganized to form a retaliation, assuming they even know who did it.”
“You also killed his captains?”
“Again, I really don't know what you're talking about. But with his captains also dead, you and Jess don't need to worry about the two million dollar bounties on your heads.”
The bounties were news to Michael. “I'm sorry, what?”
“You didn't know about the bounties?” Jeff asked.
“What bounties, what are you talking about?”
“I find it hard to believe your friends in the government weren't aware of them,” Jeff said. “But with Milovich and his captains dead, there is no one left to pay them. Whoever takes power next won't care.”
Michael was still trying to process that. If Gatti knew about the bounties, why hadn't he told them?
“You don't work for Meier, do you?” Michael alleged. “He works for you.”
“I already told you. I handle the money.”
“Yeah. He does your work and hands you the money.”
“Enough, Michael.” Having his fill of being interrogated, Jeff walked away.
Michael let him leave. After he was gone, Michael phoned Gatti. He wanted to question him about the bounties and everything else Jeff said. Unable to get through to him, he was forced to leave a message.
Josh and Jinx arrived with the girls just as Michael was heading back inside. He held Josh back so he could talk to him. He relayed the conversations he had with Jessica and her father. Josh came to the same conclusion as Michael, that Jeff must have killed Milovich. However, he wasn't convinced that Jeff was running Meier. Michael was almost certain of it, but with no proof how could he ever prove it?
MARTIN PICKED up Michael and Josh and the three drove to the parking garage to meet Corvo. When Corvo arrived, he handed them a two-way radio and a receiver for the optical bug he placed the night before.
“I've been listening in since you left last night,” Corvo said. “I truly cannot wait to take these monsters down.”
No one wanted to ask what Corvo heard. Though the children were worth a lot of money and therefore not treated as vilely as others, it was still bad.
“Let's just say I won't be sleeping for a while,” Corvo added.
“Did you learn anything useful?” Michael asked.
“The first buyer should arrive around 1:00 in the afternoon. Another will arrive every hour after that. The last sale is at 5:00 p.m.”
“I guess we have a few hours to get set up,” said Michael. “How are we following the buyers once they leave?”
“I have men in place. They will
tail the buyers and pick them up once they are sufficiently clear of the area.”
“Good,” said Josh. He hated what those kids were being forced to endure.
Corvo continued, “I'll be on the roof with the mic. You can reach me on the two way. I'll be in touch with my men. They aren't aware of your involvement. It needs to stay that way.”
“Are they feds or agency?” Martin asked.
“Feds. We need them to arrest the buyers and find the children's parents.”
“Are we letting them pick up the laptop then?” Michael asked.
Corvo shook his head. “No. Unfortunately I don't think we can trust them to hold on to it. Meier still has too much pull. I get the feeling it would mysteriously disappear from evidence. We need to get it. I'll have the feds pick up Roth once it's secure.”
Michael nodded. “All right, let's get in position.”
MEIER'S ASSISTANT, Walter Roth, arrived at noon to conduct the sales along with two other guards. Roth was not a tall man. Yet even with his below-average height, he was no less intimidating in appearance. The expensive suit he wore did nothing to mask the brutal demeanor that emanated from his every move.
An hour later the first buyer arrived, not even appearing slightly nervous as he handed his car keys over to one of the sentries who then drove it in circles around the block. Michael, Josh and Martin were sickened as they listened to the transaction take place. Elation could be heard in the buyer's voice as he expressed his approval of the young girl he was purchasing. He authorized the transfer of funds and was soon leaving with his new “possession.”
Michael got on the radio with Corvo to make sure there was someone ready to follow them once they left the building. Corvo assured him it was taken care of.
Taking back his car from the sentry, the buyer left with his terrified purchase in the backseat. Josh put his head in his hands and closed his eyes. Repulsed by what was happening, he couldn't believe he was allowing it to take place.
The same process was repeated for the next three buyers. The last sale, however, did not go quite so smoothly.
THE GENERAL stepped into the apartment as the others had done before him. He was frisked and then invited in. The final boy was then brought into the room for him to inspect. It was the same boy who had been trying to comfort one of the younger girls.
During their months being held captive, the boy had grown attached to the girl and had tried to be her protector. He gave her his food when she was hungry and held her as she slept. On a few occasions he took the blame for something she did, resulting in him receiving the punishment meant for her. In fact, the guards used his feelings for her against him, often threatening her to get him to obey. With her now gone, he had no reason to obey.
“Don't touch me!” the boy shouted when the general tried to look him over. He spoke with a distinct Irish accent.
The general made no attempt to hide his displeasure about the boy's defiant attitude. One of the guards immediately slapped the boy across the face, nearly knocking him over. The general made a second attempt to “inspect the merchandise.” This time the boy kicked and punched him, fueled by his anger at being separated from his friend. The general shoved him to the ground and kicked him while the guard grabbed him by the hair and dragged him from the room screaming.
Appearing mortified, Roth apologized profusely to the general. He assured him that they thoroughly screen the children they put up for sale and that the boy had been compliant up until now. He promised to find another child for him and offered him a discount for his inconvenience.
As Michael, Josh and Martin listened to the sale go bad, they knew the boy was in grave danger. He would be severely punished, if not killed, for ruining the sale. They needed to formulate a new plan that involved rescuing the boy immediately.
“This changes things,” Michael said.
“We should just go in there and take them all down,” Josh said angrily.
Martin disagreed. “We storm that place now and the kid is sure to get hurt. There are at least five armed men inside the apartment, not counting the three men watching the perimeter.”
“Martin is right,” said Michael. “Let's wait for some of the men to leave first.”
“I have a question,” Josh interjected. “How are we going to get the laptop and the kid?”
“Good question,” said Michael. He called Corvo on the radio and asked if his guy could follow the laptop instead of the general, since he wasn't taking the boy anyway. Corvo agreed and updated his man on the change in plans.
They continued listening as the general left and Roth began giving orders to his men.
“Pack everything up. I want you out of here in two hours.”
“What about the boy?” someone asked.
“Drug him and put him to work in the warehouse. He's useless to me now,” Roth answered.
“You got it, boss.”
Roth left the building alone a few minutes later carrying the laptop. The same black Mercedes that had dropped him off was there to pick him up. As it was pulling away, they saw two guards exit the building with the boy. They got into a beat-up tan Ford Taurus. One of the men sat in back with the boy while the other drove. Martin pulled out behind them. Not wanting any reinforcements from the apartment coming to their rescue, they let them drive a few blocks before making their move.
Michael climbed in the backseat with Josh while they drove. He cocked his gun and slipped it into his waistband and then armed himself with a tire iron from the back. Josh readied his gun as they prepared to make an assault on the vehicle.
Traffic was stopped up ahead and Martin asked if they were ready. They both gave him a green light. In response, he stepped on the gas and accelerated into the back of the Taurus, sending it crashing into the car ahead of it. Martin's airbag went off, along with the Taurus', stunning the driver.
Within seconds, Michael and Josh were at the car. The doors were locked but Michael was prepared. As Josh held a gun on the dazed driver, Michael smashed out the back window with the tire iron. The man in back pulled his gun in an effort to fend off the attack. Michael wrestled for it, trying to force it from his hands.
In all the commotion, the terrified boy saw his opportunity for escape and took it. He opened the door and started running. Michael and Josh both saw him take off but were too busy trying to subdue the guards in the car.
Martin saw Michael struggling with the gun and climbed in the backseat of the Taurus. Between the two of them, the guard was soon weaponless and unconscious. With the threat eliminated, Michael took off after the kid.
Running at full speed he still had trouble catching up to the boy who had a two-block head start. The boy began to tire out but when he spotted Michael chasing after him he pushed himself to keep running. Michael eventually caught up to him. The boy screamed when Michael grabbed him from behind and lifted him off the ground.
“I'm here to help you,” Michael said as he tried to catch his breath.
His arms were wrapped so tightly around the boy, that the kid could hardly move. He kicked and yelled for him to let go.
“Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help you. You're safe. I'm not going to hurt you.”
Out of breath, the boy stopped struggling. He said nothing in reply to Michael. Michael still felt if he let go the boy would simply run again.
“I'm not going to hurt you,” Michael reassured him. “But if you run again, I will have to chase you.” The boy remained silent. “I'm going to put you down. Please don't run. I'm here to help you.”
Neither was sure of what to expect from the other. Michael wasn't sure if he would try to run again. The boy wasn't convinced he was really there to help.
Michael gently put him down and slowly released his hold on him. The boy didn't move. Michael turned him around and knelt down in front of him.
“My name is Michael,” he said softly. “What is yours?”
The boy stared intently at him, reluctant to answe
r. Michael gave him a warm smile and waited patiently for a response.
“Dillon,” he finally answered.
“Nice to meet you Dillon. You're from Ireland?”
“Yes.”
“How did you get here?”
Dillon looked away as tears welled in his eyes. He didn't answer and Michael decided not to press him anymore for the time being.
Corvo pulled up and stepped out the truck. Dillon became fearful as Corvo approached and moved like he was going to run. Michael quickly grabbed his arm. “He's a friend, Dillon.” Michael turned to Corvo. “Show him your badge.”
Corvo pulled out his badge and handed it to him. Dillon relaxed as he inspected it. He looked up at Michael and then Corvo. “Are you going to help me get home?”
“Absolutely,” Corvo replied confidently.
“Where's Shannon?” Dillon asked.
“The little girl with black hair?” Michael asked, remembering the girl with the doll he had been trying to comfort.
Dillon nodded. “She was from Ireland too. She was sold today.” Tears came spilling from his eyes as he broke down sobbing.
“She's safe. The FBI has her and you will see her shortly,” Michael assured him.
Despite the good news, Dillon continued to cry inconsolably. Traumatized, exhausted, and emotionally drained, Dillon crumbled to the ground. Michael lifted him up and carried him to the truck, telling him everything was going to be okay.
Corvo called his men to verify that all the other children were safe. He sent more agents to arrest the men cleaning out the apartment. Even without the video, they had audio recordings of the sales and it would be enough to convict those involved, although none of it implicated Meier. They still needed to get the video recordings of all the other buyers if they wanted to take him down. Corvo ordered the men trailing Roth to keep their distance in order to observe who else he came into contact with. The real purpose of that order being to give Michael time to retrieve the laptop before arresting Roth. Once they had the laptop, Corvo would give the order to take him down.
Josh and Martin left the two unconscious guards who were transporting Dillon for the authorities to pick up. The front-end damage wasn't that bad and the truck was still drivable. Martin cut away the airbag and they fled the scene before any police arrived. They couldn't afford to get embroiled in an investigation. Operating outside the confines of the law saved them from pesky legalities, but left them open to being charged for breaking the law. With the protections Meier had from his government contacts around the globe, the likelihood of ever being able to legally obtain the evidence they needed was microscopic. Anonymously donating the evidence instead effectively circumvented that problem.