Scorned and Abandoned (An Aaron Jaycynth Mystery)
Page 13
As Aaron carried Ethan, he saw Robert and Gabi waiting near an ambulance. They were looking in various directions for their son, hope and fear in their eyes. Gabi held Robert's arm as if she might fall without his support. Robert was first to see Aaron as he walked toward them. He pulled Gabi as he started to run.
Aaron stopped walking and whispered something to Ethan. Ethan turned so quickly the blanket that had covered his body fell. In one extremely quick motion, Ethan released Aaron and was picked up by Robert. His feet never touched the ground.
Robert and Gabi held him and cried. Aaron picked up the blanked and wrapped Ethan's naked body. As he did, he was pulled into the hug by both Robert and Gabi. He had no choice, he cried.
Chapter 24
Aaron broke free from Robert and Gabi's hug to let the family reunite. Hank was standing nearby. "How are the others?" he said pointing to the ambulances. I can't imagine what is going on in their heads right now.
"They'll need lots of help to recover from this. How are you doing? Want to talk?" said Hank as he and Aaron made their way through the crowd of police and MI5 agents. "You did good Aaron. All of us are extremely proud of you."
"Hank, I was scared out of my mind when Akerheart walked me into that room? I was sure that everyone could hear my heart beating. I wanted to scream when I saw Ethan on the podium. He looked as if his life had ended."
"Yeah, I can understand your fear and I feel for Ethan, too. I talked with Robert and Gabi on the way over. They agreed he will need very special counseling." They stopped walking close to the rest of the Andrews team and watched the police as they led the guards and auctioneer out of the building. Most of the guards looked as if they were still under the influence of the tranquilizer dart. The auctioneer was screaming obscenities and fighting the two cops who held him.
"What will happen to them?"
"We have so much evidence; I doubt they'll ever get out of prison. The people, who bid during the party, will be charged as accomplices to kidnapping and probably a host of other charges as well."
"What about Simon. Is he really being shipped to the guy who thinks he won Ethan?" asked Aaron as the team joined him.
"He'll wake up in a dark prison cell wondering where he is. He'll soon find out that being a slave would be a better option than the one he faces when the other prisoners find out what he was convicted of doing," said Akerheart. "You really held it together Aaron. We're all proud of you."
As they watched the action by the garage doors, the ambulances sped away, sirens blaring. Shaun approached the Andrews team, congratulated and thanked each of them for their help and then turned to Aaron. "I would be proud if you came to work for me. You'd make one hell of an agent Aaron."
Aaron looked from Shaun to Hank then to the rest of his coworkers and said, "Thanks for the compliment and offer, but I doubt I could do this every day of my life. My heart wouldn't survive." Everyone laughed at his response.
"Speaking of survive, I'm starved. Anyone want to join me for dinner and a strong drink?" asked Natalie, surveying the team. They all agreed, followed her to the company vans and left.
Ethan and the other kidnap victims were checked out at the local hospital and pronounced healthy. The parents of each boy and girl were contacted by the local police and were escorted to the hospital to reunite with their child. By that time, every news channel had been alerted. Camera crews, reporters, and throngs of onlookers mobbed the hospital entrance. Police had to create a path for the parents of the victims.
The press wanted answers. "Why was this kept secret? How did you find the kidnappers? Were they really going to sell the kids as sex slaves? Was this a terrorist act? Who is responsible for the kidnappings?" Their shouted questions were left unanswered as the last of the parents were escorted into the hospital.
The boys and girls had been placed in a private room while they waited for their parents. Due to the intense stress they faced during the kidnapping and auction, it was decided that all the parents would enter the room at the same time. Social services had six of their best-trained psychologists at the ready.
The room erupted into cries and near hysterics when the parents were allowed in. More than an hour later, the crying began to subside. The reunited families were slipped out through a little known private doctor's entrance and driven to their homes.
Aaron, Hank, and the Andrews team watched the television, above the bar, at Aaron's favorite pub as Shaun gave a press conference on the steps of the hospital entrance. "We have captured a ring of kidnappers who preyed on our young, innocent children. The boys and girls you saw were the latest of the victims of this sinister organization. With the cooperation of several governments, we are in the process of identifying and arresting members of this gang of child abusers in four countries. Let the world know, we will go to extremes to protect our children."
Natalie raised her glass to the screen followed by the entire Andrews team.
A personal message from the author:
I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading Scorned and Abandoned.
Like most authors, I depend on feedback from my readers. In fact, I love hearing from you about my stories. Now that you finished reading this book, please post a review on the site where you purchased this e-book.
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John