by T. K. Chapin
“Take him for the day? Or like, forever?”
“Forever. You obviously don’t love him or want him here.”
Raising her eyebrows, she glanced over at Ezekiel. He nodded, beaming with a smile. Then she looked back at me. “You can take him for right now, but I’m not giving up my rights.”
Walking past her, I went over to Ezekiel and bent at my knees to meet him at eye level. Wiping a stray tear from his cheek, I looked into his eyes. “Go pack a bag with a couple of things. Make it quick.”
He wheeled off to his room down a hall to pack. As I heard his door shut, I turned my attention back to his aunt. My gut told me she wanted something out of it. I feared I was right, but prayed I was wrong. “Why won’t you give up your rights? You don’t care about him. You’ve made that abundantly clear.”
She looked me up and down before settling on my face with a smirk. “What would you give for him?”
This lady was the scum of the earth. Trying to hold my anger and disgust in, I asked, “What do you want?”
“Ten thousand, American.”
My stomach flipped at the confirming words from her mouth. She was a greedy slimeball. “How do I know you’ll get this done and sign the rights over to me?”
“I have a sister who works at the international adoption agency here in town. She did it for my other sister and she got a load of cash.”
Greed and envy. This woman was one of the most despicable human beings I had ever encountered. How she’d ended up with the boy, I’d never know. Knowing I had the money, I nodded. “Okay. Ten thousand.”
She stuck out a hand, as if expecting me to give it to her now.
“Are you nuts? I don’t have it on me. It’s in a bank. Show me the proof it’s in the process and I’ll pay you half, then half when it’s final.”
“Fine.”
We exchanged contact information and then Ezekiel came out with his packed bag a few minutes later. I helped him out of the house and into my truck, then put the wheelchair and bag in the bed. Getting inside the truck, I turned to him.
“You’ll never see that trailer again. I promise.”
Ezekiel broke into a grin.
Chapter 37 - Jax
PASTOR JOSE WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING of the situation with Ezekiel, just like I knew he would be. He also informed the police of Antonio’s cousin and their location. The officers were on their way over in droves to the trailer park to take those individuals in custody. However, we didn’t tip them off about Chiko’s, for we feared if we did, we might never find Chelsea. There was a chance she was moved and we’d get zero information if a bunch of cops busted down the door.
After talking with Jose about everything, I went and brought Ezekiel into his office to meet him.
“Can you swing a hammer?” Jose asked Ezekiel as the kid rolled through the doorway and into the office.
“Yeah!” Ezekiel’s eyes lit up. “What do you want me to smash?”
He laughed. “No smashing needed. I need a hand with building bird houses for the children’s ministry. You can help me out. In fact, that’s where I’m heading now.”
When the pastor stood up from behind his desk, I patted his shoulder and shook his hand, coming in close. “Thank you for everything. You’ve been a wonderful encouragement.”
He smiled over at me. “It’s the Lord. Go. Find Chelsea.”
I headed out to my truck. Growing up in a church all my life caused me to meet a lot of Christians, but I hadn’t met someone quite like Pastor Jose. His compassion, joy, and sheer kindness were unmatched by anyone else I had encountered. He wasn’t a rich man by any sense of the word, but what he lacked in worldly wealth, he made up in richness of spirit and knowledge of God.
Getting into the truck, I reached over to the passenger side and popped my fist into the glove compartment. It was the only way to open it. The picture of Chelsea and me at the park came falling out and tumbled to the floor. I grabbed it. Smoothing my thumb over her face as I missed her more than ever, I thought, I believe. Pulling my visor down, I slid the picture under the lip of the mirror and then flipped it back up.
Putting the truck into reverse, I checked my rearview mirror.
I jumped. Rick was standing there behind my truck and looking right at me with a dumb grin on his face.
Smiling, I put the truck into park and got out. Seeing a taxi driving down the lonely road back toward Guadalajara, I approached my friend.
“What’s going on?” I asked as we met each other. “I thought your flight left an hour ago.”
“Oh, it did.” He smiled, shaking his head as he put a hand on my shoulder. “I couldn’t let you do this alone though. I’m staying.”
“What changed your mind?”
“I was praying at the airport, asking God to help me understand what His will is, and I was thinking about my lovely wife … then it dawned on me. Finding Chelsea was never about me, never about you. It’s about not giving up when it all seems hopeless. God does His best work when we’re in a hopeless place.”
“Yes, He does.”
“What’s that mean? Wait, why are you happy?” Rick questioned.
“C’mon, we gotta go.”
“What? Where?”
“I think we found Chelsea.”
Chapter 38 - Jax
PLUGGING IN THE ADDRESS FOR Chiko’s brought me to a massage parlor down in the heart of Guadalajara. From the research I had done since Chelsea had first gone missing, I learned that prostitution was perfectly legal and therefore a serious issue in the community. While finding her dead was the worst-case scenario in my mind, finding her as a prostitute was second.
Parking across the street from the parlor, I immediately noticed the beaming red LED light in the corner of the window. The red round light was a signal to anyone looking for a lady of the night. This establishment was indeed a brothel like Antonio’s cousin had told me. My heart melted as chills went down my body.
With my gun on my hip, I grabbed the door of the truck to get out as my anger boiled, bubbling up from the depths of my heart with frustration and pain over the last month. Just then, Rick reached over and grabbed my arm, stopping me.
I turned to him. “What? This is it.”
“Let’s pray before we go in there.”
Clenching my jaw, I relaxed back into my seat. I was hyped up and ready to shoot someone. Which, on second thought, was a good indicator I needed some prayer before walking through the door I was about to go through.
We bowed our heads.
Rick led. “Lord, we come to you today with heavy hearts. We pray that Chelsea is not only in there, but that she is okay. We pray that this situation doesn’t become violent and crazy and out of control. Give us calm and rational minds and hearts that match You, Lord. Amen.”
“Amen.” Once again, I grabbed the door handle, and this time I made it out. My pulse wasn’t quite as quick this time, but I was still on edge. Waiting for Rick to round the front of the truck, I stared at the pasty blue curtains of the parlor. I thought of her. If she was in there, that meant she had been subjected to … I couldn’t mentally go there. My stomach flipped.
“You ready?” Rick asked as we crossed the street.
Shaking my head, I glanced over at him. “No.”
We entered the parlor. Coming into a dimly lit room that was filled with the scent of burning incense, I looked around furiously. There was an empty receptionist desk and light music playing along with a couple of chairs. No people. We took a seat.
A curtain hid an entrance into a different part of the parlor, and a woman soon appeared.
In Spanish, she said, “Just a moment, gentlemen. I’m gathering our best ladies for you.”
Revolted, I jumped to my feet and flew across the floor to the woman. Grabbing her arm forcefully, I said, “No. We’re not here for that. We are looking for a woman. This one.” Grabbing my wallet, I opened it up and showed her the picture I had been showing people for the past month.
&nb
sp; The woman’s eyes widened, then relaxed. But I noticed.
She shook her head the next moment. “I don’t know who she is.”
Pulling my gun out, I asked, “Again. Where is she?”
Chapter 39 - Jax
BEHIND THE CURTAIN LAY DOORS on both sides of a hallway, each one leading to one of mankind’s sickest and most depraved activities. My stomach somersaulted walking down that cold and dark hallway and past two large bodyguards. My heart broke as I thought about each one of the girls in this place. A sister, a friend … a daughter.
Coming to a door near the end of the hall, the woman I had at gunpoint stopped.
My heart skipped.
I passed my gun to Rick and looked at the woman in the hall, then back at him. “Stay here.”
My hand touched the cold metal of the doorknob as my heart reached the top of my throat. I could hardly breathe anymore. All of this seemed unreal, like a bad nightmare. I didn’t know what to expect to see on the other side of that door. What I’d see, who I’d see.
Going in, I shut the door behind me. The only light was from that of a small strand of Christmas lights that ran along a blackened window. I could hardly see as I moved further into the dimly lit room. I didn’t know whether to gag or cry. A dirty mattress covered in blankets sat in the far corner and I made my way over to it. On my approach, I could see a solitary leg sticking out from underneath the covers. Is this really her? I wondered as I came closer, disgust filling me as I thought of what went on in the room.
Pulling layers of blankets away, I searched for her face.
As I pulled away a red silk blanket, her face came into view. Her eyes were closed, but I knew it was her. “Chelsea!” I said, leaning over as I smiled and wept.
She didn’t respond.
Shaking her shoulders, I said her name again. “Chelsea! It’s me, Jax. Can you hear me?”
Her eyes fluttered slightly for a moment, but then she gave up.
She was unresponsive.
I smoothed my thumb against her cheek, and as my heart was breaking for Chelsea, I said, “We’re going to get through this together, baby. I promise.”
I scooped Chelsea up into my arms. If it wasn’t for the Holy Spirit leading me, I would’ve killed that woman standing in the hallway and the two bodyguards, but I didn’t. Instead, I carried her out the door and out of that parlor. My eyes were watering, my heart smashed beneath the gravity of what had happened to her. I praised God she was alive, but I was fearful of what all had transpired at the parlor.
Rick caught up to me as I crossed the street. Immediately, he lost it at the sight of her face.
Giving Rick the keys to the truck from my left hand, I looked at him. “I’m going to sit in the back with her. You drive.”
He helped me get her into the bed of the truck, and I used the blankets we brought to help cushion her body against the hard metal of the truck bed. As Rick drove us back to the church, I sat there holding Chelsea’s head in my lap, weeping and praying fervently. We might have found her, but I knew she would never be the same girl.
Chapter 40 - Chelsea
HEAD HURTING, EYES GLUED SHUT, I felt the coolness of a washcloth on my forehead. I had the worst headache I’d ever had in my life. My eyes still clenched shut, I prayed for God to heal me before the big missionary trip next week. I’ve been looking forward to it for so long. If I were to miss it because of illness, I’d never forgive myself.
Finally blinking my eyes open, I stared at an unfamiliar ceiling fan.
I realized I wasn’t in my bedroom.
Sitting up, I looked over and saw a strange man sitting in a folding chair. He had an open-faced Tom Clancy novel on his chest and was asleep. Looking down at myself, I noticed holes up and down my arms but no IV. I became increasingly frightened.
My heart raced as confusion swirled my thoughts, only intensifying the headache that I feared would soon kill me. Then, I broke out in a sweat that covered every part of my body.
Hyperventilating for a moment, I noticed the strange man moving slightly in his chair. The book slid off his chest and crashed onto the floor.
I froze.
Staring, I waited to see if he’d wake up.
He did not, luckily.
Carefully removing my blanket, I crept across the room and over to the door to leave. Slowly opening it, I stole a glance out and into a hallway.
Nobody in sight.
I slipped out of the room and tip-toed down the hallway, my heart still racing as I wondered where I had been taken by the stranger. All I had on was a pair of my pink board shorts and a white tee shirt. No socks, no shoes, not even a coat! It didn’t matter, though. I had to escape from wherever my abductor had brought me.
Coming into a large room, I realized I was inside a foyer. Confusion flooded my brain and it looked to be like one in a church. But as my eyes surveyed the foyer, I knew for certain I hadn’t ever been inside this church.
Quickly, I found the doors leading outside. Peeking through the window, I was confused to not see even a drop of snow on the ground. Regardless of my feelings, I got out of there.
Feet finding the slightly chilly gravel of the parking lot, I surveyed the surroundings to try to comprehend where exactly I was. I knew it wasn’t Spokane. Then I saw in the moonlight a field with fireflies buzzing about and an outline of mountains in the distance. Nevada?
Suddenly, the church doors opened behind me in the distance, the sound causing my heart to stop.
I looked back, my heart jumpstarting and starting to race when I saw that my abductor stood in the doorway.
Fearing he’d kill me, I sprinted toward the field, screaming as I did.
Sure enough, he darted for me and then started to yell my name. “Chelsea! Chelsea, stop!”
My heart pulsed as I feared this was my end. “No! No! Stay away from me!”
As I entered the field, the bottoms of my feet found thorns, dropping me to the ground instantly. My face slammed against the ground too, finding a few of the same thorns my feet had found. Puncturing my cheek, they drew blood.
“Please don’t kill me! I don’t want to die!” I cried out, begging for my life, begging for me to be spared by this lunatic.
Chapter 41 - Jax
I REALIZED RIGHT THEN THAT SHE didn’t know who I was.
I pulled away from her and sat in the field. Looking upon the fragile and broken girl whom I cared for, I said gently, “I’m not going to hurt you.”
That helped.
At least she stopped screaming. Wrapping her arms around herself and wiping the blood away from her cheek, she started shaking her head. “What do you want with me then? Why did you bring me here?”
My eyes welled with tears. “What? Wait, what’s the last thing you remember?”
“Yesterday, I went to the mall with my friend Vanessa. Why?”
“Things aren’t what they appear to be, Chelsea. You have to trust me on this.”
Suddenly, Rick came out from the church. I suspected he’d heard all the screaming and woken up. Standing up, I helped her to her feet and we went over to meet Rick near the church. Rick gave her an apple and then I led him a few feet away to talk.
“Maybe the drugs they gave her messed with her memory?” he offered, crossing his arms.
Sighing, I looked over at her. “I don’t know. Her mind could’ve done it on its own. If an event is too traumatic, the mind will block out large chunks of memories.”
Rick nodded. “That could be a blessing if she doesn’t remember where she was for the last month.”
My heart tore in two at the idea. I couldn’t be selfish. I knew it would be best for her if she forgot everything, even if it included me.
She walked up to us. “Thanks for the apple, Rick. Could I have some more food, please?”
Raising an eyebrow, he smiled. “Chelsea, you remember me?”
“Of course. Took a minute to place you, but I knew I knew you.”
They hugged.
/> Releasing from their embrace, she asked, “Wait. What’s going on? Where are we? And what about more food?”
Rick laughed and patted her shoulder as they turned toward the church. “That’s a long story. Let’s get you some more food and I’ll explain it to you.”
Watching as the two of them walked toward the church doors, I felt my heart breaking into pieces. She didn’t have a clue who I was and didn’t remember the moments we shared leading up to the park. It was all just … gone.
I began walking toward the church, following from a distance. Phoning her father again, I left a voicemail letting him know she woke up and what we knew so far.
Chapter 42 - Jax
AS RICK TOLD CHELSEA ALL that had happened in Mexico thus far, I pretended to fall asleep on my cot. He left out the story of our affection for each other. I guess he didn’t find it important. When he came to the part of the story about our finding her, he blatantly lied. He told her we found her on a bench in a park downtown and explained away the track marks on her arm as bug bites. My heart twisted knowing the untruthfulness of his words. I knew why he did it, to protect her mind, but it didn’t make it right.
Sitting up, I got up from my cot and prayed. I needed God to lead me in the Spirit and in my choice of words. Walking up to the table, I looked narrowly at Rick. “Could I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?”
“Sure.” He stood up from the table and followed me into the kitchen.
As the door swung shut, I came up to him and in a forcefully loud whisper asked, “I can be okay with your not telling her about me and her, but what are you doing with lying about how we found her?”
“I’m protecting her!” he lashed back at me.
“From the truth? C’mon! She needs to know what happened, Rick! It’s plenty of a blessing that she doesn’t have to re-live it.”
He shook his head. “No, she doesn’t need to know. God’s protecting her from knowing what happened, so why wouldn’t I follow suit?”
“It’s not a lie to say we’re not sure what happened in that brothel.”