by E. M. Leya
"When you put it like that it makes it sound almost exciting." Danny grinned as they walked into the lobby of the office.
A moment later, Gary walked out to the waiting room and greeted Danny. "How are you today?"
"Good. I hope you don't mind I brought a friend with me again. This is Jeremy." He gestured to Jeremy who was standing beside him.
"No problem. It's nice to meet you." Gary shook his hand. "Why don't you both come in."
Danny followed Gary into the room, then took a seat on the couch. He wasn't surprised when Jeremy sat down beside him.
"So, I saw your kidnapper was captured. I have to say I'm relieved. The community is safer with him off the streets." Gary shut the door and sat down in a comfortable chair across from them.
"I could hardly believe it. Even then, I was worried the reports were wrong and it wasn't him. It's going to take time to get used to not worrying about him finding me, but already I feel a lot of the fear easing." Danny glanced at Jeremy and smiled. "My friends have really helped me feel safer."
"I'm glad you've been able to make so many friends. I enjoyed talking to Faith and hearing her story. Are you still living with Marshall?"
Danny nodded.
"It's going well?" Gary asked.
Danny glanced at Jeremy, then back at Gary as he thought about the conversation he'd just had outside. "It's going really well. I'm in love with him."
"That's fantastic." Gary smiled. "I don't know him well, but he seems like a good man."
Jeremy sat forward. "Marshall is one of the best. Seeing Danny and him together makes anyone want to be in love."
"So you know him?" Gary asked.
"We're all friends," Jeremy informed him.
Gary nodded. "Well, before we dig into anything too personal in front of Jeremy, why don't you tell me why you brought him along with you today? That way I can know what is safe to talk about and what isn't."
Danny took a nervous breath. "Jeremy knows everything. You can say what you want around him." He glanced at Jeremy. "Do you want to tell him why you're here?"
"Sure." Jeremy turned his attention to Gary. "When you heard about Danny's kidnapper's arrest did you hear all the details?"
"You mean how he was found in Colorado Springs?" Gary asked.
"More about his injuries when he was found," Jeremy said cautiously.
A slight smile played over Gary's lips, but he remained professional. "I did. I heard he was castrated."
"Correct." Jeremy glanced at Danny before folding his hands together in his lap and taking a deep breath. "The men who hunted down and found Larry and castrated him before calling the police in, are looking for a counselor. Someone who these men and women can talk to so they can deal with some of the…" He searched for the right word.
"Wait." Gary sat forward and looked at Danny. "You know who these men are?"
Danny bit his lip.
"Okay, I get you might not want to admit that. I can see why the people who did this wouldn't want names to get out, but how did you find them? Did you send them out to hunt this man down?"
Danny shook his head. "Not really. In fact, I don't think I was even supposed to know about them, but I accidentally found out."
Gary nodded, then glanced at Jeremy. "And these people need someone to talk to so they can deal with what they do?"
"In a way. I don't think any of them feel guilty for what they do. They don't want to stop. They help hundreds of children every year, and I could only guess how many future attacks they stop by castrating the monsters who prey on children." Jeremy glanced at Danny. "As the news reported, Danny's kidnapper was found living with two abused children. Men like them don't stop. This team that goes in and castrates them takes away their weapon. They change their hormonal balance. They weaken them. This isn't a group of murders. They aren't going after the guy down the street who is just viewing child porn. This group goes after repeat offenders and those who are creating the porn and actively abusing children. They aren't killers. The pedophiles live long after they are castrated. Maybe not happily, but they do live. It's up to the police and courts to deal with them, but as you must know, the courts can only do so much and many times fail at following up once a pedophile is released from prison and is back on the streets."
"Why wouldn't they just kill them?" Gary asked.
"Because that's too simple. They don't deserve to get off that easily. Do you know the effects of eunuchism? It's not a pleasant life. Hormones change, the body weakens, there are mental issues. Science can replace some of the hormones, surgery can repair the physical damage to a point, but they are never the same. The victims of the pedophiles deserve to see them brought to justice. Men like Danny deserve to face them, confront them, and help send them to prison if they choose to do so." Jeremy spoke with a passion that impressed Danny. "This group of people may take the law in their own hands. They may break the law in many ways, doing what they are doing, but the truth is, most of society supports this team's actions. When one of them was arrested in California, there was a public outcry for him to be pardoned. People praised what he did. The police simply can't focus on a problem this big. They try, but a team like this who focuses just on this issue can get more done and hand them off to the police after."
"How many in the group?" Gary asked.
"I'd rather not discuss that yet. I'm hoping you will become part of the team and counsel them when they need it. It would be mandatory for each one to sit down with you every month or two just to chat, but if something major happens, it could be more often. The team isn't large, and you would be paid well for working with the team. I promise you'd probably make more from the team than you do with all your other clients in a year, but you'd have less work from the team." Jeremy smiled. "It would have to be under the table though, but the team would have resources to help you—"
"Launder it?" Gary quirked a brow.
Jeremy shrugged.
Danny watched, trying hard not to be nervous, but if Gary decided to pick up the phone and call the police, things could get messy fast. Sure, it would be his word against theirs, but with Larry having just been castrated, and Danny sitting in the office supposedly talking about it, who wouldn't believe Gary?
"When you say I'd become part of the team, what exactly do you mean? I'm not someone who can go after these people. I can't do what they do." Gary stared intently at Jeremy.
"You wouldn't have to. You can be as involved as you want to. If that means you take the team on as patients and have no other ties to them, then that's okay. That is how another team does things. The counselor is there to talk to, but they never get involved in the details or what goes on outside the counseling session. You will have full knowledge of who the people are, and you would know what they do, so that would mean if you wish to, you could come to their headquarters and meet with them or just hang out. They are like a big family and keep things casual, so there are nights the team might go out together or meet up at someone's home for a party or something. The team holds weekly meetings and you could come to those if you choose. Your involvement is up to you, and the knowledge of each sting would be up to you. The goal here is just to make sure that what these men and women do isn't getting to them. To make sure that if someone is injured, they are in the right place mentally after the fact. You'd report to the team leader occasionally, not to tell them about what was discussed, but just to let them know if you sensed anyone is struggling and might need a break."
"I'd still keep seeing my normal patients?"
"Yes, nothing changes with that. This would only add a few more patients to your schedule. I'll warn you now, not all are happy to have to talk to someone, but they do it because it's part of the agreement they made when they joined."
"And my liability if these people are caught?" Gary asked.
"Hopefully, none. If things are done right, and if there isn't a paper or digital trail of your meeting with them, then there is nothing to tie them to you. I can't promise t
he team headquarters won't ever get raided, though the chances are slim. The team is careful to make sure that nothing links the people involved. When the man in California was arrested, they found nothing to link him to anyone else." Jeremy shrugged. "I won't lie, there is a risk, but for your part in this it would be slim."
Gary sat back, silent for a long moment before he glanced at Danny. "And how are you involved with the team?"
Danny shook his head. "I'm not really. Other than knowing about them, knowing who they are, I'm not involved. I'm not one of them. I learned by accident or I might not even know now." The thought of Marshall still hiding what he did from him caused his chest to tighten. It was best he knew everything. He wouldn't change a thing.
"Did you know they were going after your kidnapper?"
"Not at first. I mean, I didn't know they were searching for him. I didn't know until recently who they were. I knew the night they went after him that they were doing it, but I wasn't part of it. I was home with Marshall while it happened." Danny hoped he wasn't saying too much.
"Danny, like you would be if you want to help, is someone who knows enough to get in a little trouble, but not enough to really worry. He doesn't hunt for pedophiles. He doesn't go after them. He's only aware of what is going on."
Gary ran his fingers through his hair. "You're asking a lot of me."
"I'm aware of that, but the team really needs someone to talk to. Right now, there are no signs of problems, but that could change at any time. A team member was injured the other night. Not seriously, and the team does have a doctor, but something as simple as a small injury can have delayed reactions. The team just wants someone to talk things over with. Someone they can trust with the information."
Gary stood and walked to the window of his office, staring outside for a long moment. "Would I be able to talk to this other counselor that you mentioned?"
"That could be arranged, but it would be up to her if she wants you to know her name. I'm sure in time she won't mind, but you have to understand the teams need for privacy, especially when they're still not sure we can trust you?" Jeremy told him.
"She?" Gary turned around to face them.
"Yes. Her husband was a member of the other team. He passed away from a heart attack years ago, but she stayed on to keep assisting the team." Jeremy glanced at Danny, then back at Gary. "This is a lot to take in. You don't have to give us an answer now, but I would like your word you won't be calling the police with what we've told you."
"You must have known I wouldn't do that if you were willing to come talk to me about this anyway. What made you think you could trust me with this information?" Gary asked.
"A lot of digging into your background. Learning about your past." Jeremy held up a hand. "Everything the team learned stays with the leader. Your personal information isn't going to get out. The leader had to know who he was dealing with and if he could trust you."
Gary's face paled.
Danny wondered what information they'd found on him. From the look on his face, it couldn't be good.
"You're the leader?" Gary asked. "You know about me?"
Danny tensed, wondering if Jeremy would risk admitting as much without a promise from Gary that he wouldn't turn them in.
"I am and I do. It's your history. Your past. It doesn't need to be discussed. If you want to let others know you'll tell them. We just want your professional knowledge and resources. We hope that you'll be friends with the team, interact, come to dinners and things like that, but if you don't, that's fine too. You get as involved as you feel comfortable." Jeremy glanced at Danny. "We're just a small group of people looking to stop the abuse. What we do might not be morally right, but it is successful. In the past year, the teams have rescued over thirty-four children who were either kidnapped or being held and abused. That doesn't count the number of children we have helped just by stopping the abuse that was going on from family members, coaches, teachers, or others we've hunted. We are sure of our facts and the evidence when we go in. If we aren't one-hundred percent sure, we pass the information anonymously to the police. We won't go after someone when we don't have visual evidence that they are abusing a child, and most of the time, unless the case is severe, we won't go after first-time offenders. We go for the ones who have already had their chance to reform, have already served time."
"If I agree to do this, what is the next step?" Gary asked.
"Well, we'd like to introduce you to everyone on the team. The best way to do that is to go out to dinner," Jeremy suggested.
"Come to my house. I'll cook." Danny suggested.
Jeremy raised a brow at him.
"You know I love to cook, and he already knows me and where I live. It's not like you're giving anything away. Our home is safe. It's not tied to the team in any way. It's a neutral place where we can just hang out and get a feel for each other. Besides, I've been telling Gary about all my cooking. I'd like him to try it." He hoped he hadn't made a mistake offering. Maybe Jeremy had planned on something else, but being at the house would be easier. They wouldn't have to worry about what they said in public and they could relax more than if they were sitting in some restaurant.
Jeremy shrugged and looked at Gary. "I'll leave that up to you."
"Wow, this is a lot to take in." Gary sat back down. "I'm not the one who is usually uncomfortable in here." He gave a soft laugh.
"You can simply say no and I leave. You can continue to see Danny as a patient and it's never mentioned again," Jeremy told him.
"And I lay in bed at night wondering if someone needs to talk and I turned my back on them. No, I can't do that. I will work for your team. I'm not sure how involved I want to be, but I'll accept them as patients. Everything said in this room is confidential. We'll just leave it at that for now. You can trust me. If I choose at any time to quit, I'll keep your secrets."
Danny blew out a breath, thankful that things seemed to be going well. "You'll come to dinner?"
"When?" Gary asked.
"Let me call you," Jeremy said. "I need to look at the team schedule and make sure everyone is available to meet you. It will be sometime next week. I have to give a couple of our members a heads up so they can make sure they have the night off other jobs."
Danny thought of Rani and was glad that Jeremy was including everyone, even if they weren't around a lot. The more he learned about the loyalty of the team, the more he liked them.
"Sounds good. The only night I'm not available is Thursdays. I work with a group at the homeless shelter that night. Any other time should work for me."
"Then I'll be in touch." Jeremy stood. "I'm going to run a few errands and leave you two the next half hour to talk. Danny, I'll meet you outside when you're done." He stepped to Gary and offered his hand. "Thank you and welcome to the team."
Gary shook his hand and grinned. "Thanks, I think."
"You'll love us." Jeremy winked and headed out the door.
With a sigh, Gary glanced at Danny. "So, tell me how your week's been?"
Glad they weren't going to linger on the team, Danny relaxed and started to tell him everything he'd done, thankful his session wasn't going to be a waste.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Danny glanced at Faith and smiled. "I wish you didn't have to leave."
"Me too. I love being here. It's so different than California." She sighed as she reached for her water bottle. "But soon I'll be living back east and have to get used to all kinds of new things."
"Nervous?"
"Excited, but a little nervous. I've never lived on my own. Dad insists I get an apartment so I don't have to deal with dorms, but I insisted on a two-bedroom so I can get a roommate. I don't want to live alone. I'm going to be studying so much it won't really matter." She played with her hair as she spoke, twisting it around her finger.
"I wish I was as brave as you. I still don't want to walk into the store by myself." Danny sighed. "I saw a puppy outside the pizza place the other day that looked like th
e one Larry had used to lure me away and I had to fight a full panic attack. If Marshall hadn't been with me, I might have really lost it."
"It gets easier. I promise. My dads had to walk me to and from school for a couple of years because I was so scared. I didn't like people close or especially touching me, and the nightmares I went through went on for years, but they eased up in time." She leaned forward. "You've come a long way fast. The fact you're in a relationship is huge. I still haven't done more than go on a group date. I'm scared to death to be alone with a guy. I'll probably die an old maid."
He wasn't sure what an old maid was, but he could guess. "You won't. You'll find someone. I think I'd be like you if I hadn't clung to Marshall when I escaped. It just seemed natural to keep hold of him once he was there."
"Marshall's a good guy. I hope things work out for the two of you." She glanced across the room to where Gary was talking to Patrick and Rani. "I'm glad the team found a counselor. He seems like he'll be good for the team."
"I think so. He's helped me a lot. Thanks for pushing me to open up more to him."
She nodded. "Holding it in doesn't do any good. You need to let the pain out."
"I'm learning that." He still couldn't talk to Marshall about everything, but he was telling Gary a lot he never thought he'd discuss with another human.
"Maybe once I get settled at school you and Marshall can come visit for a couple of days?"
He thought about traveling and wasn't sure if he was excited or not to go so far away. "Maybe. You'll keep in touch anyway, won't you? Email or call?"
"Of course, I will. You're going to have to keep me updated on what D is doing. He never tells me anything going on. He likes to protect me and make me think everything is good. You need to let me know if he gets hurt or something goes wrong. I'm tired of them protecting me."
Danny laughed. "What makes you think I won't do the same thing?"
"Because you wouldn't want them treating you that way, so you won't treat me that way. You understand the need for honesty, no matter how bad it is. You know I've been through more than they think they know and a little bad news isn't going to put me in into a panic attack."