Page 28 of Operation: Discovery

Her face was still very pink from the sunburn, and she looked tired. He waited until she looked up at him so she could see in his eyes that he wasn’t going to hold her absence against her.

As soon as she did, he said, “You’re fine. We have plenty of time to talk and create a plan to help you deal with what I’m sure was a period in your life you’d like to forget.”

Rebecca quickly nodded. “I wish I could. Every time I look at this chair, I’m reminded that my life will literally never be the same. I’m not going to get up and walk away from this. I will never be able to have my career back. I can’t work on cars like this.” She held out her arms. “What am I going to do with my life?”

“It’s true that your life will be different, and you may never look at in a positive light. That’s okay. But I want you to see your future, this moment and going forward, as full of potential. You are at your weakest right now. With our help, you are going to get stronger. You are going to make your way.”

She looked uncomfortable for a moment. “I don’t know how to make the mental leap to get to that space. I don’t know how to get out of this pit.”

He laid his hand on the table between them as a bridge between where she was and where he was. “You don’t have to do that alone. I wouldn’t ask you to. I’m here to help you see the potential in this life. I don’t want to see you spiral into the abyss like so many other victims do. That is one of the benefits of Wayside, because you are away from every scenario that might remind you of what you’ve been through. Wayside is different from the city. Different from the pressure. Different from the lies. It’s our job and our ultimate goal to see you improve, taking baby steps, toward the life you’re meant to live.”

“Baby steps,” she mumbled. “Dee said something similar yesterday. I guess you are all on the same page about me starting from the very beginning.”

“In some ways, you have to. You can’t just wipe away the memories, the trauma, the injury. But I hope I can help you talk your way through things, starting with very basic things and, once you trust me, more deep situations. Those will come to the forefront as you’re going through life here.”

“How long will I stay?”

Everyone asked him that same question. They all wanted an end date, to know they would be healed by a certain time. Maybe they thought it would offer a measure of hope. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a question he could or would answer. Not easily, anyway. “I can’t say for sure. I don’t want to say, ‘next spring’ and have you feel like you weren’t accomplishing what you should in a timely manner because you aren’t there yet if that time comes and passes. That would be counterproductive.”

“I see what you’re saying.” She relaxed slightly.

Brendon matched her stance intentionally, hoping to make her more comfortable. “Have a chocolate if it helps.”

She shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m allergic.”

He thought about all the times people had slipped into his office for a little sweet treat to make the day better and Rebecca couldn’t do that. If she was going through what he did at first, she probably felt like she couldn’t sneak anywhere. “I have some non-chocolate in my desk if that would help you relax.”

She held up her hand. “I’m okay. I don’t need anything. I’m still getting used to the change in my schedule and the new surroundings. It’s all a lot to take in. When I was a captive, they had us up all night and we were left alone during the day to sleep if we could. Though they didn’t care if we slept or not. Even after being away for a while—I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been out now—It’s still hard to switch back to when I should be sleeping and waking.”

“Then I won’t keep you long today. But it was good that we had a chance to meet. I have only one question for you. You can choose not to answer it if you don’t want to, but it may help with a current case. We’re not sure who is guilty of this crime, but your answer may help us.”

She tensed and her eyes widened. “Am I in danger?”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t actually believe you’ll know anything about this case. But because you came from a location close by and we aren’t sure who the leader of the group is who was holding you, I feel like I should ask you.”

“Go ahead.” She visibly paled answering the question.

“Were there any children held where you were who didn’t stay more than a day or two at a time?”

Rebecca shook her head. “No, the children were just as expendable as we were, though they often didn’t last as long as the adults do. My handler did mention to one of his bodyguards that his boss was looking for the perfect candidate with type O blood. They joked about him needing a new heart because his was so black. I don’t know if he really needed a heart or if he just needs blood, but I thought it was odd at the time.”

He dug in his desk and took out some paper. “How long ago was that?” If one of the heads of the group was sick, that would explain why they’d used such a drastic and potentially dangerous plan to find people.

“It’s probably not connected. That was at least six months ago, though I couldn’t tell you an exact date. Days ran together into weeks, then into months. After a very short time, you lose any ability to hope. You stop thinking you’ll ever be free. They have no souls, no kindness, no heart, nothing good in them at all. The woman who lured me in was in her forties, stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. I helped her change it and she offered to take me to a gas station to pull out cash to pay me for my time. I never thought I was in danger. I never feared for my life until she pulled a gun on me and told me to put the cuffs on in her glovebox.” Rebecca hung her head.

“I assumed that because of her age and because she was a woman, I was safe. I don’t think I could ever stop to help someone again if I’m alone.”

She might not have the ability to ever help someone in need on the side of the road again. There were some life situations that didn’t lend themselves to people with disabilities. He wasn’t even sure he could change a tire on his own car if he needed to. He’d never had to try. “I don’t know if your information will lead to anything, but thank you for telling me. I was sure we were dealing with Viceroy, but now I’m not completely certain.”

Rebecca’s brows dipped in the center and bunched together. “Viceroy? That name sounds vaguely familiar.”

He waited, not wanting to say more or to contaminate her memories. He shouldn’t have used the name in the first place. Just that slip could lead her in a way he hadn’t intended.

“I’m not sure where I heard it, but the name has that unsettling effect on my heart, as if I should be frightened, but I don’t know why.”

“He is the leader of a trafficking ring out of Cheyenne.” Not that his name alone wasn’t created to instill fear. Brendon was sure he’d chosen it for that purpose.

“I’ve never been to Cheyenne.” She shrugged. “I have to meet with Sam in about a half hour. Can I go and rest in between?” She backed up a few inches.

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