Page 51 of The Captive Missing

He told her how it felt to sink his hands deep in the soil and grow his own food. He talked about picking apples in the large orchard that rolled away down one hillside and what it was like to sell the crates out of their shared van.

The look of profound peace that covered his face when he talked, sent a joyful sort of sadness to fill Val’s heart. For in that brief snippet of Ben’s life, he had heard music strum out of an acoustic guitar, danced with a woman he chose, and got drunk off moonshine brewed in a still.

“Have you ever tasted honeycomb straight from the hive?” Ben turned to her abruptly between sessions.

“No, I haven’t,” Val grinned at his expression. “And I can’t imagine you keeping bees.”

“They aren’t so bad. You wear special clothes and use a little smoke and they calm right down. If you ever get back out, you should try it.”

“I will,” she promised him, seeing the memory dance at the back of his eyes.

Their training session took all afternoon. Ben called in for lunch and cancelled Val’s workout appointment. They ate happily together, laughing and talking, sharing stories of the outside.

Val was careful about what she told him, but she gave him some of her memories anyway. She described the cold of an early morning in Wyoming, how the frost still covered the ground outside. And the feel of a horse underneath you, breath puffing out of large nostrils.

By the time they had worked through every submission, Val had just enough time to shower before dinner.

* * *

The cafeteria was only half full by the time she arrived and the line to get food was long. Val stood patiently, mind still floating back in that room with Ben.

When she stepped up to grab a plastic try, she felt a nudge just beside her. Turning to look, she saw Charlie swoop in and effectively cut in line. A few people grumbled, but no one challenged him outright, so he selected a tray and walked along with her.

“You missed our workout today,” Charlie began, holding out his tray to catch a bowl of spaghetti. “Where were you?”

“In training,” Val answered, keeping her eyes focused ahead of her.

“They submitted you today? Who was it?” Charlie frowned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re fine?”

“Yes, Charlie, it’s nothing I haven’t done before.”

Val kept her gaze averted, though she felt him continue to appraise her. Inching along side by side, they neared the middle of the buffet. Their trays slid along the counter.

Without warning, Charlie wrapped his hands around Val’s hips and spun her around to face him. She threw up her hands in defense, pressing her palms firmly against his chest. But that, of course, was a mistake. It wasn’t the proper response to the training request and by the time she realized it, it was too late. Charlie’s hazel eyes flashed with knowledge.

“That’s what I thought.” Charlie hissed, before releasing her. Returning to his tray, he whispered. “He didn’t submit you, not even once. Who was it?”

“It was Ben,” she admitted, voice low.

“He’s taking a pretty big risk,” Charlie commented. “I was with a client yesterday and I saw the videos they made you do. Someone leaked them to the press. I’m sorry Val, for being short with you before.”

“It’s alright.”

People shifted ahead of them. They were nearing the end of the line.

“All I know is, you better get your game face on. If they find out what’s been going on, both of you are screwed.”

“You won’t say anything, will you?”

“Me? Hell no, you can trust me. The question is, can you trust Ben?”

Momentarily stunned, Val stood frozen, holding up the line. Her brain dialed back to review the past hours of her life. What had made her trust Ben? What exactly had she told him? Was she sure the camera had been switched off at the correct times? Doubt bobbed up to the surface of her mind, leaving a long line tethered to a sickly raw fear.

Charlie grabbed at her elbow with one hand and his tray with the other.

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