Page 26 of The Captive Missing

“The facts of this case have proven extremely troubling to me. In particular it seems that the defendant acted in good faith at the bequest of the FBI to negotiate a deal with an informant who happened to also be a classified captive.

Though this sort of deal had never come to pass before, that did not mean the burden was on the defendant to legally vet the circumstances. On top of this, the defendant apparently financed the operation, thereby saving the tax payers large sums of money.

And how has he been repaid for answering his country’s call for assistance? This is the most troubling aspect of all, and I fear it has the ability to set a dangerous precedence. How many other good citizens will think twice before assisting in an investigation? More than one, I fear. More than one.

Therefore, I hereby find the defendant, Jason Riggs Junior, not guilty on all counts and order him released, effective immediately.”

Jason exhaled and leaned forward over the defendant’s table, hands splayed against its flat surface. His lawyers clapped him on the back, then turned to shake hands with Senior who stood, an expression of immense relief filling his face.

Theresa and Jeremy too were rising, incredulous laughter spilling from their lips. Val sat still, holding back tears. He was acquitted, they couldn’t come after him anymore. Her thoughts flew all around. She wanted to throw her arms around him. She wanted to rush home, to bring Jace his beloved father and see the happy way they would cling to each other.

But then the far doors of the courtroom banged open and a courier dashed inside. Down the aisle he came, clutching a stack of papers in one hand. Breathless, he made it to AG Collins and handed them over before falling heavily into a nearby seat.

Scanning the documents quickly, AG Collins shot to her feet and drew a disapproving frown from Judge Allen.

“Your Honor, we request the court’s leave to serve a Writ of Conscription against former captive Val, here and present in this very courtroom.”

“What?!” Jason jumped up, whirling on AG Collins.

The color drained from Val’s face. The announcement rocked her. Cambric sought to conscript her back into their service.

Suddenly, she couldn’t move. She couldn’t speak. Numbness took hold of her body as she sensed the security contractors move towards her. Jason’s face twisted at once in confusion and then in horror. CT shifted his bulk closer, positioning himself firmly in the aisle.

“Order!” Judge Allen called again, and huffed angrily. “AG Collins you cannot simply conscript any captive you like in place of another. The law might be construed in favor of agencies but there are some rules.”

“Your Honor, if I may explain.” AG Collins waited for the nod from the judge before proceeding. “We do not seek to conscript the former captive Val in place of the captive Gabe. We seek to conscript her per the purchase contract signed by Jason Riggs Junior which specifically gives Cambric the right to exchange her for any child she may have conceived if said child has not been turned over.”

“No!” Jason shouted, causing Judge Allen’s frown to deepen. “I didn’t know what I was signing, your Honor. It’s a standard form contract and I wasn’t given the proper amount of time to review it.”

“You expect me to believe that the CEO of Riggs Oil signed a contract and didn’t review each and every line?” Judge Allen shook his head slowly. “That is a hard pill to swallow. AG Collins, please hand the documents over so that I may review them.”

“Yes, your Honor.”

In the ensuing silence, the shock that had frozen Val in place began to wear off. Jason kept shaking his head, murmuring to his attorneys. His face was contorted with dread, his movements jerky and harsh. They did their best to keep him quiet.

Painful tingles crept up Val’s legs and arms working their way to her chest. It felt as if she were being held in a vice, the tightness around her ribcage constricted her breathing. As she worked for air, she began to rasp. Theresa glanced worriedly into her face.

“I think she’s going to pass out,” she said.

“Look at me, Baby, look at me.” Jason reached for her, his pleading eyes searching her own.

“Damn it, Jason,” Senior hissed, pushing his son away. “If you don’t want these people to think she’s your wife, then stop acting like it.”

“I have had a chance to review the contract in question along with the Writ of Conscription,” Judge Allen announced, drawing all eyes back to the front. “Captive Law is very clear, and so it appears that the former captive Val would be subject to conscription in place of any child she may have conceived and not turned over to Cambric.”

“Thank you, your Honor.” AG Collins beamed, then gestured to Cambric security who stepped up to CT. He did not blink. He did not move.

“Not so fast, Counselor,” Judge Allen admonished, with something of a smile working into his face. “As you know, the rule of law only works because it is based on strict procedure. This Writ was not filed correctly, nor was this purchase contract. On top of that, the underlying case still contains many holes.

There is no proof that the former captive Val has produced any child. No birth certificate, no witnesses, nothing. I hereby refuse to acknowledge service of this Writ of Conscription and caution you to be more thorough in your application in the future.”

“Get up.” Jason turned, grabbing for Val. “Get her out of here now. Let’s go.”

Senior and Theresa each took an arm, propping Val between them. Everyone in the courtroom was standing. Cambric’s security contractors stood toe to toe with CT, who was still a head taller than either of them. Jason pushed past his attorneys, trying to skirt the partition that separated them, eyes tracking Val the entire time.

She wanted to speak, wanted to walk, wanted to stand on her own, but her brain had stopped sending signals to her body. Cambric would get to her. She knew it better than anyone. It may not be today, or even tomorrow, but The Agency would file the documents properly. They would be granted the Writ and she would become their property once more.

Absently, she looked down at her right forearm. Under her shirt, the place where her tracker had been removed was forever marked by a vertical scar. Somethings never heal.

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