Dangerous Passage (Southern Crimes Book #1): A Novel (24 page)

They’d been left with no escape, miles from home, completely defenseless. Raw emotions washed over Avery as she walked into the bedroom filled with a pile of dirty mats to sleep on. Girls
sat against the walls, looking dazed and confused. She breathed in the stench of unwashed bodies and backed-up sewage from the bathroom and felt the room begin to spin.

She wished that Mitch were here to help her pick up the pieces. Wished Jackson were here to hold her and tell her all of this wasn’t real.

But the faces of the girls being escorted past her one by one toward the dock were all too real.

Tory stopped beside her. “How do you ever get over something like this?”

Avery shook her head. “I don’t think you do.”

“I’ve told them they are safe now, but I can tell they don’t believe me.”

“Why should they? They’ve been lied to, treated like animals, threatened . . . Another day or two in these conditions, though, and we’d be looking at an entirely different situation.”

“In a few more hours they would have been gone and we’d never have found them all. North to DC and New York. West to Houston . . . There’s no telling where they would have ended up. How many would’ve survived the next few months in some back-alley brothel or illegal factory?”

Avery leaned down beside one of the girls still waiting to be taken to the boat. “What’s your name?”

Tory translated the question.

The girl ducked her head. “Kim-ly.”

Avery reached out and let her fingers brush the still-red edges of a magnolia tattoo branded on her shoulder, then slowly helped the girl to her feet. She took a blanket from one of the officers, wrapped it around Kim-ly’s shoulders, and started back with her toward the boat.

Sourn wasn’t the last predator they would face, and this wasn’t the last girl whose life would be affected, but for today, for these girls, what happened today mattered.

M
alaya sat on the mattress with its soft blue bedspread and pulled the pillow against her chest. The walls of the bedroom were painted yellow and pretty lace curtains hung on the walls, but even here she didn’t feel safe.

Sleep should bring relief from the constant fear, but instead it brought with it its own terrifying dreams that jolted her awake in the middle of the night. At first she’d been afraid that she’d wake up in the small, windowless room on a dirty mat on the floor, but now a new fear had settled over her.

He’d promised he’d find her if she escaped.

“Malaya?”

She jumped at the sound of her name and pressed her body against the wall behind her as Detective Lambert entered the room.

Malaya let out a small breath of relief. “Detective Lambert.”

“It’s okay.” She sat down on the edge of the bed and smiled. “I just wanted to come by to see how you were doing.”

Malaya drew her legs up to her chest, not sure how to answer the question. This morning she’d woken up in a room with three other girls with similar stories to her own. Everyone told her she was supposed to feel happy and safe here. Instead she felt lost. Nothing could protect her from the evil lurking in the shadows.

She forced a smile. “Everyone here is nice. I have my own bed, a bathroom, and plenty to eat. But I don’t know how to not be afraid.”

“You’ve been through a lot, Malaya. The feelings you have are normal. It will take time, but the fear and the sadness will fade one day.”

Memories from the past few days swept over Malaya until she could barely breathe. It might get better, but things would never be the same.

“I thought you might want to know that we caught the man who kidnapped you. He’s not going to hurt any more girls.”

“What about the other girls that were with me on the boat? Did they find them?”

“Eight of the girls were working in a factory and picked up yesterday.”

“Only eight?” That wasn’t even half of the girls.

“We’re going to keep looking for the rest of them.”

Malaya squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. “I can’t forget their faces, and knowing they’re still out there . . . People can do such terrible things.”

“I know.”

“And Teo. What will happen to him?” She looked up at the detective. He was the one person she didn’t want to leave behind.

Detective Lambert shook her head. “He’ll go live with someone else. A family who will take good care of him.”

“I hope so.”

“I wanted to give you something before you left.” Detective Lambert pulled something from her jacket pocket. “I thought you might want this picture. Tala had it with her when she died. I thought it might be something for you to remember her by.”

Malaya ran her thumb across the photo and felt a tear roll down her cheek. “We had the pictures taken a few days before
we left for the United States. We thought we were the luckiest girls in the city that day.”

Detective Lambert’s brow rose. “You’re the other girl in the photo.”

Malaya looked up at her and nodded, her eyes still rimmed with tears. “We were cousins, but we grew up as best friends. It was her father, my uncle, who found out about the opportunity to send us to the States. He convinced my father that we would have a better life, and that maybe one day, our families could join us.”

“I’m so sorry, Malaya. For everything.” Detective Lambert reached out and squeezed her hand. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know how to forget what happened here. How to forget that she’s dead, or how I will tell my family that she isn’t coming home.”

Guilt mingled with joy from the knowledge that she was going home. She was one of the lucky ones who’d survived and would see her family again. Malaya stared at the photo, her stomach aching over the reality of her loss. If only Tala had been so lucky.

A
very’s feet dangled beneath her on the front porch of her parents’ home. She’d sat in the same spot for the past hour, escaping the stress of the past few days with a good book and a tall glass of iced tea.

For the past five minutes, she’d stopped reading to study a hummingbird hovering at her mother’s nearby bird feeder for a late afternoon drink. For Avery, the ruby-throated flyer had become yet another needed confirmation of God’s presence in a world that lately seemed to be spinning out of control.

Today had ushered in the new week with a mixture of both relief and regret. Relief that her case was closed and justice would soon be served. Regret because justice had come too late for Tala and Mitch, and had left in its wake a jagged hole in her own heart. Healing might come slowly, but it would come. For the moment, though, it was the support of family and friends that was keeping her going. That and the growing anticipation of a relationship with Jackson.

She looked up at the sound of an approaching car. Jackson pulled into the driveway, invoking the familiar ping of her heart for the man who’d managed to stir something within her she’d never thought could happen twice in a lifetime. But it had, and if anything, it had become clear over the past few days that she
was ready to give her heart a chance. Life could be over in the blink of an eye. She wasn’t going to waste precious time worrying, only to lose him forever.

She watched him exit the car, then head up the driveway, dressed casually in gray cargo shorts and a rusty red crew-neck T-shirt. Perfect.

“Hey.”

“Hey back at you.” He took the stairs up to the porch, then stopped in front of her. “I was told you were following doctor’s orders, but I have to say I wasn’t sure it was true.”

“Book in one hand, a tall glass of iced tea in the other . . . I don’t think you’ll ever see me more relaxed than this.” She set the drink down on the wicker side table, then smiled up at him, savoring the feeling of completeness and balance he brought when he was with her. “Besides, I was told if I didn’t take the next few days off, I’d end up with a mandatory two-week leave.”

“Why am I not surprised that it would take the threat of
not
working to get you to slow down?” He sat down beside her, smelling like citrus, the outdoors, and a hint of antibacterial cleaner. “There’s even a bit of color in your cheeks again today. A little sun and rest have gone a long way.”

“I needed it.” She wouldn’t mention that the color in her cheeks was more because he was sitting beside her, filling in the pieces of her life that had been missing for so long.

“What did you do today?”

Avery dog-eared the page in her book to mark her place, then dropped it into her lap. “My mother took Tess and me to get pedicures, then I actually took a nap.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken a nap. It had felt good, reminding her how simple things could make such a big difference. “What about you?”

“Unfortunately, my boss made me come in to work today, which meant I spent my day in autopsy.”

“You poor thing.” There was a hint of teasing in her response, but she couldn’t dismiss the grim reality in the reminder of what they both did for a living.

He nudged her with his shoulder. “I’ll remember your lack of sympathy when you’re hard at work on my next day off.”

“I don’t know.” She looked up at him and caught his gaze. “I was hoping we might be able to arrange a couple of days off together.”

“I’d like that. A lot. And speaking of days off,” he continued, “I spoke to my grandfather before coming over here, and I have a message for you from him.”

“What did he say?”

“I told him you had a couple days off, and he’s invited you over for dinner tomorrow night.”

“Dinner? I’d be honored. I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

“He’s going to love you. Both of you. Tess is invited as well.”

“So which one of you will be doing the cooking? As I recall, you told me you could whip up a fairly decent meal, but for some reason I’ve yet to see that side of you.”

“That is one of my many hidden talents, but you’ll have to wait a bit longer to experience it. In the meantime, I suggested a tray of Papps’s favorite peanut butter and bologna sandwiches, but he insisted on making his famous gumbo.”

“Peanut butter and bologna?”

“It’s a long story.”

Avery laughed. “I definitely vote for the gumbo.”

“I thought you might.” Jackson’s gaze shifted toward the house. “Where’s Tess?”

“Inside getting ready. You’d think we were going to prom, not bowling for the afternoon.”

“You never know what cute boys might show up.”

“Ah . . . now you are starting to think like a twelve-year-old,
almost-teenage girl. Though looking back at my own childhood, I’m afraid that this is just the beginning. Before you know it, the boys are going to start showing up at my front door. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

He put an arm around her shoulder and took her hand, slowly rubbing his thumb across the back of her fingers. “You’ll be ready when the time comes and get through it just fine.”

“I hope so.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, content to enjoy the warmth of his arm around her and the rare, quiet moment of just the two of them together. And allowing herself to imagine what it might be like for the three of them to be a family.

The buzz of a lawn mower started up across the street. She opened her eyes and let her gaze focus on a clump of bright pink flowers sitting in a pot on her mother’s porch.

“What’s the latest from the DA regarding your case?” Jackson asked.

“I got a phone call from his assistant earlier today. Mr. Sourn’s arraignment is set for tomorrow morning.”

“Once again, justice prevails.”

“I’m just thankful it’s over. There are still a few lingering unanswered questions, like who killed our first Jane Doe, but Malaya and the others are safe, and thanks to Rice and Mrs. Sourn in particular, those responsible for trafficking them are now in custody.”

“What happens to Malaya now?”

“She’ll stay at the safe house along with the other girls until the DA is finished getting their testimonies. Then immigration will schedule flights for them to return home.” She looked up at him. “We make a good team, Jackson.”

“Yeah, we do.”

“If you hadn’t figured out the reason behind Tala’s enlarged
spleen, we might still have the wrong person behind bars. And all of those girls might have never been found.”

“I don’t even want to think about that. What about Bear, our homeless man? What’s going to happen to him?”

“My father’s recommended him to a rehabilitation program he’s worked with over the years. If things go the way I think they will, he’ll get counseling and hopefully a job. It’s a small step, but at least a step in the right direction.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too. The man’s been through a lot.”

“There is one more loose end that still needs to be worked out.”

Avery swallowed hard under the intensity of his gaze. “What is that?”

“Us.” He pulled her hand against his chest. “With the case closed, we might actually find some time to spend together . . . so we can figure out where our relationship is going.”

Her smile widened. “Oh, I plan on making some time.”

“Good, because I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m falling in love with you, Avery North.”

Avery’s breath caught. “Love’s a big step.”

“I know. I also know that life and love are never simple. We’ve both loved and lost, and while the experiences left scars, I think we’re stronger because of them. But just because we’ve lost in the past doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what’s ahead . . . together.”

“Then where do we start?”

“How about with this . . .” He cupped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her toward him.

All the frustration and fears she’d held on to over the past week evaporated in the sultry Georgia air, leaving her to enjoy the taste of his kiss, the warmth of his touch, and the realization that this moment was only the beginning for them.

“Mom?”

Avery pulled away, his kiss still lingering on her lips. She pressed her fingers against her mouth and looked up at her daughter. “Sorry.”

Tess stood in front of them looking more amused than upset. They were going to have to find a way to fumble through this together.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t see that.” Tess dropped her purple canvas backpack onto the porch beside her. “Not that I’m not happy about the two of you being together, don’t get me wrong, but all this kissy stuff—”

“Tess.”

“All I’m saying is that while I might not mind the fact that my mother is dating, I do have a young and impressionable mind.”

Jackson laughed. “We get it.”

Tess reached for Avery’s glass and downed the last of the tea. “Are you ready to go? Aunt Emily called to say she’d meet us there.”

“I’m ready.” Avery stood up, her mind still on Jackson’s kiss that had left her longing for a few more uninterrupted moments alone. Her phone rang in her pocket. “Just a second.”

Avery stopped at the top of the stairs and took the call.

“Avery, this is Tracy from the lab. You asked me to pass on to you any evidence we came up with regarding the break-in at your house last week.”

“Mom?” Tess shot her the familiar please-don’t-tell-me-you’ve-got-to-work look.

“Just a second.” Avery held up her hand then turned back to the phone. “Yes, what did you find out, Tracy?”

“We were able to get a DNA match on a spot of blood on the glass from your broken window.”

“Who was it?”

“We were able to match it to a man by the name of Ben Jacobs.”

“Ben Jacobs . . . Are you sure?” Avery’s mind spun. There had to be some kind of mix-up. Jacobs was the missing witness she was looking for in connection with Michael’s case.

“Yeah, his DNA is in the national database, so finding a match was pretty easy.”

“Listen, I appreciate your calling, Tracy.”

“Anytime.”

Avery hung up the phone and let the information sink in. So the break-in and attack had nothing to do with the Sourn case. But if that were true, what had Jacobs been after?

“Avery.” Jackson ran his fingers down her arm. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Avery shoved her phone into the back pocket of her jeans and shook off the mounting questions swarming through her mind. “It was just the lab calling with some DNA results I’d asked for.”

Bringing with it the possibility that at some point, someone had intentionally tried to remove Jacobs’s name from Michael’s case files, but why?

Tess frowned. “Please don’t tell me you have to go in to work, Mom.”

“No, sweetie. This is something I can deal with later.” She picked up Tess’s backpack off the porch and handed it to her, ignoring the tug pulling her back to her brother’s case. “Right now, I’m ready to take you on.”

“You’d better watch out, because this time I’m planning to win.”

Avery laughed, then laced her fingers with Jackson’s before heading to his car behind Tess. Maybe it was simple. Girl meets boy, girl falls in love, they get married and live happily ever after.

Maybe sometimes it really did happen.