There’s a sudden commotion up ahead and down another corridor. I creep up and hide behind a pillar to see what’s going on. It’s then I see two men arguing. The thing that captures my attention more is their American accents.
“It’s all a big fuck up! Her family is looking for her. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The boss is going to be so fucking angry when I tell him the one person they thought was dead is here, in this fucking camp!”
“Don’t tell him. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” guy number two replies.
“I’d rather take my chances now, as opposed to him finding out further down the line. We have enough going on without this shit. That shipment better go out smoothly on Sunday.”
“It’s all under control. You worry too much.”
“I…” Guy number one seethes and shakes his head. “I’m the only one thinking clearly. Human trafficking is one thing here. They’re all women with no lives, but stealing and selling babies is another. The boss has lost his fucking mind, and it only takes one wrong move and it all collapses around us, and we go down with him.”
“You need to get laid, bro.”
“Fuck you! I need to make a call. I’ll catch you up.”
I hide behind the pillar, trying my hardest not to breathe or move a muscle, because this is the closest I’ve ever come to connecting some of the dots. Everything is usually kept hush hush, and that drives me up the wall more than being locked up in this building.
A little rise of energy spikes within me at the thought of someone looking for me. He had to be talking about me. Who else could he be talking about?
My family hasn’t given up looking for me. It’s one thing hoping and praying every goddamn day that someone believes you’re still alive, but knowing it is another thing entirely. It gives me the biggest burst of encouragement.
I look over to the room guy number one went into. Bingo. It’s the office that’s always locked. Think, Shay. Think. I close my eyes and take in a deep breath.
I need a diversion. I look off to a few rooms and spot the one I need. The woman in room two speaks perfect English. She had her baby taken away from her on my first walk around. She’s still here after all this time because she’s not speaking and refusing to do anything the guards want. I’ve promised to do all I can to help her. Maybe this is the chance I’ve been looking for.
I hobble into her room and hold my finger over my lips to keep her quiet. I need her to listen if my plan is going to work. I know she can understand because I’m the only one she talks to.
“I need your help. Can you help me?”
She nods weakly; the look of fear on her face is heart-breaking. It kills me every day, seeing innocent women going through this shit. No woman should endure this pain and heartache at the hands of others. I try my hardest to connect with them, show them that I’m just like them in some way, but it doesn’t work.
“I need you to make a diversion. Do you understand? Make a noise. Loud enough to get a man in here so I can try to use the phone. Do you understand?”
“You get us help?”
I smile weakly. “I hope so.”
“Yes. When?”
“Wait for my nod.”
I limp back out of her room and take my place behind the pillar. I leave her door open so I can carry out my plan. I give her the nod and wait for her to do whatever she needs to do.
Suddenly, she starts screaming, banging her head and hands off the wall. She looks like a crazy woman. This stupid mission I’m embarking on could be a death trap, but I won’t know unless I try. I need to try.
As planned, the office door opens and gets left wide to the world. Keir comes running, and so does the man. When they’re in the woman’s room, I quickly make my way into the office and look around. The computer will take too long. I practically run to the phone and dial the one number I’ve never forgotten. I have no idea if it will work since I’m out of the States, but I’m hoping and praying with the right codes the number will connect without alerting anyone.
A few rings and I’m losing hope that anyone will answer.
“Come on,” I growl down the line.
“Hello.”
“Clay!” I whisper shout, watching the doorway closely.
Silence surrounds me and I think no one hears me.
“You need to hear me, Clay,” I cry.
Please hear me. Please answer me.
“Shay. Is that really you?”
“Yes. I have no time. I need your help. I’m locked up. I can’t get home. It’s bad,” I ramble, hoping he can piece together what I’m saying.
“Where are you, babe?”
“I’m still in Iraq. Please, Clay. I need you.”
“Give me anything you can, Shay. I will get you. I promise. We’ve been looking for you but hitting brick walls every time.”
“I don’t know anything. Josh, he’s here somewhere, but I haven’t seen him for months. I need to go; I shouldn’t be in this office.”
“Wait!” he yells. “Are you hurt?”
Hot tears roll down my cheeks and I wipe them away frantically. “I am, but I’ll live. Just…” a sob catches in my throat and I tighten my hand on the phone.
“Shay. I’ll get you out of there, babe. I love you.”
“What the fuck!” A gruff voice reverberates around the room and I jump out of my skin.
The phone is dragged out of my hand and I’m pushed flying to the ground. My leg burns and my back aches. I was too fucking slow. That one moment of taking my eye off the door is probably going to cost me my life.
“You stupid bitch!” The man towering over me slaps my face and I cover it with my hand. “Did you really think you’d get away with using the phone without us knowing?”
“Please. I didn’t say anything about where I was. I just needed my mom and dad to know I was still alive.”
I try anything to pacify the man in front of me, but clearly, nothing is going to work. He drags me to my feet and pulls me down the hallway. Keir is coming out of room two as we pass, and he follows us.
“This bitch will never see light of day again. Lock her up!” yells the bastard dragging me.
Lock me up? Where the fuck are they putting me? I’ve been locked up for months.
I hear a set of keys jingling and a large door is scraped along the ground. I’m tossed into a cold, damp room and the door is closed behind me, leaving me in a dark enclosed space. I can’t even see my hand in front of me. It’s at that moment I realize I did the wrong thing. I’ve given my family hope that I’m alive, but now I’m going to be killed.
“I love you, Clay,” I sob.
Chapter 11
Clay
“Shay. I’ll get you out of there, babe. I love you.”
I wait to hear her words back, but instead, I hear her screaming and the phone being slammed down.
“Shay!” I scream into my cell.
“Clay. What the fuck?” asks Caleb.
I’m looking at my cell like it’s about to blow up. I can’t get my brain and mouth to work together. It’s like they’re disconnected.
“Clay! Talk to us.” Caleb punches my arm, and somewhere between him yelling at me and punching me, I shake out of my trance and come back to here and now.