“Thank you for not telling me it would be like it never happened.” Valerie grimaced. “The paralegal they had prepare me for today said that to me, and I almost lost it. He didn’t mean anything by it, but it still hurt.” Gazing out the window, her breath shuddered when she finally let it out. “Nothing will ever be the same again. Ben is gone, Fink stole two years of my life I can never get back, and it’s going to be a cold day in Hell before I ever go into a basement willingly.”
“I know the feeling.” And she did. The bits and pieces she remembered from her kidnapping were still scattered, but there was enough to infiltrate into almost every facet of her life. Her own experience had been traumatizing, but Valerie didn’t have the benefit of forgetting all she’d been through. Ellie wouldn’t dare diminish her pain, even under the guise of trying to make her feel better. “A fresh start will do you good, you’ll see. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to miss you.”
Valerie’s sudden hug startled Ellie, who had to blink back tears. Valerie sniffed, letting Ellie go almost as quickly as she’d embraced her. “I will never be able to repay you for what you did. If you hadn’t followed your gut and come after me, I’d be dead.”
In the front seat, one of the men cleared his throat, but Ellie made no comment. She wasn’t about to call attention to the thick sound coming from Flynn’s throat, giving away the raw emotions he was trying to conceal.
When the courthouse came into view, Valerie stiffened. Her hand shot out and grabbed Ellie’s, squeezing so tight she winced. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“You can.”
“Stay with me, please.”
Ellie used her free hand to hold up the ID tag hanging from a lanyard around her neck. “I’m already cleared, and I’m armed.” Gesturing to the two men in the front seat, she offered what she hoped was a calming smile. “They’re armed too. Jacob and Duke will be there, and Agent Lockwood and his team will be on hand. You’ll be surrounded by people who would die to protect you. No one is crossing that line.”
Lips tight and eyes watery, Valerie nodded. “Okay.”
“You’ve got this.”
“I wish I was as strong as you.”
You’re stronger, Ellie thought, but she didn’t give voice to her feelings. Valerie was clearly overwhelmed, and any little thing could have her clamming up. The information Valerie possessed was vital to their mission. She was one of the few who had been inside and lived to tell about it.
The cases of Ellora Rice, Anderson Duncan, and Joshua Gibson were wrapped up, only waiting for the doctor to be found so they could be closed. The doctor’s escape weighed heavily on everyone, but all they could do was keep their guard up and their feelers out. But at least there had been closure for one family.
Constantino’s body had been found and logged as a John Doe. With Gabe’s information, the police department in Detroit was able to identify him and release his body to his family. Never a wanted outcome, but sometimes not knowing what happened to a loved one was worse.
Flynn’s gruff voice interrupted them. “We’re here.” He guided the SUV down a ramp, flashing his credentials to the guard at the gate. He waved Flynn through, the wheels of the heavy iron fencing creaking under its weight. It closed behind them with a heavy thud that echoed through the parking garage.
Another guard waited for them at the elevator, checking the interior before letting them on. Flynn and Zeke stood in front of the doors as they slid closed, with Valerie behind them. Ellie brought up the rear, one hand on Valerie’s belt, ready to pull her out of the way if they were ambushed when exiting.
If she hadn’t been so close, she would’ve missed Valerie’s hand reaching out, fingers wrapping around Flynn’s. Motionless, gun in his right hand, Flynn stroked Valerie’s knuckles with his thumb, and gave a gentle squeeze. Right before her eyes, Valerie’s shoulders sagged with relief, and she stood a little straighter.
Ellie was glad no one could see the smile that spread across her face in the back of the cramped elevator. There was hope in that touch, and a sense that someday things would be normal. Except Flynn wouldn’t be going into WITSEC with Valerie. There were specific rules about who counted as family members, and Flynn didn’t fit the parameters. Valerie was going into this alone, and nothing Ellie could say would make what she was about to face any less scary.
Special Agent Clay Lockwood waited for them when the elevator reached the second floor. “The courtroom is clear.” He leveled his brilliant smile on Valerie. “You’re safe here. No one is going to hurt you.”
She nodded, and like a well-oiled machine, the four of them fell into step around Valerie.
The courtroom was empty except for the court reporter, judge, prosecutor, and a handful of support staff. A large camera, much like the ones Ellie had seen news crews lug around, stood on a tripod a few feet from the witness stand.
Shoulders straight and eyes locked on the chair, Valerie climbed up the steps and sat down.
She listened carefully as the judge walked her through what was expected of her before the prosecutor stepped in with his slick smile, leaning on the edge of the witness stand to show Valerie just how relaxed the whole thing was. His attempt to put her at ease fell flat, but Valerie was calm and professional, clearly ready to get this over
