Alan took her into his arms. “So am I. Finding it helped me find you.”
A woman appeared at the edge of the Russells’ driveway and shouted at them from the gate, disrupting their moment. “Hey! Michelle! Alan! Have you seen Emily?”
Alan drew away and peered at their visitor askance. “That looks like Sarah.”
“It is Sarah.” Michelle efforted to her feet and waved their family friend in.
After fighting the gate open, Sarah hustled down the driveway in a swift-paced walk, falling short of a run in appearance, though not by speed. “That gate of yours is a rust-covered piece of shit,” she spat. “Either dispose of the damn thing, or leave it open.”
“Sounds like reasonable advice,” Michelle said. “Now what’s this about Emily?”
“She’s been missing all morning,” Sarah said, looking frantic. “Bryan and I have looked all over for her. We’ve checked all her hiding places inside the house and out. We can’t find her anywhere. She’s never done anything like this before, and I’m ready to lose my mind over it.”
Michelle tried consoling her. “Okay, okay, calm down. Let’s think this through.”
“What’s there to think through? My daughter is missing.”
“I know, I heard you. Can you think of anywhere she might be you haven’t checked?”
“No, Michelle. I told you, we’ve checked everywhere.”
“Everywhere but the thousand-acre wood, as it were,” Alan heckled.
“Don’t be a smart-ass, Alan. I know it’s hard, but now isn’t the time,” Sarah huffed. “She’s not playing hide-and-seek with Grace in the cabin, is she?”
Michelle shook her head. “No, Grace is sleeping.”
“And we’ve been gardening,” Alan added, displaying his soiled hands. “Want us to help look for her?”
Hair between her fingers, Sarah squeezed her head with both hands, her spirits wearing thin. “Yes…of course I do. I just hate asking…”
“It’s no problem,” Alan said, stepping from the garden into the yard, heading for the porch. “I’ll get a bag packed and do my part. Who else have you told?”
“No one,” Sarah said. “I haven’t had time. I’ve been too busy looking for Emily. I stopped by the Ackermann farm first since it’s the closest, but those doctors are so damn peculiar. I told them about Emily, and they just stood there and grinned at me like they were stuck on stupid. I told them ‘fuck you very much’ and came here. Then I was going to the Masons, followed by every house in the damn valley.” She exhaled and turned away. “Dammit, I-I don’t have time for this—I have to find her—I have to go.”
“Sarah, wait. I’ll go with you,” Michelle called, then sprinted to catch up. “Alan, take one of the radios with you before you go. Oh—and let Christian know what’s happening. If he can pry himself away from Grace, he can give us a hand. And be careful.”
“Will do.”
Chapter 17
George Washington National Forest
Shenandoah County, Virginia
Sunday, March 6th
Commotion external to his SUV rousing him, August awoke from a short but much-needed snooze. He yawned and looked to his side mirror in time to see one of the teams under his command returning in the early-morning light.
He poured himself from his vehicle and strolled lazily to the edge of the rear fender. Two agents, their faces concealed by black Nomex balaclavas, escorted a teenaged girl to the passenger side of the SUV parked behind his. Her wrists were bound behind her back, and a strip of duct tape had been placed over her mouth to keep her quiet.
Another agent fell in behind, guiding a duo of younger girls with long blond hair to the rear hatch of the SUV parked behind the second. The last masked agent, whose gait and mannerisms gave away his identity, marched with purpose to his vehicle. Another girl, smaller and younger than the others before her, rested fearfully in his arms, her miniature wrists bound by restraints almost too big for them.
August took note of everything he was seeing, along with every tear and ripped shred of clothing. All the girls were dirty and downtrodden. Some looked as though they’d been dragged through leaves and brush, and the younger ones sobbed and whimpered, unable to wipe their own tears away. He looked away, ashamed, unwilling to witness the looks on their faces.
The terms of this new operation were more than wearing on him. This hadn’t been what he’d signed up for, and in seeing what his mission was becoming, August was appalled with both himself and his task force, not to mention his department, his agency, and his government—everything and everyone involved in this despicable scandal.
After securing their prisoners, the agents went about removing their gear and preparing for departure. Agent Gil Norris soon made his approach, removing his helmet, headset and mask.
“Everything go as planned?” August queried, his tone bearing a hint of contempt.
Gil pursed his lips and sent a nod. “Yeah, successful. All good. Got in and got out without a single hitch. They…didn’t put up much of a fight, as you might imagine.”
August held back from expressing his true feelings on the matter, choosing this time to stick with cue card rhetoric. “Well done. HQ will be pleased as pie to hear that. How many did we…acquire?”
“Four in total, all girls, varying ages. Eldest is around fifteen or so, a little older than specified, but acceptable, nonetheless. Youngest looks to be about four, maybe five years of age.”
August looked disgusted. “Four or five?”
“That’s what I
