Chapter Sixteen

One week

Rafael

Going over the week with my Commanders is always a high point for me. We’re able to do so much more than I ever expected when I took the job. With the Investigators, I'm learning more than the FBI training gave me. The mix of military and other agencies, opens up new ways of looking at information coming in. Using those agencies experiences and training keeps us all open to new ideas and gets the jobs done quickly. I have to say, Marine Intelligence has surprised me with their innovative approaches to collecting information from all sites including the dark web. Perez says they’re the best hackers he’s ever seen.

We’re getting to the requests for Ops, which Miguel’s team is on-cycle for this week. Waite puts the list on the hologram board and we all scroll down. It’s mostly routine roundups and recoveries scheduled with the local agencies.

“Are you taking it easy on me?” Miguel asks and Ford laughs.

I can’t help smiling. “As the Investigators close cases, we’ll add some Ops to your schedule. Then we have the emergency requests that sometimes happen two or three times a day. They're usually strike, bomb or recovery. We now have the ability to run two teams at once, with more requests coming in, that may happen sooner than we think.”

He nods but doesn’t say any more. “What team will pick up the overflow?” Wheeler asks.

“Porthos, for this week. We’ll run using our standard order. That gives the team coming off-cycle maintenance, training and downtime.” I say knowing Ford took Miguel’s on-cycle last week so he could train with his new team.

Ford is nodding. “The men like the downtime built into the schedule. We’ve had busy weeks and don’t realize how much action we see until we’re off-cycle. Maintenance and restocking hit us all, but it’s not like before.”

I nod. We’ve all had shitty jobs to do. “What do you mean like before?” Miguel asks.

Ford looks at me, I nod for him to explain. “The jobs are good, the men are happy with the results and we’re trained in ways that the other agencies can’t compete. The Commander makes them step the fuck back as soon as we hit the scene. That works with our specialties because we cover every position all on one team. We’re not shooting innocents and now we have the lasers. The men aren’t stressing over the jobs and we don’t need isolation or debriefing. It’s like what you thought of when you first made SEAL. You’re doing your job, but it’s without the mind fuck of killing everyone in your path to get it done.”

Wheeler is nodding and Miguel smiles. It’s a hell of a way to put it, but he’s right. Perez watches it all without a word. He’s never been military, so he won’t get it, but I see he takes it all in.

Since they’re not asking questions, I go on. “Waters has these jobs in Hogan’s Alley. She’ll run through them with Athos when you’re down there.” I wait for questions thinking these meetings are getting easier. I’m giving them time to respond to my orders and actually like that they’re saying what’s on their minds.

“Commander, we have DEA on the line. They’ll only talk to you,” Waite says smiling like it’s funny.

DEA is a new one. “Open it and step out, Waite.”

He loses the smile and spins to his computer. “Roger, Commander.”

A rough looking man shows in an office on the center screen. DEA is on the wall behind him with two workstations in what looks similar to our situation room.

“This is Commander Saber. The room will be clear of all but my On-Site Commanders in twenty seconds.”

The man nods and watches Waite leave. “Commander, I’m DEA Agent Todd Mitchell. We have an active investigation following smugglers in Pennsylvania. I have an undercover agent that relayed information about human trafficking from one of the drug lords we’re building a case against. We’ve got a tracking device on the truck but can’t find a fucking thing to tie ownership or employees to the piece of shit calling the shots. The truck just crossed into Connecticut from New York. Our guess is they’re running deep into Mass heading to a ship we’ve been tracking just north of the Canadian border. That ship is part of our case along with the Canadian governments’. We can’t blow cover on this side business and lose months of work we put into the case. This isn’t just a DEA bust. We’d look pretty fucking incompetent blowing it now.”

He’s explaining for a reason. The truck being stopped matters to him. I nod. “What are you requesting, Agent?”

He gives me an impatient look. “Stop the fucking truck. There are kids from six to sixteen on it. We don’t have a number, but approximate is fifty. We called DC and was given this number and told to speak directly to you. We can’t have that truck anywhere close to our investigation, but I can’t let them make that ship. If the Canadians don’t take the ship or something else gets fucked up, those kids are as good as dead.” He takes a breath and looks right at me. “These are American kids, we already have two identified from the missing kid's site. The truck has to be stopped and I need that to be done anonymously and quickly.”

I nod. “We can do that. I needed a formal request in order to schedule the Op. They should have told you that in DC. I need the information, so I can get a warrant.”

Perez touches my arm. “I just sent him the email.”

“The email should show on your screen now. We’ll run a strike and recover getting the kids on their way home today.”

His whole body loses the tenseness he’d been holding in. “You’re not FBI?”

I smile at that. “We run militarized Ops with Special Forces teams that are reassigned to the FBI. ”

Agent Mitchell tilts his head like he’s trying to understand that and Perez stands. “The information just came in. I’ll see what we have and get the warrant, Commander.”

I give him a nod. “Call in the Porthos team when you send for the warrant and have the choppers stocked with food, water and medic supplies. Get Waite on video checking for escorts.”

He slides his tablet closer to me showing Mitchell’s DEA profile. “Roger, Commander.” He walks out with his hand already typing on his tablet.

I look back at Mitchell. “Is there anything else Senior Sergeant Mitchell?”

He’s surprised but smiles. “You work quick. No, Commander, stopping the truck and avoiding international humiliation is all I have for today.”

Ford starts laughing and I give him a look. “Since you don’t want this touching DEA. We’ll send the report to the FBI Director listed as classified Ops. I’ll check to see if we can get the kids funneled through the closest FBI Field Office without the originating paperwork.” I hope that works for everyone. I need to ask Perez.

Mitchell nods. “However that works out for you as long as it doesn’t come back to me or have DEA listed on it. The paperwork has been wiped by us. There are State Trooper reports with verified identifications that should be enough to get your warrant.”

“Thank you, Agent Mitchell. Do you have anything else I need for this?” I need to see how we can legally get this done so these kids can get home.

“It’s all in the paperwork. I didn’t know you existed or I would have called sooner. Thanks to your team for taking this and getting the kids home, my agents will sleep easier tonight.”

I nod. “It’s what we do, Senior Sergeant Mitchell. Commander Saber out. ”

I lean over the console and close him down.

“Fuck, this will be bad. Do you want Rioux there?” Ford asks.

Another doctor on-site wouldn’t be bad. “Is he off today?”

“No, he’s running forensics training with Lecompte today.”

“Lecompte will be with her team. Let him know he’ll be needed,” I tell him thinking I need to see Perez.

“Take ten, Miguel, Wheeler. Ford, we’re done with the meeting. You’re free to go.” I start for the door, but Ford calls me back.

“Commander, I volunteer to help in Ops. You won’t need me in the mix on the ground, but I’d like to stay.”

I smile turning. Ford is a good guy. “Happy to have you.”

Perez is talking to Marks, Robinson and Keys. “Waite, we’ll be planning in ten,” I say. He nods closing the computer down, grabs his bag and walks out.

Perez watches him with a smile. “He’s pissed,” he tells me.

I see that. “I need a minute.”

He turns back to the intel analysts. “Keys, get the warrant and call in the Porthos team to assist. Robinson, you’re in the situation room when Ops is ready. Right now, I need you to get Springfield up to speed. Identification from New York State Troopers and the car following has a government plate, but it was just reported stolen. We’ll have medics on scene.”

He steps toward me and I move to the back. “Would it be better to transport to a medical facility?” These kids may need more than just our medics and three doctors.

He pulls up a map on the hologram and traces a route. “Assuming they’ll stay on the north, north-west route, we can stop the truck in this area.” He circles what looks like two rural towns. “There’s a small hospital right here that can handle the volume with our doctors helping.” He puts an x on the map and turns toward me. “Handle meaning it’s a hospital in the middle of nowhere that isn’t likely to have media coverage standing outside before we hand off to the Springfield Office.” He clears up one of my many concerns. “With the Troopers report, we have enough for the warrant. The media is going to demand answers after the fact. We can manipulate the perception with a stop for a BOLO on the plate and suspicion on the truck it’s following.”

That takes the DEA right out of it. Drops it in the FBI’s hands and clears us with the media. I like it. “Good job. For the reports?”

“Ops runs as if it’s a suspicious truck, government stolen plate on the car, an agent called it in. The Director will get the request and report as classified. We don’t have to send it anywhere else, the agent isn’t named. I’ll call the Director with a heads up when the kids are out and he can tell the media whatever he wants based on the report.” He knows my next question before I ask. “The drivers will go to Springfield. We transfer custody as usual.”

I smile. “Anything else I need here?”

“An hour and a half puts them in the middle of the two towns. There’s nothing out there but the hospital.”

“Get the map to the situation room. Good job, Perez.”

I’m getting used to his smile. “Waite gave me the map, so it’s already up. He’s pissed it’s kids.”

I shake my head walking away. Stopping short I turn back. “Any chance this is out to more than us?”

His eyes light up. “I don’t think so but wondered the same thing. It’s going to be interesting to find out.”

Jesus. That’s all we need. The MC deals with trafficking in the territory. I take a deep breath walking back to the situation room. We plan using what looks like the only turn off the main road just south of the hospital. Miguel and Wheeler call in their pilots and get them the plan.

As the teams board, I realize we haven’t had one request this morning besides the DEA. I’m hoping they hold off until after lunch.

Perez gets me transport vehicles dropped at the hospital. Wheeler’s team will bring them in once the drivers are in custody. Four agents from Springfield are on their way and we have the truck still on course.

I keep looking at the truck. It looks like a regular eighteen-wheeler with a freight box, but there are kids in there. Nothing would make me look twice if I passed it on the road.

Robinson and Keys come in with Springer. Ford is sitting at the table with his laptop open and ready.

“Commander, the choppers are three out.”

“Roger, Waite.”

“Robinson, keep video running for Athos on my center screen. Keys, Porthos on right and Waite, body cams on the left. When they’re both moving, run the bottom screens with body cams.”

I get rogers and watch the Porthos team drop and get to the vehicles.

Smith drops down letting half of Miguel’s team out then moves to the main road. Brooks hovers above the hospital. The truck is about a mile away from the turn-off. It seems to take forever for him to make that mile. A quarter mile out I’m ready.

“Now, Miguel.”

“Roger,” he says, then tells Smith to drop. His men line the road with the chopper hovering behind them. The truck slows taking the turn as we planned. The car speeds up and Miguel orders the Sniper to hit tires.

“Springer, get the FBI to the car. Wheeler, get Brooks behind the truck.”

“Roger, Commander.” Comes from both of them.

Miguel has Hobbs cuff the driver to his feet with an arm through the steering wheel. That’s one way to do it. Ford likes that by the smile on his face.

Leaving his breacher, he boards the chopper just as the truck slows in front of the rest of the team on the side road. I watch them shaking my head. The chopper moves in front of the truck with men standing on the rails. Miguel calls for the onboard guns to aim at the driver and I laugh. It’s a little overkill but effective. The driver jumps out and Miguel’s team closes in then cuffs him looking through the cab.

“Springer, get the driver picked up.” I get a roger and watch Miguel open the lock on the trailer. “Get the lights behind you before you open the door, Miguel.”

“Roger.” He calls for the lights and SWAT behind him then opens the door with his gun pointed in. “FBI! Drop to the floor!”

I can’t see what he sees with his body cam dark.

“Jesus, hermano. Stand down, men. Get the lights inside. Stay at the back until we get this recorded. Bande, Lecompte, Rioux, Mingo, Ferrier and Albright. Give me two then come in.”

We watch his body cam bouncing while he climbs up. It’s pitch black except for a triangle of light on the bare floor. When the lights move in, the Ops room takes in a breath. I swear we all do it together. Kids are on the floor, some are on air mattresses rolled in balls, some are leaning against the walls. Miguel walks in deeper and we see closer pictures of their faces and clothes. Some are crying softly, but none are moving.

“I need you to stay right where you are for a couple of minutes. We have doctors waiting to come in, but I need to make sure it’s safe for that to happen.” His voice is reassuring and gentle. I’m riveted to the screen watching all the faces and bodies as he moves down and around to the other side.

“Wheeler get water ready to be handed in.” It’s the only thing I can think of to do right now.

“Roger, Commander.”

Miguel keeps talking and finally gets to the end. There’s a pail that I’m guessing is for a toilet and gallon jugs against the back. He lifts a jug.

“Don’t drink it. That’s how they keep us all quiet,” a girl’s voice says warning him .

He turns to look at the girl laying spread eagle on the floor. “We’ve got some water for you. Can you all move to the sides so the doctors can come in?” They crawl on their hands and knees to the sides.

“Fuck,” Waite says softly.

Miguel seems to shake the scene in front of him off. “Medics! Wheeler, the water.”

We watch for the better part of an hour as the medics take care of the kids that are too weak to get water themselves. Bande has two boys that were beaten and Lecompte a large group of girls that are shying away from the men.

“Miguel, pull the women to transport for Lecompte and get them down one at a time to identify.” I get a roger and watch as he pulls his women to switch with two of Porthos to transport.

They start getting the kids that can walk out on their own down one by one. He has them give their name, address and phone number to the tablet recording.

“Springer, Robinson and Keys start making calls. Give the hospital location for pick up. Use FBI Springfield if they ask.”

I get rogers and look at Waite. “SAC Springfield, I need him up on my phone. Ford, keep watch and help where you can.”

Waite hands me my phone. “Video is up.”

I walk out just as the phone is ringing. I should have asked for a number, so I had time to think about what to say.

“This is Commander Saber. We’re making the calls to let parents know where to pick up their kids. A total of seventy-one. All drugged and most coherent. They’re being transported to the hospital now. We have a couple of injuries and quite a few rapes. Keep it in mind with the agents you send. Do you need anything else from me?”

“I just got the video, Commander. The Director already called in. He’s my contact for questions. Thanks for handling this one. I was told to wait for your call before my men move in. I only had the four agents in place. It will be at least half an hour before the rest of my men are on the scene. ”

The Director already called him? “It’s going to take some time to transport. That will work. I’ll have a list of parents contacted sent to you before we leave. Commander Saber out.”

Fuck. My hands hit my knees and I breathe. All the Ops I did, all the horrors I’ve seen and nothing comes even close to seeing those kids drugged, beaten down and knowing more than half were raped. I feel Perez close. “You already called the Director.”

“Yeah.” His voice is coming from beside me. “I sent him Miguel’s body cam video. This is worse than we expected. I thought we’d need help with Springfield.” The fucking guy is always a step ahead. Thank God.

“Yeah. I called thinking I needed to prepare him but had no fucking idea what I was supposed to say. I had Waite send the video to him. There’s no way I was going to describe it.” I stand straight and make myself go back in.Perez follows.

“I’m in, Ford,” I tell him and he moves back to his seat at the table.

He looks at me and I see the emotion on his face. “How do I help?”

Fuck. “I got the teams. See if Springer needs help with contacting the parents.”

He moves fast. Perez looks at me, but I watch the screen as kid after kid is held for the tablet giving their name and address. The little ones don’t know their basic information and I think of my kids. They’ll know it before they go to school. Fuck, I’ll put a chip in them, so they’re tracked with the information. I shake my head. They’re not even born and I’m a fucking psycho parent.

The ID and transport process takes almost an hour and I feel numb. The men were talking and feeding the kids granola bars and bags of chips. I could have used that as a distraction from the IDs.

“Teams Athos and Porthos readied for transport,” Miguel says pulling me back into Ops.

Waite gives me a thumbs up. “Transport is set, Miguel. Porthos from the hospital and you from the scene.”

“Roger, Commander. I’m fucking psyched, hermano. We got those kids going home tonight just like you said. Seventy-one are no longer missing.” I hear the excitement in his voice and finally feel some good run through me.

“You did, Miguel. Let Athos know their first job was probably the hardest and best we’ve seen yet. Good job, Commander.”

He laughs telling his men. They’re all cheering. Wheeler does the same and gets the same reaction.

I smile thinking it’s all in the perspective. “Springer, I need the list of parents contacted sent over to the SAC.”

She turns my way smiling. “Ford found the last two through recognition on the missing website. We’ll be finished in five minutes.”

Ford smiles at me as he says hello into his phone and I think he found a good way to help.

“Commander, we have a request from Connecticut.” Perez walks in handing me his tablet.

I’ve been waiting for this. I’m glad they held off until the kids were safe and accounted for.

* * *

Cassidy

Donna walks in and sits. I smile waiting for whatever this is about. Not that I mind the surprise, but it’s weird. “You haven’t talked to Mr. Yum yet have you?” she asks smiling back.

“No, he should be here in a few minutes. What’s up?”

“I’m your ride. He’s held up at the office. Dallas said he was still in Ops and asked for someone to transport you to the restaurant. May is meeting us with Harper at Giovetti’s. They had a good day apparently. ”

Okay. “Why doesn’t anyone ever call me?” You’d think my own sister would call.

Her hand waves and she’s standing up. “Why call when I’m here? Come on, they’re waiting for us.”

I pack my briefcase with the cases I have tomorrow and slide my shoes on. “I love the way the shoes look, but they’re killer to sit in for too long.”

She looks at my feet. “Oh, I love them! They look great with the skirt too. I need someone to blow up my stuff, so I can buy all new too. I feel like an old maid next to you.”

Seriously? “You’re kidding, right? You’re in aJeronala Metallic Pinstripe Suit.Jeronala doesn’t do old maid. They do power suits for expensive corporate lawyers.”

She laughs. “Maybe old maid doesn’t fit. Maybe I just want new clothes or a job that doesn’t need a power suit for expensive lawyers.”

Whoa, that’s not something I’ve heard in a while. “What’s going on, Donna?”

She hooks her arm in mine and walks out the door. “I’m not being considered for partner, again. I’m sick of the men only shit. I bring in more money than the jerks they’re considering. This time I had the balls to ask. I don’t fit the partner profile. Once I have kids and they see that I’m keeping up with my clients I may be considered.”

This is what Brent was talking about. Women having to choose work or kids. “That sucks. So, you have to wait until menopause before they’ll consider you?”

She shrugs, but she’s smiling. I wave to a grinning Parker. “I may already have a job. That’s why I’m picking you up. I was already here.”

Here? I stop. No way. Here? “Are you pranking me?”I look back at Parker, but he’s typing.

She pulls me onto the elevator. “No, I really did the paperwork. Parker says I’m the only lawyer that isn’t an ambulance chaser to fill out paperwork in the last month. ”

I crack up. I call her that all the time. “We need the help. I’m excited for you and us.” I hug her as the doors open and hear someone cough.

“I’ll wait.” An older cop that I’ve seen in court says.

We laugh going down. “Younger guys would jump right in wanting to watch.”

“I can’t believe you just said that. Damn, I’m going to have to tell him we’re not gay. How do you bring that up?”

She’s still laughing. “Let him think what he wants. It may stop everyone from hitting on you.”

There’s a thought. “Okay.” I put my arm through hers and we walk out.

The restaurant is packed. Harper’s team of shaved heads are here and cheer when we come in. They’re all excited and loud.

“What’s going on today?” This is a lot of excitement for a Monday. The bar was pretty quiet on Mondays.

“We can’t say, but Ops was fuckin’ awesome today.” Harper sits in the chair on the side of me but doesn’t look like she believes it was an awesome day.

“Turn it up!” Someone yells and the TV comes on blasting about a human trafficking story. The whole team is quiet and watching. Harper has tears in her eyes. I turn in time to see kids in a box. The way the faces are blurred, I can’t tell if some are dead. That’s awful. They’re on the floor and filthy. It switches to a hospital and we see FBI agents in the lobby. The next scene is an FBI spokesman talking about the kids. I watch Harper while he talks about the parents being contacted and kids returning home. As soon as the segment is over the table cheers hitting beer bottles with each other. They did this. Oh, my God, they did this!

I grab Harper’s hand. “Harper the great.” I hug her. She doesn’t let me go. It must have been bad. “Are they all alive?” I whisper.

“Yeah.” She lets me go and wipes her eyes .

“You got them home. I’m so proud, Harper. My sister saved all those kids from being sold,” I whisper and hug her again. I’m so proud of all these men and women but can’t tell them.

Appetizers are brought out, then dinners. Since we didn’t order, I thank the table for ordering for us and offer to pay.

“Commander Saber already paid. He ordered your food.” Mingo smiles my way.

Rafael must be proud. More than seventy kids.

“They’re amazing,” Donna whispers.

I laugh. “Superheroes. Mine is GI Joe.” They all laugh.

Rafael and Dallas come in just as we’re finishing and sit but they don’t say much. It’s weird to see the excitement and sadness altogether. Harper has been quiet the whole time.

I lean closer to Rafael. “I’m so proud of all of you. There’s a sadness that’s just under the excitement. Are they going to be okay?”

His beard slides to my ear causing a chill to run through me. “Mi vida, you’re too smart for my own good. They’ll be fine. It was a very good day, but sad to see the beginning of it. Porthos team was able to help. They’ll feel that as the initial shock wears off. Athos only sees the happy ending.”

That’s the good in today. I’m glad they have that. I kiss his neck. Athos and Porthos? “Do you have an Aramis?”

He laughs. “Fucking Ford and his Three Musketeers.”

The table cheers, “All for one and one for all!”

* * *

Rafael

I checked the office and saw Miguel in before we left the restaurant. I’m relieved and happy for his first day to be over. He was riding a high all day. The whole team was and it made the back to back Ops easier to get through. I haven’t had a minute to process those kids in my own head. Seeing Porthos together pushing through and smiling was good. They’re making it to the kids getting home. We saw an update of parents walking into the hospital and they were slapping backs and fist bumping. We did that.

Pulling in I feel better than I have all day. We did that. “Mi amor, mi vida. It’s good to be home.”

She turns her eyes on me and I smile back. “It is. I’m glad you got your smile back. I was getting worried, then I thought about it. Watching is a helpless position to be in.” She’s so fucking smart.

“Yeah.” I go around and open her door.

“You didn’t have to bring me to the restaurant tonight. I don’t have a problem with you being out with your team.”

I kiss the edge of her lips. “I didn’t think you would, Bella, but I thought Lecompte might need to see you.”

She smiles pulling me back and kissing my lips. “I thought that was your reason. Is there something I can help her with?”

Talking about Ops is never okay, I think about what I can say. She’s going to be my wife. I need to give her what I can and let her help where she can. “Can we talk about it upstairs?” I want, no, I need her eyes shining on me. We got them safe, I keep saying as she pulls me up the stairs.

At the couch, she pushes me down and sits on my lap, so she’s looking right at me. I need her just like this.

“More than half the kids were raped already. Lecompte kept a group of girls with her. Every time the cams had her in a shot, there were more girls sticking close to her. All I could do was watch as they assessed the kids. They were drugged, some lethargic, some crying, but none of them made much noise or moved around. When they were told they were going home, a murmur went through the group and that was the loudest noise I heard from them. One after another gave their names for ID, but not one kid smiled. I think the men were so happy to get them out of the trailer, but Lecompte never said more than what was wrong with the kids she saw. She didn’t yell once. I’m glad she didn’t because it would have scared the shit out of them, but it was odd to see her like that. I knew what she was feeling. I felt the same way. They needed so much more than we were giving them, but our job was done. Porthos and the women from Athos transported them to the hospital and we went on with our day. That was it. We were just done with them.” Fuck, that feels like shit.

She wipes her eyes. “That sucks.” She’s right. I nod because it does. “How many?”

“Seventy-one.”

She shakes her head and her face lights up. “Seventy-one kids will make it home because the Three Musketeers and my GI Joe saved them from being sold. I’m so damn proud of you, Rafael. They do need more than you gave them, but it’s not a more that you can give them. They needed the hospital staff, therapy and their parents. None of you can do that for them. What you did do was swoop in and change their and the families’ lives forever. Can you imagine what those parents felt? You gave them their kids back. I’m so damn proud of my new superhero family.” She giggles and I kiss her lips.

That’s what I needed. We did that. We got them home. “Thank you, mi vida. You’re right. We did our part for them and got them safe. That was our job, getting them safe. I saw it with Miguel. He was pumped. I didn’t really feel it like I do right now. Lecompte even looked lighter leaving tonight. Did you talk to her?”

She hugs me and lets out another little giggle. “Just to tell her I’m proud of her. She said she couldn’t talk about it, so I didn’t push her. It was obvious the men were happy the kids made it home. Harper will get what she needs from them. She’s seen terrible things that people should never have to see. Tomorrow she’ll be back to her cranky vulgar self.”

I smile thinking she’s right. “Thank you, baby.”

She sits up fast. “Life feels good right now, doesn’t it?” Mi sol has a gleam in her eyes.

“It does.”

“Let’s celebrate. I got chocolate in my cabinet. Your mom went shopping.” She’s up and off me in a heartbeat. I laugh following her thinking I wouldn’t mind some chocolate right now.