Chapter Twenty Nine
Ivan’s men drove them to his estate. Everyone greeted their leader and his guests. The man appeared like royalty as he stopped to ask about a family member, offer advice, or give a hug.
He escorted them into a lush dining room. The table was laden with breakfast food, hot coffee, fresh pastries, and tea.
The flight took twenty hours plus fueling stops. Jameson finally felt good enough to sit at the table and chew soft foods. They went over everything Jameson discovered. He only grew quiet when they discussed Caroline.
Rebecca recalled the flight to New York before her kidnapping. Something bothered her enough that she placed the information on a flash drive and hid it. If she only recalled what caught her attention.
“When will we meet this agent?” Julio asked, anxious to return home and find Megan.
“He’ll be delivered in a couple of hours,” Ivan assured him.
“After we eat, you can freshen up and meet with him. Once you’ve made your decision on what to do with him, then I’ll head back to Serenity.
I’ll leave the bigger jet for you,” he informed them.
“I’ve instructed my pilot to take you wherever you want to go. ”
“Thank you, Ivan. For everything,” Rebecca said as she poured a cup of coffee, added sugar, and savored it.
“You’re welcome. I hope you’ll visit here in the summer. This year, the Serenity Mountain family will visit here. Victoria and I alternate between Ireland and Russia. I’m excited to bring all the grandchildren,” he said, glowing with pride.
“I appreciate the offer and one day, we’ll take you up on it. Right now, we have to get our lives together and send some people to hell,” Julio said casually.
Rebecca glanced at the usually gentle man. Her kidnapping changed him as much as her.
When they finished breakfast, Ivan’s man took them to an opulent bedroom with a large bathroom. Rebecca turned to Julio, her mouth agape.
“It’s like living in a castle,” she said. “My entire apartment will fit in the bathroom alone.”
“It can’t be too impressive,” Julio said as he entered the room. “Ivan lives in the woods in a three-bedroom cabin. He’s very happy there with Victoria, and they adopted a boy named Nick. He has a brother José’s age and they joined the Navy together.”
“I’ve missed so much,” Rebecca said sadly.
“We’ll make up for it,” Julio assured her. “Why don’t you take a shower first?”
Rebecca took her bag and opened it. Inside, she pulled out a blanket with yellow roses crocheted on it. She opened the letter attached to it.
Rebecca,
Julio told me your favorite color, and I thought this fit you.
I picked the white blanket, and Delaney helped me add the flowers.
If you’re not sure of the origin of the yellow rose of Texas, it refers to Emily West, an indentured servant who distracted General Santa Anna, helping the Texans win their independence.
We’ve heard the stories of how you distracted guards to keep the women from getting punished, how you protected them, and it’s only fitting you have a blanket to remind you of how you helped them gain their independence.
P.S. You’re not a victim. You’re a survivor.
Now, go kick some ass and return home. You’re needed here. —Rachel.
Tears fell as she held the soft material to her chest. They all considered her a hero, yet she slept peacefully for the first time on a plane with Julio’s arms around her.
His constant presence made her feel like she’d somehow cope with the last year and come out on the other side.
She gently folded the blanket and placed it in her bag.
Rachel’s note gave her the courage to face a rogue agent and bring him to justice for all the harm he caused.
When they showered and dressed, a man returned to retrieve their luggage and return it to the plane. They needed to finish this in New York before returning home.
Ivan led them down a long staircase and knocked on a heavy door. It opened and he entered first, followed by Julio and her.
The dim light barely let them see the prisoner sitting in a chair. Ivan motioned for the lights and the room instantly brightened. Rebecca gasped and jumped back as she recognized the agent glaring at her.
“What’s the matter?” Julio said, shielding her view of the man.
“He’s…he’s my ex-partner, Warren Harrison,” she said, shaking.
“He’s not the man I met in your apartment,” Julio said, glancing back. “In Afghanistan, he introduced himself as Agent Keenes.”
Rebecca paused, “I haven’t seen Harrison since the night after he betrayed me.”
“Because we captured him in Afghanistan when we rescued Avie,” Ivan explained.
Ivan removed the cloth from the prisoner’s mouth. “You have guests.”
Harrison laughed as he watched Rebecca tremble. The room grew smaller with every breath she took. Her mind flashed back to the memory of two men holding her down while the man she trusted to have her six raped her.
Julio pulled her from the room, making Harrison laugh almost manically. His thumb caressed her cheek as he calmed her down. “You don’t have to go back in there,” he told her.
“Yes…yes, I do. If I don’t, I’ll never be free of him,” she murmured.
“What do you mean?” Julio asked, his voice carried an edge.
Tears spilled from her cheeks as she leaned closer and whispered the details in his ear.
Julio pulled her close and held her tight. “Don’t go in there,” he said. “We’ll have Ivan fly him back separately. It’s the only way I won’t kill him with my bare hands.”
Rebecca straightened. “If I don’t, he wins.”
Julio stared at her a minute before finally relenting. Her chin went up and she entered the room. Ivan leaned against a wall, cleaning a knife. Harrison sat in a chair and she doubted he noticed the drain beneath him.
“How did you finally find me?” he asked. “Did your friends tell you how they broke all kinds of international laws by taking me?”
“Pot meet kettle. Do you think I came here for you?” she asked.
Harrison’s face dropped. “Didn’t you come to make me pay? Surely you don’t plan to leave me here in this hellhole. You always do things by the book, Rebecca. You never stray from the lines.”
“I want to know who assigned you to me,” she demanded.
“What’s in it for me?” he asked.
Rebecca smiled and glanced downward to the floor. “If you won’t tell me, things might get a bit messy.”
Harrison huffed. “I’m an American citizen. You can’t do anything to me. I’ll report you. Even if they can’t find this place, it’ll always taint your record.”
Rebecca took another step closer and Julio growled, barely able to contain himself. Ivan, sensing his conflict, approached him.
“Let Rebecca do what she needs to do. When she’s finished, then you can do what you must.”
Rebecca placed her phone on the table and hit record. “Warren Harrison, I place you under arrest for international sex trafficking, raping me, and the murder of five CIA agents.”
Harrison laughed. “You can’t prove any of it, Rebecca. It’s your word against mine.”
“Not exactly,” she said, moving closer to him. “We found some of your victims and they’re willing to testify against you. I’m sure the CIA will want to know why you flew to Afghanistan and used the alias, Agent Keenes. They might suspect you’re working as a double agent.”
“You’re lying. Hassan promised to bring you to Afghanistan. I didn’t take you,” he said, acting innocent.
“Hassan has ties to two sex trafficking rings, which transport the women from ports such as Seattle in shipping containers. You aided him in crossing the border into Vermont and entering the United States with his cousin Rahimi. Someone higher up helped you. I want the person’s name,” Rebecca demanded.
Harrison realized she pieced together most of his crimes and the smile vanished from his face.
“He’ll have me killed. What assurances will you offer? I want a plea deal and top security,” he negotiated.
“It’s not up to me to offer you any deals. I’m leaving for New York and will pass the request along. You know how this will work. They’ll want a name. If you can’t provide me with one, they won’t give it any consideration.”
Harrison’s mouth firmed as he debated whether to tell her.
Ivan motioned for her to pause her phone. “Maybe he needs an incentive,” he said, bringing the blade close to Harrison’s ear. The man struggled against his bindings as Ivan sliced his ear. Blood poured down Harrison’s neck, making him scream.
“You can’t do this. I’m an American citizen,” he shouted.
“I need a name, Harrison. Once you compose yourself, I want you to tell me who ordered the hits.”
“Go to hell, you bitch,” Harrison snarled. “I’ve survived this place and when they toss me into my room, I think about you. How you cried out for me to stop. You begged and pleaded for me not to leave you with those men.”
Julio growled and went for his throat. Ivan and two of his men pulled Julio off him. Harrison choked and coughed as the men subdued his attacker.
“Fine. Then you can stay as a guest here and we’ll see if your tune changes in a few months. I still have the flash drive. I’m not sure how you knew it existed.”
“Because we have cameras in your apartment. You came home and then returned to the office. I sent the tech guy to retrieve it after searching your bag. You didn’t bring it to work, and I suspected you left it there.”
Rebecca recalled how he spoke with a man she didn’t recognize when they went to talk with Rich and Dan.
“He didn’t find it,” she said quietly. “That’s why you sent someone else, but Julio messed up your plans.
Did your man shoot two of our team members to cover your tracks?
I forgot to add Mrs. Jackson to your death total.
You confessed to me about killing her after blackmailing Director Jackson.
You used AI to convince him to cooperate.
He was the director of operations. The order came from above.
Director Stills answered my call and knew the location,” she said, recalling their conversation.
Harrison’s eyes grew wide when he realized she guessed correctly.
“You have to provide me with security. I can give you all the information and the names of the Senators and the Congressman involved. I’ll give you the judge’s name, too. Director Stills coerced someone in the Canadian government to help Rahimi cross the border,” Harrison rambled.
“Give me all the names first. You raped me and left me there with those men. I’m not going out on a limb for you without knowing how far up the chain this goes.”
Harrison nodded. “I’ll need a piece of paper and a pen.”
“No. I want you to tell me now. Who are they, their titles, and what did they do for Rahimi, Hassan, or the sex trafficking rings? I want the names of the ring leaders, too.”
Forty-five minutes later, Rebecca shut off her phone.
Harrison gave her the information she needed to bring down one of the biggest international sex trafficking rings in existence.
Instead of feeling happy, her body felt heavy.
She believed in the law and the people who upheld it, only to find how many of them let her down.
“What do you want me to do with him?” Ivan asked.
“I gave you everything. Take me back to the States and protect me,” Harrison demanded.
Something clicked inside of her. Harrison didn’t repent his sins for raping her or any of the others.
He showed no remorse for anything. The lawmakers involved would get a high-priced lawyer and a publicist, saying Harrison went rogue and tried to save himself.
His punishment meant high security and possibly a relocation from prison to a fortified home. He deserved to pay for all his crimes.
“He doesn’t care how many people he hurts,” she told Julio. “He’ll never pay for the lives he took or the damage he’s caused. How can I ask for protection when he deserves nothing?”
“Sometimes people only learn by going through the same experiences they put people through. I know of a questionable prostitution ring that will take him in a heartbeat. He’ll know the pain he caused those children.
He’ll feel what he did to those women and men.
Eventually, he’ll know what it feels like to plead for his life when it falls on deaf ears.
Then, finally, he’ll go to hell on his own,” Ivan offered.
Harrison laughed. “Don’t try to scare me. They work for the government. They took an oath to protect me. Rebecca will never cross that line.”
She leaned across the table and stared at him until his laughter died. “I watched Jim struggle as I held a hot poker to his face, stomach, and dick before I shot him. Did you forget, Harrison? I’m missing. Ivan invited me here as his guest.”
Rebecca turned to Ivan. “I never want to hear his name again, but I want assurances he’ll never escape his new job.”
Ivan nodded to his men, who untied him and held him as he struggled. “You have to take me back, Rebecca. You owe me,” he shouted.
Rebecca stopped in her tracks. “I’m paying you with all the pain you’ve caused these innocent people, for the lives you stole, and for those you’ve killed. I’ll never lay eyes on you again, but I hope you remember me for the rest of your days.” Rebecca said, walking out of the room.
“Please, please don’t do this. You’re an FBI agent,” he said, turning to Julio. You can’t let them take me,” Harrison pleaded.
Julio grinned as he approached him and whispered. “I’m no longer an FBI agent. I quit because of assholes like you. I do, however, wish you a long life.” Ivan’s men let go, and Julio’s fist struck him in the stomach. Harrison bowled over, crying in pain.
“Get used to it fucker, it’s only the beginning,” Julio said as he strode out the door.