Chapter 18
Nikki followed behind Gideon as they crept closer to the building beside the main house. As much as she made out like she was confident about putting her life at risk, it was all for show. Or maybe it was an attempt to bolster what she believed was in him so he could do what she was too afraid to do.
He stopped, and she put her hand on his back to keep from bumping into him. She let it linger as he shifted, and she could feel the movement of muscle under his shirt. He may not be in special forces, but he was built like he was. She drew her hand back, frustrated at how much she’d grown attached to him. When she’d asked God for help, she should have specified that it shouldn’t be someone she’d be attracted to.
“You’re sure this is the building?” he whispered.
She hated how much she wanted to draw close to him. “Yeah, that’s the one. I’m positive.”
“We’re lucky there aren’t any guards around.”
“Fairfax has never needed them before now. ”
“Lucky for us. We’ll arc around the outside so I can get a better idea of the best way to gain entry. There are others inside?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you expect any trouble?”
“She said there are seven bunks. Full. But they’re all her friends.”
“You’ve met them?”
“No, but I believe her.”
“You better hope and pray she was telling the truth.”
“You think I’ve stopped praying?”
She was sure he gave her a look, but it was too dark to see.
When they circled around to the other side, they found an open window.
“Let me go in,” Nikki said.
Gideon started to protest but must have understood that it was their best move, because he nodded before he spoke. “Be careful. And stay near the window so you can get out quickly if you need to.”
He knelt in the dirt so she could use his knee to hoist herself up.
She slid through easily and looked around the room. Someone was snoring to her left.
She neared the closest bed, trying to see a face, but it was too dark. If she was going to find Isabel, she’d have to risk waking the others.
Her heart was racing. Please don’t let anyone scream.
“Isabel,” she whispered, hoping that a woman’s voice and also using a familiar name would keep anyone from raising the alarm. “Isabel, are you in here? ”
“Nikki?” a voice answered from across the room, first confused, then panicked. “Nikki, what are you doing here?” What looked like a ghost rose from a bed in the far corner, and Isabel hurried closer, her white nightgown glowing in the dim light. She took Nikki’s hands in hers. “You have to leave now. Why did you come?”
Nikki looked around the room and saw most of the women were sitting up now, but no one made a sound. “I’m taking you away from here. Get your things.”
“What’s going on?” said a woman on the top bunk beside her. She slid her legs over the side of the bed and jumped to the floor with a thud. “Who are you?”
“I’m a friend,” Nikki said.
“Friend? You’re risking all of our lives being here. A friend wouldn’t do that.”
“It’s okay, Camila,” Isabel said. “She’s only trying to help. She knows what happened.”
“I’ll go,” Nikki said. “But I’m not leaving without Isabel. She’s in too much danger. You must know that.”
Camila pressed a fist onto her hip. “If he finds?—”
Someone banged on the door. “Coming in!” a voice boomed. “Better make sure you’re decent. Wouldn’t mind if you’re not.” A crude laugh followed.
“Quickly. Hide,” Camila said as she hauled herself back into her bed. To Isabel, she said, “To your bed. Now.”
Isabel sprinted silently across the room as Nikki ducked under the closest bed.
The door opened, and Camila sat up. “What’s going on? We’re sleeping. Mr. Fairfax will hear about this. ”
“He’s the one who sent me.” From Nikki’s position under the bed, she could see the silhouette of the man’s legs in the door. He took several lazy steps inside, his boots scuffing on the floor. “He wants Isabel.”
“She’s sick,” Camila said.
“From what?”
“I have no idea. I’m not a doctor. Tell Mr. Fairfax that she’s been throwing up. We’ve cleaned her up, but unless he wants to deal with more vomit, he should let her rest tonight.”
The man sighed. “Fine. Whatever.”
Once the door closed again, Nikki rested her forehead on her hands and breathed again. “Thank you, God,” she whispered before scooting out from under the bed. “Thank you for doing that,” she said to Camila, who still sat on her bed, watching the door.
“I didn’t do it for you.”
“I know, but I’m still grateful.”
Camila grunted, then climbed down and went to Isabel’s bed, pulling a box from underneath. “Isabel, you should go.”
“I can’t,” she said as Camila pulled a pile of clothes from the box and rested them in her arms. “I can’t go. When they find out I’m gone, you’ll all suffer for it.”
“We’ll say you snuck out in the night. We knew nothing about it.”
“You know that won’t matter. He’ll be furious.”
“After what he did to you, I’ll take my chances. You’re getting the opportunity we have all dreamed of. Go. ”
“Is everyone here willing to go along with that plan?” Nikki said. “It will only work if no one tells.”
Camila turned on her. “You want to argue with me about it now?”
“I’m sorry, I?—”
“The only reason I’m trusting her with you is because I trust Fairfax less than anyone else. If Isabel is going to survive, she needs to get away from this place.”
“If there’s anything we can do to help the rest of you, we will,” Nikki said. “We’ll do what we can.”
Camila shook her head in defiance. She didn’t expect any favors to come her way. “Go.” She pushed Isabel toward the window. “I will find some happiness knowing one of us got away.”
Isabel embraced her friend. “Thank you.”
Nikki led the way back to the window, and the two women climbed out.
Isabel scrambled behind Nikki when she saw Gideon.
“He’s a friend,” Nikki said. “He’s the reason we could save you. Quickly, we have to get you to of here.”
Isabel took one last look at the building, then took Nikki’s hand as they raced for the cover of the trees.
“Stay put for a second,” Gideon said when they were safe. “I want to make sure we’re clear.”
“He’ll hurt them,” Isabel said softly. “Even if they say they don’t know anything about it.”
“Why?” Nikki said.
“Because he’s cruel, and because he knows that they would help me if given the opportunity. He knows the good in their hearts, and he doesn’t like it. ”
“What will he do?” Gideon asked.
“Beat them.”
“Do you think he’d kill anyone?”
She shrugged. “I don’t think he has before, but the beatings have always been enough.” She wiped her hand under her nose as she sniffed back tears. “I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?” Nikki said, putting an arm around her when Gideon indicated it was safe to return to the truck.
“I thought he was a good man, but Camila knew. She told me, and I didn’t want to believe her. She’s been there a long time and warned me when he began paying attention to me. I should never have encouraged Edward.”
“Do you think it would have made a difference?”
“Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten pregnant if I hadn’t wanted to so badly.”
“That’s not how it works,” Gideon said, and Nikki shoved him. “What? I’m trying to say it’s not her fault.”
“But it is my fault,” Isabel said. “Everything that happened to me and everything that will happen to my friends.”
“No,” Gideon said. “Fairfax has to take responsibility for his actions, not you.”
“Gideon’s right,” Nikki said. “You have to think about a fresh start.”
“How? Where can I go? Edward was right. I may be safe from him, but I could still end up in prison or worse.”
“We’ll figure out something. I promise. ”
When they reached the truck Nikki had parked behind, Gideon said, “I guess this is where we part. You going to take her to your house?”
“I’m not sure. That could be the first place he looks.”
“But he won’t have a warrant.”
“You think that will stop him?”
“Well, I can’t take her home with me.” Gideon looked into the trees behind them.
“Did you hear something?” Nikki said, pushing Isabel behind her.
“No. I’m being thorough.”
“Oh. There’s a room at the back of the church. She can stay there for a little while. If Fairfax doesn’t respond in any way, then maybe I can bring her back to my house.”
“I’m sorry I’ve brought so much trouble to you,” Isabel said.
“No,” Nikki said. “It will all turn out okay. I promise.”
“I know you’re worried about law enforcement,” Gideon said. “But after what you’ve told us, Isabel, I think we’re going to have to call Immigration.”
“You can’t,” Isabel said. “Please.”
“They can help. The way Fairfax is treating everyone is wrong. This goes beyond him employing illegal immigrants. He needs to be stopped.”
“Please think about what you’re doing. That would put everyone in more danger.”
“It won’t. There are laws against him doing what he’s doing. ”
“And there are laws against Camila and the others being in the country. They can’t go home. Please. They already risked so much.”
“I’m open to suggestions.”
“Maybe this was a mistake.” Isabel put her face in her hands.
“No,” Nikki said. “It wasn’t a mistake. Gideon won’t call Immigration. We’ll figure out something else.” Gideon looked at her sideways, and she gave him a silent plea. Surely God had another way. “There’s a way,” Nikki continued. “There’s always a way. I know God has a plan.”
“I hope you’re right,” Isabel said.
“He’s been doing a lot in town lately. I know this is part of it. He wants to help you like He wants to help everyone else. We need to sit tight and wait for Him to move.”
“You want to wait?” Gideon said.
“For now, yeah. We got rid of the totems, and stuff happened. We’ve saved Isabel, and more stuff will happen.”
She knew what Gideon was thinking by the way he looked at her. A reminder that it wasn’t all good stuff that had come out of their actions. There would be more consequences. Those women would pay a price. Nikki hadn’t thought of that before. She hadn’t thought of much beyond her desperation to get her friend safe. Even with all the people returning to the church, she still felt a deepening sense of dread that worse was coming. The vultures were circling, waiting for them to slip up or take a break .
“It will be okay.” Her words were void of any feeling.
“I’ll follow you to the church,” Gideon said.
“Are you sure that’s necessary?”
“It’s not about necessary. It will make me feel better.”
“Okay, but Fairfax won’t know anything is wrong until tomorrow at the earliest. We have a small window of reprieve.”
“Good. Then hopefully we’ll all get a good night's sleep tonight. Maybe things will look better in the morning.”
“I’m sure they will,” Nikki said, staring into the darkness. Things would be different tomorrow, but she couldn’t be sure anymore that it was for the better.