Chapter 28—Jade

Raine and Hope stayed at our house again last night. I feel better with them here. I don’t worry so much. Raine seems more confident and positive now that he’s on a mission. It’s like a switch flipped in his brain that turned him into this determined alpha male. I like it, a lot. He’s decisive and takes the lead. I imagine this is what he was like when him and Hope escaped. He’s up early this morning searching the internet for chatter at the kitchen table. His eyes are quickly scanning the screen. I see his jaw tense up. “What is it?” He looks nervous. “It’s one of the reply’s on here. It’s just one word. California.” I look at the screen. The username is anonymous. No other information. Just “California”. I look at Raine. He’s stoic, resigned. “It’s time to fight.” He tells me.

Then he’s just a flash of movement. He closes the laptop and runs to the guest room to grabs Hope. He tells her they need to head to the police station right away. He collects the box of papers from his grandfather and all the things they have printed up. Dad comes out of his own room looking sleepy. “What’s going on?” he asks concerned. “He knows we are in California.” Raine tells him. Dad runs back to his room to get ready. I do the same. We take two cars over to the police station. Dad is on the phone with Detective Bennett. “The time line has just changed. He knows they are in California. Yes…we are on our way…they are bringing everything.” I'm wringing my hands in my lap. Dad’s hands are fisting the steering wheel with white knuckles. I feel nauseous.

At the station we are escorted into a plain room with a big table. They bring in enough chairs for all of us. The room is bare and bleak. It must be one of their interrogation rooms. Detective Bennett is at the head of the table with another man he calls Grayson. He introduces him as his partner and tells us that he has been brought up to speed. This man is older than Detective Bennett. Maybe in his 50’s. He has sympathetic eyes. I feel like I can trust him. They have the map spread out on the table. Hope and Raine are with the sketch artist right now. The spot Raine suspects is the compound is circled in red. Bennett tells us that they have been trying to get the I.P. address of the computer Ezekiel is using. They are hoping to pinpoint his location. The chat he started is really all they have to go on right now. They want him to log in to check the comments.

When Hope and Raine return, the Detectives tell us they are gathering intel about the location and that they are putting together a team to go to Tennessee today. They ask specifics about the layout of the house. Where to look for the woman and children. They don’t want to go in with guns blazing and have innocent casualties. This is making me feel nervous and out of control. Hope and I are holding hands while Dad and Raine discuss the situation with calm assertiveness. I'm glad someone is feeling that way.

People come in and out of the room over the course of the day. They give bits of information to the detectives who then give orders. It’s a very efficient group of people. I don’t understand everything that is going on, but I feel safe in their capable hands. Right now, I know Raine is okay. Ezekiel isn’t going to burst into the police station and kill him or take Hope from here. Dad is comforting Hope. He keeps his hand on her back or his arm around her shoulders.

Raine and I take a walk down the dingy hallway and get some disgusting coffee from the machine. We sit in the lobby to talk. “I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next couple of days Jade, but I want to make sure you are safe. Ezekiel is crazy. He could do anything. Please be careful. Keep your eyes open. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.” He holds my hand and is rubbing his thumb back and forth across the back of my hand. I see the sincerity in his eyes. The way he looks at me makes me feel loved, cherished. “In a few hours, they will raid the compound. I don’t know what they are going to find. But I hope Ezekiel will be behind bars and all the others will be taken somewhere safe. I will want to go see them.” He tells me. “Of course, Raine. I want you to talk to them and comfort them. I'm sure they have been missing you. One day, I would love to meet them too.” His eyes glint with pleasure. “I was hoping you would go with me.” He says.

Detective Bennett comes out and tells us we are needed back in room. We follow him inside and see that there are more people in here now. They explain their plan to converge on the compound. They will land within the fence by helicopter. There will be three, so they have enough to get all the women and children out. “Do either of you know of any booby-traps that may exist on the property?” asks Bennett. “I only know about the lasers I told you about yesterday. But who knows what kind of other things he has set up in the last three years.” Raine tells him. Hope explains that the doors inside could be locked with all of them in their rooms. She tells them where solitary is and makes them promise not to leave without checking in there. It sounds like the team is set to go. They will fly out shortly and meet up with the helicopters in Tennessee. They promise to keep us updated. In just a few hours, this could be over.