Page 101 of Ultimate Justice

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Evan snapped. “You’re going to be charged with kidnapping, endangering children—multiple counts—attempted murder of a federal officer, shooting down a federal aircraft, and that’s just a start off the top of my head. The state will charge you for operating a large-scale illegal pot farm.”

“So many states have legalized marijuana now,” Neil said, chuckling. “Did you know there’s even a strong movement in Wyoming to legalize it here? We’ll have our lawyers sort out that little mess.”

“All those guns.” Elsa gestured to the SWAT team members and uniformed officers standing at the ready. “You’re frightening the children.”

When the kids huddled tighter around her and Neil, Marlie saw right through Elsa’s plan. By implying law enforcement would hurt them, she’d instilled a fear in the children of the very people who were there to rescue them. The woman was good. She’d known just what to say and do to make Evan’s job harder.

Deck and Brett moved in closer, stopping when Evan held his hand up. “Even if, by some miracle, you managed to skate on all those charges,” he continued, “there’s that little outstanding matter in the Netherlands.” Neil’s jaw tightened. Elsa glanced worriedly at her husband. “Yeah, I know about that. You stole a lot of money from a lot of people. You were indicted in absentia. Bram and Nina Ackerman are facing hard time back in the homeland.”

“Marlie,” Noah whispered, pointing to the dais. “There’s Caleb. I know he doesn’t want to be here. Some of the other kids don’t, either.”

“Let me try to help.” She slipped past Evan. Reversing whatever mind games Neil and Elsa had done to these kids would take time—time they didn’t have—but she had to try. Rationalizing was the only thing that might put enough doubt in their minds. “My name is Marlie,” she said, trying to make eye contact with as many of the children as possible. “I think I know what made you come here. Some of you had parents who didn’t treat you nicely. Some of you were living on the street. You thought this would give you a better life. Right?”

The boy Noah had identified as Caleb nodded emphatically. A few others nodded, somewhat less enthusiastically. Maybe these were the other kids Noah had been referring to. At least they were listening, but she had to talk fast.

“Don’t listen to her,” Elsa crooned in a gentle tone, while at the same time, shooting Marlie a frosty glare.

“No, do listen to me.” She returned that glare with one of her own. “These people have been using you. They lied to you, told you they could fill a hole in your life and take you to a better place, but what have you really been doing since you got here? Maybe it was fun at first, before you were sent to work in the field every day or in the warehouse. They isolated you from everything you knew—no phones, no internet. They did this to cut you off from all outside contacts and destroy who you are. Your real identity.”

Elsa opened her mouth again, but Marlie cut her off. “Did they tell you your old life was a joke? Or that they would transform your life into something better?” She searched their faces, seeing nothing to indicate she was making any more headway. “Did they give you gifts at first?” she asked, trying a different approach. One of the older girls nodded, just a little, but it was there. Then another kid nodded, this time one of the boys. Most of the other kids still stared back at her with blank expressions.

Think, think! There had to be a way to get through to them.

“The truth is they don’t care about you,” she continued, racking her brain and calling on the training she hadn’t put to any use in years. “They preyed on the fact someone else hurt you. They chose you because you didn’t feel good about yourselves or your life. I know.” She jabbed at her own chest. “I know what that’s like, because I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to not feel you should live or be loved, but we all deserve that. They,” she added, pointing to Elsa and Neil, “promised you a new identity, a new home, and a better life, but in reality, they’re only helping themselves. They don’t care about your feelings. They only care about what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. Think about it. What have they really done for you since you got here?”

“Shut up,” Neil growled.

A few of the kids glanced fearfully at Neil. Others tucked in tighter, as if trying to protect Elsa and Neil.

“No, I won’t shut up.” These two had taken advantage of children who’d already had enough sadness and abuse in their lives. “I’m on your side,” she said more gently, readdressing the kids. “It’s not your fault, and I’m not judging you. I realize you don’t know me, but just think about what I’ve said. Please. Think about it.”

Blasting more holes in their current belief system would only make them defensive and worsen the situation. She’d never convert them right out of the gate. There was no time for that here. The goal was to plant the seed of doubt, poke just enough holes in their convictions to help separate them from Neil and Elsa and get them to safety.

Aside from Caleb, she wasn’t getting through to them. While she hadn’t meant to interject her life into this, if it did anything to help, she’d bare her entire soul to help these kids. She turned to find Evan watching her with an expression she couldn’t decipher.

“She’s right about one thing,” Neil said to the children, “you don’t know her, so you shouldn’t believe anything she says.”

“But you do know me!” Noah ran to the edge of the dais, resting his hand on Blue’s head. “Did any of you ever complain about anything here? Did you ever ask to leave here?” All the kids shook their heads. “I did. Caleb did.” He pointed to his friend. “Didn’t you even wonder where I was for the last two weeks? Having fun, using computers and the internet, and learning how to shoot pool and play the piano.”

A few of the kids perked up their heads.

“Caleb and I complained about being stuck here.” Noah held out his arms. “We said we wanted to leave, but they wouldn’t let us. I tried running away, but Frank drugged me and locked me up in his basement. If Evan and Blue”—he pointed to them—“hadn’t found me, I’d be dead. Frank was going to kill me.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Elsa said. “Anyone who wants to leave only has to ask.”

“Stop lying!” Noah shouted, his face reddening as he pointed to his friend again. “Some of you were thinking about coming with us. Tell them, Caleb.”

“Yeah, it’s true.” Caleb nodded. “I was gonna run away, but John caught me and forced me to work in the warehouse.”

Several other kids started looking around at each other. Maybe the ones Noah and Caleb had been working on. Their words were having an impact.

“Don’t you want to know what happens to kids who want to leave here?” Noah asked. “Did you ever wonder who’s buried in those graves that don’t have any names on them?”

For a long moment, no one said anything.

“I just thought she went back home,” one of the older boys in the back of the group piped in.

She? Oh no.