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Were we in the wrong place? I felt sick at the idea.
Nadia shot me a concerned look as she moved on to one of the last containers, opening it to reveal more boxes.
This couldn’t be the end. Not after all of this. I opened the last container, holding my breath as I pleaded that somehow this one would hold what we were waiting for.
More boxes.
Ugh! I kicked out at the box closest to me, frustration nearly overwhelming me. I was so dang tired of things feeling just out of our grasp.
But as my foot met cardboard, the box gave way, sliding into the container and creating a hole in the wall of boxes. Slowly but surely, the whole thing began to crumble.
What the . . . ? Sure, I had a strong kick, but I hadn’t given that box my all and it had nearly flown. It had been too easy to kick. Too easy to move.
Unless it had been empty.
Suspiciously I lifted one of the fallen boxes. It was light. Too light.
I threw box after box out of the way, realizing it had just been that one wall of boxes in the front of the container. As soon as the boxes were out of my way I peered into the darkness of the container, not ready for what I saw even though they were exactly who I was looking for. My eyes filled with tears as I stood still, taking it in.
There, huddled behind the boxes, were children. At least twenty of them cowered together near the back of the container, completely silent. Their little heads were bent. Some of them were hugging the others around them—giving or receiving comfort, I didn’t know.
I could no longer hold my tears back. These poor children.
I wanted to dash in and take them in my arms, to promise them that all was well. But even without being able to clearly see their faces in the dark container, I could feel their fear. They needed me to assure them from a safe distance.
I pushed the rest of the boxes aside. I wanted to scream to my team that I’d found them but knew that would scare these kids.
Thankfully I didn’t have to say anything. Nadia came up beside me, her eyes full of awe.
“They were behind the boxes. Tell Colt and the others,” I said calmly.
Nadia nodded, seeming to understand.
I took a tentative step forward and the children shrank back.
If Detraux had been near I would have ended his pathetic life right here and now.
But I needed to forget my anger and think about what these kids needed. Comfort.
“My name is Shai,” I said, trying to think of anything I could say to ease these poor children’s fears.
I could only imagine what they had seen and endured. And I’d seen some terrible crap.
“I’m here to help you. I have police officers here with me who want to help you, too.” Still they were silent, staring at me with solemn, fearful eyes.
Suddenly Ella was at my side and I breathed a sigh of relief. She could do what I couldn’t. She had the kind of softness these children would crave, and she knew how to talk to people . . . not just hardened criminals.
She took a few tentative steps into the container.
“I’m Shai’s friend. My name is Ella. I’m here to help, too. So are our friends Aria and Nadia. We are going to get you home,” Ella said.
At that one word each head perked up. The reaction was far beyond anything I’d expected and caused an unexpected reaction in me as well.
With an ache in my chest, I closed my eyes and made a silent promise, partly to myself but mostly to these kids. Whatever it took, however I could make it happen, I was going to get each and every one of these children home.
NINETEEN
shai
