“Please take us away from here.”
“You got it. Let’s go.”
Alek took a deep breath and nodded. We hurried over to the SUV, and before he got in, he turned toward the forest and yelled something in what I assumed was Swedish.
“Jag kommer inte att glömma dig!”
Once we were all safely inside the SUV, I locked all the doors. I tried to focus on the road, watching for cars either oncoming or behind us. Anna tried to reassure her children that they were safe and wouldn’t be hurt anymore.
“It would be best if you all could slouch in the seats until we get to the airport. That way oncoming cars don’t see you.”
Alek, Bowden, and the little girl, Aurora, sat huddled on the floor of the SUV while Anna stretched out on the seat.
“It’s warm!” Bowden announced as he discovered the heat vent.
“I sent Daniel a text,” Taylor said quietly.
I nodded and then spotted an oncoming car on the opposite side of the road. As it passed us, I glanced in the side mirror to see if it slowed down to turn onto the road of their home. My stomach dropped when I saw the car’s taillights light up. I looked at Taylor and saw that she was turned in her seat, watching the car. The driver was fucking turning to their house. We’d dodged such a fucking bullet by less than a minute. The car didn’t stop at their home, though. Instead, it went across the bridge toward the shed.
“Anna, I noticed there was a shed on the other side of the bridge,” I said. “Is that your property or someone else’s?”
“It’s ours,” she said.
“Is it like a tool shed?” I asked.
“My husband sometimes conducts business out there for the church.”
Remembering that Aria’s mother was probably brainwashed into thinking her husband was truly trying to start up a church rather than run a human trafficking scheme, I exhaled slowly. She only believed what she had been told.
“I thought it might be something like a playhouse that the kids play in during the warmer months,” Taylor commented. I was pretty sure she was thinking along the same lines that I was and trying to get info out of Anna.
“I’ve been in there,” Alek mumbled.
“Alek! Quiet! You do not spread lies!”
I didn’t think he was lying. I had a feeling that Alek had a good grip on things and knew more than his mother would let on.
Taylor reached down for the paper bag from the hotel and pulled it up to her lap.
“Anna, we have some fruit and bottled water. Is it okay for the kids to have some?” Taylor asked.
“Please, Mama!” Bowden begged.
“Mama, I’ll share with them,” Alek spoke up.
“Yes, please. They have not eaten since yesterday,” Anna said.
Taylor handed two apples to Alek, but Bowden spoke up. “A whole one?”
“Yes, you and Alek can each have an apple. I have a banana for Aurora. Will you boys help her with it?” Taylor asked.
“Yes!” Alek exclaimed. He stretched his hand out to Taylor between the two front seats, exposing his cut-up wrists and hands. What little of fingernails he had left were dirty and bitten off.Michael is going to kill Wade Sorenson.
Taylor kept talking to Alek and Bowden. Her tone was calm, soothing, and almost motherly. She was very good for them. I was grateful she was here because I couldn’t have done this alone. Taylor was exactly what the three kids needed because, unfortunately, their mother was a broken shell right now.
“Here’s some water. I have a small bottle for each of you. Alek, can you take the lids off for your brother and sister if I loosen them?”
“He can’t,” Bowden spoke up.
