Chapter Nineteen
Lawrence Nash cracked his knuckles. “Have you decided to cooperate yet? What’s it gonna be? Eleanor, we need that information.”
Eleanor’s skin was crawling, and her head pounded. Her nose ran, and she was starting to cough. Her pelvis ached from her cycle. Sweat soaked her from the heat of the room and a brewing fever.
I can’t tell you everything.“Agent Nash, tell me what you want me to say. I swear, I do not know any more than I’ve said. I went out with Belinda to celebrate our twenty-fifth birthday. The next thing I knew, I was waking up on a dirt floor. Eight hundred and six days later, I found an opportunity to escape. I swear. No one helped me escape. I wasn’t working for anyone. I can’t give you what you want.”
Nash stalked around the table and grasped her throat. “A material witness can be held as long as it is necessary to prevent a failure of justice. I can hold you indefinitely unless you tell me where the main compound is and who is running it. I also need the names of every girl there.”
“I told you, I don’t know. I don’t even remember my first baby or losing the second. They had us so incapacitated. Please may I have some water and some Tylenol or Advil?”
“Only after I get something,” Nash said.
Gideon Murrow joined them. Standing in the corner of the room, his arms were crossed against his chest, his expression murderous.
Eleanor rested her head in her arms on the table. Nash grabbed her hair and yanked her to a sitting position.
“Larry, c’mon. At least let me give her some water,” Galloway asked.
Nash laughed. “I’m the senior agent, and I say no. Forsyth wants you here. You’re here as window dressing. Hang there in the corner.”
Preston stood up from the table. “Nash, I’m not going down the rabbit hole again. Forsyth told Murrow to call her attorney and send her on her way. Eleanor, I’ll be back with some water.” He left the room.
“Ellie, Ellie, Ellie. What am I going to do with you?” Nash chuckled.
Her right hand cuffed to the table, Eleanor ran her left hand through her hair. “I…I…can’t…help…you. Please.” She inhaled with a sob.
Preston Galloway returned to the room with a blanket and a bottle of water. “Here you go, Ellie.” He unscrewed the cap and handed her the water. Her hand shook, spilling water onto the floor. Nash grew red-faced. Galloway glared at him as he wrapped her in the blanket.
“Galloway, outside, now,” Nash ordered.
Preston held his ground. “I’m not going anywhere. Let her call her attorney.”
“I’ll deal with you in a minute.” Nash uncuffed Eleanor, pulled her from her seat, the bottle spilling across the table. He dragged her to the door.
When he opened the door, FBI Director Samuels, Stewart Forsyth, a man in a tailored black suit, and a man and a woman, each wearing a black tactical uniform, blocked his exit. The suit-clad man opened his arms to Eleanor. “Eleanor, I’m Ian Chase. Come to me, sweetheart,” he said softly.
Nash growled, “She’s in custody.”
“Take this inside,” FBI Director Samuels said.
Inside the room, Nash had yet to let go of Eleanor. He forcibly sat her in a chair. “Mr. Samuels, with all due respect, Ms. West is a material witness and has avoided us every chance she has had to be forthcoming,” Nash said between gritted teeth.
Director Samuels rubbed the back of his neck and turned to Nash. “Agent Nash, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Ian Chase. He has agreed to take responsibility for Ms. West.”
“He’s a civilian. How can he do that?” Nash continued.
“Ms. West, I apologize for the inconsiderate treatment you received. Don’t you agree, Agents Forsyth and Nash?” Director Samuels pressed his lips into a firm white line.
“I’m sorry, Ms. West,” Forsyth said.
“Sorry,” Nash muttered.
Murrow said nothing.
Ian smiled. “Eleanor, let’s get you out of here. I’d like to introduce you to Adina Ganz and Josh Stone. They are going to escort you back to Virginia.”
“Mr. Chase, thank you. You don’t know me, and you are willing to do this?” Eleanor asked, her eyes red but without tears.
