“Her father and two of the lieutenants dragged her from bed, tied her to a post, and for all who could see, whipped her within a shade of her life. Her sister, Belinda, refused to leave her. So, like all good parents do, they chained Belinda to her and left them to die. Belinda managed to escape and brought the local authorities back. Eleanor was airlifted out and spent two months in a medically induced coma. Phyllis and Jason West were assigned to protect her and Belinda. They fell in love with them, fostered and adopted them.”
Starr swallowed hard. “The Wests were driving to visit the girls in New Jersey for their respective colleges’ parents’ weekend. Their car went off the road in a rainstorm, and both were killed. I was assigned shortly after. Speaking with the girls, I found out that Belinda mentioned her real last name to a boy. Accident investigators declared the crash deliberate. A tractor trailer tapped them as they hit a curb. Jason Drake did a helluva job avoiding other vehicles.”
“Do either of the girls know?” Troy asked.
Lance Starr stared at his hands. “What purpose would that serve?”
“Who is behind this?” Wes was sure the Marshal knew.
When Kieran cleared his throat, Wes took it as a warning to Starr.
“The Army of the Divines. It didn’t take a lot for ATF and the FBI to round them up.” Starr adjusted his position.
“They let them go in exchange for their testimony against the buyers, didn’t they?” Wes whispered. “Eleanor and Belinda never mattered.”
“Yes. The Marshal’s office wasn’t informed about the deal until after the deaths of the Wests. Dinah and Malachi Drake and their lieutenants all walked free with new identities,” Lance said.
“How did you get Witsec to agree to let them stay in Leesburg and stay in the program?”
“I’m not going into how the Witsec office works.”
Troy coughed, and Mike nodded. Wes knew evasion when he heard it but remained quiet at the moment.
Lance continued, “Five years ago, my wife gave birth to triplets. I arranged to take a week off when she gave birth and three more weeks when we brought the girls home. Two days after my leave began, Eleanor and Belinda disappeared.
“No one saw fit to notify me until I called in to check on them. By then the trail was cold. The FBI assumed they dropped out of the program.”
“You didn’t?” Kip asked.
“No, Eleanor and Belinda were both happy and settled. Their careers were taking off. They were redoing the house they inherited. And their mortgage and utilities were on autopayment from their inheritance account. Since that day, no other money was spent.” Lance frowned. “Until after Eleanor was found.”
“How much of the kidnapping and her escape were you told about?” Troy asked.
“I got to the hospital the morning after she was found. It broke my heart. Her wrists and ankles were bandaged. Her face was bruised. A handprint was visible. She had tubes and wires everywhere.
“The FBI agent, Gideon Murrow, is a loose cannon. His daughter went missing two years before Eleanor. When the doctors said she was well enough to give a statement, he sent his partner, Lawrence Nash, to interrogate her. Nash is all about success. He’s ameans to an endguy. I think he would have tortured her if I wasn’t there. Both he and Murrow were sure she knew more.”
“Did Eleanor tell you anything?” Kip asked.
“I wish. Maybe I could help her find Belinda. She was completely shut down. She still is about what happened. I think it’s something that shattered her.
“The forensic report stated there were at least the equivalent of four pints of blood in the dirt beneath her. They found two donors—her blood and that of another female. The DNA of the other female’s blood showed it was composed of an unknown male and Eleanor’s. But there were no signs of a newborn. Eleanor was bleeding vaginally but was unable, or chose not to say anything.”
Wes paled. She told him she’d never been with a man.Why did she lie?He caught Troy’s gaze. His friend was thinking the same thing.
“When Mr. Chase called me about finding Lindy’s prints, I volunteered to come here,” Lance continued.
“Today’s attackers? You think it’s her parents?” Wes returned to his innate operator persona.
“I wouldn’t put it past them; these Armageddon groups have long memories. It could be her kidnappers. She was found about fifteen months ago. She went back to her life in Leesburg. The barn she was found in was in Artillery Ridge outside of Fredericksburg. I tried to get her to let me relocate her, but she wouldn’t go.”
“She hoped her sister would come back,” Troy said.
“I think so. And I think she is tired. She’s been hiding a long time, and Nash and Murrow are repeatedly badgering her. I still don’t know what they want,” Starr said.
“Did you ever see the full report about how she was found?” Mike asked.
“I’ve seen a report, but I’m not sure it’sthereport.” Starr frowned.
