“Where the fuck is this woman going?”Ross said, slowing considerably on a long stretch of road.
“Cameron calling out that rocker has made her act rashly,” Jude answered.“We can only hope she’s leading us right to those kids.”
They continued to drive until the only sights were tall oaks and open wilderness.“I can’t imagine that someone would live all the way out here.The only place I know of is the old cabin retreat,” Ross said scanning the road.The moment the words came out of Ross’s lips, he knew that’s where Layla was headed.
“I’m getting local law enforcement on this.I bet that’s exactly where they’re headed.Blue Coast Cabins, at least that’s what it was called before it closed.”After the COVID-19 pandemic, the place had shut down, but before it was abandoned the retreat had been a popular location for nature enthusiasts.Jude dialed the local police chief and requested backup to the location.
“Agent Levine is sending reinforcements,” Cameron said from the back seat.“He told us to wait on his team before going in.”
“Let’s see how things look when we arrive.”Jude had no intention of waiting on anyone if children’s lives were at stake.
“I know better than to make promises I can’t keep,” Cameron said with a wry grin.
“And that’s exactly why you’re on my team,” Jude said glancing at the agent in the back seat.
Ross stopped their vehicle several times, allowing the Maserati to get ahead while maintaining the cover they needed to go undetected.They’d seen the car go down a rocky drive beneath a large log sign welcoming guests to the Blue Coast Cabins.
“Stop here,” Jude said.“We’ll leave the vehicle and circle around by foot.”
The men got out of the car and crept stealthily through the forest.The first cabins came into view, circling a large, clear water lake.There was ample space between each unit, and the retreat hadn’t been closed long enough to be in disrepair.In fact, it looked far better than he’d imagined.
“Stop,” Jude said.“Listen.”He heard the sound again.The sound of a baby crying amid the song of sparrows and finches.It was then Jude noticed that lights were on in some of the cabins.
“Boss.Look to your left,” Ross whispered, pointing through the trees to a few toys scattered around the property.
The sound of arguing joined the baby’s cries.“The money is already in your account.I want my baby!”The shrill scream resonated through the woods and the three men moved closer until they were just on the edge of the clearing.From this vantage point, they could see Layla standing with her foot wedged in the door of the first cabin.
“Now, miss, I’m not in charge.Just watching things here.”The male voice drifted through the crack in the door.One the man was clearly trying to close on the woman.
A crack splintered through the air, and the wooden door slapped against the frame of the cabin on one hinge.Jude eyed his team, giving them the hand signal to move in.They crouched down, moving quickly toward the sound of the woman they were pursuing.The Maserati was parked to the side of the first cabin, and they could hear a child wailing.The men had just made it to the cabin’s porch when Layla stepped out from behind the broken door with an infant swaddled in a pink blanket.
“No!”she screamed.“This is my baby.”She turned and tried to flee in the other direction, but Cameron caught her around the waist and Ross took the baby from her hands.Jude handcuffed her wrists and had her sit at the side of the cabin before cuffing her ankles.
“Come out with your hands up!”Jude yelled into the cabin.
A young man, visibly shaken, exited.“I’m just the babysitter here,” he said and started to cry.Once he was cuffed and seated on the other side of the cabin from Layla, they began to search the other spaces.
Each cabin had up to four children and one adult who was “babysitting” as they phrased it.Some were women and some were young men, but most of them showed signs of being trafficking victims themselves.Until they could determine their roles in the organization, though, they were detained to await questioning.The last cabin was dark, and it was the only one where the door seemed to be locked or sealed shut.Jude wasted no time kicking the door in and spotted two children huddled in the corner.
Something blurred in Jude’s peripheral vision, and he pivoted in time to avoid the sharp edge of a crudely fashioned weapon.The young child holding it couldn’t have been more than eight.Her hair was dirty and lank against her face, but she had the eyes of a warrior.Old eyes.Ones that had seen far too much.A boy around the same age sat holding a toddler.Jude holstered his weapon and put his hands in the air, palms facing out.Something about the children and the expressions of fear on their faces made him crouch down.
“My name’s Jude,” he said.“I’m here to help.”
Jude noticed the boy who was holding the toddler began rocking back and forth.
“How do we know you’re not one of them?”the young girl said, still holding out her weapon.
“I can toss you my badge.”The girl reminded him of Ivy and how she had defended herself against him with the skillet.The girl had the same stubborn tilt to her chin as Ivy did.Something expanded in his chest when she nodded stubbornly.“Toss it to the far wall,” she commanded and he stifled a smile.
“Yes, ma’am.”He slowly removed his identification and threw it across the room.
“Ben, read what it says.”The boy placed the toddler down and picked up the identification.He glanced at it quickly and began tapping keys on the tablet around his neck.
“Jude Hayes.Human Trafficking Task Force.Department of Homeland Security,” the robotic voice stated from the device.Just as the boy, Ben, had finished typing, the toddler screeched happily and took several uncoordinated steps right into his arms.The toddler giggled, and he picked her up, resting her on his knee.
“Well, between the identification and Lily liking you, I guess you’re in the clear for now.”
“Good to know.That weapon looks pretty sharp.Are there any adults in this cabin with you?”Jude bounced the toddler, who palmed his face with chubby hands.
