Карен Кингсбери - A Distant Shore [calibre]

“What about hotels?”

“We’re out of vouchers. I put a social worker on the case. If one opens up, Eliza will be the first to get it.”

Jack was on his feet. “Are you kidding me?” His voice was louder than he intended. He stared at Oliver, then he dropped back to his chair again. Even now he couldn’t be rude. None of this was Oliver’s fault. But he was seething. “A homeless shelter, sir? Really?”

“I was lucky to get her that.” Oliver sorted through a folder on his desk. “There’s a facility for domestic violence victims that might have a spot in a month or so.”

“What?” Jack couldn’t believe this. Eliza was at a homeless shelter, alone in San Antonio? “You said she can’t be with the other girls.” His mind began to spin. The floor felt unsteady. Eliza would feel tricked for sure. Lying on a mattress on the shelter floor, no doubt surrounded by some of the scariest people in the city? “Let’s get an exception.”

“That won’t work.” Oliver shook his head. “The new group home is licensed only for minors. She would be considered a liability to the younger girls.”

A liability? Jack was ready to blow up. “Sir, I’m requesting this day to figure out housing for the girl. She helped me. That’s the least I can do.”

Oliver hesitated, but only for a minute. “Yes.” He sighed. “The system is far from perfect, Jack. You know that.” He handed over the girl’s folder. “If you can find her something, it’ll be the best news since the raid.”

JACK’S FIRST STOP was the group home where the twelve girls were staying. Stan and Melinda Largo met with him in the front room. The two were born in Nigeria and moved to the United States to attend medical school.

They listened while Jack talked about Eliza, how she needed a place to live while she got on her feet, found work and an apartment.

“Please. You have to help her.” God… if You’re there, please. “She’s at a downtown shelter. She needs you.”

Melinda looked like she was about to cry.

Despite the kindness in his brown eyes, her husband shook his head. “I’d love to help her, Jack. The younger girls talk about her all the time. Especially Rosa.”

“I’m thinking, maybe just this once.” Jack was ready to beg the couple. “Something temporary. We could get the state to make an exception.”

“There are no exceptions, Jack.” Stan frowned. “The law is in place to protect children.”

Again Jack’s mind raced. “What about… hiring her? She could be a housekeeper, help do the dishes and laundry. Help the children with their homework. She’s extremely bright.”

Melinda’s eyes lit up. “Does she have a criminal record?”

“No.” Charges wouldn’t be pressed against Eliza because she had helped the FBI with the raid. It was the first ray of hope. Jack grabbed the possibility. “Eliza’s new here, but I can get her fingerprinted and cleared, all her paperwork finished by tomorrow. So you could hire her.”

Stan put his arm around his wife. “You might be onto something here.” He stood and poured a glass of water. Then he handed it to Jack. “So you’re sure? She’s safe around the other girls?”

Clearly Stan and Melinda knew the earmarks of a trafficked victim. Sometimes those who were abused went on to abuse others. But that wasn’t the case with Eliza. Jack had spent enough time with her to tell. At least he hoped so. “She’s safe. We’ll have an evaluation done later today.”

“Okay, then.” Stan nodded. “We will watch her. Just in case.”

Now Jack had to find Eliza. Before she took off or gave up. Too often, when the system failed them, trafficked victims wound up returning to slavery. At least that way they would have food and a place to sleep. Because it was the only life they had ever known.

Jack pulled up at the downtown San Antonio shelter just before one o’clock. He tried to walk straight back to the living quarters, but the man at the front desk rose from his seat. “This is a private place, buddy.” The man was in his forties, and he looked ready to fight. “You gotta get approved before you walk back.”

“FBI.” Jack flashed his badge and stopped short. “I’m looking for Eliza Lawrence. She came here about a week ago.”

The guy squinted at him. “Let me see that badge.”

Time was slipping away. Jack pulled his badge out once more. He raised his voice. “Give me her room number.”

“Someone gave her a voucher.” The guy crossed his arms. “A hotel voucher.”

“Who?” Panic grabbed at Jack. Eliza could be anywhere in the city. “A social worker?”

“Yeah, that’s it.” The man shrugged, still gruff. “Holiday Inn, I think. Or maybe the Courtyard. One of those. If I remember right.”

Jack took off. His heart raced in time with his feet. He drove to the Holiday Inn first, but the young woman at the desk didn’t find Eliza’s name in her records. “Sometimes people give different names when they use vouchers.” She frowned.

He was halfway to the car when he spotted her. She was crossing the street, headed back to the hotel. She wore a baggy pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, despite the sweltering Texas heat.

“Eliza!” He jogged toward her. “Wait!”

She stopped and looked his way. But when she saw it was him, she turned and hurried for the front door.

“Please, Eliza.” This time Jack raised his voice. In case she couldn’t hear him. “I have to talk to you.”

“Why?” She stopped short and glared at him. “So you can lie to me again?”

“I never lied to you.” Jack reached her, but he kept his distance. He didn’t want her to feel threatened.

“You did.” She moved to a patch of grass, away from the door.

Jack followed her. He lowered his voice. “Please… Eliza. I told you I was FBI. I told you we were going to raid the Palace, and I said I needed your help.”

The anger in her eyes was fire.

“Tell me the lie.” Jack tried to be patient.

“You told me you were Luke.” Eliza stepped back. “But on the plane… on the plane the other agent called you Jack.”

He relaxed a little. “That wasn’t a lie. It was part of the job. I go by a lot of names.”

“And what about Jack ?” Her anger faded. But in its place came an ocean of hurt and distrust. “Is that part of the job?”

“No. Jack is my name.” Giving her that information couldn’t hurt him now. “For real.” She clutched her paper bag and tilted her head back. Her eyes caught the sunlight. Prettiest blue eyes Jack had ever seen. “I want to help you.”

“Why? The mission’s over.” She looked at the Holiday Inn sign. “I’m free now. Right, Jack?”

Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on him. “Just hear me out. Please.”

For a long time Eliza only stared at him. Then without saying a word, she led him through the iron gate to the hotel’s outdoor pool, and to a table in the corner of the patio. She took one chair and he sat opposite her.

“Talk, Jack. You have five minutes.”

Maybe this wouldn’t work. Jack leaned forward on the table and looked straight into her eyes. “We don’t want you here at this hotel. Or at some homeless shelter.” He exhaled. “You deserve better than that, Eliza.”

For a long time she only looked at him. Then she opened the bag and took out three tacos. “Vouchers.” She didn’t make eye contact. Slowly, meticulously she ate one of the tacos. Then another.

Jack looked out at the pool. Agents around the world risked their lives to break up trafficking rings. But only to treat the victims like this? Three tacos? Was that her dinner? Had she eaten anything else today?

“At least at the Palace they fed us.” She was still chewing. “We had a bed every night of the year.” She finally turned her eyes to him. “But I’m rescued now, right, Jack? Except… where do I go when I run out of vouchers?”