"The strongest thing we have
isn't our fists, it's our words.
It's what we do.
So fight."
~ Alex, childhood victim of sex trafficking and FBI
informant for raids

After Chantal had calmed down, exhausted from her crying she excused herself and went to sleep.

"Can you believe she only slept for fifteen minutes and said it was the longest time she ever slept for?" Kabe asked.

"What? That's just very sad!" Lizzy responded shocked with a downcast expression.

"Yes it is," Kabe agreed then went on to tell Lizzy what Chantal told him earlier.

Lizzy sat thoughtful and Kabe allowed her knowing she was going to coming up with a spectacular idea.

Lizzy then hopped out of her seat, "I have this awesome idea! For each girl we rescue we can have them tell us their story. It will be in a dark room so there faces don't show on the camera just their outline. I'll film them telling their story and then enter it in the national film competition! So everyone can hear their story. I'll call the film 'Stories of the Stolen'."

"You know you'll have to get their permission and not everyone may want to do-"

"I'll do it."

Lizzy screamed at the voice that floated towards her.

"I'm sorry!" Chantal shouted as she ran down the stairs towards Lizzy, "I didn't mean to scare you! I just love your idea and I want to be in it."

"Okay. Thank you," Lizzy said as she swallowed gulps of air, "Do you always creep up on people like that?"

"No... I didn't creep up on you I heard you while I was coming down," Chantal replied getting flustered.

"Liz," Kabe said with a warning tone.

"Sorry," she apologised and went back to sit.

"You're finished sleeping?" Kabe asked.

"Yeah," Chantal smiled, "I feel very rested so we can start our planning now."

Kabe then looked at Lizzy with an expression that said I told you so.

"You were sleeping for like ten minutes," Lizzy said looking at her with a worried expression.

"I don't like sleeping," Chantal said softly.

Lizzy nodded telling her she understood.

"Okay so what's the plan?" Lizzy asked turning to Kabe.

"Alright your part will be very important and risky but I don't know if it will work until we try."

"Okay," Lizzy squeaked.

"Trust me Liz, you don't have to worry. You will be our inside person."

"Great just need to search for my Nancy Drew boots," Lizzy chirped.

"Really?" Kabe raised an eyebrow.

"What? They look great!"

"Whatever," Kabe replied then proceeded to tell her what she will be doing with Chantal dropping in necessary details and ideas.

"So when is the earliest or the best time to get started?" Lizzy asked.

"Friday," Chantal said, "They have their meetings every Friday at the place where I'm coming from. It would be better if you guys go in the morning to get Lizzy in and then leave me there because-"

"Are you sure you want to be left there?" Kabe questioned, concern for her well being evident in his voice.

"Yes I have to. The worst that can happen is… is Sam-"

Chantal yet again was interrupted but by Lizzy resting her hand comfortingly on Chantal's, "It's okay we understand," Lizzy said gently.

"You have to because they can easily kick you out and think you are ungrateful for Sam giving you me."

"Why would they think I'm… ungrateful?" Kabe asked truly confused.

"Because he owns me. You took what was new. You took what he wants. You took his property. You took what is his."

"Stop talking like that!" Kabe jumped up furious, "You are no one's property! You belong to no one but yourself!"

As if to prove her point Chantal turned her back to Kabe and pulled down her left sleeve.

On her left shoulder was a swelling but on closer inspection, Kabe realised it was a burn mark that was slowly healing. He raised his hand to touch it but then let it fall at his side thinking better of it.

He then read the letters molded and heated into her shoulder...

SAM.

♠♠♠

Chantal had passed out in the couch again and Kabe went and stood over her staring at her motionless body.

"You look at her as if she was your long lost sister but you found her half dead," Lizzy noted watching Kabe.

Kabe sighed and looked at Lizzy, "I don't know but for some reason I just have to help her. I remember the night she walked into the studio after nine and just one look in her eyes, I knew something was wrong. Then when I was going through the photos the same night, when I reached hers, it was like looking at someone who was crying for help but didn't know how to."

Kabe released a breathe of air as if relieving himself from a heavy burden. He ran his fingers through his hair frustrated.

"I don't know how to explain it really. I just knew I had to help her although I didn't know why."

Lizzy then went over to him and hugged him, "It's okay. I'm here to help you and together we'll save her and the other girls."

"Thanks Liz," he replied returning her hug.

"I didn't know you were such a softie though," Lizzy giggled releasing Kabe.

"I'm going to carry Chantal to the spare room," Kabe said totally ignoring what Lizzy had just said.

"You shouldn't have given her your sleeping pills you know. Yours are like so strong a small piece could knock a giant out cold," Lizzy said as she trailed behind Kabe.

"Come on Liz it's not that strong," Kabe said while placing Chantal gently on the bed.

"Whatever you say," Lizzy said rolling her eyes walking out of the room.

"I'm calling my doctor so he can come and check on her and then I'm calling my make-up artist," Kabe said pulling his phone from his back pocket.

"Okay call your doctor but what do you need a make-up artist for? You know what scrap that! Why do you even have a make-up artist?" Lizzy paused in the hallway to question Kabe, "Should I be worried?"

"Noooo…" Kabe replied as if he was not sure, knowing it would drive her crazy, "You will see Friday."

"You know what I'm heading to my dorm for my things and I'm going to come back and I'll sleep on the floor."

"You can take the other room that I have you know."

"No the floor is more comfortable," Lizzy replied with a finality in her voice.

"Okay fine. Carry back some clothes for Chantal."

Lizzy then held her hand out to Kabe with palm facing up.

"What?" he asked confused staring at her hand.

"I need money. If you work for the FBI plus have a big house plus soooooo many spare rooms, that means you're loaded," Lizzy replied as if it was the most perfect logic ever.

"I can't believe this is what our friendship has come to," Kabe joked as he dug into his pocket, "Here it is but don't spend it on yourself. Buy stuff for Chantal."

"Yeah, yeah," Lizzy said waving him off with the money as she headed out the front door.

After making the call to his doctor, a banging was heard at his door.

"Coming! Coming!" he shouted his voice laced with agitation.

He swung the door open and immediately the mouth of a gun was thrust into his face.

"Think we would not have found you out huh?"

 
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Haven't dropped one of those in a while 😀😀

Shout out to those persons who have come back to my book after such a long absence! I will be forever grateful to you guys so a big ..........

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Do continue to shower love on this book and spread the word that human trafficking is just totally wrong.

Until next time please

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P.S.  Does anyone like sleeping on the ground? 'Cause I do 🙋