A New Life Series - Starter Kit

by Samantha Jacobey

  “When I said that I won that day, I lied. I didn't win. Eddie loved the idea of my 'giving myself' to the group. So, he let me take my clothes off, and then things pretty much went the same as they had the two nights before. I mean; I didn't resist and I let them do what they wanted, but what they wanted hurt really bad and I never enjoyed any of it or wanted it to begin with. It became like a game between us, and I played my part. That’s it, and that’s how it went.”

  She inhaled deeply before she finished. “All the years I was with them, I never wanted it to be like that, but I couldn’t do anything about it, so I drank whenever I could and tried to pretend like I didn't care… but I did care. And that isn't even the worst part of what they made me do.” She stopped there, unable to say any more.

  The two men sat in silence, allowing time for her to recover and go on, but she didn't. Finally, the doctor asked in a soothing tone, “Would you like to wait, continue this at a later time?”

  Tori looked across the desk at him, and then turned to peek at Eli before dropping her gaze back to her clasped fingers. Drawing a deep breath, she confessed, “It won't matter when we talk about it. It's bad. It's really bad. I really don't know if I can tell you anymore. I think I’m done.” They couldn’t see the blood on her hands, but she knew it was there.

  “But you have to.” Eli stated flatly, and Tori looked up in surprise. “I mean, you're not going to get better if you don't deal with this.” He tried to cover his blunder. I’m going to lose, he thought to himself. No matter what I do from here on, I’m going to lose.

  “But there's so much,” she faltered. “Is any part better than another? Can I just skip some? I could keep going straight through, but it hurts so much. I just don't want to.”

  “I think you need a break then,” the doctor interjected. “I tell you what. Agent Founder, you are welcome to spend time here, of course, but keep it professional. I have to admit, I think the social interaction is doing as much for her as the therapy. Just remember to keep me informed—either Tori tells me, or you tell me, but I need to be up on what's going on in that head of hers if I’m going to help her. And you, young lady—the next time you are feeling any aggressive anything, you come straight to me. We can't have you beating up staff members at bed time anymore.”

  “Is he ok?” she asked meekly.

  “He's fine.” The doctor answered with a small grin. “You bloodied him up pretty good, but it comes with the job. You kind of have to expect it sometimes working in a place like this. Now get out of here.”

  Tori and Eli left the office together and made their way to the fountain. Sitting on the edge, her mind began to relax, and a random thought popped into her head. “You really have a brother named Joe?”

  Surprised, Eli responded with a chuckle, “Yeah, I actually do have a brother named Joe. I’m surprised you remember me telling you that. When I spent all that time talking to you, trying to get you to come out of your shell, and you just sat there.”

  “Why would you be surprised? I was listening after all. I wonder what it's like to have brothers or sisters or anything like that. I don't really have any family; I guess. Eddie would tell people he was my father; other people believed him, but not me. I think he made it up to have something to say. So, I don't really have a family.” She rambled a bit, but Eli didn't mind.

  “You have a family, Tori,” he corrected her. “And you’re right, Eddie wasn’t your father. We did a DNA profile on you versus everyone we found in the house and we got no matches of any sort. So we will keep looking.”

  “How does that work exactly? The DNA profile thing,” Tori wondered aloud.

  Eli explained to her how they could take a sample from her and any other person and run a comparison to find out if they are related in any way. “So if we find your mother or your father or a sibling, we’ll know. Right now,” he continued, “We have someone looking through old missing children reports, trying to make a connection.”

  “You guys still think I am only a kid, don't you,” she shook her head in disgust as she spoke.

  Sticking to the plan, he tried to sound convincing, “Well, the doctor who examined you said you’re no more than fifteen, and he can prove it. I’m not sure how, but since he’s the doctor, I think he would know.” He smiled, “Besides, it won't matter anyway when we find your family. And if we don't, it’ll work out.”

  Tori sat for a moment, considering what he had said. “But you know” she eventually observed, “I spent my whole childhood alone. Literally, never saw another child in person until we left the camp in Brazil, and I was, well… developed by then; I really didn't think of myself as young anymore. I still don't. I can't get that time back, Eli. I’ll never have something everyone else has—those memories. That part of my life is gone… forever.”

  Eli found himself lost in her words. Reaching up, he brushed her hair back from her face, his tone alluring, “So, you’ll have to start from here. You still have your whole life ahead of you, so make it a good one. You can't fool me, Tori. I know you’ll do what's right.” I only hope I can do the same. At that instant, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Grasping it and giving it a quick irritated flick, he muttered, “Yeah?”

  Tori could hear a man's voice on the other end, most certainly that of Warren La Buff. “You got a meeting in Godfry's office, twenty minutes.”

  Eli looked at his watch, “Understood.” Flipping the phone shut, he sighed to her, “I gotta go.” Tori's expression fell blank, but she nodded her agreement, and then watched from the window as he headed into the parking lot and climbed into his car.

  Short on Time

  La Buff and Godfry were already into their discussion when Eli arrived. He trod into the spacious office and took a seat in the second guest chair that stood at James Godfry's desk, wondering what his partner had in store for him.

  Godfry didn't waste any time, and stated, “So, I hear there was some trouble over at the hospital a few days ago. Why didn't you report it?”

  “I have the situation in hand, sir,” Eli looked stunned. “No need to get alarmed.”

  “I hear an orderly was attacked,” his superior continued, “That doesn't sound very in hand to me.”

  Warren La Buff had not been visiting the girl, but he had been watching and keeping tabs on what was going on. He had also been making it a point to report back anything that gave his effort to get on with prosecution merit.

  “Yes sir,” Eli agreed. “A misunderstanding. We’re getting really close now.” Did I actually just say that?

  “And I can say for sure she knows details about the activities of the group. She says she has been with them her entire life; which means, however they acquired her, she was very young when the event took place. I just need more time to get what we need.” La Buff released a snort of contempt.

  “Why do you hate her so much?” Eli turned to his partner in disgust. “You know, she wants to do the right thing. She didn't like being with those guys, and whatever part she played in their activities was under duress. She didn't want it; she didn't enjoy it. She survived, and you want to punish her for that.”

  “She murdered those men. She said so herself. No matter what they did, she had no right to do what she did to them,” Warren La Buff's tone matter-of-fact. “She deserves to be punished for that. God knows what else she’s done we don't know about yet.”

  Eli stared for a moment, sadly recalling Tori's description of taking her place within the group, then spoke in a lower tone as he bit out his reply, “It is far more complicated than that. Besides, you are missing the bigger picture here. Those men are already dead, and there are more of them out there still running around hurting people. She can help us get to them, but we have to earn her trust.”

  La Buff sneered at him, “Yeah, I saw how cozy the two of you were getting the other night on her bed. I bet she trusts you pretty good right about now.”

  Eli's jaw dropped as his mind raced back to the first night he had sat on the bed w
ith her, in her room, to listen to her describe her induction to the group. His partner must have been outside the tiny window peering in. “So, resorted to spying on a fellow agent, did you? Well, I assure you, I have been completely professional with the girl, and in time I will find out everything we need to know.”

  “You have two days.” Godfry cut in, “After that we are pulling her in and lowering the boom, so to speak. We don’t have time to drag this out any further.”

  Eli nodded his understanding and stood to leave.

  “Good luck with that,” La Buff called after him as he headed into the hall.

  Realizing he was short on time, Eli decided to return to the hospital, see what else I can find out tonight. During the drive, he mentally went over the details Tori had given him so far to have it fresh in his mind when they resumed.

  When he arrived, he did not see her in her room, nor in the cafeteria. Making it out into the garden, he found her sitting on her bench, stretched out in a leisurely pose with her left leg pulled up onto the bench while leaning back. Her hands behind her, her blue orbs gazed up into the trees with the evening sun on her face.

  Stopping, he watched, thinking how carefree she looked as she swung her dangling right leg. He almost hated to disturb her, to make her go back to that dark place she had been telling him about on such a fine evening. After several minutes, he could wait no longer, so he stepped closer and cleared his throat.

  Tori immediately sat up, dropping her propped leg and twisting to see who was there. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him standing behind her; she had been thinking about him and his offer of a place if she ever needed one. Standing, she glided over to meet him, resisting the urge to throw her arms around him in welcome. He wanted to keep things professional, but he made it very hard for her to want to. “I didn’t expect you to return tonight,” she managed to keep a straight face.

  Looking away, he hated lying to her, but the truth wasn't an option. He decided on something in the middle, partly true and only partly a lie, “I wanted to hear more and my calendar is empty this evening.”

  Tori gave a simple nod, and waved her hand for him to follow. When they arrived in her room, she wished he were there for more personal reasons, but she refused to believe that could be the case; I’m too smart to fall for that.

  Eli sat in his chair, and Tori stretched out on the bed with her head at the foot end, not really feeling like talking. At first she lay on her stomach, half hanging off the bed so her fingers could brush the floor.

  Another whimsical pose, Eli observed, and then asked, “Are you ok? You seem a little preoccupied tonight.” Looking up, Tori smiled the faintest of grins, and Eli's heart went mad inside his chest.

  Rolling onto her side, he could see the curve of her breast, and a dark patch of skin that disappeared into her cleavage. What on earth is that? He thought he might have spoken the words aloud when her smile faded, and he realized his expression had changed.

  “Forgive me.” He held up an apologetic hand, “I just noticed the mark on your,” oh hell, “breast.”

  Tori frowned as she peered down her shirt and realized he had seen the bite mark, probably for the first time. After a moment to compose herself, she decided that might be a good place to start for the evening’s tale.

  “Yeah, it's from where Eddie bit me that night after Henry and I were together. He wanted to mark his turf, so I guess it’s really more like a brand.” She pulled the neck of her shirt down enough to expose the odd shaped scar. “You know, I had sex with lots of men, but Henry was the only one who ever touched me without Eddie's permission. I was his most prized possession.”

  “You are not a piece of property,” Eli insisted, almost angrily. “I hope one day you will understand how special you truly are.” His tone surprised her, and Tori felt touched that he thought so much of her.

  “You have a girlfriend, or a wife, Eli?” she asked innocently enough.

  “Uh, no.” He shifted his gaze nervously as she covered herself. “My job isn't really conducive to personal relationships at this point in my career. I have been pretty dedicated to my cases since my partner died three years ago. He was my mentor, and losing him like I did . . . Well, it just did something to me I can't really explain. I’ve been obsessed I guess, to the point of distraction. I probably shouldn't have told you that. You have more than enough to worry about.” At that moment, Eli felt genuinely guilty about the situation he seemed to be sinking deeper into by the minute.

  “No, it's ok,” Tori reassured him with another small grin, “It's nice to think I’m not the only one who has lost things, or people, in my life. I mean, that's kinda what those fools in the group meetings talk about, but they have no idea what real pain is. If you don't mind, I’d love to hear about this partner of yours. Reverse roles for the night.”

  Eli started to object, thinking about how little time they had left for him to find out what he needed from her. But then on second thought, it might really help her to open up to him if he were able to share this with her. He would have to be careful though, not wanting to tip her off about Castleford or his true motives for being there with her. Smiling, he agreed he could share a little, he guessed.

  “Bradley Wells had been an Agent ten years when I came on board, so he showed me the ropes. They had been building a case against some really bad guys, who ran drugs and guns that we could prove, and we were getting close to making a move, when things got really crazy, and Brad was afraid we were going to lose our hold on them. So, he went in under cover while I worked from the outside to help him. We had been trying to get him in deeper, when I lost contact with him. Three weeks later, we found his body in a hotel, which happened three years ago.” Eli felt pretty safe with that version, and hoped it would do the trick.

  “In a Holiday Inn,” Tori replied.

  Without thinking, Eli agreed, “Yes, in fact, in a Holiday Inn.”

  Tori's face went stone cold, and she suddenly jumped up from the bed. Stepping over to the corner she had moved into the other night when they had had their confrontation, she placed her palms flat against the walls and rest the crown of her head into the crack, a form of surrender.

  Immediately, Eli became alert something had gone wrong, and quickly joined her, trying to encourage her to tell him what had happened. Tori wouldn't answer; she stared down at her feet, mumbling to herself for several minutes. Eli stood waiting, not about to walk out on her a second time.

  Eventually, she began to shake her head side to side, and he could hear her low voice, “I'm so sorry Eli. I didn't mean it. I swear to God, I didn't mean it.”

  Daring to touch her, he lightly stroked the back of her head and neck to comfort her, and she lifted her face and turned to look him in the eye. Tears streaked down her cheeks, her nose bright red as she cried her first real tears in years.

  Eli felt crushed at the sight of her, and he pulled her to him, wrapping her in his arms tightly without a second thought. Standing there, she cried hard, her body shaken by her sobs. She cried for Eli and for his friend that he had lost. She cried for Henry, who had been good to her and paid the price. She cried for all the people who had been hurt because she had not been strong enough to stand up to Eddie and the rest of his gang.

  Holding her, Eli realized she knew what had become of Brad. Somewhere their paths had crossed, and she knew how he had died. A sickening thought occurred to him, and he realized up to this point he had not really believed she had killed the Dragons in that farmhouse; he had not wanted to see the truth.

  Stepping back a little, Tori stared down at the floor again, her breath spastic as she tried to quell her flowing tears. Eventually looking him in the eyes, “Do you hate me?”

  “No,” his responded instantly, “But if Eddie weren't already dead, I think I would kill him for you. Now, I need you to tell me what happened to Brad. Tell me everything.”

  Passing the Test

  Taking a deep breath, Tori knew once she shared this part
with him, there would be no going back. She explained to him that the men who had ultimately ordered Brad's death were indeed very bad, and if she told him what he wanted to know, she would never live in that extra bedroom of his.

  When he asked what that had to do with anything, she explained that once she had betrayed The Organization, her life would be worthless and anyone close to her or that she cared about would be in danger. The Organization would use such people to get to her, to hurt her, or even just because they could. Her words gave Eli a heavy ache in the pit of his stomach, and he hoped that she was wrong.

  Tori began by explaining how The Organization actually worked, and how the Dragons fit into it. To illustrate, she took a piece of paper and drew a simple flower in the center, like a daisy with a small round center and overly large petals.

  “This,” she began calmly, “is The Organization. In the center, you have a command group, which controls what everyone else is doing. It is the most secret part; the hardest part to attack or kill. Around it are the petals. These are the guys who work for The Organization, doing as the center instructs them. The flower has a purpose, like a company, that makes a product, such as drugs, that it produces and sells.”

  “There are insects that come and try to attack the flower,” Tori drew small bugs around the illustration, “Such as the cops or Feds, and they are like grasshoppers eating at the flower and trying to stop it. When that happens, sometimes petals are sacrificed so that the rest of the flower can escape and survive, and like a starfish will regrow a limb, the petal will be regrown if it is lost. But sometimes, the flower gets help from the outside.”