Tyler frowned. “You knew that we were…different?”
Their father nodded. “Yes. I knew from the time you were babies. Please, have a seat and allow me to explain.”
Two sofas faced each other with a coffee table in between. Tyler, Toby, and Rebecka sat on one, facing the door; their father sat on the other.
“I know that you must have a thousand questions. I’ll try my best to answer them. To start with, I left you with your grandmother after your mother passed away because I knew she would take good care of you. I got hired on with the agency when you were babies. As time went on, I was required to travel more often. My job was to look after trackers, keep tabs on them, and follow up on potential students that they located.
“Once I knew, without a doubt, that your gifts far exceeded the guidelines of the IIA, I knew I had to leave you, for good. If I had kept you in my life, they would have snagged you up, and I wouldn’t have been able to stop them.
“When I found out that you were placed into the foster system, I wanted to come and get you, but I knew that you were better off without me. I thought that, by leaving you, I was keeping you safe, but obviously I was wrong.
“I hope that one day you can find a way to forgive me and understand. I did what I thought was best for you at the time.”
Tyler looked at his brother and silently asked, What do you think?
He’s telling the truth, Toby thought. Everything he said is true. Then he looked at their father. “So you found out that they captured me. What are you doing here though? Did you think that they would just let me go if you showed up?”
“I hadn’t thought it through. I know you’re much too valuable to them to just let you go, but I had to see you. I thought I might be able to at least convince them to release you to my care. But, Tyler, I never expected to find you here. I had heard that they were looking for you, but I hadn’t heard that they found you.”
“They didn’t exactly find me. I found them.”
“You came here on your own?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t about to leave Toby here by himself.”
Tyler wondered if he should tell their father about their rescue plan, but before he could, Toby thought, Wait, don’t tell him. He sounds honest, and I can’t see him doing us wrong, but he still works for them. I don’t entirely trust him. We’re so close. We can’t risk blowing our plan, now.
But, what if the police get here tomorrow and arrest him? We’ve just found our father. If he ends up in jail, who knows the next time we’ll see him? Shouldn’t we at least warn him?
Not yet. Let me sleep on it and see if I can get a vision of what’s going to happen. There will still be time in the morning if we decide to warn him.
I hope you’re right.
I think Toby’s right, Rebecka thought. It’s not just our freedom that’s at stake. We have to consider everyone else who is held captive here, as well. We need to do what’s best for everyone involved.
Agreed, Tyler thought. You’re both right.
“Well, I’m glad that I have you both here,” their father said. “We’ll talk to Henry tomorrow and try to figure something out. In the meantime, may I ask what the three of you are doing out of your rooms? What are you up to? And how did you get out? I’m surprised security hasn’t picked you up by now.”
Tyler glanced at Toby and Rebecka and smiled. “We were just out exploring.”
“Somehow I suspect there’s more to your story, but I won’t ask. You need to get back to your rooms before anyone discovers that you’re gone. I can escort you downstairs.”
“No,” Tyler quickly cut in, “that won’t be necessary. We wouldn’t want you to get in trouble, in case anyone sees you with us. We managed to get out of our rooms without being seen. We can get back in.” The last thing he wanted was for their father to discover that they had an access card. That would require questions they weren’t prepared to answer.
“Okay then…If you’re sure.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Toby said. “Where will you go? You’ll be here in the morning?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right here. I’m not going to leave you.”
They stood and followed their father to the door. He hugged them again, and they quickly made their way back to their rooms. Uncertain how long the guard would be asleep, they didn’t want their night time escapade to be discovered. Within a few hours, if all went as planned, the Mexican police would find them, and they didn’t want their plan to be hampered in any way.
Now, as Tyler lay in bed, he pondered their new dilemma. Should they take the risk and forewarn their father or allow him to be arrested? Rebecka had been right; it wasn’t just their freedom at stake. There were other residents at the compound who might want the opportunity to return home as well.
You still awake? Toby silently asked, from his room.
Yeah. I can’t stop thinking about him. All these years, I thought that he had just left, that he didn’t care about us.
I know. I keep asking myself why I couldn’t see the truth about him.
Probably because you didn’t try. We both just accepted the fact that he was gone. We were so young when he left. I don’t think it ever occurred to either of us to find out where he was. Tyler’s thoughts were silent for a moment, and then he asked, What do you think we should do? Should we tell him?
I want to. I want to believe that we can trust him. I’ll sleep on it and see if I can come up with an answer. Try to get some rest. It’s going to be a long day.
*****
“How’s the ankle?” Jesse asked in the morning.
“Feels a hundred percent better,” Tyler replied. He stood slowly, rotated his ankle a couple of times for good show, and then said, “Must have just been a temporary strain.”
“Well, that’s good. Glad to hear it. Henry wants to see you and your brother, first thing this morning. I told him that I’d bring you guys up to his office.”
“He wants to see us both?” This was good news. With Toby by his side, they could visit their father before they saw Henry. He immediately began to communicate with Toby to form a plan.
“You ready?” Jesse asked.
“Sure. Lead the way.”
They followed Henry’s second-in-command down the hall, and by the time they reached the security room, the plan was in place.
The Federales just passed by on the road, Liliana thought. They should reach the compound soon.
Perfect timing, Tyler thought in return. They were about thirty feet from the security room. We’re getting ready to do something.
You’re getting ready to do something? You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you? What are you up to?
I’ll let you know if it all goes as planned.
And what if it doesn’t all go as planned? When he didn’t respond, she thought, Tyler? Please be careful.
No worries. I’ll talk to you later.
Toby grinned and thought, I think your girlfriend’s worried about you.
She has nothing to be worried about. Are you ready to do this? They were ten feet from the security room.
Jesse reached the first step and then stopped and turned when he realized that Tyler and Toby were no longer following. They had stopped in front of the security room. “What’s up, guys? Let’s go.”
Toby pointed toward the door. “What’s in here?”
“That’s where security monitors all of the surveillance cameras. Come on, guys. Henry’s waiting.”
“That sounds cool. Can we see?” Before Jesse had a chance to respond, Toby knocked on the door.
Jesse’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What are you up to?” He stepped off of the stairs and walked toward them.
“We’re not up to anything,” Tyler said. “Don’t mind my brother. He’s always too curious for his own good.”
When the door opened, the security guard emerged with his hand held to his forehead. “Oh, hey there, Jesse. Man, I have the worst headache. I must be getting
sick. I think I might have fallen asleep. Don’t tell the boss-man. He’ll have my head.”
“Let me drop these two off upstairs, and I’ll send someone down to relieve you,” Jesse told him.
Tyler glanced at his brother. Are you ready?
Let’s do it.
Tyler leaned casually against the wall and focused on the security system within. A moment later, an alarm from inside the room began to blare. The guard glanced at Jesse and then hurried inside to see what had triggered it.
Toby took a step toward Jesse. “Don’t you want to go see what the problem is?”
“Yeah, but I shouldn’t—”
“Don’t worry about us. Go ahead. You should check it out.”
Tyler could feel his brother’s influential energy take hold of Jesse and defy the agent’s knowledge that he shouldn’t leave the boys alone.
“You’re right,” Jesse said. “I should check it out. Stay right here, okay?”
“We won’t go anywhere,” Toby assured him.
The moment Jesse stepped inside of the room, Tyler grabbed the access card from his pocket, and with a quick swipe, the door closed.
“Now!” Tyler said. They would have to act fast before Jesse or the guard had time to notify anyone to come to their rescue. Together, they placed their hands on the door and focused.
The goal was to scramble and confuse all electromagnetic waves within the room. They would fry the batteries in the cell phones and walkie-talkies and put the surveillance monitors, the computers, the landline telephone, and most importantly, the access pad for the door out of commission.
“I think we did it,” Tyler said a minute later.
“Are you sure?”
He paused to listen to the thoughts of the men inside the room. “Yeah, they’re totally confused. Listen.”
Toby closed his eyes in concentration and then opened them a few moments later and smiled. “Good. Hopefully no one will find them for a while.”
“Well, even if they do, it will take some fixing before they’ll be able to get the door open. By then, the Federales should be here. Ready to go find Dad?”
“Let’s go.”
By the time they reached the first step, hollers from within the security room called out to them. Jesse and the guard must have realized their unlucky predicament. Tyler glanced back and then turned to Toby and smiled. Then they bounded up the steps in search of their father.
*****
Toby had had a vision that their father would help them, and that had cinched the decision to let him in on their plan. When the door opened, he peered into the hall and then raised his eyebrows in question. “You’re on your own again? What are you two up to this morning?”
Tyler smiled. “Can we come in?”
“Of course.” He ushered them inside. “I’ve been trying to think of what I can say to Henry so that he’ll let me take you boys out of here."
“Um…we kind of have another plan,” Tyler said.
“You do?”
“Yeah. I didn’t just come to Mexico to join Toby. I came here to break him out and shut this place down.”
“You plan to shut it down? How?”
“With a little help from the Federales.”
Their father shook his head. “The Federales have specific orders to stay away.”
“I know, but they’ve been given some information that they can’t ignore. They’ll be here in a few minutes to check it out. And once they find a bunch of kidnapped, American kids, they’ll have to help us.”
“You’re sure?” He frowned and narrowed his eyes in concern.
“Yep. Our friends are out in the woods and just reported that the police passed by on the road a few minutes ago. That’s why we came to see you. You need to get out of here.”
“You know the compound won’t shut down for good. They’ll just relocate somewhere else in a few months. Most of the kids who are here willingly work for them.”
“We know,” Toby said. “But, there are a few who don’t want to be here, who were taken completely against their will, like I was. They deserve to return home to their families.”
“The agency will retaliate,” their father warned. “They aren’t going to let you wander free without a fight. You know too much, and you are much too valuable to them.”
“They’ll let us go.” Tyler pulled the flash drive out of his pocket and held it up. “We have enough evidence on here to prove everything they’ve ever done wrong and pinpoint everyone who’s ever been involved. If anything ever happens to any of us, all of this information will be sent public. They can’t afford to let that happen.”
“Wow. It looks like they underestimated you boys. Okay then. Let’s get out of here before the Federales arrive.”
“We can’t go with you,” Tyler said.
“What do you mean you can’t go with me? I can’t leave you here.”
“We have to make sure that Henry knows we have this information.”
“Yeah? And what if he decides that he’s not going to let you go? I know him well. He’s not one who easily gives in, without a fight. I can’t take the risk that he’ll hurt you.”
“He won’t hurt us,” Toby said. “I’ve seen the future. If we time it just right, the Federales will show up and take him.”
“And what if you don’t time it just right?”
“Well then, I guess we better not mess up,” Tyler said.
“You need to get going,” Toby said. “There’s not much time left.”
Their father sighed and with obvious reluctance said, “Okay, but I will find you boys again. Please trust that I will. I won’t let you go back to that foster family.” He turned and started for the door.
“Wait,” Tyler called out.
He took his hand off of the door and turned. “Yes?”
“Our friends are hiding in the woods up the road. They came here to help me find Toby, but they don’t have passports or a way to get back into the States. Can you help them?”
“Of course. I know of a border tunnel we can use.”
Toby raised his eyebrows in question. “A border tunnel?”
“Sure. Border Patrol Agents discover tunnels all of the time. They’re used for smuggling drugs and illegal immigrants. Sometimes the tunnels get closed up, but other times the government takes them over for their own purposes. The IIA has a few tunnels here and there. It shouldn’t be too difficult to get your friends home safe.”
“Thank you,” Tyler said. “I’ll let Liliana know that you’re coming. Will you be able to get out of here though? I imagine the Federales are close.”
“Don’t worry. There are a few tunnels that lead out to other exits in the woods. I’ll be long gone before the police arrive.”
After a goodbye hug, the boys parted ways with their father and strode down the hall to Henry’s office.
When he opened the door, Henry frowned and narrowed his eyes with suspicion. “Where’s Jesse?”
Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know. He told us to come see you.”
“Did he? I’ll have to have a talk with him later, I see. Well, you’re here at least. Come on in and have a seat. Let’s talk.”
Tyler took the chair that he had sat in the previous evening, and Toby sat beside him.
“So, boys, have you given any thought to working with me? You have a lot to offer the agency.”
“We’ve thought about it,” Tyler said, “and it comes down to this. What if we decide that we don’t want to work for you? Can we just go home? Or what if we decide that we do want to work for you but then decide in a year that it’s not for us? Can we just get out whenever we want?”
Henry leaned back in his chair, folded his hands, and smiled. “Those are complicated questions.”
“No, really…they’re not. Either we can get out or we can’t. It’s a fairly simple answer.”
“I hear that you boys have some concerns. That’s understandable. Let me get a cup of coffee, and then I’ll try to explain t
he situation, the best I can, okay?”
“Go ahead.” Tyler glanced at Toby and grinned.
Henry strode to a side counter and grabbed a mug. “Would you boys like a cup?”
Tyler shook his head. “No, thanks.”
“I’m good,” Toby replied.
He resumed his seat, swiveled his chair so that he faced them, and took a sip of coffee.
“I’m guessing that you aren’t prepared to just let us walk,” Tyler said. “This is just a little insurance to make sure that you leave us alone.” He held the flash drive up for Henry to see.
The next sip of coffee missed his mouth and spilled onto his pristine, white collared shirt. “What’s on that?” he sputtered.
“Oh, just about any and all information on the IIA that you’d never want the public or any other government agency to find out about.”
“It’s a bluff. There’s nothing on that disc. You don’t have access to get into the main system.”
“Why? Because we would need an access card, like this one?” He held up the small, plastic card.
“Where did you get that?”
“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we have all of the proof we need. So you will let us go, and you’ll make sure that the agency leaves us and all of our friends alone, because if anything should happen to any of us, all of the information on this little disc will be sent to the media.”
“So, what’s stopping you? Why not just take it straight to the public?”
“We’re under no illusion that the agency is just going to fold under and close up shop. If we went to the media, now, it might cause a hiccup or two in operations, but you’ll just reopen, somewhere else, and continue on with your work. Once that happens, you’ll come after us, again. We’re better off this way. You let us go, the compound closes down, and we go on with our lives like we never met you. As long as we never hear from the agency again, we stay quiet.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that? I’m supposed to just close the compound and let you walk? You can’t really think I’m going to let that happen, do you?”
“No,” Tyler said. “We didn’t really think you would just let us go. That’s why the Federales are on their way. We figured, once they find us, they’ll let us go.”
Indigo Incite (The Indigo Trilogy) Page 26
