by Regan Black
As a child, she’d learned firsthand how traffickers worked, how they thought, and how they retaliated when crossed. Since escaping, she’d gone out of her way to avoid contact with the wrong kind of people—people who might notify her father and the trafficking operation that she’d escaped.
There was no way to explain that to Scott, the hospital administrators, or the authorities.
Marnie had told her the women Sally saved were about to be moved. Shipped out. A chill slipped across her neck at the term. The five women had all been wounded and battered, which Ana interpreted to mean they were costing more than they were worth.
Regardless, their captors wouldn’t appreciate losing what little value Marnie and the others had left to the FBI. Not to mention the arrest warrants that would follow if the girls were able to give any information on their captors of the clients. Privacy laws for medicine were strict, but the unwritten rule about discretion among traffickers was worse.
Whoever had been in charge of those women was living on borrowed time.
Anyone not caught up in the FBI net would be looking for a way to get those women back. At the very least, someone was likely stationed outside the hospital watching and documenting and gathering as much intel as possible for a counter-strike.
Ana sipped her coffee. Leaving the hospital now would be akin to taking out a billboard with a neon arrow glowing above her head.
Although she’d changed a great deal and mostly outgrown the fear that ruled her childhood, she’d cost men money. Ruthless men who would never forgive or forget.
Her escape had undoubtedly slowed business and required the organization to scramble, changing up profitable systems just in case she convinced someone with authority to investigate. Or worse, in case she sold her inside knowledge to a competitor.
She pulled a ball cap with the hospital’s logo over her head, threading her ponytail through the back. Hefting her backpack over her shoulder, she grabbed her coffee and walked out of the lounge, hidden by a group of doctors moving by.
She made her way to the secure wing and showed her credentials to the guard at the desk. After vetting her, he invited her back to see Sally.
When Ana walked into the room, Agent Morley was sprawled in the recliner. He came to his feet the moment he spotted her, waving her in before she could turn around.
“Dr. Perez.” He smiled warmly. “Good to see you again.”
She waved him back to the chair, unable to turn off her caregiving instincts. “Has she come around at all?”
“Only for a minute or two.”
“That sounds about right.”
“She’ll be mad,” Morley said. A faint smile moved across his face. “Anything that slows her down annoys her.”
“How long was she undercover?” Ana asked, her eyes on the gauze bandages covering Sally’s wrists.
“Too long, in my opinion,” Morley said, evading the real answer. “She managed to get in as a girlfriend to one of the deputies in this sex traffic ring, but…” He cleared his throat. “We lost contact with her a few weeks ago. When we recognized they were planning to move the girls, we intervened.”
The bruises from the fight were starting to bloom on Sally’s face and arms. “It looks like she put up one hell of a fight.”
“That’s her,” Morley said with pride. “All the way.”
Ana waited, giving Sally’s partner an opening to talk if he needed it. When he didn’t say any more and Sally didn’t wake up, she moved toward the door. “I’ll check in on her in the morning.” She laughed at herself. “Forgive me. I’m used to third shift. I meant I’ll be back before my shift begins tonight.”
She’d been tempted to warn Morley that Sally would have a target on her back after breaking free of their captors. All of the girls would need time and protection, regardless of the arrests made. Instead of exposing herself further by sharing such a detail right now, face to face, she walked away. She wasn’t law enforcement and the FBI had been working this case for some time. Surely, they knew how to mitigate the new danger to Sally, Marnie and the others.
Ana had found a bed in the physician’s lounge on the obstetrics floor and enjoyed six uninterrupted hours of nightmare-free, high-quality sleep. When she woke, she found the police presence remained high all over the hospital campus. The combination of security and rest gave her a boost as she prepared to face another shift in the ER.
After a brief workout and shower in the employee fitness center, Ana had started a search for the right private practice over a hot meal in the cafeteria.
She needed a position well away from this immediate area. Dallas was lovely and had served her well, but she was done with big cities. Urban life had definite advantages, but she was tired of it and tired of being on guard against the secrets and crime that lurked in the shadows. Her ideal practice would be in a quiet area with a team that agreed with her goal of emphasizing active lifestyle and prevention as the cornerstones for a whole-health approach to medical care.
After bookmarking a few opportunities, she made her way downstairs to the ER. In the lounge, she was surprised to see Scott.
“I thought you were off until tomorrow,” she said.
He shrugged. “You know how it is.”
She did and she was looking forward to making a change.
“Sounds like we’re in for another rocky day,” he said. “The task force has upped patrols inside and out. They believe the agent upstairs is in jeopardy.”
“What about the other women?” Ana asked.
“They’re being cautious with all of them. I heard the group from the FBI say that Agent Palmer was mentioned by both her legal name and her undercover name on a phone they have tapped.”
Ana’s breath caught. Not good.
“I’m asking everyone to keep an eye out for injuries, self-inflicted or otherwise, that might give the wrong people access to the facility.”
Ana gaped at him. “They don’t have guards posted at the stairwells and elevators?”
“They do. But the more eyes the better.”
“True.” She aimed her gaze at the waiting room, attempting to mute the prickle of fear at the back of her neck. Thank goodness she’d followed her instincts and stayed here instead of going home after her shift.
Together they started tackling the patients in the waiting room, one perceived crisis at a time. Despite the police presence, or maybe because of it, the shift ran smoother than normal. At the three hour mark, none of their patients had been inclined to go where they shouldn’t.
During a momentary lull when she was supposed to grab a bite to eat, Ana headed upstairs to the secure wing to check on Sally. The guard outside the agent’s room was alert and attentive and greeted Ana politely, opening the door for her.
To her delight, Ana found the FBI agent sitting up in bed and laughing, clearly enjoying the company of the women she’d rescued. She must have had a shower because her face was clean and her blond hair gleamed like a fresh halo. All of them were still banged up, though the smiles were a tremendous improvement. On a soft chorus of ‘thank yous’ they filed out of the room.
“You told them you were working undercover for the FBI?” Ana asked.
“I did.” Sally snagged a chocolate from the box on the bedside table. “Morley sent these over. It was a smart move.”
At Sally’s invitation, Ana stepped closer and chose a truffle. “That’s heavenly,” she murmured as the rich flavor melted on her tongue. “Chocolate may actually be better medicine than laughter.”
Sally grinned sheepishly. “I wouldn’t count out showers and modern painkillers.”
“Are you hurting?”
“I’ve survived worse,” Sally assured her. “When I pissed off my fake boyfriend, he got rough before he locked me up with Marnie and the others.”
“You must have been terrified.”
“And then some, because I’d seen the system firsthand. Lucky for me, there wasn’t time to add me to one of the auctions b
efore the cavalry rode to the rescue.”
“You were very lucky.”
“I know.” Sally’s vivid blue gaze, cool and assessing, locked with Ana’s. “How is it you know?”
“Practicing medicine means seeing people at their worst, or suffering from the darker side of people.” She’d tried for a casual, professional tone and missed the mark. Her heart ached with the brutal truth.
“Law enforcement is similar,” Sally said. “I’m too sore and relieved to pull punches, Dr. Perez. My predicament, what those girls who came in with me endured, I can tell that resonates with you. If you know anything that can help us keep them safe or put one of the bad guys out of business, I could use the assist.”
“I…” Where was her objective detachment when she needed it? She blamed exhaustion for the lapse. “I don’t know anything that might be relevant here.” She leaned back against the counter and took a deep breath. “I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood.” She would give this woman as much of the truth as possible. It wasn’t as though she was holding back real evidence. The criminal operations that moved people around like cargo were a small, tight inhumane circle.
“Were you also a victim?” Sally prompted.
“A victim of neglect.” Ana clung to the cover story she’d built through the years. “Nothing like what you and Marnie and the others have seen. There was crime,” she continued. “The men in power were not to be crossed. They took what they wanted. The girls you rescued have said enough that I gathered they were held in a similar situation to what I saw, without rights or proper care. They were kept and used as objects rather than people.”
“Yes.” Sally’s gaze drifted to the window. “It was almost a relief when he locked me in there with them,” she admitted in a whisper. “On the inside, gathering evidence of the operation for our investigation often made me physically ill.”
Ana understood completely. “I imagine it did.”
“The bust came in the nick of time,” Sally added. “I infiltrated the group as the girlfriend of the second in command. Three of those five women were scheduled to become organ donors. It’s the new thing and the last ditch effort to make money when they’re too weak or sick to work anymore. The other two were being moved with me to work a meeting in Mexico City.”
Horror happened everywhere. She wasn’t sure how best to reconcile that knowledge with her search for a new, stable position in a quieter area of the world. “You won’t tell them?”
“Absolutely not. They’ve been through enough.”
“I’m glad you were there to save them.”
“Me too.” Sally didn’t smile this time. “Morley came riding in just in time. Did someone break up the operation in your old neighborhood?”
Ana appreciated that Sally didn’t ask where that neighborhood had been. “Unfortunately I don’t know,” she replied. “My mother and I were able to move.” She delivered another half-truth with the ease of practice. “If she reported those men to the authorities, she never told me.”
“If you give me a name, I’ll look into it for you,” Sally offered. Her eyes were sharp and bright, though not unkind. “It’s the least I can do.”
Temptation surged through Ana for a brief, blinding minute. It was surprisingly easy to envision a world where she knew she was safe, where she didn’t have to be braced for the worst day in and day out.
A world where, no matter which patients she’d treated, she could leave the hospital and go home without fear and worry dogging her steps.
“If the bad guys in your old neighborhood are still in business, speaking up might help someone,” Sally pressed.
Ana credited her for knowing exactly which button to press. “Helping others is what motivated me to become a doctor,” she admitted. “And I can see that this conversation isn’t helping you right now. You’re due for another dose of pain meds.”
“I don’t want them,” Sally protested. “I need my mind to be clear while the task force is hunting down the crew that held us.”
“Then I’ll go. You’ll think more clearly after some rest.” Ana adjusted the bedside table closer to Sally and refilled her water.
Sally sank back into the pillows. “Huh.”
“What?”
“I’ve never met anyone as stubborn as me.”
This time Ana’s smile felt natural. Promising to come back at the end of her shift, she left Sally to recover.
When her relief arrived a few hours later, Ana went up to the hospital rooftop and, soaking up the soft glow of sunrise, wondered who might still be out there, watching for the girls’ departure.
Or hers.
Behind her, the hinges squeaked as the door opened and slammed closed again. She knew it was Scott before he said a word. “I thought you’d be deep in the bacon and eggs by now.”
“Not yet. You’ve been preoccupied all shift. Want to talk about it?”
“No, thank you.” Nothing good came from voicing her fears. In her experience, talking about the monsters only endangered more people. She stepped back from the railing. “I promised Agent Palmer I’d say goodbye before I head home.”
“We both know you’re not going home,” Scott said. “I’d like to know why.”
“Why does it matter so much?”
“I care, Ana. As a friend and a colleague.” He handed her a tall cup of piping hot coffee. “You don’t have to deal with every struggle alone.”
The rich aromatic brew, laced with cream, made her smile. “Thank you.” She wrapped her hands around the cup, taking in the warmth from the coffee and the friend. “I appreciate the gesture. I seem to be at a crossroads.”
“About?”
She wasn’t sure where to start. “I thought emergency medicine was the best fit for me. These last couple of days have me second-guessing that decision.”
“You’re an excellent physician, Ana, no matter where you practice.”
His words warmed her heart as much as the coffee warmed her hands. “Thanks for the encouragement.”
He tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and watched the sun creep higher into the sky. “Don’t jump ship because of ugly circumstances. What those women went through shook up everyone.”
“Fair enough.” Sunlight washed over the city, setting towers sparkling. Ana knew that fresh glow didn’t always clear the slate. Brushing up against more of the awful people and dangers so similar to those she’d once escaped forced her to reassess. Just because she stayed vigilant and ready to run at a moment’s notice didn’t guarantee the safety of the friends she’d leave behind. “I know it’s silly to ask, but I’d appreciate it if you’d follow me home.”
“Not silly at all.” He rocked back on his heels. “And I’d be honored.”
“Thanks.” They stood side by side for several minutes, just enjoying the morning.
“After you sleep off any lingering self-doubt, I hope you have something fun planned to recharge,” Scott said.
She wasn’t about to share her plan to search and apply for another job, preferably in a small, quiet town where the only traffic problems involved cars. If she never heard about human trafficking again it would be too soon.
Chapter 3
Two days later, Ana heard the voices carrying down the hallway as she approached Agent Palmer’s hospital room.
“I am not riding out of this place in a wheelchair,” Sally snapped. “He nicked my arm, that’s all.”
Ana exchanged an amused glance with the police officer standing guard at the door.
“Hospital policy states—”
Sally swore, rudely cutting off the nurse’s attempt to explain. Ana stepped in before the conversation could deteriorate further. “I’ll handle it,” she told the nurse, smothering a laugh.
“Thank you,” the other woman said with feeling as she vacated the room, her shoes squeaking on the linoleum.
Ana closed the door. “The wheelchair is policy,” she said calmly. “You wouldn’t believe our insurance rates
.”
Sally scowled. The two women stared at each other for a long moment. Ana wondered what was going through the agent’s mind even as her thoughts settled into order.
“Fine,” Sally relented. “Just don’t ram my toes into any poor sap’s heels.”
“I promise.”
She couldn’t take back her admission about witnessing trafficking atrocities as a kid and horrible abuses of power. Fear of discovery and retribution had held her back, kept her silent. Just when she thought the selfish feelings were buried, they rose up to torment her again.
The twenty-four hours off had given her some perspective. She’d taken the time to lay some new groundwork and adjust her plans.
“Slow day in the ER?” Sally queried.
“I’m not on for a couple more hours. I wanted to talk before you’re back on the job.”
“You’re worried I’ll overstep and start digging,” Sally interjected. “You don’t need to be.”
Ana studied the agent.
“You didn’t share actionable intel,” Sally pointed out.
“I thought, maybe—”
Sally raised her good hand, interrupting Ana again. “And you don’t need to share the particulars unless you’re ready. Everyone has a past. Personally, certain aspects of this undercover assignment made my past look like a cake walk.”
Ana appreciated the generous pardon more than she could express.
“You know what to look for, Dr. Perez. You know what questions to ask when a patient comes in with certain injuries or behaviors.”
“I haven’t been asking the questions,” she said, ashamed. She’d spent several hours at home mentally reviewing recent cases, wondering if she’d missed someone in crisis.
“So start.” Sally shifted the sling at her neck.
Ana walked over and adjusted the strap for her, easing the pressure.
“My days undercover are over,” she continued. “This isn’t a problem that’s going away anytime soon. One bust doesn’t fix it, but I can’t be on the inside again.”
