Page 50 of Before the Storm
“I get the connection, because in the world I grew up in, women weren’t allowed to work. It was our job to raise children and to do it right. Living out here in the real world, I get that’s kind of dumb and I’ve seen all sorts of women do it alone and the kids are fine,” Janelle said. “But I have to ask, what was the fight about?”
Dina smiled as if she were proud. “Like I said, I don’t agree with fighting, but when my kid over there is defending a girl’s honor after another boy pulled down her pants in the hallway, he can get suspended all he wants. That other kid deserved something.”
Janelle glanced between Dina and Phoenix. “That’s so mean what that boy did. What happened to him?”
“He was expelled from school,” Phoenix said. “So he got his punishment, but according to everyone, I shouldn’t have broken his nose.”
Janelle covered her mouth and laughed. “I’m sorry, that’s not funny.”
“Actually, it is,” Dina said. “Every fight Phoenix got suspended for was because he was sticking up for some kid who was being bullied by someone else. But all my mother-in-law could see was that I wasn’t home when the boys got off the bus, so she blamed me. She used to tell the boys’ father that he needed to have a firmer hand with his wife.”
Janelle cringed, recoiling in the sofa.
“Oh, honey. She didn’t mean hit me,” Dina said. “She only meant that if he were more of a man, he’d be able to control me and make me stay at home.”
“A firm hand means something different in the compound. It’s what husbands do when one of their wives steps out of line or isn’t obedient and it always involves physical punishment.” It amazed Janelle how open she’d become about her past witheveryone in the Snow family. They never showed her judgment. Only love and support.
Not that she’d ever told anyone other than Jason, Anne Marie, and the few people at the first place she stayed while she got a high school diploma and learned a few skills so she could make it in the real world.
Outside of that, she kept her head down and never breathed a word of her past to anyone.
“My grammy had strong, old-fashioned opinions. My father didn’t believe in them and it caused a few rifts in the family,” Phoenix said. “I’m sorry that those things happened to you.”
“We’re grateful that you got out and found your way to us.” Dina pulled out a file from her briefcase. “Things are starting to crumble for your father’s church.” She handed the folder to Phoenix. “But there still isn’t enough to grant the Feds a search warrant for the compound. They are working with this couple who have helped a few people escape. This couple won’t give names, but they have told their stories. They didn’t leave the same church, but it’s a similar tale.”
Janelle swallowed. “What are the couple’s names?”
“Jason and Anne Marie Wilcox,” Dina said.
All the air in Janelle’s lungs flew out like a bird taking flight. She gripped the cushion and tried to breathe normally, but it felt as though her heart had stopped beating.
Phoenix rushed to her side. He set the folder on the coffee table and took her hands. “I take it you know these people.”
She nodded. “Anne Marie is who I met when I lost my baby. She’s the one who planted the seed that I could leave if I wanted to. It took three months before I made that call, but she and Jason got me out. They helped me with a new name. My GED. They gave me some money. Got me a car and sent me on my way.”
“They’re good people,” Dina said. “But they are being pressured to help find someone who will tell their story and press charges against someone in that church. Without that, the Feds can’t do anything.”
“When I left the safe house, they told me to go buy a phone. They didn’t want the number. They didn’t want to be able to contact me or know how to reach me. All they know is my name,” she said. “I do have their number, if I wanted to contact them.”
“Your name is enough to find you.” Dina inched closer. “But they have made it clear to the FBI and local authorities that they won’t give up the names of anyone they have helped.” Dina held her gaze. “However, your father and so-called husband made an interesting statement this morning.” She reached for the file, rifled through it, and handed her a piece of paper.
Phoenix took it before she had a chance to snag it in her shaky fingers.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Phoenix bolted off the couch. “This is not good.”
“What does that say?” Janelle asked.
Phoenix handed her the document. “Your dad and Jim have reported Sister Aura Margret Bueller as missing. They have accused Jason and Anne Marie of kidnapping you.”
“What? Why would they do that after I’ve been gone for three years?” Janelle stared at the piece of paper, but none of the words came into focus. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It gets worse,” Dina said. “Your dad is saying you’ve only been gone for two days.”
Janelle dropped the document. She stared at Dina, then shifted her gaze to Phoenix. “This is crazy.”
“Here’s the kicker.” Dina came closer, taking her hands. “The church has footage of you being taken and Anne Marie and Jason have been brought in for questioning.”
“No. No way. I know the compound has cameras, but if there are any images of me leaving, it’s me using the keys I stole from my dad. I walked through the gate and I got into that car. Anne Marie and Jason didn’t take me. They didn’t even touch me.”
