Page 68 of Invincible
By the time everyone arrived, Knox was stretched out on one of the living area couches with his feet up.He could feel his headache coming back and hoped the evening didn’t last too long.At least room service should arrive soon, so his stomach would stop trying to eat itself.
“Where’s Greer?”he asked.
“She said she had some things to do,” Tyler answered.
Was she just avoiding him?He hated to think that hehadhurt her.She was the one who had shot down anything more between them first, but had he failed to read between the lines?It didn’t matter.Better to crush any expectations quickly, like ripping off a Band-Aid before he got in too deep.He wasn’t interested in any form of a long-term relationship, he never had been.
“Thanks to the testimony of Greer, Mia, and the other women, agents were waiting for Andreas Tirich at the airport when he returned to DC,” Dex began, breaking Knox out of his thoughts.
“He was the man who masterminded the entire operation.We think he was with a particularly vicious crime ring called The Seven.Unfortunately, he hadn’t said much before another prisoner shanked him while he was being transferred to a maximum security facility.He bled out before paramedics could save him.”
“So what happens to The Seven or the rest of them?”Tyler asked.
“We’ve rounded up most of the Houston players.Agents are hunting the ones in DC but I would guess they are already in the wind.As for The Seven, we will continue chipping away at their organization a little at a time until it all unravels,” Dex answered.
“The only good thing is,” he continued, “this case has turned into such a jurisdictional quagmire that all of you are being allowed to fly under the radar.Greer and Mia are fielding all of the harder questions.Other than a few awkward inquiries that I managed to brush off, they haven’t had much interest in how we found out about the smuggling ring.They still need to take your statement, Knox.But after that, everyone has been released to go home.And Memphis, your name hasn’t even come up.”
“Good.Can you make arrangements for someone to come here tomorrow to interview Knox?I think the sooner this is put to rest, the better,” Memphis said.“We’ll be in town until we’re positive he can travel without causing a problem.We managed to reschedule his interview in Chicago until he’s recovered a little more.I say we get together again before everyone heads out.”
The evening quickly broke up, to Knox’s relief.After moving through his bedtime routine, he collapsed onto the king-size bed.He would have to find Greer before he left for home.Regardless of what she now thought of him, he still considered her a friend and he wanted her to know that.He needed her to know that if she ever needed help or was in trouble, he would fight through hell to be there.All she had to do was ask.
A week later, Tyler watched as Knox walked into the diner that had become their second home.She knew he was still suffering from headaches, but he had assured her they were getting better.
It seemed that since their night on that ship, her time had been divided between giving statements (it seemed everyone wanted to hear her account firsthand), follow-up doctor visits and sleeping.It felt good this morning just to return to the land of the normal.Or as normal as his life ever was.
“When do you start waddling around like a duck?”Knox asked Thayer, sliding into the large booth next to her.He smacked a loud kiss to her temple before she could scowl at him.Tyler had to smile at the good-natured ribbing he gave Thayer.It was apparent to everyone how much he adored her every time he did it.
With a laugh, Thayer threw her arms around his neck, giving him an awkward hug.
“I’m only two months along.Give me time.”
“Damn, if I asked something like that, she’d kick my ass,” Memphis mumbled, but Tyler wasn’t fooled by his grumbling.She had noticed the way he strutted around a little prouder anytime anyone mentioned the baby growing inside his wife.
“I’m just worried the baby will take after Uncle Knox and I’ll have to push out a linebacker.”Both Tyler and Greer expressed a sympathetic moan.The three women had become close over the last week as Thayer fussed over them.
Tyler had to wear a sling until the orthopedist ruled her ready to return to work.Fortunately most of the jobs she had lined up had agreed to wait for her, the more imperative ones she was able to line up another shop to handle.
Greer had been immediately let go from the club when she told them she had to take several weeks off until her ankle healed.Then she was quickly rehired with paid sick leave until she could return, thanks to the giant man with bulging muscles, arms covered in tattoos, a terrifying scowl, and a few strategic words who was now sitting across from her.
“So I thought you might like to hear the latest update on the case,” Dex said after they had ordered.“It turns out it was an even bigger ring than originally thought.It’s been turned over to a joint task force stretching from South America to Washington, DC.They think it will lead to the arrest and conviction of several hundred people.”
“My God,” Thayer whispered.
“Yeah,” Dex answered.
The table grew silent as each person became lost in their own thoughts.Tyler knew the other’s thoughts had to mirror her own as she wondered how many girls had been lost to this ring alone before Dex stumbled upon it.It grated on her that even shutting down that many would still barely make a ripple in the number of those sold into the sex trade every day.
“Oh, I also thought you would like to know that all of the girls have either returned to their own homes or to a home with foster parents trained in the aftereffects of kidnapping.”
“Speaking from experience, those girls are going to need a lot of loving support to survive what happened,” Thayer said.Tyler couldn’t help the burning in the back of her eyes when she saw Memphis look down with both love and pride at Thayer sitting next to him.
“You’re right, babe,” Memphis said.“But if they are even half as strong as you are, they’ll be just fine.”
“Well, I had the support of some very strong men,” Thayer answered.“And now I have a new sister-in-law.I can’t tell you how amazing it’s been to get to know you and Greer,” she added, reaching over the table to squeeze Tyler’s hand.
The conversation was interrupted by the waitress delivering their order.It took her several trips to make it out with all of the food, Knox’s order necessitating one trip alone.
“Knox, Dex said you have an interview at a private school in Chicago?What position is it for?”Tyler asked.Knox pushed his empty plate back.Tyler didn’t miss the look of disappointment in Greer’s eyes.
